The first novel shared has been put aside for maybe the winter writing sessions.

The current book, tentatively called Millington, is about halfway through the first draft. Hoping publication can be a reality by August. Notice the word hoping.

I’ll put a shortcut from Chapter One First Words below so you’ll get to know some of the characters.

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Joshua Tailor leaned over and picked up the box that Sara Paulson had dropped behind her on the red brick sidewalk outside the old two-story brick Millington Library on Main Street. The library sat across from the courthouse, a cafe, a dress shop, and two local independent insurance businesses. When they were younger, if he’d done that, Sara would have called him nosy, interfering, grit her teeth, and take the box from him. He smiled and examined the box. Plain cardstock box. Well used. Probably supplied by the library.

“Hey!”

He looked at Sara. “Drop something?” he asked.

She frowned and shifted the canvas shoulder tote she carried, and a smaller box, and stepped toward Joshua. “That’s mine.” She made a face. “Yes, I dropped it. Thank you.”

Being polite had been drilled into her by her mother and grandmother. It sometimes was greatly delayed, but it eventually came. Joshua smiled and looked at the box again. It had not been light. It was probably books. The library was having a sale of their old books, and he figured that was still hard for Sara to pass up.

“Welcome.” Joshua gave the box a little shake.

“Don’t do that!” Sara stepped closer and awkwardly took the box from his hands.

“I can help carry your books,” he said with a smile. “You know, like I used to in middle school.”

Her frown became a look of confused indecision. She looked at the load she had, one that was already dangerously shifting, and sighed. “Okay. Thank you. My car is two blocks down.”

“Two blocks?” He chuckled. “Tried to avoid the sale, did you?” He took the box back before she could change her mind. “Lead the way.”

Joshua walked with her down the sidewalk, waiting while she unlocked the ten-year-old Chevy sedan and opened the passenger side door.

“There is fine,” she said.

He carefully bent over to put the box in the front seat, noticing a small sack of groceries on the floor. He stepped back, and she put the smaller box and tote on top of it and closed the door.

She turned to look at him. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome. It was good to see you again.”

She was almost able to hide the disbelief. “I didn’t know you were back home.”

“Now you do,” he smiled. “Later.” He turned and headed back toward the library.

When he heard the car start, he sighed. It sounded rough. He glanced behind him as she pulled away from the curb and drove away. He would have liked to talk more. She’d been a good friend when they were younger. He’d wondered sometimes about her after he left Millington. She’d been the target of some of the kids that found their kicks in bullying. Intimidated by her intelligence and quietness, they targeted her for a short time. Until he’d walked into one of the sessions and convinced the bullies, physically, that their bullying was stopping. Immediately. Permanently.

Joshua shook his head, crossed the street at the library, walked another two blocks, and entered the cafe. He had other things to think about right now. He went all the way to the back, sat at the small table, and met the look of the woman he’d joined.

“Missed me enough to follow me halfway across the country?” He didn’t hide the sarcasm.

“You called Sam.”

Joshua looked up as a young man came to get his order. “Just coffee. Black. Strong,” Joshua told the young man, wondering how long it had taken him to grow the sparse blond mustache. It didn’t take long for the coffee to arrive. Joshua took a sip, put the cup down, and leaned back in his chair and studied the woman across from him. He’d seen her standing in front of the cafe when he’d been about to pick up the box for Sarah. A tall woman with blue eyes, short black hair contrasting her pale complexion, and a slightly crooked nose that added interest to her overall look. She was dressed in black slacks, a silky tan blouse, and a light black jacket. Easy to look at and not much else. She was studying him with clear suspicion.

“Liz.” Joshua raised a brow.

“You called Sam.”

“My business, not yours.”

“I saw you carrying that box. So, if you’re able to do that, you’re able to work.” Liz Vincinti’s smile was as fake as her encouraging expression. Then anger suddenly stirred in her eyes as she asked, “Who is she, an old flame?”

“Flame?” he snorted. “Are you reading romance novels now?”

“Well?”

Joshua shook his head, deciding that attempting a friendly conversation might get her on her way more quickly. “We went to school together. This is where I grew up, remember?”

“Ah, yes, you came home to hide out.”

So much for being friendly. “What do you want?” Joshua asked coldly.

“To see for myself what you’re up to.” ©