A new start, a new hope

In my writing workshop I went to on Wednesday night was really good. The instructor said the best advice he could give is just to sit down and write every day even if it was just for fifteen minutes. On Thursday, my day off, I am pleased to say I got done more than fifteen minutes. It is good advice to any writer, just keep writing... it doesn't matter if it is good or not but it is always important to touch pen to paper. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A new start, a new hope

It did not take long for Iris to find Emmy, she remembered that when Emmy was a child she would always run into the library and pull herself into a corner and hide a way only to come out when she thought no one was looking for her. That is where Iris found Emmy tucked away in the space between the shelves and space between the shelves and the wall. Only now she was bigger and her dresses were bigger too. Iris heard her little whimper when she came into the library and started the game she always played with Emmy when she was younger.
            "I don't see Miss Emmy, she must not be here. Oh wait what was that a bird chirping or a little girl crying."
            "You know I am in here Aunt Iris, I am not a child any more those games won't work on me."
            "I know you are not a child anymore, I just cannot see you going through so much pain I thought I would one of our old games would cheer you up."
            "Cheer me up from forgetting the one man I loved has left me."
            "No, of course not. I have only loved one man, so I can't understand what you are going through but from what I understand about love if it is true it won't ever go away."
            At that Emmy threw herself on Aunt Iris. Iris caught her in a hug and was able to guide her over to the sofa where she could have Emmy's head resting on her lap. Iris did not try to hush her but let her cry until she was all out of tears all the while going back and forth between stroking her hair and patting her back. When Emmy had stopped crying Iris spoke very softly to her.
            "There, there my little Emmy. No matter what happened I am her for you. I have loved you all your life and I will never leave you. I think you and Laurel should come to Boston, it may not cheer you up however it will get you out of this house where everything reminds you of him. Plus with your cousin, Nicholas, marrying Caleb's sister I am sure he will be at the wedding and you two can be reunited. Whatever silliness came over him, I am sure your charm you can knock it out."
            "Oh Aunt, do you really think so, Do you really want Laurel and I to come to Boston."
            "I came to Pine Haven with no other desire in mind. My house is so lonely without my Cromwell girls running in and out and now you being out in society I can show you off properly."

To Read more click here

"A new start, a new hope"

Re-writing

Late in February, I wrote about how I was having a mental block, I felt in my story I had written myself into a corner and I didn't know how to back myself out of the corner.

It is hard to explain but I had to go back to the part of the story where it made sense and begin again. I guess some times writing a novel is like going through a maze. When I am writing a story I like to lay out the main points of the plot in my head but most of the time the actions of the characters take the writing places I never suspected. While this is an awesome time to explore sometimes my characters get lost and as a writer I have to put them on the right path. I like writing to explore these different paths sometimes it gets frustrating when you get so lost you don't know how to find your way. As an writer when that happens I have to put down my story again and wait for inspiration to hit me again.

{Pic}

With out further ado here is a part of my re-write "They all Cleared out" in "A Lonely, Empty house"....

{Pic}

            With in a week the house was cleared out of all its guest. No one was overly sad to leave, or gushed over the parting. They didn't praise their hostess with thanks for a wonderful or unforgettable summer, in fact most of the group wish to put the whole season behind them. So they said their goodbyes in a very orderly fashion. Julia pretended could not wait to see her cousins again and she pretended to wish them well but it was all a façade. Her heart was over joyed to leave and get ready for Mrs. Crane's ball and thought of the gown she have to order when they arrived back home. Victoria kissed her nieces goodbye and gave a tight hug to Emmy telling her everything would be alright but she didn't gush or show any deep emotion. Emmy really didn't really care to show any emotion. Emmy really didn't care to show any emotion. She had hated that the society's standards required her to stand out there and see her visitors off, she would rather be by her creek. Laurel felt much the same as Emmy and was relieved when their guest were in the motor coach and out of their lives. The girls did not even wait for the coach to be through the gate.

            Fiona took a deep breath once the coach was out of sight. She turned back and looked at her house. Without the guest she could focus on her family again. A task that seemed too big for her to handle on her own. Her mother's health was decreasing by the day, she was now being confined to her room and if she could make her room and if she could make an appearance it was only to the upstairs parlor and only for a few minutes. Laurel served her grandmother diligently but had hardly spoken two words together to any one since the night that she revealed her heartache. Those word's she  said that night rang through Fiona's head over and over again. Emmy had hardly done anything since Caleb left except for become a shell of her former self. Emmy would go to the creek, a place that used to be a source of delight was now the place she mourned. She would spend most of the day but the creek come back with red swollen eyes sit at the dinner table saying nothing and she barely touch her food. Miss Pembers the loyal house keeper, asked that they only serve Miss Emmy's favorites in order to entice her to eat but nothing worked. Fiona could tell that Emmy was not getting over Caleb and it was only growing worse Fiona wished she knew what to say of what to do to comfort her daughter but nothing came to mind. She only knew she could not carry this burden alone. Whenever she had a burden she turned to her dear friend Iris.

