AUTHOR JANET W. FERGUSON
  • Home
  • Novels
  • About Janet
  • Blog: Under the Southern Sun
  • Contact Janet
  • For Book Clubs
  • Press Kit
  • Get a Free Novella

Blog: Under the Southern Sun

a short story for you and more

4/23/2021

2 Comments

 
Hey friends!
I have one more short story I'd written a while back called Heart Supplement. I thought I would send it to you for fun!  Also, if you're near Vicksburg, Mississippi, tomorrow, I'll be signing my novels at Lorelei Books. The address is 1103 Washington Street.

Heart Supplement


Rachel never expected to be a widow at fifty. Now her friends had talked her into selling health supplements and attending this convention in Atlanta. The new business gave her activities to fill the empty evening hours, but spending the night in a fancy hotel room alone seemed strange. In the past, she’d only stayed in hotels with her husband and family. She sucked in a breath and pressed the elevator button to head down to the lobby. She could do this. The products were good, and she’d learn more about them this week, maybe get motivated to make more sales.

A ding brought her attention up to the lighted numbers. The doors slid open, and a man in a designer suit smiled. “Going down?”

“Yes. Thank you.” She took a step inside, but stopped. The man’s blue eyes looked familiar. It couldn’t be. “Are you—“

“Rachel?” The voice was warm and deep. The same voice she’d spent hours listening to on the phone in high school.

“Steve?” Rachel couldn’t stop a smile. Or the warmth filling her chest. How long had it been since she’d seen her first real boyfriend? She really needed to stop staring, but the years had been kind to him. A nice set of smile lines crinkled his eyes, and his dark blond hair held a few strands of gray, but they only made him more attractive somehow.

“I can’t believe it. I was thinking of you not long ago. Actually…I think of you often.”

Heat crept up Rachel’s cheeks, and she struggled with how to answer.

Steve cleared his throat and continued, “I heard you married, so I don’t want to get in trouble with your husband or anything.” His brows drew together above his arched nose. “Do you stay in touch with anyone from school?”

The elevator jerked to a stop at the bottom floor. She hadn’t even noticed it moving. When the doors opened, she took a few steps into the lobby, then paused. Should she tell him she was single? She hadn’t thought of dating yet. Of course, her friends had tried to set her up with a widower from the grief support group. “I’m on their social media page, but otherwise, I haven’t stayed in touch.”

She hadn’t seen Steve in the group and had been curious what had happened with him after his family moved two states away his last semester of school. They’d both been heartbroken, and neither of them could afford out-of-state tuition. Their long distance romance had finally dwindled during college. Though she’d been happily married, she had to admit, she’d wondered what happened to Steve. Was he healthy and content wherever he’d landed?

“I’ve avoided social media, but maybe I should join the rest of the world so I’ll know what’s going on.” His phone rang in his pocket. He pulled it out and pressed a button to end the call. “Seeing you is a bit of a shock. I haven’t even given you a hug or asked how you are.” He held open his arms.

Rachel took a cautious step closer and allowed him to wrap his arms around her. Somehow his embrace still felt warm and familiar after three decades, and she let herself melt into his shoulder. Tears burned behind her eyes. “I’m widowed.” The words blurted right out of her mouth. What an idiot he’d think she was.

His hold tightened, pulling her closer. “I’m sorry. When? How are you?”

“A year. I’m making it.” Sighing, she took a step back out of his arms. She smoothed imaginary wrinkles from her dress. “I don’t know why I said that. I’m sure you’re in a hurry. Are you in town for business?”

“I have a conference here this week. Software development. Totally boring unless you’re a computer geek like me.” Those blue eyes twinkled as he gave her a tender look. “I never married.” He shrugged and winked. “Never found a girl as sweet as my high school girlfriend.”

Rachel’s heart skittered at the compliment. “I’m here for a conference this week, too. Not software, but health supplement sales. It’s my new hobby since…”

“I understand.” Steve nodded toward the café in the lobby. “Can I buy you breakfast and catch up on the past thirty-plus years?”

“I think I’d like that.” She smiled. “It might take more than one breakfast to cover all that time.”

He returned a huge grin. “This week just became much more interesting than software or supplements. We may have to have breakfast every day…lunch and dinner, too.”
The End
​
I hope that was fun!! How would you continue the story in your imagination? Email if you have some fun ideas! Also, let me know if I can pray for you, too.
By the way, my friend Jennifer has a free book I wanted to let you know about below. She's a great author, and super sweet person!
Blessings,
​Janet
Picture
2 Comments

MORE DAUPHIN ISLAND RESEARCH

4/2/2021

0 Comments

 
Picture
Hi friends,
A few weeks ago, I forced my husband to go along on a research trip with me to Dauphin Island. (For some reason, my girlfriends enjoy these trips more, LOL!)
I scheduled to go on a excursion to go on the Dauphin Island Sea Lab Research Vessel! They have these excursions open for the public for about $30 a piece.
That morning we met at the Estuarium (their public aquarium). We boarded the ship nearby, and they took us out. As we traveled to waters the captain chose that were sheltered from the wind, not terribly far off the island, our marine educator talked to us about the history of the island and Mobile Bay. (You might read a bit of this when the novel comes out.)
One of the other helpers on the trip let out trawl nets as we sailed, then once we reached a good spot, they stopped and showed us the catch. The educator explained the various sea creatures allowing us to touch them. I'm a bit like a kid, so I had a blast! ​
​
If you're ever down this way, I recommend this trip. I'm enjoying learning about marine science! I sure hope I can do it justice in the novel I'm working on called Healing Skye :)
I hope you all have a blessed Easter weekend!
I've included a contest below if you're interested in entering.
Blessings in Him!
Janet
Picture
0 Comments
    Stay in the Loop!
    For News & Giveaways Click Subscribe Button!

    Under the Southern Sun

    Janet W. Ferguson
    iNSPIRATIONAL FICTION

    Writing Christian Fiction because stories have the power to change lives.

    RSS Feed

    Categories

    All
    Alabama
    Anxiety
    Books
    Devotional
    Family
    Georgia
    International
    Louisiana
    Mission Trips
    Mississippi
    South Carolina
    Tennessee
    Texas
    Women Of The Bible

    Archives

    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    June 2019
    April 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014

Proudly powered by Weebly
  • Home
  • Novels
  • About Janet
  • Blog: Under the Southern Sun
  • Contact Janet
  • For Book Clubs
  • Press Kit
  • Get a Free Novella