Labor Day was always a bittersweet day for me when I was a kid. To me, if was the official last day of summer. School started the day after Labor Day. While it was great reconnecting with friends, I didn’t like the conformity of it. I much preferred living life on my own terms. As an adult, however, I enjoy the Labor Day holiday. The traffic is can be crazy, so I usually don’t travel. I stay home and watch movies, or go shopping, or spend some quality time wth friends. Labor Day also means fall is on the way. We’ve had a hotter than usual summer where I live, and I’m looking forward to cooler weather and the beautiful fall colors.
In honor of the holiday, I’m sharing a Labor Day scene from my contemporary romance novel, The Letter. Martha is having a not so happy day at her brother-in-law’s annual Labor Day picnic. She had met Danny at the prior year’s picnic, and she thought she’d found the man of her dreams. Unfortunately, Danny did not feel the same. He’s moved onto Stephanie, but Martha isn’t ready to call it quits just yet.
Please enjoy this excerpt for The Letter.
Marina Martindale
Martha squirted some ketchup on her burger and took her seat at the table furthest off to the side. Her burger tasted like sawdust as she bit into it, and it felt like a hard, dry lump as she swallowed it down. Plopping it back on her plate, she scanned through the crowd. Her sister was coming her way.
“Mind if I join you?” asked Amanda.
“Not at all.”
Amanda took her seat and popped her soda can open. “So, how’s your burger?”
“It’s fine. I guess I’m just not very hungry.”
“You know, even if Danny were here, Stephanie would be with him, which would have made it even harder on you.”
“Maybe, but then again, it would have given me a chance to size up my competition. I still have my doubts about him making a commitment to her.”
Amanda took a bite out of her burger. “Umm, now that’s really good. You know, Tim definitely found a better caterer this year. Not that the one we had last year was bad.”
“If you say so,” said Martha as she pushed her plate aside. “Although I think last year’s picnic was far better, in many ways.”
Amanda looked her in the eye. “I know you met Danny at last year’s picnic, so I’m sorry today is such a difficult day for you.”
“Me too. I’m sorry, Mandy, but you’re right. There are just too many painful memories for me here, so maybe it would be best if I left. I don’t want to be a drag for the rest of you.”
“Don’t be silly. Sure, you’ve been a little quieter than usual, but you’re hardly being a drag on anyone, and I honestly think you’d be better off being around other people instead of sitting home moping. Besides, we’ll be breaking out the ice cream soon, so we’ll indulge in a couple of sundaes and not feel guilty about it.”
Martha turned her attention back to her plate and gave her burger a second try. This time it tasted better and went down easier. Taking another bite, she heard a small child calling his mother. Her eyes popped open in surprise.
“Braydon? What are you doing here?” The child ran up to her and as she pulled him onto her lap he pointed to a man heading their way. Amanda quickly got up and excused herself.
“No, Mandy. Please, stay.”
“It’s okay. I can finish my lunch at Tim’s table. That’ll give the two of you some time to talk.”
Martha gave her sister a strong look. “Did you know he was coming?”
“No, I honestly had no idea, but maybe his showing up is a good thing.”
Lou stepped up to their table and Amanda greeted him with a warm hug. “Good seeing you again.”
“You too,” he said. “Brayden was getting a little restless and was wondering where his mother was, so I took a guess that you’d be here. Hope it’s okay.”
Amanda gave him a warm smile. “Well, of course it’s okay. Please, make yourself at home, and go grab yourself a burger or a hot dog.” As she stepped away Lou turned his attention to Martha.
“You know, I really have missed her.”
“I’m sure you have,” she said as her tone turned edgy. “So, why are you really here?”
The Letter is available on Amazon, Barnesandnoble.com, and with other online booksellers.
Marina’s Journal does not include AI (Artificial Intelligence) generated content or use AI software of any kind. Marina writes and edits her blog herself. No part of this blog may be used or reproduced or transmitted in any form, or used in any matter by AI, without the express written consent Good Oak Press, LLC. Requests for permission must be addressed to Good Oak Press, LLC, P.O. Box 51244, Denton, TX 76206-1244.