            Iris Dumont and her had been friends since their school days and she always had a way of making things better than they appeared. Her father owned a nice shop that provided enough of a fortune to put Iris in the best schools, and gave some money to her name. Iris had met Alfred Dumont, the man Mrs. Cromwell had hoped would marry Fiona, at Fiona's debutant ball and was he was delighted in her delicate soft look and meek manners. After Fiona and Jefferson were firmly settled Alfred called upon Iris frequently enough that talk spread all over Boston and within six months they were engaged and another six month passed before they were married. Iris had gone from a shop girl to a woman of society. Through all this Fiona and Iris stayed very close friends after Jefferson passed away Iris took in the Cromwell girls. There would be days that Fiona could not get out of bed and Iris was there to care for them as if she was their own mother. Everyone thought it was sad that Iris had such a maternal instinct but could have no children of her own so she made the Cromwell girls her own. And to Iris there was no more important people than the Cromwell girls. When she read Fiona's letter of Laurel and Emmy's heart ache her heart pounded in pain. She wrote quickly to Fiona saying that she would be there with in a fortnight.

.... 

That is exactly where Laurel was. Earlier that afternoon before Iris had come Laurel had received a small parcel. She didn't want anyone to fuss over it so she took it out to the gardens before anyone noticed. She could tell instantly it was from Ethan Foster, the hand writing matched a little not he had written her before he left. Inside the parcel was a little note that stated "Miss Cromwell, I saw this in a shop the other day and thought you would enjoy." It was a little pocket book of wild flower drawings but on the front cover was the inscription "your true friend, may you never forget. -E. Foster." She read it and pressed it against her heart. Until Aunt Iris found her out in the garden she was looking through all the pages going through all the pages going back to look the inscription then would hold it to her heart again.

            "There you are," Aunt Iris interrupted Laurel's train of thought.

            "Aunt Iris, I had not realized you had arrived yet. I would have been there to greet you."

            "Your mother and I had some things to discuss."

            "You are taking Emmy and I to Boston."

            "I am not taking you, I am inviting you to Boston. You are both growing up young ladies in need of seeing beyond the world of Pine Haven. You both should have a little diversion, a little culture and some new people to charm."

            "How civilized you make it all sound."

            "It is civilized, Boston is a splendid city with lots to do and see and some of the finest society on the east coast."

            "I know what mother intends."

            "She only wants your best. She is heartbroken over what has happened here this summer with you and Emmy. She thinks Boston will be good for you and I agree. But you think it over and let me know by the end of my visit."

            "I have already agreed to go."

            "I know, but I want you to come with me, I will not force you. You are graceful and eloquent with a perfect skill in etiquette but do not mask your pain from me. I have known you since you were a little baby, and I know a great deal of the burden you carry but do not forget to listen to your heart Laurel. Dinner is ready, come in when you want, we are going rather casual having dinner in the upstairs parlor, your mother did not want to make a big fuss."

          Though Aunt Iris told her to come in when she was ready she knew the tone meant come in now. It was the same tone that Fiona used when she told her something she did not want to do. Laurel tucked the book in her little drawstring purse, and followed Aunt Iris inside.

To read more click here  

        

Story time Saturday

I love this blog but I have been thinking that I haven't had that much time to write my story... and that's not really the case. I have time to write this blog, my post from Thursday took more than an hour. If I took that time and wrote my story at least once a week I would write a lot more.

It might take awhile because like I said it in my Hand and Handwriting post I write things by hand then type it up. But I want to write more and share my story more. Everything is in it's first draft form so please give me advise or corrections, thanks! 

Pic

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Last time in Pine Haven... (Click here to read more)

What was to happen later Emmy would know nothing about till months later. That night after dinner Julia watched Caleb escape into the library alone. Ever since the ball Caleb and Emmy had been inseparable. Julia even over heard Laurel getting made at Emmy for them sneaking off into the gardens alone before breakfast. To Julia it now seemed as if nothing would come between Emmy and Caleb and that vexed Julia more than anything to see her penniless cousin making such a good match, a match she had wanted. Julia knew the only thing she could do was throw herself at Caleb and she would suffer whatever consequence mother would throw at her. 

