Today's prompt is evergreen. If you recall, our wounded hero is on the small island in the middle of the lake. He's reminiscing about how his marriage to Angelique broke apart and how his pride prevented him from contacting his uncle.

He is also looking for a time capsule he buried as a boy.





Excerpt
 
Time to get back he couldn’t miss the meeting with his lawyer, especially since he had an interloper to eject.  His eyes focused on the ground to prevent stumbling over a tree root again. Off to his left, he spotted a half circle of stones under a scraggly evergreen branch. That was it. He knew it on an instinctual level. It would only take a few seconds to uncover his childhood treasure.

Looking about, he found a broken limb to employ as a digging tool. If the can were there, it wouldn’t be too far down. The day Roy rowed him out to the island to bury his capsule was early on in their relationship. He didn’t know his taciturn relative that well. Levi believed his uncle’s lack of chatter coincided with his appearance.  Levi had scampered out of the boat, anxious to be away from the silent man, so different from his father. His uncle had waited in the dinghy as he’d dug the shallow hole.

Several stabs at the sandy ground stirred up the soil. On the eighth try, a metallic thud rewarded his jab.  Excitement bubbled through his body, causing him to drop to his knees and paw at the dirt. Eager digging revealed the rusty popcorn tin that Roy had insisted on to encase his memory project.  His initial attempts to pry the lid off failed due to the waterproof caulking that sealed the it.  He’d have to take it with him.


Images of the woman who managed to weasel her way into his uncle’s affections grew as he carried the tin to the boat.  The woman took the  form of a fifty-ish gold digger whose best years were behind her.  Her hair would be an unnaturally bright and her voice rough from chain smoking. 

 

Today's prompt is the word 'hard.' Levi's certainly had a hard life with the unexpected death of his parents. His Uncle Roy had his own share of heartaches too. Even the hospice nurse, Melody has experienced a rough existence. Life can often be difficult that's why the moments of peace, happiness and love are infinitely precious. 

Summary: Levi is sitting on the ground after tripping. He's recalling his early years when he came to live with his uncle and the fight that stopped the two of them from talking. Angelique, a dark haired beauty, who suddenly became his intended after he received partial payment on his bonus as explosive ordinance specialist. Angelique was the one reason behind throwing off his last remaining relative.



The Inheritance

If that wasn’t bad enough, it took him a while to stop his pay going into their joint bank account. It was hard handling legal matters overseas. His uncle would have helped, if he asked asked for his help, but pride stopped him.

An anonymous letter alerted him to the situation. He assumed the letter was from Roy since it was typed. Not on a computer, but on an actual typewriter that left a heavy imprint with each keystroke. He didn’t know anyone who owned a typewriter.  The letter only confirmed his original suspicion that his wife did not care overly much for him. The other men received letters, cards and boxes of stale cookies that were ambrosia to the homesick men. He received two letters. One from Angelique at the beginning of his deployment, in it, she reminded him that she needed all his pay for bills. The other was from the anonymous friend.

Time to get up and stop feeling sorry for himself, he decided.  The tree that slowed his fall also served as a crutch, helping him regain his footing. Birds scattered, squawking in alarm as he came nearer indicating a nearby nest. Somewhere on the island, he had buried his own time capsule.  For some reason he couldn’t quite remember, he was afraid that his parents would vanish from his history. His uncle helped him to assemble the memorial, finding old faded pictures of his parents when they were dating. Photos he’d never seen until then.

The urge to see those photos propelled him over the terrain, staring at the scattered rocks. His marker was a ring of stones with two lines through it. It was a druid symbol. He remembered that, apropos to nothing other than being a sign. No such sign existed. What did he expect? Years passed, wind and water would have moved the rocks, not to mention other young boys who took advantage of his refuge.

Recap: 
Levi is on the island where he used to seek sanctuary as an orphaned teen. After falling, he considers how his life changed from the time when used to frequent the island.








EXCERPT
He could have called his uncle anytime during his enlistment, but he didn’t. Pride kept him from making the call.  If he contacted Roy, then he’d asked about how he was doing in the Army.

The Army itself wasn’t too bad.  The strict discipline, the routine, even knowing what to expect on most days, gave him a feeling of stability and belonging. It gave him a purpose when Angelique left him, taking his enlistment bonus with her. Roy warned him that the dark-eyed beauty bore him no love. His initial response was the man had no clue what love was since he was a lonely, bitter old man that no woman chose to love.

