Guardian Genius 250

[Owain]

28A "Reluctant, make crosses from time to time (6)." 

The wordplay omits one letter which I believe to be V.  I have the letters A*E*S* and AVERSE would fit the definition but I cannot see how to get the other letters from the wordplay. 

Can anyone put me out of my misery?

[Neveracrossword]

From time to time indicates (I think!) to use alternate letters in m  A  k   E  c  R o S  s E s.

[mallyh]

could it be tr(averse)

[chelle7272]

I'd agree with using every other letter but that does omit the V as the OP says

Thought of (tr)averse too but can't parse that either!

[Neveracrossword]

Mally, the V is not to be included in the wordplay - and it would with your Traverse, where we'd also need something to indicate removing the Tr.

[Neveracrossword]

Thanks, Chelle. I think the result (of using the alternate letters) is a little ungainly, AERSE, but fine once the  (previously omitted) V is inserted!

[Owain]

Thanks ever so much.  I never thought of that interpretation of 'from time to  time'!

[Neveracrossword]

Owain, glad I could help - and it took me a while to see how it would work!