Here’s another scene from the chapter just posted at Abe’s Turn. This is something that happened to Clydene two years ago, on Valentine’s day, 2006, during a different time in her and Ted’s relationship.
But before that, because it’s leap day–and because that snippet is short–I’ve included part of an earlier chapter from Abe’s Turn, to show the contrast.
And if you’ve ever bought any of Holly Lisle’s ebooks, it’s the last day of the “Share the Love 2008,” free offer for Holly Lisle fans. Take advantage of it now.
-TimK
Sunday, November 4, 2007…
“Let’s open our bibles to Romans, chapter 13.”
Clydene grabbed a house bible from the pew and opened to the index.
Ted put his right arm around her and nuzzled into her cheek.
“What are you doing?” she whispered.
“I’m reading along with you.”
“I haven’t found it yet.”
Having noted the number of the page on which Romans started, she flipped to it.
His arm still around her shoulder, Ted put his other hand on her bare knee.
The pastor began reading. “Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established…”
Ted started moving his hand under her skirt, up the inside of her thigh.
“Ted!” she whispered at his ear, trying to remain as inconspicuous as possible.
“You forgot to keep your knees together.”
She put her knees together. “Well, they’re together now.” She glanced around the sanctuary. No one was looking.
“No one can see,” Ted said.
“Pastor Bob can see. And I want to hear this.”
“… Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and he will commend you…”
She felt a knot in her stomach. Maybe she didn’t want to hear it after all.
Ted’s hand was still on her thigh as he continued to protest. “But you never wear skirts during the week, and you have such sexy legs.”
“Okay, I’ll wear the skirt this afternoon. Just calm down. And stop distracting me.”
Ted leaned his head against hers.
“… not only because of possible punishment but also because of conscience. This is also why you pay taxes…”
Ted whispered again into her ear. “I guess it would inappropriate for me to grope you.”
“Yes, it would,” she replied. “What’s with you today? Daylight savings doesn’t end for another week. What, you can’t wait an hour until church is over?” Talk about premature, she thought.
“What’s with me is you look good,” he said. “And smell good.” He kissed her on top of the head.
Tuesday, February 14, 2006…
Clyde watched the jury file into the courtroom. The judge, a stout man with very little hair on his head, leaned back in his chair and said, “Foreman, have you reached a unanimous verdict?”
“Yes, your honor,” the jury foreman said.
The judge continued, “Defendant, please rise.”
Mr. Hill, and Ted beside him, stood up.
“What say you?” the judge asked.
The head juror read from his note, “In the matter of the Commonwealth versus Gordon Hill, on the charges of aggravated rape and battery, we find the defendant not guilty.”
Unlike the courtroom TV shows, the entire room remained silent, until the judge spoke. “So say you all?”
Each juror nodded.
“Very well. The jury is discharged. Jurors, we thank you for your service. The defendant is free to go. Court is adjourned.” The judge banged his gavel.
Clyde slid off of the bench and slunk up behind Ted. She snuggled up to his arm. “Congratulations,” she cooed.
Ted turned and pecked her on the lips.
“Well, well,” said Mr. Gordon Hill. “Who’s this pretty lady?”
On top of his head, short hairs shone bright red, even more so than Clyde’s, like a field of tiny flames. Freckles spotted his pale complexion, from which gazed large, piercing, green eyes. From just under his left eye, a scar trickled down his cheek like a river. And when he said the word lady, he accentuated each vowel, and he drew out the last syllable with a suggestive leer.
Frankly, he creeped Clyde out.
Ted nonchalantly answered. “This is my beautiful bride. Clyde, meet Gordon Hill. Gordon, this is my wife, Clydene.”
“Clyde, eh?” He held out his hand. And when out of politeness she returned the favor, he took her hand and kissed it, all the while gazing into her eyes.
Clyde was desperate to get out of there. “It was nice to meet you, Mr. Hill,” she said. Then turning to her husband, “Ted, romantic dinner reservations.” She eyed him suggestively.
She immediately regretted using the word romantic, considering the third wheel currently eavesdropping. But Ted so frequently worked late. Even Clyde’s late nights at the office didn’t compare to Ted’s. So whenever she had the opportunity to go out with her husband, it didn’t have to be fancy to be romantic. Even hamburgers and fries were a special occasion.
“I have to cancel,” Ted said. “I have a mountain of research to finish for a meeting tomorrow morning.”