....

  "You don't know. You're love didn't tell you. The Cromwell girls are penniless. They have been since the day my aunt married a Mr. Jefferson Cromwell. He was going to be a lawyer but his father's publishing business needed help but it just tanked. He left his girls ruined being nothing but a charity case that my Grandmother and father have been covering up for the last eight years. Their only hope is a well marriage, everyone thought it was Laurel's burden to carry but when you started showing attention to Emmy, they all started whispering that you could be the one to relieve them from their rotten fate."

            "I think you have said too much," he had a mix tone of coldness and disappointed.

            "It is true all of it."

            "Well rest assure Miss Danford. I am not in love with Miss Emmy, I am not in love with any one," now he sounded a little sad.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

And now...

After that Caleb seemed distant and with any warning he left by the end of the week. Julia cared little that in doing what she did she broke off her cousin's chances of happiness. No one knew the facts, not even his lovely sister but Caleb James was not the big successful business but a few months ago it had gone sour and Caleb had sadly never learned how to manage his money properly. He still had his livings of the Upper East side, a few good suits, and a loyal butler who kept up the appearance that everything was fine but things were not well. Caleb was desperate for money. When he came to Danford Hall he thought he could marry one of the girls, out in this country side no one knew of his disaster. At first he believed Laurel was would be the one after his heart but she seemed cold to him the minute he walked in the door. But the middle daughter, Emmy, was full of spirit, and much more of a delight to be around than any one he had ever met. She was young that was true but with that youth she had not been taught to be a proper woman, the women Caleb usually found to be a bore. But she also had a great love of books and could keep up with him in intellectual conversations and the outer improvements Kathryn had helped with were just an extra addition. He found it to be a perfect match, she being related to the Danford family he was certain she had wealth at least enough to keep him in the life style he was comfortable in. But then to learn she was penniless not even to have a dowry. He could not marry her and live a penniless existence so he left. He was not blind he could ell Emmy favored him and found it best to leave her and not lead her on.

            Though Caleb was not blind to Emmy's feeling he was blind in many other ways. Everyone saw the fondness Emmy and Caleb had for each other and most of the house believed this fondness would lead to an engagement. Even Brandon, who knew Caleb's short attention span believed Caleb had finally found a girl who had tamed him, a girl who had at last made him want to settle down. And when Caleb took off before breakfast with only two lines to explain his actions it was Brandon who saw a crushed Emmy. After Caleb left Emmy was a changed girl. She sort of sulked around the house and she barely had an appetite. While she pretended to be all right it didn't take long for appearance to show the truth. Her eyes were red from crying and she hardly kept her hair in a perfect up do as she had been doing and her skin was pale from the heart ache she felt. She also barely made an appearance during the day until when Grandmother's rules dictated that she be present.

            "Oh Mrs. Cromwell, I do wish I could something to cheer up Miss Emmy's spirit," Kathryn said nearly a week after Caleb had been gone.

            "It is her first real heart break I don't think anything could cheer up her spirits."

            "Stupid Caleb for leaving so abruptly if only he had given a proper goodbye or waited out the season maybe then-"

            "I do not even think that would help Miss James. Emmy knew he was only here for a short time but the time he was her changed her world," Fiona looked over her daughter who had sunk down deep in her chair. "That is what first loves do no matter how long they last."

            " Well if Caleb loves Emmy half as much as she seems to love him then I am sure no distance could separate them. I believe he will go clear up whatever problem has hit and be back in her arms," Kathryn said the words and wanted to believe them more than she actually did.

            Perhaps they could reconcile in Boston Kathryn thought to herself, both Laurel and Emmy would be generously invited to the wedding. They are Nicholas' cousins and it would only make sense to have them at the wedding especially since Emmy has become a particular friend of mine, Kathryn thought. Yes that will be perfect, everyone knows weddings are a good place to meet your future mate or re-meet as the case may be.

Kathryn shared her thinking first with Nicholas, he did not seem enthused by the idea. He said that the Cromwell girls hardly traveled and were unlikely to travel for such a short time. But Kathryn casted off his negativity for he was a man who hardly thought of romantic ideals. So he kissed her forehead and told her he was happy doing anything that made her happy. Victoria agreed with Kathryn in stating they would of course be invited to the wedding but also agreed with Nicholas that the Cromwell girls probably wouldn't come. Kathryn did not think this to be true, of course they would come. Emmy would leap at the chance to see Caleb again. Everyone in the household except Julia believed Emmy and Caleb belonged together. A wedding would be perfect place to rekindle a love, everyone is more, so it was settled in Kathryn's mind.

