Romance Writers Weekly- June 2, 2015 #flash #firstlove #romance

Flash fiction (hammer, chisel, coping saw?)

Welcome! We've been challenged by Fiona Riplee to write a flash fiction piece of 250 words or less about a lost love, utilizing the words: hammer, chisel, and coping saw.  If you're joining me from Tracey Gee's blog, I'm sure you loved her offering.

Let me set up my scene. This is from my work in progress about former priest Nick Serafini returning home to work in his family's construction business. His brother assigns him as foreman on his first love Beth's renovation of her recently inherited house.

Nick pulled the truck past the house, back to the barn and parked. As he stepped out of the truck, a loud knock echoed. He stopped in his tracks. Could it be the vandals again? He ran quickly through what was at risk in the barn. He sighed, realizing the glass blocks had been delivered Friday. The closest weapon he could put his hands on was a tire iron he had shoved under his front seat. Ready to encounter some teenaged pranksters, he crept to the door and peeked around. 

What he saw jumpstarted his dormant libido. Beth leaned over a piece of wood with a coping saw. Dressed in loose threadbare jeans and a clingy old t-shirt, she looked the same as she had in high school. Struggling to cut a joint with the flimsy flexing blade, she let fly a uncharacteristically colorful euphemism. 

He approached her, maybe a little too quietly. With a shriek so strident he was stunned the glass blocks didn’t shatter, she turned, swinging the saw. In a split second, he grabbed her wrist and disarmed her. Perversely, this woman with a deadly tool in her hand had his pulse pounding. Her eyes wide in fright squinted in aggravation. Before he could change his mind, he pressed his lips to hers. For a moment, he was sixteen again. He pulled away before she could respond and their current relationship changed forever.

“A hammer and chisel works better for that joint.”

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If you haven't visited with J.J. Devine, head on over for her awesome flash fiction scene. I'll see you over there!