Wincing, he remembered the shock on his uncle’s face. He could have hit him with a two by four and not done as much damage. Roy managed to say, “You’re wrong,” before turning away.

At the time, he thought he meant he was wrong for marrying Angelique. Yeah, Levi would admit now that his uncle was right. A letter from an anonymous friend tipped him off. Angelique ran through his pay as if water while he awaited orders in a desert hellhole. That part wasn’t unexpected.  Besides, he wanted to take care of his wife.  He liked the idea of someone waiting for him to return.  He’d idealized the woman giving her traits she did not possess.

As the only civilian in the recruitment office, Angelique had access to enlistee information.  Roy insisted she knew who got the better enlistment bonus. Levi’s hefty bonus for enrolling in explosive ordinance job specification could have inspired her sudden love for a man five years her junior. The fact she took off with another man using his enlistment bonus only confirmed Roy’s theory.

The story left off with Levi standing on the pier as Melody walks away. He stares after her wondering how he can stage an
'accidental' meeting. Once he realizes what he is doing, Levi decides to row across the lake and forget any future plans to meet the intriguing Melody. We catch up to him while he is in the rowboat.

Today's prompt is glass.


Excerpt

The island grew larger as the boat’s nose slipped into a shallow, gravely area that served as a beach. It wasn’t his intention to visit the island, but here he was. He stepped out of the boat into the chilly water to pull the rowboat ashore.  The first time he visited his island sanctuary alone he’d made that mistake of leaving the rowboat among the rocks as if it’d stay like a trained dog. After a brief exploration of the place, his heart sank as he’d sighted the rowboat drifting back to the pier, similar to a horse returning to its barn.

There was no chance of the boat disappearing on the small lake. He remembered the despair he felt, knowing that Roy would have to rescue him from the spit of land. At the time, he cursed himself and the island for causing his dilemma. His expectation was for Roy to come rowing across the lake, irritated that he even bothered to take his brother’s child to raise. The pain felt similar to a broken glass splinter wedged into his already bruised spirit. Why had he thought that, since his uncle never raised his voice or even argued, except for the last time. It was probably their only disagreement.

The thought of their acrimonious parting caused his stride to quicken.  His prosthesis slipped on a few stones on the ground, causing him to pitch forward. A quick grab at a nearby sapling slowed his descent.

“Hell” The word popped out as his body landed heavily.  “That’s what I get for rushing around. Roy warned me an impulsive action often led to regret.”   Levi sighed and picked up the stone near his hip and threw it. “You were right. I should have listened.”

He sat enjoying the sun’s rays. No heat in the sunlight, but it beat sitting in a hospital bed. 

 

Today's prompt is building. I will freely admit changing the word homes to buildings to suit the prompt. It will stay homes in the original text. Newcomers to the story, here's a quick summary.  Roy has left his modest house and rowboat to his hospice nurse, Melody, and his estranged nephew, Levi. They are supposed to jointly share the items. Needless to say, neither one is cool with the plan. In fact, they suspect each other of mercenary motives. They haven't met until recently. Upon meeting, they discover an inconvenient attraction to one another. Melody recognizes the family resemblance and leaves in a hurry. Levi is still clueless to Melody's identity. 


Today's Tuesday Tale
A few hard pulls on the oars sent him in the direction of the small wooded island. It wasn’t much really, just enough trees to hide a boy. His sanctuary looked small and sparse close up. He’d imagine Roy could have spotted him through the skinny tree trunks. No wonder the man never asked where he’d been. 

A few buildings dotted the shore he wondered, which one his mystery woman lived in. As well as he could remember, most of the residents were old. She might be visiting. Why was he bothering to think of her? She’d made her opinion clear. His masculine instinct made him aware of attractive single females in his vicinity. A quick glance at her left hand confirmed she sported no wedding band. Her eyes flared with awareness when he turned. No mistaking it, and yet her interest cooled suddenly, which made no sense.

He replayed the meeting in his head. Perhaps, he was too forward asking her to go for a boat ride. She didn’t know him, which explained her hesitation and questionable excuse. That was it. Once he got settled in the house, he might meet her again around the lake. A snort escaped him as he realized what he was doing. Planning  an impromptu meeting that would somehow lead to a happily ever after. Yeah, right.

