Snippet Sunday

I didn't have much time to write this week, but I did get a little more done on my new WIP. No blurb or title to share yet. If you see anything off about the excerpt do let me know. When you finish here you can go to http://www.wewriwa.blogspot.com for more excerpts from a talented group of authors.

Last Week's excerpt:

Late afternoon. The Isle of Palms hung suspended between the ordinary hustle and bustle of the day and the blue calm of the evening. The tide had come in so the beach house was closer to the ocean than it was in the morning. Rhett parked his car in the driveway and stared at the house in front of him. 

He had lived in this place his entire life, although not in this particular house. Hurricane Hugo came along in 1989 and destroyed the first residence, but his parents had rebuilt in the same place. The current home was built on big pillars sunk deep into the ground and had three stories. Big, wraparound porches could be accessed from each of the three stories. A little cupola sat on top of the house. The Landers’ first home had been painted pale blue, but his mother had chosen white for this one.

Long shadows across the ocean mimicked Rhett’s mood as he slowly dragged himself out of his car. Coming home at the end of a long session in Washington always thrilled him, but tonight… Drawing a deep breath, he ignored the majesty of the sea and the fresh-smelling, salty breeze and went inside. 

This week's excerpt:

“Why, Rhett, you’re early,” Alex cried, her face aglow. She set down a wine glass and danced over to greet him, looking very much like poetry in motion. 

He threw his arms around her and buried his face in her hair, well aware that this was the last time he’d touch her before he ripped their lives apart. Once she found out what he had to say their world would be different no matter what she decided to do.  His head buzzed and he felt dizzy as emotion ripped and tore at his vitals. What would he do if she left him? Drawing a deep breath, he stepped away from her, hoping he hadn’t squeezed her too hard.  “Let’s go upstairs to talk.”

She laughed, the sweet, ringing sound full of the joy they’d always taken in each other. He bit his lip so hard he tasted blood. It was then that he noticed the silence in the room. His parents and both of his sons were staring at him as if he were a stranger who’d barged his way into their living room, a man they halfway feared. 

Judge Landers cleared his throat. “Did you have a good trip?”

“No.”

“You look upset. You’re not acting like yourself.”

Upset? Yeah, that was one way to put it. “Dad, we’ll talk later, okay? I want to talk to Alex.”

The judge nodded, the inquisitive, worried look in his eyes telling Rhett that his father knew something out of the ordinary was taking place.