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Zombie Romance Writer

Valerie Goodwine

    Margaret wrapped her lips around the last luscious spoonful of homemade blood pudding. Breathing deeply, she swirled the pudding around her tongue, savoring the tingle of blood and chocolate. Refreshed by her snack, Margaret turned her attention to her computer screen and continued writing her romance novel.
    No love starved females would have devoured Margaret’s books if they knew who or rather what she was. Would they understand the loneliness that drove her to write endless “cookie cutter romances”? The typical story consisted of a rich guy falling in love with a girl, and wanting to spoil her rotten. In the novels, the men were tripping over themselves to get to the marriage altar. Margaret had never met any rich guys looking for a lonely writer to marry and support. Still, she wrote the Cinderella stories and even fooled herself into believing true love could happen to her. Every novel she wrote was a ray of hope for her 38 year old soul.
    Margaret’s own love story began at the used bookstore downtown. Jake found her as Margaret was reading the back of a glossy paperback. She was studying the picture of love on the novel cover imagining it was her with the gorgeous hunk on the cover when she looked up to see blue eyes like marbles, studying her carefully. Her mouth hung open and when he asked her if she wanted to get some coffee, she was dumbstruck. He didn’t just buy her a cup of coffee, he got her a cinnamon bun too. Saying “sweets for the sweet,” he should have sounded like an idiot but he made her heart flutter instead. They talked for hours and ended with a promise to meet the next day at the museum and tour it together.
    Margaret shouldn’t have worried. Jake showed up for the tour of the museum and asked her to the movies that night. Dinner and a movie no less. She was sure she had died and gone to heaven. Well at least she was sure she was dead, not too sure about the heaven part.
    She could have loved Jake for the rest of her life if she hadn’t eaten him on their third date.
    Margaret missed Jake terribly and poured her heart into another romance novel that later her agent swore would make a statue weep. Her agent asked where Margaret got her inspiration from and Margaret could only answer, “Life.”
    Margaret realized if she didn’t learn to hold back just a little she would never be able to hold onto true love even if she found it. Right then she made a vow that she would eat no more lovers. She would use mice from the pet store to satisfy her lusty need for raw meat.
    Turning to her computer, Margaret logged onto Find a Love. Online dating would be the ticket she thought. She carefully filled out all her personal data, blonde hair, blue eyes, athletic build, and hoped for the best.
    Margaret was thrilled when she got several emails the next day. The best was from a man who said he was a writer like herself. Feeling she had found her soul mate she emailed back suggesting they meet for coffee. John was handsome, tall and charming. They hit it off right away. Margaret told him to call her Maggie. She figured new man, new nickname for herself. The new improved Maggie would keep this man forever.
    Over coffee, John confessed, “I’ve written several novels but haven’t had anything published. The publishers keep the novel for six months then send it back saying they can’t use it. I don’t know what to do.”
    Maggie said, “Hey, let me have your manuscript and I’ll give it to my agent and see what she thinks.”
    John said, “That would be great. Thank you so much.”
    As the weeks went by, Maggie and John spent every evening together, taking walks, sharing their ideas about writing. Maggie’s love for John grew stronger every day.
    John arrived at Maggie’s one night to share the good news. “Oh Maggie, I am so excited my book is going to be published, and I owe it all to you,” John declared.
    “Thanks for hooking me up with your agent. They want to publish my novel and I have a contract for three more books. You are my good luck charm Maggie.”
    “I am so happy for you John. You always had the talent, you just needed to meet the right agent.”
    “Now we can be true soul mates, both of us living together and encouraging each other to write. Won’t it be wonderful?” sighed Maggie.
    “Well actually Maggie, I have been doing some thinking about this. I need some time alone to write. I need to find my inner writer.”
    “Your inner writer?” queried Maggie. “What are you talking about?”
    “I’ve rented a little cabin in Alaska for the summer. It is perfect. It is isolated and right in the middle of nature. I think I can get a blockbuster novel written.
    “Alaska?” queried Meg.
    “Oh look Mag, we have had a terrific time together and you are a great woman and a wonderful friend. We are alike in so many different ways, but I need my own space to create.”
    “Create?” repeated Maggie? “Create what?”
    “I feel I have a novel inside of me that is aching to be written. It is going to be a modern day Gone With the Wind. No kidding, that’s how I feel,” he declared.
    “But what about us? Are you coming back after the summer?”
    “Hey let’s just play it by ear ok? Let’s just see what happens.”
    Hanging her head, Maggie tried to hide her teary eyes. “I need to get something from the kitchen,” she said.
    Maggie slowly walked into the kitchen. Reaching into the mouse cage she gently scooped the last pet shop mouse into her hands.
    Maggie opened the screen door and stepped into the darkness of the back yard. Leaning over she opened her hands and released the tiny mouse into the grass. He immediately scampered under the nearest holly bush.
    “Good luck little guy”, she whispered, wiping a single tear from her face.
    Opening the screen door, Maggie paused in the kitchen, grabbing two glasses and a bottle of wine. She walked into the living room with a little swing to her hips.
    “How about we celebrate your success with a little wine Mr. Big Time Author?” she asked, holding the wine bottle up high.
    Maggie cuddled next to John on the couch and filled their glasses to the brim with wine. Soon they were in a locked embrace sharing passionate kisses.
    “Ouch,” John yelped.
    “Oh. I’m sorry,” said Maggie.
    She licked a smudge of John’s blood from her lips. “Guess I just lost control there. Here, have some more wine sweetie. Let’s toast to your career.”

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