https://girlieontheedge1.wordpress.com/2026/01/28/its-thursdays-six-sentence-story-blog-hop-56/

Richard prayed a quick blessing over the meal, the lasagne’s aroma was intoxicating–after savoring the first bite, he said, “Wow, I haven’t had lasagne like this since I don’t remember when–delicious, Lorelei.”

She blushed, they talked around the subject of his book–Lorelei suggested he check with the librarian about hosting a “meet the author/book-signing”; a moment later she couldn’t contain her curiosity: “so, Richard, I’m wondering if you’re an author who enjoys discussing your book…or, not so much?”  

Judd’s foot nudged hers beneath the table and his glance said, “no fishing”, but Richard smiled, and Judd was ready to defend her: “she won’t rest unless you share a snippet–otherwise she’ll disappear into the book and finish at dawn.”

Richard laughed softly, he wasn’t keen to invite nightmares–(Judd’s use of the word disappear was unfortunate)–but she was a delightful hostess and when he nodded for her to speak, she asked, “how did you find such an obscured place, Birchwick Cliff isn’t on the maps–and was it really a cult at the time?”

He dabbed his lips with a napkin, took a shallow breath: “not a cult, no–some of the people were a bit off…others, entrenched in myths which morphed into tragic history…some were ‘normal’ like us; I hadn’t planned to go there–it was a wrong turn off the highway, I needed sleep; and I was living a 5-year mystery…so whatever direction I traveled could thoretically unearth answers.”

After another pause, he continued:  “I was engaged to be married–two weeks before the wedding my fiancee and my mom left for a weekend bonding trip, and never returned; no trace of the car…no bodies…officially declared ‘missing’; my life was T-boned–so I took a leave from work, packed the V-Dub, headed out with no destination; next thing I knew, I was driving through that imposing wrought iron gate at the entrance…into the next chapter of ‘Worst of Times’…which ultimately became a blessing I never imagined.

~ Cale