            "Boston?! Really?" Emmy cheered up, it was the first sign of happiness since Caleb had left two weeks ago.

            "Of course you have to see Nicholas and I get married, we will be cousins."

            "It sounds too good to be true."

            "Well your mother still has to approve."

            "Oh she will! She wanted to send us to Boston to stay with Aunt Iris?"

            "Another sister?"

            "No Aunt Iris mother's dearest friends. She cared for us when father passed away. Her husband is Alfred Dumont."

            "Dumont?"

            "Do you know them?"

            "By status only. They are just slightly above my social range and I have never met one of their children."

            "They don't have any. Aunt Iris is always so kind to look at us Cromwell girls like her own daughters but believe me they rather have a son to pass on their estate to."

            "Well with your mother's approval it seems like all we have to do is pack up your trunks, you are always welcomed to Boston."

            "No we have to continue Laurel. she does not seem so thrilled with the idea of going to Boston and mother would not let me travel to Boston."

            "Well how hard would it be to convince Laurel?"

            "Pretty hard mother mentioned us going to Boston the night of the Taylor ball and she absolutely refused." 

            "Do no not worry I will think of a plan. I will make sure you get to Boston."

            Emmy was so over joyed she threw her arms around Kathryn's neck.

            "Oh Miss James you are too good to me."

            "Thank you Miss Emmy."

Click here to read more

Secrets Revealed

The days following the ball there was a shift in the household. People came to Danford Hall to call on the family and when Kathryn made her calls she invited Emmy to come with her not Julia. Emmy found most of the visits to be mind dulling and repetitive. She heard the same news, the same gossip or reports from each of the women they called on. The only calls Emmy found interesting were the ones Kathryn did for the church, it was these calls Kathryn and Emmy would visit the poor or the invalid. Here Emmy felt useful and the conversation were not mindlessly repetitive. But nothing replaced the pleasure Emmy gained from her quiet times in the woods.

            Emmy had tried to be more lady like but the woods still called to her so she would slip out before the house rose and then be back at breakfast with every hair in the right place and dressed without a spot of dirt. She thought no one was the wiser but little did she know one morning Caleb James woke up from the restless night and watched Emmy creep out into the woods. 

            "Hello Miss Emmy," Caleb called up to Emmy who was sitting on the lowest branch of the tree she always hid in.

            ”How did you know I was here?"

            "I saw you sneak out yesterday and today I followed you."

            "Oh Mr. James please don't tell the household."

            "Why not?"

            "I would be mortified if they found out."

            "Mortified?"

            "Yes so you must not tell them."

            "Why don't you come down so we can go for a walk or at least not yell and perhaps wake the house."

            "All right I'll come down."

            When Emmy was down from the tree Caleb asked. "Now what were you doing in that tree? and why can't I tell anyone?"

            "I am sorry Mr. James I guess I still have childish ways in me."

            "You need not apologize to me. I think that is endearing."

            "Thank you Mr. James but I don't think your sister or my sister would agree."

            "Why do you say that?"

            "Both of them want me to grow up or at last act more grown up.  I think they would see it as childish to climb trees or wade in creeks and get all muddy."

            "Well then Miss. Emmy it will be our little secret."

            "Thank you."

            "Now Miss Emmy, we should probably get back before anyone notices. I would hate to ruin your reputation by having you seen a lone with a man."

            "But we have walked alone before."

            "You had not been presented yet, now you have countless men seeking after your hand."

            "You are kind Mr. James but I doubt I will have countless men seeking after my hand."

            "You had a line of men wanting to dance with you."

            "Yes but that was one night, I can hardly believe any of them will turn into a suitor."

            "Why?"

            Emmy couldn't tell him they were penniless so thought of something quick. "Mother, would not allow me to anyone till Laurel was married or at least engaged."

            "That is very traditional."

            "My mother is very traditional. We had all hoped she would be engaged soon but we have heard nothing from Mr. Foster since he left," she didn't mean to say the name but it slipped."

            "Mr. Foster?"

            "Oh Mr. James, you cannot tell anyone I said the name. Laurel would slaughter me for speaking about it."

            "Two secrets in one day," Caleb smiled. "But Mr. Foster? A Mr. Ethan Foster?"

            "Yes. Do you know him?"

            "By name only. But I cannot believe he would propose to your sister."

            "Why not?" Emmy said in an angry huff.

            "Well the Mr. Foster I know, and it could be a different Mr. Foster is already engaged."

