The Gift 11
Hello, Invisible Friends?
Did you have a good Valentine’s Day? We did. Ben took me to lunch and to see Hotel For Dogs. It may not sound like a huge deal, but he hasn’t seen a movie since 2006. And then he took me out for ice cream, which made my toes tingle with glee. I love ice cream.
I’m really a five year old at heart.
And speaking of hearts, the always fabulous Cakelaw gave me the Sisterhood award. Not only is Cakelaw a fabulous cook, but she makes most of her creations for her co-workers and friends. The woman is the definition of generosity and is one of my favorite Invisible Friends. Check her out!
The rules of this award are:
1. Put the logo on your blog or post.
2. Nominate at least 10 blogs which show great Attitude and/or Gratitude!
3. Be sure to link to your nominees within your post.
4. Let them know that they have received this award by commenting on their blog.
5. Share the love and link to this post and to the person from whom you received your award.
I’d like to pass this onto several Invisible Friends who stuck by me when I was first starting out. This is for you, my original Invisible Friends!
1) Marie
3) Katherine
4) Jen
5) Noble Pig
6) Prudy
7) Marjie
9) Lorraine
10) Grace
11) Paula
12) Pumpkin
Thanks for reading me when no one else would!
And now….to find out what’s going on with Samantha.
For the previous gift, go here. For those of you who don’t know, the Gift is a story about a girl named Samantha who finds a mysterious gift hidden in her hutch at her parent’s mountain cabin. She thinks it’s from her long-time boyfriend, Jeremy, and is hoping it’s an engagement ring. The tag on the present is signed by a mysterious “Me” and turns out to be a tiny flower. The next morning, a jeweled pendant is lying in the middle of the flower. As Samantha, her girlfriends and her annoying boyfriend try to figure out where the necklace came from, they get swept up in an adventure that will take them places they never dreamed…
In a few days, the archives of the Gift will be available under Never Ending stories so you can read everything in one swoop. Just give me a bit of time!
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The Land Rover pulled up in front of a small white limestone brick cottage with green shutters in a historic neighborhood of downtown. Even in winter, rich green bushes dotted with red berries and tiny blue flowers lined the small wooden porch. A swing creaked in the breeze as they piled out of the car and trotted up the sidewalk.
“This is your grandmother’s house?” Jeremy slurred as he lurched up the cobblestones. He crashed into a dark green mailbox decorated with shamrocks. “Is she a leprechaun?”
Rouge whirled around, his eyes blazing. “Listen. I don’t know who you are, and I don’t know why you’re here. I’m tolerating you simply because you’re a friend of Samantha’s. If I hear one word of respect to my grandmother, I’ll become very angry. And you really don’t want that. Understand?”
“I’m Samantha’s boyfriend,” Jeremy pointed out, jabbing a finger into Rouge’s chest.
“I highly doubt that,” Rouge replied. Turning on his heel, he left Jeremy plopped on the porch steps talking to a squirrel. Knocking on the door, he called softly, “Gran?”
The door swung open with a low creak. “Rouge, are you smashed again? You know I hate it when you take to the drink.” A tall woman with grey streaked auburn hair and green eyes framed by wrinkles peered out at them. She wore a crisp white apron over her velour sweatsuit and leopard print slippers. She eyed Jeremy suspiciously as he serenaded a squirrel.
“Gran,” Rouge murmured, his cheeks red. “You know I haven’t done that since high school.”
“Then why are you at me door?” she demanded, glancing toward Ashley and Cleo. “There’s a church close to your pub if you need to be confessing.”
“Grandma, it’s about Samantha,” Rouge continued, his face flaming now. “She’s disappeared.” He dropped the pendant that he’d found on her barstool in her hand. “And this was all that was left.”
Rouge’s grandmother brought the pendant to her face. Her ruddy cheeks went pale. “Was she wearing a necklace?” she asked, her fingers trembling.
“Someone had given one to her,” Ashley said, explaining the mysterious gift. “I don’t think she was wearing it though. I think it was in her purse.”
Pursing her lips, Rouge’s grandmother looked at the dark sky above their heads. Swinging open the door, she gestured for them to step inside. “We don’t have much time. This is bad. Very bad.”
“What’s so bad about it?” Jeremy demanded.
