A UN-X-PECTED TRIP TO X-TACY ...

The heat of another summer day peaks. Tears splash onto a lab printout: the results of her biopsy.  Cancer ... could it be any worse? Yup, being left at the altar. 

Mollie pics up a beaded, lace wedding dress and sobs into it. Where do I go from here? 

The question rolls through her mind like a locomotive over a track. She dries her eyes and gently packs the dress into the original box, drops it onto the floor, and shoves it under the bed.

The phone rings. Not again. “Hello, Jen.”

“How did you know it was me,” a shrill voice blasts out of the receiver.

“Lucky guess.”

“Are you packed yet?”

“No. I don’t think it’s a good idea just to take off and see where the wind brings us.”

“We’re on the way.” 

Click.

A road trip to nowhere?  Fun ...

*      *     *     *     *

A oversized, oddly shaped blue and red marquis reads  Welcome to MONTANA.

Mollie rolls her eyes. “Montana? You’ve got to be kidding me? Girls, are you sure about this?”

“This is where the coin toss led us. Where’s your sense of adventure, Molls,” Jen said with lilt in her voice. “Besides, we may run into some hunky cowboys.” Jen flexes her golfball size biceps. “Gotta love the guns on those boys.”

Mollie flinches. That’s the last thing I need.

With the gas tank running on nearly empty, they pull off the highway at the first exit.  A small town comes into view. A chipped white pole with GAS printed in faded red letters pierces the periwinkle blue sky.

“Fill up fast and let’s get out of here,” Mollie said.

“What’s the hurry,” Jen piped. She turned around. “I’m starved and thirsty. It’s nearly five o’clock. I’m up for hanging here tonight. What about you girls?”

The two other girls nod. Three brightly lit faces beam at Mollie. 

“All right, I guess.” Mollie sighs.

“Great. We’ll ask the attendant where the locals hang. It’s Friday night. There’s bound to be some hotties out tonight,” Jen said, and jumps out of the car.

Millions of stars twinkle in the midnight blue sky as Mollie enters the local bar.

The bartender hands her a drink, as three guys surround Jen with broad smiles and matching shoulders. Their twanged, husky voices boom in time with the beat of the music.

Mollie inches herself away from the forest of men to the other side of the bar. Why am I here? I should go back to the room. She swallows another sip of her drink, places the glass on the bar, and heads toward the door.

It opens. Mollie steps through and continues down the front stairs. A high pitched whistle forces her to turn.

“Whoa, darlin. What’s the rush.” Perfect white teeth glow from a rugged, tan face.

Mollie blushes and remains speechless. 

“The quiet type, eh? I’m Craig.” He flashes another smile.

Mollie gulps some air. “Hi. I was just leaving. Have a good night.” She turns on her heel and continues down the stairs.

“How can I now ...” He lowers his head. “... when the prettiest girl in town is leaving and taking my heart along with her.”

What a load of cra— Her eyes lock on his puppy dog eyes. 

He extends a tattooed muscular arm ...

Could this be the beginning to another painful end? Or, the sac of sugar to cure her aching heart and body?

Mollie’s doesn’t want to complicate her life any further. But, hunky Craig has other ideas and falling in love isn’t one of them.

HEALING SUMMER by Elizabeth Seckman

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What an intriguing premise. I like the fact that Mollie isn’t your normal character. She is not only hit with emotional scarring from being jilted at the alter, but to have a a malignancy too. Talk about a being hit below the belt! I certainly would like to know more about her healing ... wouldn’t you?

Elizabeth is an amazing talent and has an infectiously fun personality. If you don’t know her, drop by her blog ... you won’t be disappointed. 

Everyone, have a fantastic Saturday and weekend ... I hope you all enjoyed my special X intro. X is for an X-citing surprise!  I certainly hope you were...