To read more click here

The Ball

  

 The instruments announced the first dance was about to begin and Nicholas was soon at Kathryn's side to have the first dance. Kathryn saw Emmy dancing with Caleb and Julia dancing with a man she had not been introduced to. When she asked Nicholas if knew the man, he reported it was Mr. John Melbourne. A good man but rather a bore, "poor Julia," he laughed. After a few minutes of dancing Kathryn saw Brandon taking the dance floor with Laurel. No one in Kathryn's acquaints looked particularly happy with their partner minus Emmy and Caleb. After the first dance Emmy was asked to dance by Patrick Castellan, a boy Emmy used to have a crush on but he paid no attention to her until tonight. But after that was the waltz and Brandon James was quick to arrive at her side before any other caller could arrive.

            "Hello Mr. James."

            "Hello Miss Emmy, have you still kept this dance free for me?"

            "I have indeed."

            "I am glad, it seems like everyman here wants your attention."

            "It is amazing what a new dress and some hair styling has done." Emmy had been proper all night but since Brandon had proved himself such a dear friend she felt quite at ease. "No one in this town noticed me before tonight and now thanks to your sister everyone is whispering about me. It feels nice."

            "My sister should not take the credit or your beauty."

            "But she should."

            "Why your beauty already existed."

            "Mr. James, please don't go complimenting me. All night I have listened to false compliments and it has been such a bore do not ruin my night completely."

            "I was not giving you any false compliments."

            Emmy was embarrassed then by her inconsiderate words. "Oh Mr. James I am sorry. Until tonight I was invisible, no one noticed me, at least not for my looks, and now I am not sure how to handle it all. I guess I assumed everyone was being false to me."

            "Even if they were, I would never be false to you. If you think that, then we clearly are not friends."

            "Mr. James do not say that; can we not begin again? I promise this time I will take your compliment and be thankful."

            "Perhaps you are right Miss Emmy I was being too forthright and I could see how could sound false."

            "No Mr. James I was wrong, and now I have ruined this whole dance for us and the waltz is my favorite dance."

            "It was not ruined for me Miss Emmy," he smiled at her.

For more click here

A blooming flower

The first part of this post might sound familiar if you read my post In want of Womanhood.

On Friday night I went to my friends to watch the Christmas Special of Downton Abbey. Downton Abbey always inspires me to want to write more. I know my story doesn't have the same drama as Downton but all the gracefulness and beauty inspire me. So here is some of my writing of the first part of the ball.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Emmy sat gazing her reflection in the mirror feeling that she possessed some of her childish features no matter how much Kathryn James tried to glamour her up. Emmy could still see the little freckles on the ridge of her nose she also saw a little girl figure with mostly no to curve to it she was still mostly a stick. She had hoped with her new dress and new hair she would see an eloquent woman looking back at her. A woman who has every hair perfectly in place and eyes that can make a man go weak in the knees. Emmy dabbed a tad of Fiona's perfume that had a wonderful fragrance of wild lilies and sweet mint. Fiona only wore it on special occasions and tonight she was allowing Emmy wear it. She smoothed a loose hair as Kathryn had done her hair perfectly earlier and gave her cheeks a little pinch so they would look rosier. Then her hand strolled down her neck till she felt her mother's pearls around her neck. Emmy placed her hand over them rubbing them every so lightly with the tips of her fingers. Fiona a only owned two necklaces her locket that carried Jefferson's picture and that never came off her neck and this pearl necklace, it was the one she wore when she married Jefferson and it was her only her luxury in life. She didn't even let Laurel wear them to her first ball but she was letting Emmy and Emmy knew how important that was.

            "Emmy!" Fiona's call hastened her step.

            She looked at herself one last time to fix that pesky strain of her hair and got up from the vanity. "Lord, let this night go well, let me remember it forever," she said the prayer quickly, adjusted her dress one last time and left the room as Fiona called for her again.

            Everyone was stunned ad they saw Emmy appear on the top landing of the stairs. All had noticed her slight improvements over these last few weeks since Kathryn had been helping her but no one expected to see such a beautiful lady appear when Emmy came around the corner. Laurel almost gasped when she saw the dress wasn't Emmy's but Miss James' dress. "How disgraceful that Emmy would accept charity," Laurel thought. Fiona and Kathryn only grinned ear to ear seeing the beautiful woman before them. Both Caleb and Brandon were taken back and Julia felt a little ping of jealously see how beautiful her cousin was made up.

            Caleb was bold taking her arm when she got to the bottom of the stairs and escorted her to the motor coach.

To read more click here

A Relaxing New Year's Day

Previews of my writings...

Before the Ball 

"A ball how wonderful," Gloria said dancing around the table.