No one bothered to answer him.
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“We must go,” the man who had given her the drink at the bar said. He fingered the sword at his side. Samantha glared up at him and shook her head.
“I’m not going anywhere,” she informed him. “I want answers. Who is ‘Me’, how did I wind up in some storybook forest and why do I have this?” She cracked open her purse and pulled out the diamond and blue topaz necklace. “What is this, some kind of sick game?”
The man shook his head gravely. “It’s not a game at all,” he replied. “He has admired you for years. He has loved you from afar, hoping, dreaming….”
“Who?” Samantha bellowed. The trees shook and her eyes darted to where the fairy had scurried up the tree. Well at least someone was entertained.
“I can’t tell you his name,” the man said, his voice apologetic. “He would not wish it.”
“So some dude I’ve never met has been watching me, sneaking in my house to give me weird gifts, had his friend drug and kidnap me and now wants me to go on some quest to find him?” Samantha raised an eyebrow. “Stalker, much?”
“It does sound terrible,” the man admitted, rubbing his forehead. His blue eyes bobbed with dismay and he reached out his hand. “Imagine this. Imagine that you are a man loved for his wealth and power, but hated for his position and endowments. Imagine you have been groomed for life for one duty, one purpose. It did not matter what your heart wanted, what you wanted. Your path was set, and there was no escaping it.”
The man’s voice grew soft as he grew closer. “Now imagine that one night, close to Christmas, you fell asleep and had a dream. A dream where you saw a gorgeous girl in a strange place. Imagine that every night you longed to see her smile, laugh or even brush the hair from across her forehead. Imagine being happy only when you slept, praying for the dream to come real.”
Samantha stared up at him as he picked up the pendant and held it up to her. “Then imagine you found out it could. Wouldn’t you do anything to be with the one you loved?”
Blinking, Samantha picked up the pendant. Slipping the chain around her hand, she brought it closer to her neck…
To be continued….
Stay tuned, Invisible Friends! We have the introduction of the Babies to Star, the invading dog, a new Twirl, a new tasty recipe and the return of the Rubber Chicken as he learns the tale of the Lady in Pink.
Do you like pie? I love pie! Join me for pie week and become a princess of pie. Just contact me with a pie you’d like to feature, a special memory of pie or the pie you left behind. During pie week next week, you’ll be featured as a princess and get a special treat!
February 16th, 2009 at 4:03 am
You sure have a knack for stopping right at the point where I need to know something desperately!
February 16th, 2009 at 4:19 am
Elizabeth has a good point. Ah well. Your site looks amazing. congratulations on the new design and domain name!!!
February 16th, 2009 at 4:21 am
oh, don’t stop there. I’m dying to know what happens next. Jane x
February 16th, 2009 at 4:45 am
Hey_ Happy Valentines Day to you and yours!
I think I’d like to take my kids to that movie. It looks cute. My husband is not a big movie goer. I go with my friends usually to see what I want to see. It would be a treat if my husband went too!
February 16th, 2009 at 5:58 am
Thank you for starting my week off with a hunky Irish man! You know how I love that! I can’t wait to find out what happens next! You are the Queen of the cliffhanger!
Congrats on your award!
February 16th, 2009 at 6:17 am
I am so glad you had a nice valentines day and I love the fact you are still a kid at heart!
February 16th, 2009 at 6:37 am
I have a pie I’d like to submit. Do I do it via email or comments? lol
February 16th, 2009 at 6:56 am
My DH wants to take Chloe to see “Hotel for Dogs” heehee
Glad you had a “Wonderful Valentine’s Day” !!!
February 16th, 2009 at 7:02 am
Glad you had a great Valentines Day!
February 16th, 2009 at 7:27 am
Who is this mysterious secret admirer? A leprechaun? I could be a princess? I always wanted to be a princess. A princess of spaghetti pie!! How fitting!
February 16th, 2009 at 7:28 am
Congrats on the award. I know that you deserve it. Congrats also to all of those you have passed it on to.
I am having Marie withdrawls. I am glad that she made it safely home yesterday but I surely do miss her.
Maybe someday we could all be together. I would love to meet you too.
I love pie…. but all of my recipes are at home.
