Hidden in Plain Sight: A Romance
Background
For Christmas, my sweet husband gifted me with a book of writing prompts. I recently shared one which you can find here. If you try this prompt along with me, link it in the comments so I can give it a read!
The premise of these prompts is simple. There are a story concept and a list of words that must be included in the story. Heads up, I definitely embellish the ones I put online simply because the page in the book isn’t big enough for me to tell an adequate story.
Photo by Anthony Tran on Unsplash
Prompt
Write the Story: A New Love Blooms in Old Age
Include the following in your story: inheritance, walk, dust, dapper, husky, squirrel, plantation, berry, silk, shovel
The Story
Celeste meandered along the dirt path where she used to run as a little girl growing up on her father’s coffee plantation in Hawaii. She wasn’t sure what she was hoping to find on this evening walk, but something compelled her to keep going. A breeze swept dust into the air swirling around her ankles. Celeste wrapped her silk shawl around her shoulders and considered turning back when she was startled by an unexpected rustling in the bushes nearby.
She thought it might be a squirrel, but she was taken aback when she heard a husky voice calling out to her. The voice felt warm and familiar, and when she turned to the left, she saw one of her oldest friends—her father’s old farmhand, Ivan. He was leaning on a shovel, and even now, 40 years later, Celeste couldn’t help but think that he looked dapper with his dirt-stained coveralls and his glistening brow.
“I heard you’re taking the plantation as your inheritance. That mean you’ll be around more?” he asked.
Her berry colored lips formed into a smile.
“Well, I’m still not certain I’ll keep it, but recently I’ve started to think I just might.”
“I hope so,” Ivan replied. He paused, as though uncertain what to say next, but continued softly, “You know, the sunset never looked so pretty after you left. Mind if I walk you home?”
Celeste nodded. She felt her cheeks grow warm as he wrapped a strong arm around her and led her slowly towards the house.