I’ve come to accept that it’s unlikely I’ll make 50K this year in NaNoWriMo. I’m currently at around 27,000 words give or take a hundred or so. There are five days (not counting today) left. I have to sleep at least six hours a night plus I work full time today and tomorrow. You do the math. While it would be more fun, it would be rude to write at the table during Thanksgiving dinner dontcha think? Then Friday we go up to meet my husband’s biological father for the first time. I don’t think I can count on being able to write while we’re there. Besides, I’d rather go wine tasting.
But you know what? I’m okay with not making it all the way. Charlie’s story is further along than it ever was before and I am determined to finish it. She deserves to finally see the light. I’m not sure what I’ll do with it when the story is complete. I may self-publish; I may not. We’ll cross that bridge when we get there.
Below is the final excerpt of what I’ve written so far. Thanks for sharing the ride with me peeps. 🙂
From inside his parked rental car, Carlo Dante watched the people leaving the Rhodes’ house. The broad who had seen him standing over Joey’s body got in the driver’s side of the sweet Malibu convertible while the blond man sat in the passenger seat. As they drove off the older couple watched the car’s taillights disappear. The man put his arm around the woman and they walked to a late model Buick. Another couple left the house and followed the walk to the street talking, heads close together. At the street though they split apart and got into separate cars.
Drumming his fingers on the steering wheel, Carlo watched the house for awhile longer. No one else exited and he figured the Sheriff was in for the night. It didn’t appear that they’d identified him. Maybe he was worried about nothing, he thought. He couldn’t help wondering if he’d left behind some clue in his rush to get away once the Maxwell woman had stumbled in. And what on earth had possessed him to speak to her? Had he gone soft in prison?
Shaking his head, he started the engine, put the car in gear and headed back to the Seaside Inn. As Dante pulled into the motel’s parking lot he was running through a list of things he needed to do before he could leave for the airport. Being distracted he almost missed the man slipping into the side door of the motel. If the outside light hadn’t been in just the right place he probably would have missed him entirely in any case. But the exterior spotlight was focused on the door, presumably to make it easier for returning guests. And standing directly in the beam of light was Anthony Minnelli, tapping his cardkey on the security panel to open the door. Carlo kept his head and told himself it couldn’t be. Tony’s still inside, he thought. But was he?
“Goddammit,” he groaned. “Now I’m going to have to change my flight again!”
Carlo backtracked to the front of the motel and found a parking space near the main entrance. No sense in tempting fate by using the same door Tony did. Once he’d locked himself in his own room he pulled out his cell and dialed a number.
After several rings someone growled, “This better be very important.”