Page 14 of Book and Ladder
You’re making me think grief might be less controversial. But I’m not one to shy away from controversy. I have some serious things to say about how Darcy handled the misunderstanding between himself and Elizabeth Bennet. As a man, I’d like to give my thoughts on Darcy and his choices.
It seemed like a good idea at the time. Now you’ve got me thinking the women in my audience might take uppitchforks if I, as you say, mess with perfection.
- BTTP
I don’t waste a minute. I write back:
Dear BTTP,
You’ve got me intrigued. Is it too late to retract my previous scolding and tell you to go ahead? Tread lightly. Pitchforks may be inevitable when you come for Darcy. We women tend to hold him up as the epitome of romantic men. He’s just so … unexpected. Anyway, have at it. I can’t wait to hear your thoughts.
- M&M
When no reply comes, I close my laptop and set it on the nightstand. Eventually, sleep finds me—though my mind is still buzzing with Darcy, pitchforks, and a voice that makes loneliness feel a little less lonely.
Chapter 5
Patrick
Whoever wishes to keep a secret must
hide the fact that he possesses one.
~ Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
The line at Sip& Repeat snakes down the counter. It’s a crisp autumn morning and everyone’s out to sample the new fall menu.
Everyone—including my neighbor. She’s three people ahead of me in line, and so far she hasn’t noticed my presence—or if she has, she’s doing her usual stellar job of avoiding me.
“I’m thinking eitherBefore We Were Yoursby Lisa Wingate orThe Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society,” Daisy says to Cass and Winona.
I almost say,Either one is an excellent choice. It depends—do you want a heart-wrenching, based-on-truth story about identity and roots, or a feel-good account of World War II’s impact on ruralEngland and the power of community in crisis?But I don’t. Obviously.
“Who would eat a potato peel pie?” Winona asks. “I don’t even like when my gran puts the peel in with the mashers. The peel is the potato’s protective layer. No matter how hard you scrub it, you just know you didn’t get all the dirt off.”
“God made dirt, so dirt can’t hurt,” Cass answers her sister plainly.
And that's when it happens. Daisy’s eyes rove the room like a compass needle wavering to find North. And they land on me.
I affect a neutral expression. Maybe all this research about Darcy and rereadingPride & Prejudiceis having an impact. I’m Darcy: impervious, misunderstood. She’s Lizzy: spirited, sure of herself. Only we’ll never court or wed or even stand in the rain while I profess my undying love. No. A romance between me and Daisy Clark is about as likely as an ice storm in Hades.
Daisy mouths her words to me, so no one but the two of us even knows she’s addressing me. “Didn’t your mom teach you not to eavesdrop?” Her mouth quirks.
“Didn’t your mom teach you not to stare?” I retort just as quickly and quietly.
Her eyes roll upward and just like that, we’re standing at our lockers in junior high.
“I’ve heard ofBefore We Were Yours,” Cass says, drawing Daisy’s attention away from me and our silent sparring.
Daisy responds to Cass, “Maybe I’ll send out an email to everyone in book club and we can vote.”
Book club. A luxury they take for granted. Of course, I could host one. But I’ve heard enough jokes about “book boy” to last a lifetime. It’s bad enough I pursued firefighting instead of entering the family business. The guys at the station poke fun at my reading habits, unaware they’rebumping a festering wound. I allow the ribbing. But I don’t need to give them fodder for their ridicule.
The line moves and Daisy and her friends order. They pass me when they finish.
“Oh, hey, Patrick,” Winona says with a full smile. “Day off?”
“Yes,” I say, nodding.
