#RomanticFridayWriters: Whispers

Romantic Friday Wrtiers is hosted by Francine Howarth and L'Aussie. This is a writing challenge that will fine tune your abilities. Every Friday there is an opportunity to participate in the challenge with a romantic flash fiction piece between 300 and 400 words. Not to worry though, you can skip a Friday if  you need to and you can post early or any time over the weekend. Please hop on by, Romantic Friday Writers to read the other creative post and or to join. It's worth it.

This challenge is called: Whispers:

Small towns. Elizabeth watched several women line up for an available cashier. None came to her register. They leaned close, covered their mouths and whispered while looking at her. Whispers. They followed her, ever since she left Fred. Fred, his money, his name. Fred and his wandering eye and clenched fist that she could still feel a year later.

Small towns.

Elizabeth turned to stare the opposite way. She'd put in a transfer request to a store in Denver. That would be far enough. It was time to check in with her manager.

"Spp…" someone whispered behind her.

Elisabeth rubbed the moisture from her hands and turned, expecting one of the women. Instead the strong scent of motor oil reeked from the young man's jacket. The name over the pocket was Tim.

"Are you open?" He referred to her checkout line.

"Yes."

"How come no one is in line? The rest have three or more ladies waiting."

"They aren't ladies."

"I beg your pardon?"

He looked as confused as Elizabeth was irritated. She smiled.

"That's better," he said.

He had steak, potatoes and broccoli. No surprise there. She checked his finger for a wedding ring. There wasn't one. Fred didn't wear his either. For five years he left it on top of his chest of drawers.

"Aren't you---"

"Elizabeth." She didn't provide her last name. Fred's last name until she could legally change it. The divorce was final two months ago.

"Elizabeth," he lowered his voice to a whisper. "I sure would like to grab a cup of Joe with you."

"Coffee," she said. Numb, could she ever feel for another man? "I'm off at five."

"Great, I'll pick you up here?"

"No!" Too quickly she rejected that idea. "I'll meet you at Starbucks. Seven okay?"

Elizabeth pushed open the door to Starbucks dressed in blue jeans and a red sweater that hugged her waist. Tim stood. His dark hair hung low over his ears and his brown eyes crinkled slightly when he smiled.

"For you," he said and thrust a spiky cactus at her. "If I ever get out of hand you can poke me with it."

Elizabeth smiled and took the potted plant. She came close enough to smell the Ivory soap he had bathed with.

"You are so different," she said.

"Glad you like it," his whispered breath tingled her ear.

Whispers.


Word count: 397 includes the title.


Critique only misspelled words or punctuation. Thanks.

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Nancy