Have a good week. Love, Lura
February 16th, 2009 at 7:47 am
Congrats on the award. And no movie since 2006? That’s amazing!
February 16th, 2009 at 8:19 am
We had ice cream on Vday too! Cold Stone Creamery coffee ice cream w/ toffee chips, almonds, and caramel. It was soooooo good. Expensive, but good.
February 16th, 2009 at 8:27 am
[...] DVD and VDO Home placed an observative post today on The Gift 11Here’s a quick excerptBen took me to lunch and to see Hotel For BDogs/B. It may not sound like a huge deal, but he hasn’t seen a movie since 2006. And then… [...]
February 16th, 2009 at 8:44 am
[...] My Obsession with Good Food placed an observative post today on The Gift 11Here’s a quick excerpt9) Lorraine … 10) Grace … 11) Paula … 12) BPumpkin/B. Thanks for reading me when no one else would! And now….to find out what’s going on with… [...]
February 16th, 2009 at 8:51 am
[...] The SP Kennel Dog Log placed an observative post today on The Gift 11Here’s a quick excerptBen took me to lunch and to see Hotel For BDogs/B. It may not sound like a huge deal, but he hasn’t seen a movie since 2006. And then… [...]
February 16th, 2009 at 9:04 am
What a great Valentine’s Day! I have stolen the Sisterhood logo and it will be popping up on my site soon, what a fantastic idea!
I fixed the comments section on my new site finally! Have a great day…..
February 16th, 2009 at 9:26 am
Thanks Duckie! Hope you got to wear your best shorts to the movie and ice cream!!!
February 16th, 2009 at 9:30 am
PIE PIE PIE!
February 16th, 2009 at 9:35 am
Glad to hear that you had a good “V” day. Congratulation on the award!
Cheers,
Elra
February 16th, 2009 at 10:00 am
I’ll make you tons of ice cream if you ever come to my little corner of the world, Duckie! Thank you for the award. My grandmother used to make grasshopper pie, but she never wrote down recipes and I have no idea of what was in it, other than creme de menthe. My favorite pie is pumpkin pie – am I boring?
And this story is turning out to be as much fun as Twirl. Why am I not surprised?
February 16th, 2009 at 10:20 am
ooh pie week… drool.
i am glad you hear you had a good valentine’s day. a movie sounds divine!
February 16th, 2009 at 10:50 am
Congrats on the award — you deserve every last one of them. Your V Day sounds perfect! And once again you’ve left me hanging . . .
February 16th, 2009 at 11:37 am
Oh, it’s getting good….I love the guys description!!!
~ingrid
February 16th, 2009 at 12:56 pm
Yay – I love the Gift! I always get excited when I see it come up at the top of your blog!
Glad you enjoyed your Valentine’s Day — I love ice cream too… a little too much! (think Girl Scout shortbread cookies)
February 16th, 2009 at 1:02 pm
Hi there! I am so glad that you stumbled on my blog, so that I could come read yours. I love your stories! So much fun! I will be back.
February 16th, 2009 at 2:42 pm
Did you like Hotel for Dogs? I have wanted to see it as well! And I too love ice cream…I can understand the child-like spirit here!
February 16th, 2009 at 3:08 pm
What a fantastic, romantic turn of events on an already fantastic, romantic tale! I am loving it! I think next to Rubber Chicken and his Ducky, this is my fav story line from you.
Hey, and I’m sorry it took me so long to come over…sometimes life just overwhelms me and I don’t mean in a good way. Ugh.
Love the new website!! I need to go change my “Follow” bookmark so I don’t miss anything!
February 16th, 2009 at 3:20 pm
Sorry, not a fan of pie!
That’s a cute award!
February 16th, 2009 at 3:54 pm
Sounds like you had the perfect Valentines Day. Congrats on your award – thank you for passing it on to me you sweet thing. Loving The Gift. I bet the guy is a prince or a king. Can’t wait for the next installment. I am also looking forward to some pie recipes.
February 16th, 2009 at 4:20 pm
Stopping by from SITS
February 16th, 2009 at 4:23 pm
Me, ME, I want to be a Pie Princess! So do you need a story, a photo or a recipe?
Well, you know how I spent my Valentine’s Day. Grumble. But we did have a lovely make up dinner on the 15th. Ice cream starred, and we watched Benjamin Button!
