Snippet Saturday – Color
Sep
10
2011

I decided to go with this scene in INSIDE OUT when Cope sends Ella the first package/letter – it’s full of color and emotion…

INSIDE OUT by LAUREN DANE
Copyright 2010, Lauren Dane
All Rights Reserved, The Berkley Publishing Group

When she checked her mailbox on Friday afternoon, it was stuffed with a fat manila envelope. Brow furrowed, she worried until she saw the return address and last name in the upper left corner. Cope.

Once inside her apartment, she opened the envelope and treasure after treasure slid from it.

Leaves pressed between wax paper.

An antique postcard from the Seattle World’s Fair. To someone’s Aunt Rose from Josie. The handwriting was that of a young girl, enamored of the city, of the press and flow of traffic and people.

Three packets of tea, all described in some other language, the furls and pitch of which she was unfamiliar. One was perfectly square and covered with a sort of parchment. The ink was deep purple. One deep sniff, and smoke met her nose. Spice and smoke. She’d have this one first.

He’d torn a page from a magazine. A feature on best breakfast places to go in Seattle. He’d written in Sharpie at the bottom: “We need to have waffles after a long walk in the morning mist. Then I can take you back to bed.”

Wow.

And then a small square of paper. Turning it over revealed a pen-and-ink drawing of a woman’s neck, collarbone and the upper curve of her breasts. From the freckles so accurately placed, he’d drawn her body.

She couldn’t tear her eyes away for the longest time. It was stunning. Simple. Elegant and sensual. All things she never considered herself. But there it was. Through his eyes, she was all those things.

The sketch was most likely the finest compliment she’d ever received.

At last the folded sheaf of paper. She held it, drawing out the unexpected pleasure he’d given her. The weight of the paper was substantial. It pleased her to think he’d chosen it specially for her. He may have kept a sheaf of writing paper for general reasons, but she preferred to think he’d done it for her.

Unfolding it, she realized what beautiful handwriting he had. Each new thing she discovered about him only made her like him more. She had no idea he was such a talented artist with pen and ink as well as wood. Who knew he’d have a fountain pen with ink the shade of a bright summer sky? Andrew Copeland was one complicated man. Something confirmed as she read his words.

The tea is to take you away from your desk, from your dreary day and off, far away. Warm breezes, time to simply drink and enjoy the sights, sounds and scents of the world. When you come to me here at my house, we can share a pot as we laze about on a cold and rainy evening.

The sketch isn’t nearly as good as it could be, as strong as my memory of that part of you I love so much. The long line of your neck, your skin so pale and perfect. And like a surprise, freckles spattered here and there with artful chaos.

I saw the postcard in a bin at an antique store in Marysville. I’ve been saving it, not knowing you needed it until after I slid the leaves into the envelope.

Upon night’s breast, I fly to you each time I close my eyes . . .

Andrew

Whoo. She fanned herself a moment, trying to keep her bearings, when in reality, he’d shaken her. Her defenses against him crumbled. No one got to her the way he did.

She sat, the sky outside darkening, and realized her feelings for Andrew Copeland were beyond her ability to control.

Don’t forget to visit today’s other snippeters!
Anne Rainey
Eliza Gayle
Mari Carr
McKenna Jeffries
Myla Jackson
Taige Crenshaw
Lauren Dane
Beth-Ann Mason

Lacey Savage
Shelli Stevens
Shiloh Walker

6 comments to “Snippet Saturday – Color”

  1. Christine
    September 10th, 2011 at 4:50 am · Link

    These were some of my most favorite moments in the book between Cope and Ella. I loved the letters and the little gifts that they left each other



  2. Collette
    September 10th, 2011 at 6:57 am · Link

    I too loved these letters–a gift unto themselves.



  3. Diane Sadler
    September 10th, 2011 at 9:00 am · Link

    And he got to me too! How special was that letter? 🙂



  4. Louise
    September 10th, 2011 at 9:20 am · Link

    Beautiful! Still haven’t got around to these books yet. Sigh.



  5. Maryam
    September 10th, 2011 at 10:56 am · Link

    Ella and Cope’s courtship was so romantic and beautiful to watch.



  6. Lori
    September 10th, 2011 at 11:51 am · Link

    The letters and little gifts were so wonderful and made the book so romantic. Thanks for the reminder of how much I loved this book!

    (Oh, BTW, halfway through Never Enough and loving it)