This is to give you all a taste of my writing style and writing endeavors. This is one of the first installment in what is available as part of my self-publishing venture.
Serial 1
L
ife is a constant cycle of trials and tribulations -- and one of the many celebrations of good times was graduation. But the excitement and fun with family and friends, along with a sense of accomplishment and completion, that marked this momentous experience seemed to get lost in the shuffle of the holidays. With the hustle and bustle of the approaching holidays, it was easy to forget to take time to savor these moments and feelings. There wasn't much time to think about the new journeys that would soon be beginning.
Speaking of fresh starts, commencement was only the beginning of much more -- especially for Malan Hamel and Lathal Harvey who would be beginning new lives together. On top of commencement parties and holiday festivities, the couple was busy planning their spring wedding.
Malan and Lathal had expected they'd have more flexible schedules after graduation from North Central Texas University. Instead, there was nonstop demands and errands. They felt stressed and frustrated since they hardly had any free time for themselves, much less each other.
They were considerably behind for the holidays. They'd decided to spend the holiday season with his family in LA. Somehow they managed to take care of their travel arrangements; other than that they hadn't done much shopping or decorating, and Christmas was less than a week away.
She had had it with the constant mad frenzy of the last few weeks. She was tired of running around town, its flooded streets, where many drove like maniacs or idiots. She was tired of fighting the crowds as she shopped in the malls and stores. She was tired of being at work, appointments or wherever on time. Most of all, she was tired of having her life so filled with activities and whatever else that she hadn't been with her fiance in -- God knows! The million things on her to do list could wait, she decided firmly, driving in the direction of her fiance's apartment near the
North Central Texas University campus. She flung her heavy wool coat onto the passenger seat after she'd stepped out of her compact car. She slightly pushed up the sleeves of purple, pink, white and black striped sweater. She hadn't had a white Christmas since she'd lived in Texas. The weather was fair -- and occasionally windy -- with temperatures in the 60s throughout the winter.
She wondered if Malan was even home
. She glanced around the parking lot in front of his apartment that was nearly vacant. Many residents were out of town for the holidays. She reminded herself that she'd made the effort to come to spend time with her fiance and she intended to see it through. She sighed and climbed the stairs to his apartment, which was on the second floor on the right. She lightly rapped on his door. Having heard the knocking, her prospective husband's neighbor
s peeked at her from behind the curtain hanging in their front window. His neighbors had seen her come over before -- and not leave until the morning. They probably didn't approve and thought she was a harlot for spending the night, but she didn't care -- as long as they didn't tell her parents who would definitely give her a lecture about her morally inappropriate behavior. He's not home, she thought after she standing in front of the silent and unmoving door for a few minutes. Annoyed and disappointed she started to walk away, but the click of the door lock caught her attention. Glancing over her shoulder, she saw him casually leaning in the doorway.
She pivoted on her heels, revealing the warm smile highlighting her lips. "I thought you weren't home."
"Oh," he said, admiring her with shy appreciation. "I'm home.
"What have you been doing?" She said, walking into his apartment. "Didn't you hear me knocking?"
"Hmm.. nothing," he said, shaking off his distracting thoughts. "No, I was dragging my Christmas tree out of the attic."
She rubbed her hands together like a villain plotting a diabolical scheme. "Great! Let's get to it."
He smiled. Since he hadn't been with her since God knew when, it'd be fun to spend some time with her enjoying the merriment of the holidays with her.
"Wouldn't you rather have a real tree?" She said, pulling the pieces of his artificial tree out of the box.
He knelt down beside her, helping her assemble the base. "A live tree is such a hassle. Besides it's so sad when you have to throw it out after the holidays."
She nodded in agreement as they arranged the branches on
the tree. "You do the lights, I'll put up the ornaments." "I'm afraid I don't have many ornaments
," he confessed as he searched his closet for his Christmas decorations. "It's OK. We could always make popcorn garland and fruit ornaments
," she smiled. "I remember doing that as a child
," he said wistfully setting the few boxes of decorations he had near the tree. A dreamy sparkle gleamed in her eyes. "If I'd known, I would have brought the few ornaments I had. Some of them are old ornaments that hung on our family's tree in my youth we made in school out of those metal canning lids."
"I love you, Lathal." He brushed his lips against her cheek. She turned her head, her mouth meeting his. He cupped the curves of her face with his hands as they kissed passionately. "Can you stay for dinner?"
"If you're cooking, of course," she teased.
"I think that can be arranged," he laughed appreciatively as he rose and moved into the kitchen.
She put the ornaments on the tree while he started dinner in the kitchen. After a few minutes, he reentered the den. She was sitting on the couch and he sat beside her.
She critically evaluated the sparsely decorated tree. "I'll bring my ornaments to add to your tree when I come to visit you tomorrow."
"Good," he said, beckoning her with his finger. "Come here."
Sliding closer to him, she gazed at him invitingly. He gently pulled her down on top of him, wrapping his arms around her. He relaxed his shoulder blades on the couch's cushioned arms. He gazed down at her tenderly as his fingertips stroked
the tendrils of her hair. She laid her head on his chest and listening to the rhythmic sounds of his heart beating. She snuggled close to him, pressing her lips against his neck.
He moaned in pleasure. "Lathal."
"Yes?" She whispered as he tenderly kissed her lips.
"I haven't gotten you anything for Christmas yet," he softly confessed with regret between kisses.
"Me either," she admitted with the same regretful tone. "But I was thinking of putting myself under the tree."
"I wouldn't mind that," he said, his tone suggesting he'd had similar thoughts to hers. "After dinner, we could do some shopping."
"Sounds like a plan," she said, slightly shifting her body into a more comfortable position beside him.
He gave her a quick peek on the forehead in agreement. But he was overwhelmed by how much he badly he wanted and needed her. His expression softened as he pulled her into his embrace.
"I've missed you," he said, gently caressing her.
"Me too
," she softly agreed. They gazed deeply into each other's eyes. It was a tender, intimate moment when time stood still and everything in the world was right.
"I love you, Lathal," he murmured huskily.
"I love you, Malan
," she whispered tenderly. They kissed hungrily again and again. Her taunt breasts brushed against his chest; his erection pressed between her legs. They were making out heavily on the couch when his phone rang.
He groaned in protest at the phone still buzzing in demand for his attention. "No, it's not fair."
"Malan," she teased.
He
planned to ignore or let his answering machine pick up the call, but both knew he couldn't do that considering directors or his agent might be calling about theatrical productions or commercials. Regretfully pulling away, he stretched to pick up the cordless phone setting on the coffee table in front of the couch. "Malan Hamel," he said in mild annoyance. He looked at her. "Yes, she's right here."
As he handed her the phone, she wondered who would be calling her here. She'd only given her fiance's number to her boss at the newspaper and her mother.
"Hello?" She said cautiously.
"Lathal, I have some bad news," her sister Ginger said somberly.
Immediately she thought something bad had happened to her 1-month-old niece. Maybe her sister's baby had gotten very sick and was in the hospital, or worse she was dead.
"What's wrong?" She said, trying to keep her voice strong and calm.
Ginger broke into sobs. "Dad died today, Lathal."
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