Clyde felt her countenance physically fall.
“Don’t wait up for me,” Ted continued. “Hey, why don’t you take Gordon?”
“No,” Clyde said as pleasantly as she could muster. “I think I’ll just whip something up at home.”
Other Friday Snippets
The way Friday Snippets works is that fiction authors can leave a link to their own snippet on others’ blog posts that are part of the meme. Many of the participating writers are using one of Mister Linky’s Autolink Widgets to streamline this process. See “Friday Snippets” at Holly Lisle’s blog for more information.
Hmm… Apart from wanting to slap Ted for his behavior in the first part… 😛 Good snippet. You make the story move right along.
I did answer your comment on my blog.
Jen
Hmm, I don’t know what’s going on in the story, but Ted gets my dander up, in both scenes.
I love the description of the scar trickling down Gordon’s face. Very nice.
I agree, Ted is one of those “nice” guys who’s really passive aggressive. At least that’s how he comes off in these snippets. Happy Leap Day!
Thanks for the comments, Jen, Stace, and Joely.
Joely, I think I can understand why he might come off as passive aggressive. But he’s not like Alan Shore (from Boston Legal). Alan Shore, if you poke him on a personal matter he doesn’t want to talk about, he lashes back at you in order to try to put you on the defensive. With Ted, what you see is really what you get (for the most part). He comes off as brusque, but he’s not acting out; he’s just being frank and undiplomatic, because that’s the only way he knows how to be. In the rest of this episode, hopefully it will become clearer what’s going on his his head, and what weaknesses he has that will cause him to act out.
BTW, in the first snippet above, remember that this is Clydene in the female role. She tends to react differently than most women would. Compare her reaction with Mira’s. If Mira’s boyfriend (if she had a steady boyfriend) tried something like this, she would feel genuinely embarrassed, then conflicted, then victimized and hurt. Clyde does not feel that way. Rather, she’s just annoyed with Ted, wants him to put it back in his pants for an hour or two, and is looking for an excuse that will get him to do so.
-TimK
I don’t like Ted much, but I don’t like Clyde either for putting up with him.
But as I said several times in response to Joely’s snippets, I never ‘get’ romance. 🙂
Hi, Gabriele. 🙂 Ted and Clyde: I think either you get them, or you don’t… although their relationship isn’t that strange. I’ve just highlighted some strange snippets here. Check out the very first scene if you want a contrasting scene. Also, remember that the second snippet above is from a couple years ago, before… Well, just “before.”
I haven’t gotten enough feedback to confirm, but I think most people will either get Ted and Clyde, or they’ll get Mira or Michael. But it’s unlikely they’ll get all the characters.
-TimK
I tend to agree with Gabriele… but then I usually do. 🙂 The Ted/Clyde relationship as outlined here isn’t something I personally can particularly relate to. I’ll have to read some Mira and/or Michael, by the sounds of it.
Sounds like Ted gets off on vicarious thrills. Groping his girlfriend in church. Suggesting his wife go off with a possible rapist. Whatever is most inappropriate seems to be what he’s drawn to. Interesting characters.
Thanks for commenting, Ian and Cheryl.
Cheryl, well, I think, at the time, if you had commented to him as you did here, I think he would have argued: (1) There’s nothing wrong with cuddling in church. You’ve never kissed your hubby in the back pew? (I have, my wife.) (2) You’re being unfair, because the evidence showed Gordon Hill was not guilty, and the jury confirmed that. Besides, Clyde said she was going home, so she’s in no danger–It’s a moot point, even if he were a rapist, which there’s no evidence that he is. These would be Ted’s arguments (not mine–and I think I’ll stop before he decides to sue me for defamation). But he would have only argued this way if you had caught him right at that moment, inbetween the verdict and the door. A few minutes later, he would have responded differently. And if you brought it up with him today… You may not like him very much, but please have pity on the poor, clueless guy. Even Ted doesn’t deserve to be reminded like that.
-TimK
P.S. I don’t think he’ll sue me, because he would have nothing to win and everything to lose.
Interesting snippets, I’m not terribly fond of Ted, but am interested to see Clydene develop (is Gordon Hill just a secondary character- or do we have run ins with him again?).
Hi, Ann. Thanks for the comment.
Regarding Gordon Hill… 😀 …
-TimK