           

"Indeed but Mrs. Taylor hardly needs advice on how to throw a ball, she has thrown the same summer eve ball for the last six years, she must be a seasoned pro."

            "But Miss James must know all the latest trends when it comes to balls," Emmy said to her mother. "She is so well cultured."

            "Yes indeed she seems to have a way of making friends where ever she goes. Nicholas could not have chosen a better partner."

            "Partner? Mother, you make it sound like a business."

            "It is in some respects, and not an easy one."

            "But a marriage should not be a business?"

            "Only in some respects, you will discover a great deal more about it when you get married."

            "If I get married."

            "You must have hope dear Emmy you are only sixteen."

            "You met father when you were seventeen and married him by twenty."

            "Four years is a long time you still get plenty of time," Fiona kissed her daughter on the forehead. 

            "Yes mother."

            Emmy didn't know then if she ever wanted to get married and she didn't know if she was to morn or rejoice over it. She wanted to passion that was for sure but she also wanted adventure, to see the world and everything in it but how could one do that and be a wife and mother? At sixteen she didn't have the answer.

            Gloria distracted her thoughts for awhile as she begged their mother to go to the ball.

            "Are you mad? You are far too young."

            "I will be thirteen soon."

            "Thirteen is still far too young."

            "But?"

            "You will just have to wait till you're older."

            "When will I ever be old enough to do anything."

            Gloria crossed her arms and fell into a chair slumping further than appropriate.

            Fiona turned to Emmy "I think though Emmy you are old enough. You are sixteen and Laurel went to her first ball at sixteen."

            "But I barely know how to dance and I have nothing to wear."

            "Well I can teach you more and you can borrow one Laurel's dress. You just have to promise to be careful with it."

            "Oh I will."

            "Good then its settled, Emmy will be going to her first ball," without keeping a beat seeing Gloria's sad puppy look "and you will go when you are sixteen and not a moment sooner."

            Gloria sighed.

            The girls had a mostly quiet afternoon until a surprise gift came for Emmy more flowers a beautiful arrangement from Miss Dashwood's nursery in town. The card did not say who they were from giving the house mild gossip over dinner time.

To read more click more

Emmy's Fluttering Heart 

That night at dinner everyone noticed the change in Emmy. Even Caleb who took a shine to her and insist that play a hand of cards together and as no one would join in they were left in conversation to themselves Emmy kept doing as Kathryn told her to do and she did glow as Kathryn had predicted. By the end of the game Caleb had requested two dance with her.

            "Well done Miss James," Julia said to Kathryn. "It looks like you might have a new sister."

            "No Caleb is a good brother but he gets amused quickly and then fleets away even quicker. Though I do think she will break more hearts than she realizes."

            "I doubt it, the family has no money."

            "Money hardly matters when it comes to matters of the heart," Kathryn said taking a sip of her champagne cocktail.

            "Besides Aunt Fiona will never let her marry till Laurel is well settled. All their hope depend upon Laurel marrying well."

            "Yes do you know of any attachment for Laurel, she seems so distant."

            "There was a young man the family had hoped would propose but nothing came of it."

            "How sad."

            "Yes it is, Laurel was so alive when he was around."

            "Well we must find someone to replace that man perhaps Nicholas has a friend I could math them up when they come to Boston. Both of them would do well out of the house."

            "You are so kind Kathryn it makes me wish I had such a generous nature," Julia took a large swig of her drink and left Kathryn's side nothing she said was going to un-charm Kathryn away from the Cromwell girls.

            By the time of the ball it seemed Caleb and Emmy were hardly inseparateble. He taught her how to drive around the driveway and he took a keen interest in being shown the woods. As they could not convince anyone else to go out on their walks they were often alone. Emmy loved theses moments alone with him. She imagined them being caught in rain storm with no place to run for shelter, the air would smell fresh as it always did during a summer rain, and he would kiss her. But they were never caught in a rainstorm and when they walked together he was always a gentleman not standing too close to her. He would offer her his hand if they had rocks to step over but would never hold onto to her longer than needed. Those times with Caleb were far better than any moment she had had with a crush and figured this was what ultimately true love; like Guinevere and Lancelot or Romeo and Juliet except a lot less violence and no death, Emmy told herself.

To read more click here

Welcome Mr. Caleb James

Okay I have gotten a lot typing done... woo hoo. I wrote on my last post on this story I had 16,000+ words now 18,000+ words.

