I've had conversations with or emails from a few of you about my different story lines. Everyone has a different opinion! However, mostly you were all encouraging about any of the stories - saying they all sounded good. I'm torn between the "Harmony G.R.I.T.S." - because a few of you liked that idea, and the "Love of a Good Man" romance. Since I have already written a page or two of the Good Man story, I'm posting it below. After you've read that, you can let me know whether what I've written so far is appealing to you and you want to see where it goes, or whether it's not enough to "grab" you. Then we'll go from there. And I really do want to hear from you!
The Love of a Good Man (I'm still thinking about this title!)
Amanda Sparks scanned over the document with the judge's signature and then tossed it onto her cluttered desk. She didn't need to read the fine print to know that this was the final order for the dissolution of her marriage to Sami, her tall, dark Arabian prince as she had once called him affectionately, who had swept her off her feet only seven years earlier. Now the bloom was off the rose, the marriage over, and Amanda was on her own. She felt a mixture of relief and sadness. Sadness that the hopes she had when she married Sami never truly materialized, relief that the nightmare the marriage had become was over. But mostly Amanda simply felt at loose ends, unsure of what to do with herself now.
"Hey Sparky! Aren't you coming to the faculty party? It's time to celebrate!" Craig Jensen,Spanish professor in the Literature and Language department of the University of Chicago, had stuck his head into Amanda's office.He was one of a very few people who could get away with calling Amanda "Sparky," a nickname derived from both her last name and her flaming red hair.
Amanda smile in spite of her mood. "Of course, Craig, I'll be down in a minute. I just have a few things to wrap up here." Amanda had been an assistant professor at the University of Chicago since earning her Ph.D about a year after she and Sami married.Her specialty was contemporary literature and her classes were popular with the students, especially those who were not English majors but who needed literature classes to satisfy degree requirements. Not that her classes could be considered an easy "A." She had a reputation for being tough, but fair.
After Craig left for the party, Amanda turned to her computer. She needed to clear out her email files before closing up her office for the summer. Most of the emails were endless administrative dictates concerning graduation, turning in grades, etc. Those she scanned through quickly and deleted; none of them required a response. The last email was from her sister Colleen,who lived in west Texas on a small ranch with her husband and brood of three children.
To: Amanda Sparks
From: Colleen Walker
Subject: How ya doin'?
Hi Mandy,
I know you're divorce is coming through and just wanted to check in and see how you're doing. I hope that you're having a chance to heal from all of this and that Sami isn't giving you too much trouble about things. Let me know how you are. And if you're up for it, who not come out and spend a few weeks with us on the ranch? The west Texas sun and fresh air would do you a world of good. The kids would love to see their Aunt Mandy, and Tom could certainly use an extra pair of hands around the place!:)
Don't be sad. This will all work out for the best.
Love
Sis
Amanda smiled. Colleen always knew the right thing to say. That's why she had always relied on her sister for advice and encouragement. Colleen had been happily married to Tom Walker for fifteen years and Amanda envied her. She had found her place early and clung to it. She had not had the restlessness that Amanda had often felt.Amanda hit the "Reply" button and started typing.
Dear Sis,
Boy is your timing good! Just today I got the final dissolution of the marriage.It's official now; I'm a single woman again! I'm doing okay - I'm mostly relieved more than anything. Sami and I worked out a property settlement and everything outside of court so we only had to make a brief court appearance a few weeks ago. Since there are no children involved, it was pretty simple. It was all very "civil."
I appreciate the invitation to come out there, and don't think the idea of roping cattle with Tom isn't enticing!But I've actually made plans to "head to the hills." I'm going to head up to Townsend and do some exploring around the old homeplace in Cades Cove. I haven't been up there since we were kids and I'm curious about how things are up there. I may do some research and some writing about our mountain heritage. I don't know. I just wanted to get away from Chicago and the coolness of the Smokies just appealed to me (more than the "warmth" of west Texas!. I'm going to head home to visit with Mom and Dad for a few days before I go up there.
This will be my last email to you before I get to Townsend. I'll have my laptop with me, and assuming I can get a wireless connection in the mountains, I'll let you know when I get there and settled.
Love,
Mandy
Amanda shut down her computer. She only had a few more "official" duties for the semester. She knew she needed to go to the end-of-the semester faculty party, and graduation was the next day. All the professors were required to attend graduation. After putting a few personal items in a box and securing her office for the summer, she headed out to her car and loaded her stuff inside. Then she headed back into the Humanities building to attend the party and say goodbye to her colleagues.
The Love of a Good Man (I'm still thinking about this title!)
Amanda Sparks scanned over the document with the judge's signature and then tossed it onto her cluttered desk. She didn't need to read the fine print to know that this was the final order for the dissolution of her marriage to Sami, her tall, dark Arabian prince as she had once called him affectionately, who had swept her off her feet only seven years earlier. Now the bloom was off the rose, the marriage over, and Amanda was on her own. She felt a mixture of relief and sadness. Sadness that the hopes she had when she married Sami never truly materialized, relief that the nightmare the marriage had become was over. But mostly Amanda simply felt at loose ends, unsure of what to do with herself now.
"Hey Sparky! Aren't you coming to the faculty party? It's time to celebrate!" Craig Jensen,Spanish professor in the Literature and Language department of the University of Chicago, had stuck his head into Amanda's office.He was one of a very few people who could get away with calling Amanda "Sparky," a nickname derived from both her last name and her flaming red hair.
Amanda smile in spite of her mood. "Of course, Craig, I'll be down in a minute. I just have a few things to wrap up here." Amanda had been an assistant professor at the University of Chicago since earning her Ph.D about a year after she and Sami married.Her specialty was contemporary literature and her classes were popular with the students, especially those who were not English majors but who needed literature classes to satisfy degree requirements. Not that her classes could be considered an easy "A." She had a reputation for being tough, but fair.
After Craig left for the party, Amanda turned to her computer. She needed to clear out her email files before closing up her office for the summer. Most of the emails were endless administrative dictates concerning graduation, turning in grades, etc. Those she scanned through quickly and deleted; none of them required a response. The last email was from her sister Colleen,who lived in west Texas on a small ranch with her husband and brood of three children.
To: Amanda Sparks
