Musings & Thoughts for Tuesday, April 23, 2024, or: Our Intrepid Novelist Writes His First Steamy Scene for ‘Reunion: Coda’

Mid-Morning, Tuesday, April 23, 2024, Madison, New Hampshire

Hi, all.

It’s a lovely – if still a bit too nippy for this transplanted Floridian – spring morning here in Madison, New Hampshire. Currently, the temperature is 34°F (1°C) under sunny skies. With humidity at 62% and the wind blowing from the south-southwest at 1 MPH (1 Km/H), the feels-like temperature is 43°F (6°C). Today’s forecast calls for sunny skies and a high of 63°F (17°C). Tonight, we can expect scattered light showers. The low will be 34°F (1°C).

On Writing & Storytelling: Yesterday Was a Good Writing Day!

Yes, it’s true! The first day of my writing workweek was unusually productive, at least in comparison to how my Mondays usually go.

Maybe it’s because I resisted the urge to work on the manuscript for most of the weekend. Or maybe it’s because – like most writers – I spent much of my weekend thinking about Chapter 15 and what needs to happen within. Or maybe the Force was with me.

Or maybe I did everything right yesterday: Blogging early enough to start my rest break at a decent time. Ate a decent lunch. Went outside for fresh air and sunshine despite the chilly temperatures. Had a clear idea of what I wanted to do in Chapter 15, Scene Two.

I don’t know. But whatever it was that I did right…it paid off rather well.

My first ‘steamy’ scene for Reunion: Coda

The payoff from yesterday’s five-hour writing session – I spent four hours finishing Scene One and writing the rough draft of a complete Scene Two, plus one extra hour editing both – was…TA-DA! My first overtly intimate scene between Jim and Maddie,

Now, I didn’t have my 35-year-old college history prof protagonist/narrator and his new pianist girlfriend “do the deed” in my first-ever (well, at least “first-ever for mass consumption”) sexy scene.[1] Even though the novel is 15 chapters into the story and Jim and Maddie have discussed going all the way, I’m not quite ready to take them there.

However, I wanted to nudge my hero and heroine in that direction, so I wrote a scene that shows them getting comfortable with each other, enough for them to get naked together for the first time.

I’m so pleased with how the scene came out that I’m willing to share – no, not the steamy scene; I want you to read that in the finished novel! – the “setup” scene from Chapter 15:

Enjoy. If you like it, let me know in the comments below!

A Quiet Morning in Queens

Saturday, March 11, 2000, Maddie’s Apartment

The soft light of a partly cloudy morning spills through the east-facing kitchen window, casting a warm, diffused glow across the room. The walls, painted in light, airy colors, are brightened by sunflower motifs on the curtains and matching towels. Among the cheerful decor, a red telephone box cookie jar and a miniature Big Ben stand as proud reminders of Maddie’s English heritage.

Still clad in the blue Arrow shirt I borrowed, I’ve slipped my suit pants back on, a necessary precaution against the prying eyes of Mrs. Benitez next door. I move about the kitchen with a practiced quietness, gathering cooking implements and ingredients to prepare a breakfast fit for a queen—or at least, a jet-lagged English rose.

The sizzle of bacon, sweetened with sugar, fills the air, accompanied by the soft clatter of the spatula against the pan as I scramble the eggs. I’m careful not to make too much noise, humming “All the Things You Are” under my breath. The toast pops up with a satisfying click, and I pour the Maxwell House 1892 blend into two mugs, the rich aroma mingling with the breakfast symphony.

Outside, the city is waking up. The distant murmur of traffic blends with the occasional bark of a neighborhood dog, punctuating the morning calm. From the apartment next door, a couple argues in rapid Spanish, their words a passionate soundtrack to the otherwise peaceful morning.

Just as I’m about to plate the food, I hear a voice, still laced with the remnants of sleep but unmistakably delighted. “Something sure smells good! I didn’t know you were a short-order cook, a scholar, and an author!” Maddie’s voice carries through the kitchen as she appears in the doorway, her hair tousled in that ‘just out of bed’ way, wrapped in a pale pink terrycloth bathrobe over her Winnie the Pooh pajamas. The sight of her, so unexpectedly radiant, brings a smile to my face that I hope conveys all the affection I feel at that moment.

“The only history I’ll be making this morning is in culinary arts. But for you, Maddie, I’d happily trade manuscripts for menus any day.”

Maddie chuckles, a sound as melodious as her piano playing, and with a twinkle in her hazel eyes, she says, “Oh, I’m sure you’re a man of many talents, Jim. And that bacon smells heavenly. Let me guess, you remembered I told you that my sister dusted bacon strips with sugar before frying.” Her voice carries the warmth of a shared secret, a testament to the small, intimate details that weave the fabric of our growing connection.

I chuckle, flipping the bacon with a flourish. “You know, Maddie, they say an elephant never forgets, but I think I’ve got them beat. It’s all about applying new information to the task at hand—like remembering your sister’s sweetened bacon trick.”

Maddie’s laughter is the music of the morning as she settles into one of the chairs by the smallish round table in our kitchen nook. “I must say, Jim, you’re quite the quick study,” she compliments, her eyes sparkling with mirth.

I nod, considering her words. “I had a plan, you know. I wanted to serve you breakfast in bed—’brekkie,’ as you’d call it—to help with the jet lag. But it seems I’m missing a crucial piece of equipment.” I gesture around the kitchen. “Do you have a breakfast tray?”

“Oh, I don’t have one of those,” she admits, a hint of disappointment in her voice.

A mental note is made: find a breakfast tray. It would be a useful addition to either her apartment or mine, especially for moments like these.

We enjoy our breakfast, the simple pleasure of shared company elevating the meal. I can’t help but marvel at how gorgeous Maddie looks, her pink terrycloth bathrobe and tousled hair adding to her charm. It’s a casual beauty, unpretentious and genuine, and it’s utterly captivating.

As the hands of the clock inch towards noon, the sun climbs higher, casting a bright, assertive light through the kitchen window. The remnants of our breakfast sit contentedly on our plates, a silent testament to the morning’s shared pleasures.

With a slight clearing of my throat, I address Maddie, a trace of nervousness betraying my usual composure. “Sweets, would it be alright if I took a shower here?” I inquire, acutely aware of my lack of preparation for an impromptu overnight stay.

Her reply is quick and tinged with humor. “Of course, but just so you know, don’t be too surprised if there’s another live creature in there with you,” she teases, a mischievous glint in her eye suggesting the presence of more than just soap and shampoo. With a light laugh, Maddie excuses herself to the bathroom and returns moments later, her hands presenting a pristine toothbrush, still sealed in its packaging, and a stick of Secret deodorant. “Bought this last month at CVS—haven’t even used it yet,” she says, her smile widening. “And about the deodorant… well, I hope you don’t mind smelling like ‘Powder Fresh’ for the day,” she adds, her eyes sparkling with amusement.

Gratitude mixes with amusement as I accept her offerings. “Thank you, Maddie. You’re a gem,” I say, my heart lightened by her playful spirit.

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[1] Back in 2004, I wrote two erotic stories based on my first time for the website Literotica. They’re still there, as of this writing.