Today our characters are taking over to talk about how they feel about Valentine’s Day. Are they romantics or do they dread Valentine’s Day?
Robbie Jordan: My guy Abe is a dream come true. He can cook, he’s smart, he’s super cute, and most important, he adores me. On top of that? He’s a romantic. He gives me my favorite 
flowers for no particular reason, writes me little notes, brings dark chocolates. Abe has strongly hinted at some kind of special surprise for tomorrow and I can’t wait to find out what it is. After a couple of men in my life worthy of a place in the Bad Romance Hall of Fame, I’m not sure how I lucked out this time, but I’m embracing him with everything I’ve got.
Julia Snowden: Chris and I will spend Valentine’s Day as we spend every working evening in the winter, serving dinner in our restaurant. Gus’s Too was always conceived as a special place where a couple could have a date night, so Chris has come up with a prix fixe Valentine’s menu. Most of the 
reservations are for two, some are favorite customers and some people I’ve never heard of. We’re more confident about the business this season, so we’ve hired a waitress and a dishwasher, which means we won’t have to spend hours cleaning up after dinner service like we did last year. Chris isn’t one for cards or anything gushy, but I don’t care. After all the years of being alone on Valentine’s Day, usually somewhere on the road in my old venture capital job, I’m grateful everyday for the easy domesticity I’ve found with him.
Lilly Jayne: When I was young. too young, I married the boy next door, because that’s what one did. Getting married was an expected next step on the path. Fortunately for me, he left me for another woman. I say fortunately, because if he hadn’t done that, two things would not have happened. First of all, I would not have pursued my career with the vigor I did–I would have focused my efforts on promoting his career, I’m sure of it. Secondly, I would not have met Alan MacMillan, the love of my life. We married later, and didn’t have all the years I would have hoped, but what glorious years they were. Losing him broke me, but with the help of my friends, I’ve picked up the pieces, and am rejoining life. Alan would have wanted that, even though getting back into the mix of life means helping my first husband out of a jam. The experience helped me realize how very lucky I was in love, true love.
Beryl Helliwell: I can’t say either my dear friend and business partner Edwina Davenport or myself have any particular plans for St. Valentines Day this year. I’m not saying I am not always up for a bit of romance but my new venture as a dedicated career woman has completely captured my heart. I was delighted to discover a burning passion for private investigation and am pleased as punch that Edwina shares it too. Truth be told though, I do wish she had something special going on with her love life. I am certain local solicitor Charles Jarvis is more that a little interested. Maybe, just maybe I will find a way to give them a small push in the right direction.
Sarah: CJ and I married young. I had romantic notions about what Valentine’s Day should be like, but I didn’t know that when you are married to a man in the military, Valentine’s Day could be very lonely. Some of my best Valentine’s Days were spent with a group of women whose husbands were deployed. We might go out to dinner somewhere or have a potluck at someone’s house. There was always a lot of frivolity that hid some of the sadness and stress of having a husband far away and possibly in danger. That those were some of my most memorable Valentine’s Days probably says something about my relationship with CJ. This year? If I’m alone I’m fine with that.
Readers: What will you be doing for Valentine’s Day?
Valentine’s Day is very special to me. It was my parents anniversary. They met on a blind date, got married SEVEN days later and were married just shy of 60 years when Dad went to his heavenly home. If they aren’t a great example of love, nothing is. 🙂
2clowns at arkansas dot net
What an incredible story. Thank you for sharing it!
7 days! What a wonderful story! My grandparents were married on Valentine’s day, so it is a special day for me too.
I don’t have a special someone in my life, but that is alright. When my girls were little, I always gave them some little piece of jewelry and some candy, which was a very big deal for them! I loved helping them make Valentines for their school classes. I really miss doing that.
That is a lovely story and memory!
Ellie Williams, owner of the Sugar Free Shoppe: Personally, I think Valentine’s Day is a bunch of hooey, invented for no better reason than to make card manufacturers richer. Nothing good has ever happened to me on a Valentine’s day. However, my customers clearly don’t feel the same way, so my store is decorated to the nines for Valentine’s Day.
And I’m not talking about putting up some cheesy crepe paper and cut-out hearts. I’m talking big displays and flowers everywhere. It costs a medium-sized fortune, but it pays off. It’s the one time of year when we get a host of non-diabetic shoppers, buying sugar-free chocolates for their diabetic sweethearts.
As for me, Valentine’s Day (along with New Years Eve) is one day when I won’t go near a restaurant. They’re jammed with couples and the prices are doubled. I’m happy to head home and snuggle up with my puppy and a good book. Now THERE’S true love. Your dog doesn’t care if you’re past your sell-by date (and frankly your quality was a bit iffy before that) and books are always there and ready to bring you joy and adventure. I’ll stick with those two Valentines, thank you very much.
At least until something better comes knocking..
Love this, Lee!
Jim Duncan: Valentines Day? Well, I’m just as likely to be working as not, so I don’t think much of it. Plus since my wife left, it’s not like I’ve had a reason to pay much attention to it. But maybe I’ll get Sally a card, a cheesy one. I think she’d think that was funny.
Sally Castle: Oh, Valentines Day. Ugh. Well, I’ve had my share of less-than-spectacular ones. The best are ones I spend with my single friends. We go out to dinner. This year, well, let’s see if something occurs to Jim. I just hope it isn’t some cheesy card.
Liz: My husband ususally buys a selection of truffles from a local chocolatier. We share them over the course of the week. And we might go to the new car show. Really romantic, I know.
I love your characters POV and the conflict you’ve set up! What is romantic to one is maybe not to another. I’d take truffles and a car show!
I’ll be home catching up on Tab for the week. Hopefully I’ll get some reading done as well. Such an exciting life I lead.
An excellent way to spend the evening!
That’s catch up on TV for the week. That’s what happens when you use your phone to comment on blogs.
Hubby and I usually go out to dinner, but not necessarily on Valentine’s Day. We are used to not celebrating on any given holiday because of work. Now that we are retired, we just find a convenient time. No pressure, no hassle. We get each other mushy cards, but I’ve also gotten such romantic presents as a table saw and a country-wide zip code directory. Much better gifts than a box a chocolate!
The first big present my now husband gave me was tires for my car. A practical man with the occasional romantic moment.
Good for both of you!
Happy Valentines Day. I just finished Steamed Open. My second cozy mystery. I really enjoyed it.
Lori-Thank you so much for letting me know. I am glad you enjoyed it.
Happy Valentine’s Day to you too! It is a great series! I hope you get a chance to read the rest. Welcome to the world of cozy mysteries!
When the girls were little, I’d buy them something pink and heart-shaped and baked something chocolate trying to teach them there are many kinds of love — you don’t have to wait for Prince Charming before your life starts. One year, I gave them little rose quartz heart necklaces. And now they’re all grown up and one did find Prince Charming, so what do I know? Ha!