Midday/Early Afternoon, Wednesday, August 14, 2024, Madison, New Hampshire
Hey everyone. Had a pretty rough night with sleep, kept waking up—first at 3:30 AM, then around 5 AM, and again at 9:15 AM. So, I’m running late today, feeling exhausted, and not really sure how the day’s gonna turn out.
I don’t have any good news to share about life in Madison, and I’m not up for writing any reviews today. All I can add to my blog is another writing exercise, which might be dull for those of you who aren’t into my fiction or my writing process.
Today’s prompt from How to Write a Romance, or How to Write Witty Dialogue, Smoldering Love Scenes & Happily-Ever-Afters is:
Write a love scene that occurs in the bathroom (tub or shower or countertop, you decide!).
Oddly enough, I wrote one such scene for Reunion: Coda back in April. I don’t remember if this prompt inspired me (I owned How to Write a Romance then), but here it is:
Fresh Starts and Fresh Scents
The shower curtain slides open just enough for Maddie to step in. “Hi, Professor Jim,” she says, her tone playful. “Didn’t I tell you that you could encounter another living creature in here?”
Reunion: Coda
The door clicks shut behind me, and I find myself alone in Maddie’s bathroom. It’s a small sanctuary, blending the building’s original 1940s charm with practical updates from the early ’90s. The checkerboard floor—a monochrome relic—anchors the room, complemented by modern fixtures that promise contemporary comforts.
In my hand, I hold the toothbrush Maddie gave me, still in its sterile wrapping—a token of her thoughtfulness. The stick of Secret deodorant on the counter is an amusing reminder of life’s unexpected turns.
The bathroom is a capsule of time, harmonizing the past and present. The original 1940s floor tiles lay a foundation steeped in history, while the walls, adorned with faded but dignified floral wallpaper, whisper tales of the era. In contrast, the sleek, functional sink, toilet, and bathtub/shower are modern additions, sans bidet, maintaining the room’s simple design….
I absorb the room’s character before disrobing, placing my clothes carefully on the sink’s edge. The water beckons, and I fine-tune the shower’s temperature. The sound of cascading water fills the room, signaling the day’s next act.
The shower’s warmth is a welcome reprieve, melting away the night’s weariness. I reach for the Dial Calm and Soothe body wash, its Lavender & Jasmine scent filling the steamy air, transporting me to a serene garden.
Lathering the soap, its suds glide over my skin, the scent cocooning me in relaxation. A contented sigh escapes me; I’m enveloped by the comforts of Maddie’s world.
Humming “All the Things You Are,” I lose myself in the water’s rhythm and the tune’s harmony. It’s a jazzy, improvised rendition, free and expressive.
I am so engrossed in the sensory experience that I fail to notice the door opening, the sound of fabric moving, or Maddie’s quiet footsteps. It is only when she starts humming along with me that I become aware that she is there with me.
The shower curtain slides open just enough for Maddie to step in. “Hi, Professor Jim,” she says, her tone playful. “Didn’t I tell you that you could encounter another living creature in here?”
I pause, taking a deep breath as I turn to face her, the sight before me commanding all my senses. Maddie’s chestnut hair, now wet from the shower, clings to her skin in sleek, darkened strands. The water transforms each lock into a smooth ribbon, accentuating the rich, warm tones of her hair as they catch the light, creating a cascade of shimmering chestnut that frames her face and shoulders with an effortless grace. The water beads on Maddie’s skin like morning dew on petals, each droplet reflecting the soft light, lending her a radiant, ethereal glow. The rivulets trace the contours of her form, a delicate map of the journey each droplet takes as it glides over her, enhancing the natural beauty of her skin with a lustrous sheen. I can’t help but notice the soft curves of her breasts, her pink nipples erect and inviting. As the water cascades down her body, a few droplets linger at the rim of her navel, hesitating as if on the brink of a discovery, before succumbing to the pull of gravity and pooling softly in the hollow of her bellybutton. Maddie’s legs, toned from her regular exercise, carry the strength and grace of a dancer. They are the embodiment of soft power, sculpted yet retaining a gentle femininity that speaks to her disciplined yet caring nature. The water from the shower highlights the definition in her calves, the droplets tracing the lines of her muscles like a painter’s brush accentuating the curves of a masterpiece. Her toes, adorned with a vibrant red polish that matches her fingernails, add a playful pop of color, showcasing meticulous attention to detail that is both charming and alluring. The polish, unmarred by the water, gleams with a glossy finish, a testament to her impeccable self-care. The air is infused with the subtle fragrance of jasmine, a delicate aroma that seems to dance upon the steam. It wraps around Maddie, a natural, clean scent that complements the warmth of the water and the softness of her skin. It’s a scent that speaks of serene nights and gentle whispers, lingering in the air like a tender memory.
