Wrap Up

Wrap Up Here you will see posts about my most recent editing projects.

10/10/2024

Everything in the back of her mind, all of that professionality and maturity, kept trying to tell her that all of this was wrong. She could hear it echoing throughout her mind, but she tuned it out. It wasn’t because she didn’t care about what was right or wrong; she just didn’t agree with that part of her mind.
Using somebody was wrong, but they weren’t using each other. Showing favoritism was wrong, but she wasn’t doing that, either. Giving out favors for the wrong reason… She would never do that, either.
This wasn’t some type of quid pro quo. It wasn’t a negotiation, or even a real affair. There was no one they were going home to, expecting them to be faithful. The only ones that might look down on them were the ones who looked down at everyone from their long, pointy noses, just waiting to catch them in the act of something despicable.

-excerpted from Lily of the Valley by Jessica Horsley

09/05/2024

“What’s wrong?”
“It’s not ‘wrong’ exactly. It’s just important.” She took a deep breath. “Beck, do you remember when we talked about me giving you a real chance? A chance for us to be something more?”
“Of course.”
“Well, I’ve still been holding myself back, or trying to, at least. I… I’ve been wondering why I’m still so scared… You’ve been so amaz-ing… I don’t know if I’ve just been questioning my judgment, or what I was thinking before, but…”
He waited a second and realized that she wasn’t sure how to finish her thought. He un-buckled his seatbelt and scooted in slightly, putting them closer.
“It’s okay. What are you trying to say?”
She looked directly at him and her breath caught in her throat for a moment.
How did he still do that to her?
She leaned into him slightly, pulling them closer together.
What was so important that it was this hard for her to say? Was he missing something? Was there some sort of news that she hadn’t told him yet?
“Timea?”
“I love you.”
Tears started coming down her cheeks, but she maintained as much eye contact as she could.
“I feel like I would have always loved you, if I had just given myself the chance to. I’ve been trying so hard not to, and I’m not even sure why anymore. I just feel like…”
She coughed slightly as it became hard for her to speak.
“I’m sorry,” she squeaked.
“It’s okay.”
He scooted in a little further and she leaned against his shoulder. He pulled an arm around her as she continued to cry.
He felt like he’d been waiting his whole life for her to say those words. He had a feeling that she felt it, too, but he didn’t want to say it and not have her say it back. He couldn’t even figure out when he knew that he loved her, but he knew it now, and that was what was important.
He pulled his hand up to stroke her hair gently.
“It’s okay,” he repeated. “I love you, too.”
“I know you do.” She heaved a shaky breath. “You show me all the time… Why have I been so scared, when I could tell I could trust you? I know you’d never hurt me.”
“Of course not. Why would I want to?”
She laughed slightly against him and pull-ed her hands underneath his jacket. She gripped onto his shirt, her palms still sweaty from nerves. She wrapped her hands tightly until they were balled fists against him, holding on like her life depended on it.
“It’s all right,” he said again.
-excerpted from Burn Patterns by Jessica Horsley

08/24/2024

Gabriel stepped out onto the deck, eyeing Joyce leaning against the railing. The wind blew softly threw her long blonde hair, moving it gently in varying directions. It was getting late, and the sun was going down. He could feel her tension from where he was standing and felt it get a little stronger as he walked toward her.
He knew she could hear him, but she didn’t turn around. He pulled his long arms gently around her and she put one of her hands over his. He kissed the top of her head gently.
“Are you all right?” he whispered.
She hesitated a moment, weighing her answer. “I suppose so.”
“It’s not like it’s the end of the world.”
“I know that… I’m just disappointed.”
“I know. Me, too… but that doesn’t mean we can’t keep trying.”
“True… I guess it’s a little early to be talking about a baby, anyway. We’ve got plenty of time.”
“Yes, that’s right, and it’s not like we don’t have anything else going on in our lives. We just got started on our careers. There’s no reason to ignore that.”
She smiled weakly, almost laughing nervously to herself. She patted his hand for a second, then stood up full. She turned around, still only inches away from him. She looked up and could see the sun hitting his tan face and casting shadows almost all the way up to his dark curly hair.
“Maybe it was a mistake getting checked right before our anniversary,” she admitted.
“Maybe. I guess it being close just put it on my mind… Do we still get to celebrate tonight?”
“I suppose we should.”

This is from the opening of Split Wood, which I am finishing writing today. Hopefully it will be available for sale within the next few weeks. I will keep you posted!

07/27/2024

Picking up the knife, she wished that she wasn’t in her kitchen. She wished that nasty, cold-hearted, lecherous killer was here, standing right in front of her knife.
Without thinking about it, she hit the knife against the kitchen counter. Unable to stop, she kept hitting it, chipping away at some of the tile.
In the next room Braden heard the knocking sounds and sat up. He turned on the nearest lamp and followed the sound. She was still hitting the counter with the knife, even though tears were starting to fall down her face as she kept looking ahead.
“Bloom!” he called, but she didn’t stop.
“Bloom!” He stepped up behind her and carefully moved his hand in front of her. “Bloom, put the knife down.”
She kept crying as her voice tried to come but came out as a whimper.
“Bloom, put the knife down. It’s me, Braden. Just put it down, please. I don’t want you to get hurt. Please, put it down.”
She slowly released her tense fingers from the blade and set it on the counter. She cried harder, almost screaming out.
“It’s okay,” he soothed.
“No!”
She turned around and pulled herself into his arms, leaning hard against his shoulder. As the tears continued down her face, a couple of tears leaked out of his eyes, too.
Maybe he should stay up with her. She wouldn’t actually hurt herself, would she? It wasn’t worth the risk.
“I miss him, too,” he whispered. “I know it hurts.”
“I want him back,” she sobbed.
“I know. Me, too.”
She squeezed his back, clinging harder to him.

-excerpted from A Murder of Crows by Jessica Horsley

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