No woman had much use for a man who was only a partial man. A fellow patient at the rehab center told him that women were crazy about wounded warriors as the center referred to their patients. Women felt like it was their patriotic duty to welcome them home. His roommate expected a heartier welcome than he did. Even if Levi’s lack of welcome was a forgone conclusion, it didn’t mean he liked it.

Today's prompt is waves.  Levi has found his recent life pretty rough sailing with his recent hospitalization due to his battle-related injury. On top of that, his only relative, Uncle Roy, died without him resolving the hurtful words that kept the two of them apart. 

He finds himself drawn back to the small home that sheltered him after his parents died. The lake provided solace along with the solid presence of his uncle.  Too bad, an interloper stands in his way to returning to less complicated time.

The Inheritance 8
The time he and Roy shared working on the boat meant more to him in retrospect than it did at the time. It meant a great deal then.  Life dealt harshly with him or so he thought, leaving him with an uncle he barely knew while taking his parents. His anger at the world he heaped on his only remaining relative.  Instead of becoming angry or distant, his uncle taught him what he knew about reading the waves, sailing, even making a boat the old fashioned way as opposed to the factory made fiberglass shells.

His hand caressed the side of the boat. Sweat, determination and love went into the boat. It hadn’t been a fast build. The oars dipped into the water, pulling the boat across the still surface. His impatience must have chafed on Roy, but all he would do was murmur that things worth doing took time. Two years passed before they completed the project.

Levi resented school that took him away from working on the boat. He didn’t make too many friends at his new school at first. The large chip weighing down his shoulder had him looking for fights that he easily found as a new kid. Old Roy knew what was going on, but instead of lectures on staying out of trouble, he taught him to fight. Quick, dirty moves his relative learned on dangerous shores where the American fleet was not always welcomed. Eventually Levi became someone not to anger. It was then he developed friends, at least guy friends who decided it was better to be his pal as opposed to a potential punching bag. Girls were a different matter, though. As a tall, tongue-tied and combative male, he was not a chick magnet. In that regard, not much had changed.

Today's prompt is rough, which is something that Levi is finding his life to be in this selection, There's a change in POV and we get to hear his side of the story.












Levi watched the woman walk away with a sigh. He’d enjoy watching her rounded hips climb the path, but what was the use? Clearly, she wanted nothing to do with him. Turning to stare at the water, he watched the early morning light slide across the lake. Shoving both hands in his pockets, he pondered his gentle rejection. He’d never earned a reputation as a charmer, which he just amply demonstrated.

Squatting near the edge of the dock, he grabbed the rope tethering the rowboat to the dock and pulled it closer. He might as well go for a row, not as if anything else was going to happen this morning. He awkwardly lowered himself to the dock keeping his left leg out straight. His mysterious woman didn’t even know that combat turned him into a cripple, but she still passed on him. Putting all his weight on his real leg, he eased himself into the boat. Some of the amputees at the rehab assured him that his new leg would be easier to use than his remaining one, but he doubted it.

What was he thinking, flirting with a woman? It would only last until she got a glance at the straps attaching his new leg to his stump. Then, she’d disappear with some mumbled excuse that she had to look for her dog or something. The thought surprised a harsh bark of laughter. Well, no matter, the woman already used that excuse.

The rope came loose from the pier after he flicked the rope a couple times, releasing it from its hook. His left hand steadied his balance as he reached for an oar. Slick cool wood rested under his fingers. The slats he and his uncle bent together to shape the vessel. He never appreciated what he had then. Wisdom always came too late.

We are back to Melody's  story. I will admit to taking liberties with our picture prompts of water and steps leading to a shore and coming up with a dock on the lake. 

Melody met a handsome man on the dock when she hoped to go for a short row to clear her mind after the threatening letter she received. The legal missive told her that Levi  was going to take back the house and  boat via court.

Surprised to see a man where she suspected none. She found herself drawn to the charming man until she spotted the same slate colored eyes her benefactor had. In fact,  the stranger bore several traits that reminded her of Roy McDaniel. She realized she was standing a foot away from the man who wanted to see her in court. 

The Inheritance, Part 6

Melody looked at his outstretched hand and took a step back. Something inside her urged her to take his hand. She probably would if he were someone else. Being a strong robust female, as Roy like to call her whenever she swung him up out of his wheelchair, had advantages. Even though she initially though Levi would push her out of the boat if he knew who she was, he’d have a hard time doing so.  Playing football with the neighborhood boys when she was younger not only made her tough, but also willing to use any underhanded methods to secure the ball.