“I thought you might be referring to spiders or the odd mosquitoes,” I respond, my voice steady, belying the rapid pace of my heartbeat.
In this unexpected moment, the air seems to be still, time pausing in deference to the vision before me. Maddie, in her natural grace, is a revelation, stirring a sense of awe within me that transcends mere visual appreciation.
“As a historian, I’ve always believed it’s the unseen details that hold the true essence of beauty. Now, standing before you, I realize some histories are felt rather than told,” I say, the words flowing naturally, a reflection of the profound connection I feel in this moment.
Maddie looks back at me with admiration. “In the symphony of my life, you’ve become, as of late, the crescendo, Jim. And now, you’ve left me utterly breathless,” she replies, her voice a whisper above the sound of the falling water.
As the water continues its gentle cascade around us, Maddie steps closer, her eyes locked with mine. The air is charged with the electricity of the moment, and as she wraps her arms around me, the world outside this shower fades away.
“Wait…” I start, a hint of a smile playing on my lips, “I haven’t even brushed my teeth yet!”
Maddie’s laughter is a melody that mingles with the sound of the water. “I don’t care, darling. Neither have I,” she whispers, her breath warm against my skin.
And with that, any hesitation dissolves, the mundane concerns of the day eclipsed by the simple, perfect reality of her embrace.
On the Topic of Genre
This is just one of the many scenes in my work-in-progress novel, Reunion: Coda, that explores the theme of love in its various forms and expressions. But before you dismiss it as a typical romance novel, let me tell you why it’s more than that.
Reunion: Coda is not a conventional romance novel. It’s a blend of several genres, each one adding a different layer to the story and the characters. It’s partly a coming-of-age novel, as it follows the protagonist, Jim Garraty, through his teenage years in South Florida and his first love with Marty, a girl from London who he is too afraid to confess his feelings to, after a painful breakup the year before. It’s also partly a period fiction, as it recreates the atmosphere and culture of the early 1980s and the year 2000, with references to music, movies, fashion, and historical events. And finally, it’s partly autobiographical, as I drew inspiration from some of my own experiences and memories of high school, especially the ones related to friendship, regret, and hope.
Reunion: Coda mixes in some romance elements like dual timelines, flashbacks, and a main love story, but it doesn’t stick to the typical romance script. It’s not your classic fairy tale or a tragic love story with a sad ending. Instead, it realistically shows how love can evolve, grow stronger, or last through time, influencing our decisions and lives. This novel appreciates love in all its messy complexities, without putting it on a pedestal or knocking it down.
I hope this helps you understand what Reunion: Coda is all about and why it’s more than just a love story. If you’re interested in knowing more, check out my blog where I’ll be posting excerpts, thoughts, and updates. Got questions or comments? Drop them below or reach out to me on social media.
Thank you for reading, and stay tuned for tomorrow’s post, where I’ll talk about some of the challenges and joys of writing Reunion: Coda. (Unless I get inspired and decide to write another one later today.) Until then, take care and happy reading!
A Certain Point of View, Too 
You must be logged in to post a comment.