Here is my preview to The Introduction to Caleb James 

Summer had begun to turn from cool mornings to warm afternoons back to cool evenings to just warm all the time. Sometimes it was almost unbearable to stand. Emmy one day needed a break and went down to cool herself off by standing in her creek. Since Kathryn James had arrived she had spent little time in her imaginary world so that day when the women were taking their usual afternoon naps Emmy snuck out and headed to the creek.

            The clouds were grey and the air smelt like rain. Emmy knew the smell well and knew it meant a storm was coming on but instead of being sensible and staying in she took her chances and headed out with no protection. The creek and the woods were peaceful and she lost track of time out there it was almost dusk before she realized it. Her feet were still wet from her last wade in so she decided to walk home barefoot.

            Little did she know nature or fate (as she later called it) was conspiring against or for her. For the last hour she had felt an occasional drop of rain but paid no attention to it. But it seemed as soon as she left her rock a dark cloud rolled over her and sent the storm she had long been smelling. She wrapped her arms around her book and ran quickly through the woods to Glenmoore field where she knew a little fort was built to protect drivers on the road from the rain such as this. This little fort would be faster to get to than the house and she would have a warmer reception at the empty fort then at her home, where she was sure to get a lecture both from Grandma Danford and Laurel and a sad look from her mother. She knew they would act as if it was her fault for it to be raining and they would both be upset she had snuck out and acted in a child like manor. Emmy remembered a time when Laurel would chase rainbows with her just to see what was on the other side. She remembered how fun Laurel was once and how she had as big of an imagination as Emmy did but now it all seemed like a distant past. Then it happened, fate, being lost in her remembrance she hadn't realized there was a little rock up ahead waiting for her to lose her footing. And she stumbled and was not able to catch herself. She was later not able to tell people how she fell all she knew was one moment she was running the next she was rolling down a hill trying to stop herself. And that’s when fate, or Caleb James, stepped in.

            He had been driving through to this desolate town at his sisters request when his engine stopped working. And his engine had stopped working then as he was tinkering on his engine it started raining. He saw the fort in the field and trumped towards it and with each step he sunk into the mud. Then it happened he saw a girl running through the field with almond hair and slender figure, he thought she almost looked like a deer. Next thing he knew she lost her footing and fell forward crashing into the ground and rolling down towards him. He picked up his feet from the mud and rushed towards her.

            She barely realized what happened, she could feel her head throbbing the fall was harder than she realized. She felt as every ounce of air was out of her and her lungs felt as if they collapsed.

            "Miss, Miss, are you all right?" A man asked.

            She could not answer him.

            "Are you all right?" he asked again.

             "I, I" she could say anymore.

            "Here give me your arm," he took her left arm and draped it around his neck and scooped her up.

            In his arms she felt as light as a feather.

            "A Danford I assume."

            "Cromwell."

            "Oh Miss Cromwell my sister has written me about you."

            "Emmy."

            "Well Miss Emmy, it is a pleasure to meet you. May I take you home."

            "Thank you."

            Laurel was working on her needle point near the window it was the best light in the parlor. Mother and Aunt Victoria were chatting idly and she had lost her focus on her needle point and was absentmindedly staring out the window. When she saw him,  a stranger, carrying her sister up the drive.

            "Mother?!"

            "What?" Fiona jumped out her seat, startled by her daughters scream.

            "A man has Emmy!"

            "What?" A dash to the window "who is he?"

            "I don't know!"

            Both Fiona and Laurel dashed to the front door. They began to run outside but he was already in the main door.

            "What happened?" Fiona asked flustered.

            " I am alright mother. I fell a bit."

            "Yes mam, I made sure she was all right before I lifted her, just had the air knock out of her and maybe some bruises."

            "She fell?"

            "Yes I lost footing. But I am fine, my head hurts a bit."

            "Come to the couch, I will fetch you both some tea," Laurel said as Fiona escorted them a mad rush.

            Caleb placed Emmy on the chaise as Fiona ran to get her daughter blankets. He took the seat next to her but when Fiona came in with Fiona came in with the blankets he got hop and let Fiona take the seat next to her daughter. Emmy tried to act calm but she could feel him staring at her and she felt flustering.

            "We are so thankful Mr.-"

            "James. Mr. Caleb James."

            "James? Mr. Brandon James and Miss James' brother?" Fiona asked.

            "The very same."

            "We were not expecting you till later this week."

            "Well I was able to get away sooner than I thought. But I do hope my early arrival is not an imposition."

            "No, no not at all. We have plenty of rooms to fill."

            "It just I am sure Miss James will be sad she and Julia  have gone out to call Miss Hester, she is the minister's daughter and runs a small school for under privileged children. She spoke on Sunday and your sister was quite motivated by the story. Your sister is so generous."