A boy who cried foul when she bested him ended up ridiculed by his teammates. The brighter fellows soon learn to avoid her sharp elbows, gouging fingers and troublesome knees. Confusion sent Levi’s eyebrows winging upward at her refusal. His outstretched hand fell abruptly by his side.

 Melody felt guilty rejecting the man, despite knowing who he was. An attractive man on the right side of forty flirting with her was not an everyday occurrence. Biting her bottom lip, she tried to think of an excuse. “Can’t today, I need to go pick up my dog.”

Disbelief flickered in his eyes, but he chose not to call her on it. “Okay. If you change your mind, you have a rain check.” He smiled again, causing his tanned skin to crinkle attractively around his eyes. Her heart gave a little jump as she turned to walk off the dock.

It was better this way.  A trip across the water would give him time to work his charm on her. She’d be offering the house and rowboat with both hands. No sir, she needed it more than he did.

His voice interrupted her thoughts. “What’s your name?”

She kept walking, pretending not to hear.

 

Today's prompt is smooth. See if you can find it in the next section while Melody deals with the man on her dock.
















The man’s lips tipped up in a smile and his familiar slate-colored eyes warmed showing interest, which surprised Melody. Men didn’t normally pay attention to her. Not that she could consider herself an expert on men since most of the ones she dealt with were at least sixty-five. 

Still, the words of her last date haunted her. Words her date never meant for her to overhear. Her now married ex-roommate Linda fixed her up with a friend of her husband’s. The four of them went out to dinner and movie. She and Linda were returning from the restroom when she heard his damning words.

“Melody is bigger than I like my women.”

Her new outfit was a wasted investment. No way she could pretend she wasn’t five nine and curvy.  On dates, she usually wore flats because men obsessed over their own height. The rest of the night was uncomfortable with her pretending she hadn’t heard what he’d said. Fortunately there was no second date. A rich baritone voice brought her back to the present.

“Nice morning, isn’t it? The lake is smooth, making it perfect for an early morning row.” He nodded in the direction of the rowboat.

Melody automatically smiled back. “Yes.” The one word escaped her lips as her mind tried to translate what he meant. Was he going to row Roy’s boat across the lake? Did he invite her? The idea of sharing the close quarters of the boat tempted her. Her breath hitched, testifying to his appeal. If he knew who she really was, he’d probably toss her overboard.

Turning up his smile a notch, he explained, “I was going out for a row and would welcome company.”

The idea tantalized Melody, but she knew better than to climb into the boat with Levi McDaniel.

A little recap for those who just joined the story. Melody Gibbons, a down on her luck hospice nurse, inherits  a former patient's home and rowboat. Well, make that partially inherits it.  According to the will, she is supposed to share it with her benefactor's absent nephew, Levi.

Melody already dislikes Levi since he never came to visit or even called his Uncle Roy as he struggled with cancer. Didn't even bother to show up at the funeral. The only contact she's had with him is a letter from his lawyer threatening to see her in court.

Today's Tale

Running a restless hand through her hair, Melody sighed deeply. It was Sunday. One of the few times, she got an actual weekend off. Saturday disappeared under errands, laundry and a stint at the animal shelter. The physical activity of bathing and walking the animals made her feel useful. It also undid some of the stress that built up from dealing with mortality every day with her terminal patients. Most were similar to Roy and tried to leave the world with dignity. A few considered her the angel of death and treated her with a mixture of horror and contempt, often cringing when she came near.

That’s where a pet would come in handy. A pet would greet her with enthusiasm after a long day. She even had one in mind. A tan mutt about the size of a beagle, but with the long body of a dachshund, would be the one she’d picked. He was one of the few that came through the dog drop window for owners too cowardly to look employees in the eyes as they deserted their pets. Melody nicknamed the dog Charmer because he stole her heart.

 The pound kept the dog despite his age and lack of bloodlines because she suggested she might take him. It was hard to commit, even to a canine. Maybe she needed to clear her mind with a good row across the lake.

Dressed in shorts and a t-shirt, Melody headed down toward the dock. A man’s silhouette against the morning light drew her eye. The man had ramrod posture. As she drew closer, she admired how his t-shirt stretched across his chest. He turned, probably hearing her footsteps. Their eyes met. Her hand covered her heart as it raced. It couldn’t be, but she recognized those slate-colored eyes.