Author: Felicia Denise
“…waltz in off the street.” #Excerpt
The diminutive nurse seated before Olivia appeared to enjoy taking rudeness to new heights.
“This is the Critical Care Unit. We simply cannot have anyone off the street waltz in here and upset our patients. Mr. Averest is a very sick man and needs his rest.”
Olivia let the obvious insult pass, but was tiring of this chick’s attitude.
“I’ve told you who I am, showed you my identification, and told you why I’m here. If you cannot allow me in to see Mr. Averest, perhaps you can tell me who his physician of record is? I’ll speak with him or her and get written permission to see Mr. Averest. Will that satisfy you?”
The nurse smirked.
“I thought you said you’re a lawyer? Then you should know it’s against the law for me to give you patient information and – “
Olivia cut her off.
“It’s against the law for you give me medical information, and I haven’t asked you for any.”
“Well, it doesn’t matter anyway because Mr. Averest’s attorney left express instructions for staff not to speak with anyone about his condition or let anyone see him.” The irritating woman stood, adjusted her smock and walked to the other end of the counter.
Olivia frowned.
“His attorney?”
“Did I stutter?”
Rage gripped Olivia. She’d had enough of this self-important little twit.
“Did this attorney have Mr. Averest’s power of attorney, or legal documents appointing him as guardian?”
The nurse’s face fell.
“I don’t know, but- “
“So, you’re telling me you allowed someone to just waltz in here off the street and tell you what to do without knowing if they even had the legal right to?”
The nurse’s face went from pink to a deep shade of red.
“I-I…he said…” she reached for the phone. “I’ve had enough of you! I’m calling security!”
Olivia crossed her arms on the counter and smiled.
“Please do. And while I wait for them, let me tell what’s going to happen next.”
The woman stopped dialing and glared at Olivia.
“After I’m escorted from the building, I’m heading back to Spring Falls… and the judge who assigned me to this case. I will tell him how uncooperative you were, and how you refused to allow me to see Duncan Averest or even tell me who his physician is, making it impossible for me to do the job he appointed me to do. I’ll also tell him how you caused me public embarrassment by having me removed from the building. I know this judge. He hates people getting in his way. So, guess what? He’ll get on the phone and talk with this hospital’s administrators and warn them to get their legal department ready because I’ll be returning with a pile of injunctions and contempt of court citations. And one of them will have your name on it,” she glanced at the woman’s employee badge for the first time, “Katrina.”
Olivia grabbed her laptop bag and purse and headed for the elevators. “I’ll wait over here for security.”
“He’s in 3502.”
Olivia fought to keep the smile off her face. She turned and looked at the woman, then glanced down the hallway of patients’ rooms. Returning her gaze to the woman who had given her such a bad time, Olivia almost felt guilty for the fear she saw in her eyes. Almost. Without another word, she went in search of room 3502.
Attempting to shake off her encounter with Nurse Know-it-all, Olivia stopped abruptly when she entered 3502. Her anger returned with a vengeance when she realized she’d been deliberately given the wrong room number.
She was going to bury this hospital in contempt of court citations!
©Felicia Denise 2016
“In the Best Interest of the Child”
Amazon US http://bit.ly/BestInt
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Amazon CA http://bit.ly/BestIntCA
Amazon AU http://bit.ly/BestIntAU
Goodreads http://bit.ly/BestIntGR
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Not a Date #WritingChallenge
52-Week Writing Challenge: Week 49
This is another excerpt of my WIP, Sacrificial Daughter, currently at 69K. Ana is having dinner with a sheriff’s deputy and former “schoolmate.”
Murphy’s Family Restaurant topped Corwin’s annual food listing of favorite places to eat.
It wasn’t gourmet fare, secret recipes, or old family recipes which brought the crowds in, but the folksy, down-to-earth atmosphere found there 6 am to 9 pm seven days a week.
Third generation owner, Joe Murphy, welcomed every patron who walked through the door, and if he wasn’t available, his wife, Silvia, did.
Joe, Silvia, and the wait staff would have rolling conversations and included patrons. Topics were light, easy and fun. It wasn’t unusual for calls to come in inquiring not about the daily special, but what was the current topic of the day.
Analeigh Sellers pulled into Murphy’s parking lot at five minutes to six. Exiting her rental, she grinned when she saw Walt Gaskins leaning against a signpost near the entrance.
“How many demerits did you get for being late before you arrived early to everything?”
Ana laughed aloud.
“Believe it or not, I’ve never received a demerit for anything… and I’ve never been late.”
Walt threw his hands up in the air.
“Oh, my god, you’re a drill sergeant’s dream come true. Poster girl for the military.”
They both laughed as Walt opened the door for Ana and they headed for the wait stand.
“I said I never received demerits, but I was far from a DS’s dream recruit.”
Before Ana could continue, a loud bellow came from the other side of the restaurant.
“Walt. Hey. It’s always good to see you in the place.”
Without an ounce of shame, the large man gave Ana an appraising once over and nodded in approval.
“Walt, my man, your taste has improved a thousand percent. Introduce me to your beautiful friend.”
Walt and Ana’s smirks matched.
“You don’t recognize her?”
“Like I could forget these eyes. I never for-” Resting a hand on his waist, the confused man raised the other to scratch his head. Tilting his head, he stared at Ana again. His eyes widened in recognition.
“Analeigh?”
She looked from him to Walt and back.
“We’ve met?”
Walt explained.
“Analeigh, this is Joe Murphy, Jr. His family lived just outside the city limits and he didn’t go to our high school, but he spent a lot of time in town… working here and hanging out with the guys.”
“So, we never met.”
It was a statement, not a question.
“No, but I saw you around. I always thought you were so pretty. You left a big impression on me. I always hoped I’d see you whenever I came to town.”