            "Yes always has been."

            Caleb stood when Laurel came in with the tea and Fiona quickly explained that the hero of the moment was Brandon and Kathryn's brother.

To read more click here.

A casual gaze

While I have been writing this blog I have thought of a few things about myself. Maybe in a way to explain my writing or just therapy for myself; either way I won’t be too mushy (I hope but I am emotional so I might not be able to resist).

One thing as previously discussed I am a hopeful romantic but I am not very experienced in the world of “romance.” I have only had four boyfriends and I have only kissed two boys. The first was my first real boyfriend in high school and I was nineteen years old.To be honest after watching plenty of teen soap operas ranging from Gilmore Girls and Dawson’s Creeks I felt I was the only girl who had not had a first kiss and also just to be honest I really wanted my first kiss. Sadly (no offense to him) no sparks flew and definitely no fireworks went off (not like you see in movies.) Then we broke up mostly because I was moving to Boston, three thousand miles away from him and we no longer talk minus maybe a “happy birthday” on Facebook. But I felt he had a part of me, a part I could never get back and I didn’t like it. I then set a standard for myself that I wouldn’t kiss a boy till I said “I love you.” In this day I am guessing that moving at a glacier pace but that explains why I have kissed one other boy because I loved him and I thought I was going to spend the rest of my life with him. But it didn’t work out because of factors I won’t get into. So besides losing myself in what might seem like silly novels (check out Love of Reading) I have not had much experience in the world of romance but I am hopeful that one day I will meet Mr. Right but until that day I keep practicing being Mrs. Right (as a good friend once told me).

Another thing about myself is that I consider myself a plain Jane. Now I don’t say this as a way to be pitiful. I will say it honestly I just don’t look at myself and see myself as this knock out girl. Though as an author I would writer I had gold red hair that looked like the sunset and blue eyes that sparkled like the sea. To me that sounds like a fairy tale princess but I am far from feeling like a fairy tale princess. Maybe every woman feels like this after looking at themselves day in and day out. Or maybe women take more time putting themselves together. Now don’t get me wrong I don’t walk around with my hair disheveled or my clothes stained. I comb my hair but usually that it I don’t curl, flat iron or anything like that. And I will admit until high school I didn’t really use a hair dryer and however my hair looks that is how it will be. Then in college I started wearing make up but I still working on it. And honestly, I am not knocking women who take lots of time with their looks because they look great, I just don’t care. I’d rather sleep in. I’d rather slip my skirt on (except when it’s too cold) and my cardigan and leave my house then spend my money on the newest fashion. That’s just me. I am plain Jane and I am okay with that. But it might be why I write about plain Janes and hope in my stories like in real life that someone will see beyond the plain Janeness and see me. I think thats what will happen to my character Emmy.

There might be more later... but for right now I wanted to post this gaze into my life

In Want of Womanhood

I saw this little tray at my dad and step-mom's house sitting on a little antique vanity table and it looked so picturesque that I took a picture with my phone to think about using it in my story.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I sit gazing in the mirror feeling that I still possessed some childish features in my face from the little freckles on the ridge of my nose and the slight pudginess in my cheeks that could still be called baby fat. But I hadn't been a baby in 16 years and at seventeen I wanted to gaze into my reflection and see this elegant grown up woman looking back at me. A woman who has every hair perfectly in place and eyes that can make a man go weak at the knees. My hair usually disheveled and my eyes are plain and not likely to make a man go weak in the knees. But tonight is a special night so I picked up my ivory comb and tried to untangle my hair and make it look more womanly tamed. I put a tad of my mother's perfume that had the wonderful fragrance of wild lilies and sweet mint. My mother only wore it on special occasions and tonight she was letting me wear it. Wearing mother's perfume made me want to feel grown up. I then pulled my hair up in a twist as I had watched my older sister do a thousand times and hoped no one would notice that a few strands fell out around my face. I pinched my cheeks in the way my sister had shown me so they would look more rosy and clasped mother's pearl necklace around my neck. I placed my hand over them rubbing the pearls ever so lightly with the tips of my fingers. Mother only owned two necklaces her locket, that carried father's picture and never came off her neck and this pearl necklace, it was the one she had married father in and was her only real luxury in life. She didn't even let Laurel wear them to her first ball but she was letting me and I knew how important that was.

"Emmy," mother's call to me hastened my step.

I looked at myself quickly and even snagged a glance in the small hand mirror to correct any little flaws I could and then got up from the vanity. 'I hope I remember this night forever,' I thought took a deep breath and adjusted my dress one last time and then left the room as my mother called for me again.