Click here for Part 1 (one week ago)
Roses
April gazed at the flowers, sightless. Caramel somersaulted across the floor like an orange tumbleweed when the tissue kissed the floor. April woke from her reverie and regarded the cat at play. She held the box away. “What shall I do with you? Too pretty to throw away—who sent you?”
The cat gave up on the shredded paper mess. Meow? Eyes luminous black slits, he stared up into her face. An ear twitched and he cocked his head. Meow?
April blinked and squinted at the cat with recognition this time. “How late is it? Haven’t I fed you yet?” Still gripping the box at arm’s length, she spun toward the kitchen. “Come on.” He galloped ahead and pitched into his empty bowl by the fridge. April waved the box back and forth as if glued to it. At last she dropped it on the table with a kerplunk, then rubbed palms on her trousers. The cat wove back and forth around her feet as she filled his dish.
Hands on hips, April studied the table again and nodded.
She arranged the roses in a crystal vase Henry had given her long ago. With the tip of her forefinger, she caressed a stem. Oh, Henry, I—
Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony interrupted Caramel’s vigorous crunching. April jumped and retrieved her cell. Leaning against the black granite counter, she pursed her lips. I don’t know who this is. She put it down in a rush as if it had seared her hand.
The cell resounded again fifteen minutes later. Jittery, she picked it up. The same number flashed on the screen. As well, there was a message from her lawyer she hadn’t noticed before.
Part 3 Next Time
© 2015 Tess and How the Cookie Crumbles. All Rights Reserved
April 28, 2015 at 7:11 pm
I love the juxtaposition of the cat, Beethoven’s music, the flower in the vase that triggered the memory of Henry. Great scene set up and action, Tess.
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April 28, 2015 at 7:37 pm
Lovin it
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April 28, 2015 at 7:52 pm
Gah! Must we wait another week?!???!!
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April 28, 2015 at 8:16 pm
Tess, I got so absorbed in this. Thanks for linking to part one. It was even better with a refresher. Great serial. Mega hugs!
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April 28, 2015 at 8:18 pm
Oh you’re making us wait, are you?
Well, you know it’s worth the wait, so we’ll wait…
Any hints? 😉
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April 29, 2015 at 1:15 am
You are a tease Tess!
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April 29, 2015 at 4:26 am
Reblogged this on Smorgasbord – Variety is the spice of life and commented:
Part two of the story Roses begun last week by Tess Karlinski.. I make a point of going over to her blog Wednesdays for her wonderful short fiction and at the weekend for the detailed and fascinating post on her travels in China. Pop over and find out for yourselves.
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April 29, 2015 at 7:44 am
Thanks so m.u.c.h., Sally, for the re-blog and your thoughtful support. ❤ ❤
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April 29, 2015 at 5:45 am
Tess you’ve got me trapped here! Let me out!!!! 😀
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April 29, 2015 at 6:24 am
This is so intriguing Tess where is it going? 🙂
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April 29, 2015 at 8:57 am
Oooh this is getting good, Tess! Loving every word! You really have a way with words, my friend! Look forward to the part 3! Hugs!
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April 29, 2015 at 9:32 am
Yay! At long last a “next chapter!” And a good one, too. I’m hooked.
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April 29, 2015 at 10:23 am
Can’t wait for part three!!
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April 29, 2015 at 10:35 am
Oh, I can’t wait until next week. Is April in Danger? What happened to Henry? Great Job Tess! 🙂 ❤
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April 29, 2015 at 12:31 pm
Ohhh now we want to know what the message is! You have us captivated, Tess! 🙂 ❤
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April 29, 2015 at 4:04 pm
Love that you’re doing multiple chapters. You must do that with the 100 Word Challenges also. I hate being left hanging!
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April 29, 2015 at 6:50 pm
Leaving us to ponder another week?! Wonderful and suspenseful and leaving me on the edge Tess. You are a most gifted writer!
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April 30, 2015 at 3:15 pm
Thanks so much, Sue, I appreciate the complimen,t but I still have my training wheels on. ❤ ❤ ❤
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April 30, 2015 at 6:53 pm
Looks to me like you are long past that stage my friend!
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April 29, 2015 at 9:09 pm
Nice that the suspense is being kept up high. 🙂
Many greetings from Germany,
Salva
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April 30, 2015 at 8:53 am
Such a tease…but I love it!
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April 30, 2015 at 1:17 pm
This is intriguing. Why is she afraid? Same time next week, right? 😛
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April 30, 2015 at 4:04 pm
The mystery builds and we are no closer to knowing the truth…very intriguing this Tess, looking forward to the next installment ❤
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May 1, 2015 at 6:56 am
Serial suspense – love it!
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May 1, 2015 at 7:57 am
Thanks so much, Pamela. ❤ ❤ 😮
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May 1, 2015 at 2:37 pm
Fabulous! I missed it last week but thanks for the catch up!
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May 1, 2015 at 2:40 pm
No, I didn’t! Now I remember… It’s getting more and more intriguing..
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May 2, 2015 at 8:10 am
Tess you are a master, or is that mistress, of the serial short story. This is excellent. I hope, as far behind as I am in my reading this week, I find part three somewhere to read this weekend.
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May 3, 2015 at 7:50 am
You are such a sweetie, I could cry. Thank you for your kind words, Val. I must find time for part 3. Always disorganized and overwhelmed. ❤
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May 3, 2015 at 6:35 pm
Damn it . . . who was calling!?!? The suspense is killing me.
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May 3, 2015 at 8:33 pm
Beautifully written, Tess! I love the way you string images together… the tissue kissing the floor, the cat looking like an orange tumbleweed!
Looking toward the next chapter with great anticipation.
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May 4, 2015 at 10:29 am
Thank you, Kate. I appreciate your kind support.
This began as a filler for another challenge. sound like I’ll have to finish it and not put off until it’s time for another filler. Sigh. ❤ ❤ ❤
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May 4, 2015 at 7:23 pm
Great little series here Tess. ❤ I await part 3!
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Pingback: Roses (part 3) | How the Cookie Crumbles
May 21, 2015 at 8:53 pm
Who called. Who called?
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May 22, 2015 at 6:41 am
😀 😀 😀
Thanks so much for reading and commenting. ~{=_=}“
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