“Thank you, Joe.”
“Dude, can we get a booth or are you going to keep drooling over my date?”
Joe, Jr. roared with laughter and gestured for the couple to follow him.
Ana wasn’t feeling the calm that showed on her face. Anxiety buzzed in her head while she tried to ignore Walt’s remark.
Date? He called her his date. Walt was over-the-top hot and gorgeous, but she only had room for one man in her head and her heart. She hoped Walt was simply using a figure of speech.
“How’s this?”
“Perfect, Joe. Thanks, man.”
“No problem. Wait staff will be right over. Enjoy.”
He looked at Ana again and walked away with a smile on his face.
Ana settled into the booth and admired the view from the large tempered window.
Acorn Fields, the city’s biggest park, stretched out for miles behind Murphy’s. Despite the evening hour, the vibrant colors of spring were still visible under the setting sun.
“Okay, remember I told you it’s meatloaf day, and it is amazing.”
“I had it a time or two when I came here with Rosie. Can’t remember if I liked it or not.”
Walt clutched his chest, feigning shock.
“That’s blasphemy. Everyone loves Murphy’s meatloaf. And order the mashed potatoes. They’re made fresh… no instant tater flakes here.”
Ana pushed her menu aside and folded her arms in front of her the table.
“Okay, but if I don’t like it, I’ll forever question your judgment.”
He mimicked her action with his arms.
“That’s fair.”
Walt’s smiled dimmed.
“How does it feel to be back, Analeigh?”
“Not as bad as I thought it would, but still a little unsettling. But I think it’s because Rosie’s gone.”
“You guys were close, huh?”
Ana shrugged a shoulder. “She made it bearable. I don’t know where I’d be today If I didn’t have Rosie in my life.”
Walt fidgeted in his seat.
“Analeigh… about when we were kids-”
“Thank you, Walt, but we need not rehash that. It won’t change the past.”
“I need you to understand. I never believed all those things I heard about you. Most kids didn’t. But it wasn’t just mean girls like Macy and Judy fueling the fire with rumors. Some of us had parents just as bad.”
“Walt, it wasn’t a fun time in my life, but it-”
“I’m sorry, Analeigh. I wanted to be your friend, but-”
The occasional glances cast her way from other customers since they entered were now outright stares. Swallowing her anxiety again, Ana touched Walt’s arm.
“It’s okay… honest. I’m fine. Let’s talk about something else.”
Walt ducked his head with a bashful grin.
“Thank you for being so gracious, Analeigh.”
Gracious? Was she being ‘gracious?’
Ana flashed a benign smile at Walt and ducked her head. She was glad Walt didn’t know this non-date was instead a trial-by-fire for her before the eyes of Corwin.
©Felicia Denise 2017
A Lil’ Crazy…
Congratulations to…
…Red Romance Reader, the winner in my blog giveaway during the Color of Love Blog Hop! Red wins digital copies of
Once Upon a Princess Duet by Deborah A. Bailey
Cinderella and the Wolf Prince by Siren Allen
gifted through Amazon.com!
Many thanks to all who stopped by. Look for more chances to win one of my giveaways coming soon in 2018!
Wordless Wednesday
Image from Pixabay
Burn Those Bridges!
“Making Time….”
My One Takeaway From NaNoWriMo #MondayBlog
Another NaNoWriMo is behind me.
Did I learn anything? Were there any takeaways?
Oh, sure. Planning is good. Plotting can be a friend… even to a pantser like me.
Maybe only character-driven writers will understand this, but all the planning and prepping in the world still guarantees you nothing.
I was plodding right along, words flowing like a cool stream, when all of a sudden, my beloved protagonist looks around with the malevolent grin of a serial killer and dumps a plot twist in my lap. (We’re still not speaking.)
Okaaaay. Now what?
I went with it.
The scene I was writing looked nothing like the one I sketched out six weeks ago. But, hey. Words were flowing… from somewhere, so I kept writing—and making notes.
I gave a cursory glance to my journal every morning, wondering if the completed scene would resemble what I’d planned in any way.
It didn’t.
But, I stayed with it, because that is the point of NaNoWriMo. Get the words out of your head and on paper…fifty-thousand of them at least.
I reached the halfway mark and wondered if Hemingway ever struggled like this. Then I realized he drank… and a glass of wine doesn’t sound bad. But should I drink it or give it to my protagonist?
Nah. I’m still not happy with her… the wine is mine.
After one glass of Sweet Red, I understand why Hemingway drank!
It gets you out of your own way. The wall of doubt and fountain of inhibitions fall and you write like you’re on fire.
Or maybe that was just me.
No, I’m not advocating drinking while writing. Our liver is our friend and unlike plots, we can’t get a new one with every manuscript.
But, a writer writes because they have to. It is a deep-seeded need that can only be fulfilled by putting words on paper. Anything else is unacceptable.
If you get hit with a dose of writer’s block, get out of your way. The characters didn’t change and the words remain the same. The problem is you.
Remember why you write.
Remember the freedom you feel.
Remember the sense of accomplishment you feel regardless of if it’s five, five hundred, or five-thousand words you leave on the paper.
It took me a couple of years to “get it” but the NaNoWriMo rule of no editing makes perfect sense. It makes me get out of my own way to just write. Of course, by doing so, I’m also giving my characters free reign, but that’s a completely different blog post.
I’ve spent the first three days of December making notes and moving things around in my MS, however, I’m putting it away until after the holidays. But sometime in January, I’ll have to decipher all those red squiggly lines and double blue lines, and wonder if I was typing in alien code.
And there may or may not be wine involved, because… Hemingway.
~Sunday Quote ~
Felicia Denise, Author 