You know, Duckie, I think The Gift is one of my favourites. I can so see this as an illustrated novel
February 16th, 2009 at 4:27 pm
Congrats on the award! Loving ‘The Gift’…I’m looking forward to the next installment!
February 16th, 2009 at 4:35 pm
Glad you had a wonderful holiday! I’m hoping to take my cousins to see that movie!
February 16th, 2009 at 4:36 pm
Awesome VDAY! I would LOVE to go see a movie! And ice cream to boot!
i hope you gave him a vday gift that made his *ahem* tingle…;P
February 16th, 2009 at 4:40 pm
Congratulation on the award Duckie and thanks for passing it onto me! I’m so honoured! With your critters, you could be the House for delightful critters
February 16th, 2009 at 5:06 pm
I think it is a great and magical thing to remain a child at heart! Good for you.
February 16th, 2009 at 6:01 pm
Really really cute site! I love it!
February 16th, 2009 at 7:17 pm
Oh Duckie! I just got home after seeing Hotel for Dogs. On your recommendation, I took my Mother and six year old daughter to see it. I LOVED it! What a sweet, feel good movie! Thank you.
February 16th, 2009 at 7:34 pm
Thanks for stopping by my blog today.
Your blog is very fun!
February 16th, 2009 at 7:37 pm
ahhh! i’m waiting on pins and needles!
February 16th, 2009 at 9:50 pm
Congratulations on the award!
My Valentine Day has been very abstract and intense.
February 16th, 2009 at 9:54 pm
Hi Duckie! A week of pie???? What could be better than that? Thanks so much for the sweet award! You are so nice! Your Valentines Day sounds like it was wonderful! You haven’t been to a movie since 2006??? Wow! That movie looks cute. We went and saw the Shopoholic movie – loved it!!!
I hope things are going well for you Duckie! What a wonderful place you have here. It’s so pretty!
XOXOXOXOXOX
Jen
February 16th, 2009 at 11:57 pm
Duckie, Duckie, Duckie, I am loving the new page and this story. It’s soooo good!!! I can’t wait to read what happens next! Thanks so much for the lovely award too!!! I am a bit slow at getting around since my return. Blame it on Jet Lag, and I have it bigtime! I don’t think it would be so bad if I could have had a few days off before having to return to work, but I suppose I should not complain!! I missed you!! Sending lots of love and hugs and a HUGE thanks!
February 17th, 2009 at 12:09 am
I don’t know what came over us in that movie, but in the end, my entire family was all teary-eyed. I guess we have a soft spot for pups! Glad you enjoyed your Valentine’s Day!
February 17th, 2009 at 12:14 am
Really? No movies since 2006? Poor man! Hey, I made a cheesecake for Valentine’s Day, does that count as a pie?
February 17th, 2009 at 12:29 am
I am so glad that you a lovely Valentines Day. An icecream and a move sounds wonderful to me.
February 17th, 2009 at 1:00 am
Mmm pie! Your Valentine’s Day sounds lovely and I am just loving your stories!!
February 17th, 2009 at 4:53 am
Aww, thank you for the award. Miranda you are so sweet to me. I’ve been thinking and thinking of a special different pie to make and post just in your honor – I think I may be close.
I’ll post the award this week. Thank you again sista!
February 17th, 2009 at 6:58 pm
Congrats on your award and thanks for stopping by today! I think it’s cute that you went to see Hotel for dogs! Simple sometimes is best in my book. We ate chocolate, drank wine, and watched a movie at home for Valentine’s Day- cheap date, but a lovely one!
Take Care,
Jen
ps. How was the movie? Have you seen Bev. Hills Chihuahua yet? I went with my girls and we loved it.
February 17th, 2009 at 9:08 pm
Gosh, darn, Duckie, you’ve done it again!
February 19th, 2009 at 5:02 am
I’m glad Rouge let Jeremy have it! I dispise him so much!!
February 21st, 2009 at 11:30 pm
Congratulations on your award! Thanks so much for passing it on to me, it means a lot! Okay, first I’m hooked on Twirl, and now I’m totally wrapped up with Rouge and Samantha (love those names, by the way). I’m not going to have any fingernails left with all these nail biting plots and twists and turns!