Page 10 of Dear Southern Belle
“Don’t bother trying to lie to your best friend. I know when you are trying to hide something from me.”
I shake my head. “I did something stupid.”
“Well, I’ve known you since we were both in diapers, so I’ve seen my fair share of you doing something stupid.”
I glare at her.
She laughs, but continues, “Just tell me what it is you think you’ve done that is so stupid and I will tell you that you’re wrong.”
I sigh and take a breath. “I cancelled my date with Braden.”
“Now why the hell would you do something as stupid as that?” she asks, putting her hands on her hips.
“You said you were going to tell me that what I did wasn’t stupid.”
“Well that was before you told me what you did.”
“Sab, I don’t need to make me feel bad about it. I already regret what I’ve done.”
She smiles widely like I’ve just said some magic words she was looking to hear. “I’m glad to hear it.”
“Wow, you really like to kick a girl when she’s down.”
“Nope.” She sets a rose and an envelope down in front of me.
The block font of my name on the front looks like a man’s handwriting, but not one of someone I know.
“What is this?” I ask.
Sabine just smiles and turns and walks out of the office. I look down at the envelope again and open it.
Dear Magnolia,
I know you had your reasons for canceling our date, but I can’t help but think there is more to the story than you are letting on. If I did something to upset you, it certainly wasn’t my intent. I must admit that you’ve occupied my mind for almost every second since I first laid eyes on you. I’ve never felt anything so instant with someone I’ve only just met before in my life. I want to spend time with you, so we can get to know one another. There’s a chance this is all in my head, and you really have some specific reason why you cancelled, but if I’m not wrong, I hope you give us a chance. A wise man recently told me that we don’t look back with regret on the chances we take even if they fail. It’s the moments that we were too afraid to try that leave us wondering. I don’t want to look back and wonder what could have been if I just tried to do everything I could to make things work with the beautiful Southern belle with a voice of an angel. If you still want second chance on a first date, meet me tonight at seven on the north side of Myer’s Lake. I’ll be waiting for you.
Sincerely Yours,
Braden, A Connecticut Yankee in Oak View
I look up from the letter and see Sabine standing in the doorway. Clearly she had an idea of what this letter might be about.
“I know I said I’d close tonight but—”
“Go,” she cuts me off. “If you remember, I was the one against you listening to your momma and cancelling on that hot Yankee.
I laugh. “You are the best.”
