Moments for the Heart

Hey, Weekend Writing Warriors. It has been an interesting week. Got some sad news this week. The restaurant our family celebrates our Christmas meal at is closing. We have been going there for almost twenty years. To top it off, we have a tradition of taking our family photos there. If you’ve visited my FB page, my banner image is our children, and my mom, in front of the fireplace there. Each year I update that image. They close in August, so we will not have the opportunity to update it for 2024. So heartbreaking, but time marches on.

Well, enough about me, Let’s get back into reminding. Aaron and Deborah get closer with their interaction in the deli through the next few snippets.

SYNOPSIS:

Aaron Stephenson loves his job. As food critic for the popular Houston Gazette, he gets to sample the best cuisine at the finest eateries in Houston without paying a dime. And because there are so many great restaurants in Houston, he doesn’t have to visit the same establishment twice… unless he wants to.

But when Aaron stops in at Davies Deli, a non-descript, off-the-beaten-path, family-owned diner, he suddenly realizes he wants to come back;

But it has to do more with the owners’ brown haired, green eyed daughter, Deborah than the delicious food.
Aaron and Deborah feel a mutual attraction. But Deborah has a secret that could change everything.

And then there is Carter…

SNIPPET:

Summary:
This love story novel was born out of a dream I had about an angel leaving nick knacks behind for a couple to find as they walked through an amusement park together. They were reminders about them being a couple because they were struggling. Them finding these ‘little reminders’ drew them back together. The novel also has a dual storyline, in that the MC also has a struggle with their relationship with God, so they are also being drawn back to Him as well. The diner idea came from my personal love for food, writing some of the book sitting in a Denny’s, and working in kitchens for almost 10 years.

Here is a bit from last week.

Deborah walked into the restroom adjacent to the office. She faced the mirror that was over a small sink. The truth is that she was not feeling well at all. Drained was just part of what she had been experiencing. Pop knew about the ringing in the ears, headaches, and her being tired, but she did not tell him about the dizziness or nausea. Maybe Mom was right, she needed a break. But her parents needed her right now. And how many times have they sacrificed their health for her wellbeing, now it was her turn to be there for them.

She turned on the faucet, which squeaked almost as much as the chair. She splashed lukewarm water on her face, ran her wet fingers through her hair, and took the green nylon scrunchie from her wrist and put her hair up. The Friday lunch rush was about to begin.


We are picking up somewhat where we left off. Deborah internal speech and though about her parents and viewing the room she is in. We pick up in the middle of it. Here she is looking at some photos on the wall:

Through his travels, Aaron got to know Houston streets well. Many of the establishments he visited were off the beaten path, so he became familiar with back roads. He discovered most of the best places to eat were not in the popular strip malls. They were around the corner, down the road, or at the end of a cul-de-sac. On the main highway, it would take someone half an hour to get to Davies Deli from his office. But due to his homework, he could make the same trip in less than twenty minutes. And today he was on a mission.

Aaron pulled up to the lonely building just off the main road in just under seventeen – a new record. The deli was isolated from everything else, but it was far from forgotten. Vehicles surrounded the rectangular structure and spilled on the road down to the beginning of the residential community to the south and the businesses to the north.


::There is your ten, or so, but let’s continue on and finish the scene.::


The building itself was unassuming. In no way did the outside prepare a patron for what was waiting for them inside. The structure was a double-wide trailer converted into a restaurant. It had new brown two toned Hardie-siding and a fairly new metal roof. He knew it had a strong history and must have been through several facelifts over the years to look as new as it did; he wondered if it was even the original structure.

Aaron saw a sign near the door announcing the special of the day, Meatloaf Sandwich. As he opened the door, the smell of fresh meatloaf hit him; he instantly knew what he would have today. The dining area was as full as the parking lot suggested. Nearly all the booths were full. Erica had her hands full, taking trays to waiting tables and Miguel was quick to buss the empties making way for the next onslaught of hungry guests. There were three spots available at the counter, including his regular spot at the end. Peach Cobbler was the dessert special judging by the way the dessert case was set up.

He sat and didn’t even pick up a menu. He looked around but didn’t see Deborah. Aaron wondered if she was there. Maybe he had missed her. Up till now, he felt reasonably confident, but his nerves took a vacation when he finally saw her. Well, not her face. She was behind the serving window, in the kitchen, helping Mr. Davies. He could see a ponytail with a green scrunchie dancing as she went back and forth, obviously in a rush; it was busy, and people were waiting.

She saw Aaron and gave a quick smile of recognition, then a roll of the eyes as she blew a stray hair upward that had come loose from her ponytail. Her face was slightly beaded with sweat. She looked tired. “Either Erica or I will be with you soon, Aaron.” She remembered his name. So far, so good. He smiled.

Sometimes you go back to an older writing and you cringe a bit. You can see how much you have grown as a writer because you see the old writing pits and errors you made. I did make some corrections on this one, but not all. Can’t believe this is in print. It is not so much errors, but the drabness of a new writer. Aaron is much deeper in future novels. And I am much older. We have grown together through the series.

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Monday is Memory Monday
We remember an important event that occurred on that Monday or sometime that week.

Tuesday is Two Twenty-Two Tuesday
A weekly vlog where I talk about writing or something that’s been on my heart, all in two minutes and twenty-two seconds. — I am way behind on this… sorry.
This is posted on my YouTube channel.

Wednesday is when I post my blog for the week.
I speak from my heart on various topics from writing to faith.

Thursday is This or That Thursday
A weekly two-option poll that raises the question, do you like this, or do you prefer that?
I host this on this on Twitter, IG, and Facebook.

Friday is Fun Fact Friday
I find and share interesting or obscure facts on my pages.

Saturday is for Weekend Writing Warriors
Saturday is for Snippets from a current piece or past work.

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In His Exciting Service,

Jeff S. Bray

Check out amazing established and emerging writers at Weekend Writing Warriors. Each week we post new snippets from either published works or works in progress for each other to comment on. Gain insight into how the mind of a writer works and a behind-the-scenes look at works before they hit bookstands everywhere.

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