Page 91 of Book and Ladder
M&M: You’re in Tennessee? What are the odds? I’m near Nashville. Also a small town.
BTTP: What? Wow. Serendipity is in our favor. I’m near Nashville too. About an hour away.
M&M: Me too—an hour away.
Should I tell him the town? We’re small. Yes. I should. I want to meet him. He’s not a stranger anymore. He said he trusts me. I trust him too. I don’t know why. But I really do.
M&M: I’m in Waterford. Have you heard of it?
The screen is blank. Not even the telltale three dots appearing to quell my nerves. After an extremely uncomfortable pause, he responds.
BTTP: I live in Waterford
“Shut up!” I shout.
“Daisy?” Winona’s voice carries through the closed office door.
“I’m fine,” I assure her.
“Debatable!” she shouts back.
“Eat your muffins.”
“Gladly.”
I turn my attention back to the screen and reread the unbelievable response again.
He lives in Waterford? He lives in Waterford! I need to think of a way for us to meet that’s low pressure. Not a date. If things go south, we’ll need an out. Not that things will go south. This is the host ofBurning Through the Pages. I like him. But, still …
M&M: Do you want to meet at the Fall Festival?
BTTP: My family doesn’t know about my podcast. No one does.
M&M: I know. And your secret’s safe with me. Besides, we’ll be in costume, right?
BTTP: True. The festival will be a good neutral place to meet.
M&M: Are you having second thoughts?
BTTP: About you? No. About the risk I’m taking? Only a little.
M&M: I still can’t get over the fact that we both live in Waterford.
BTTP: It’s a regularYou’ve Got Mailmoment.
M&M: My favorite romcom.
BTTP: I don’t mean to imply that we’re … I mean … We’re meeting as friends. They fell in love.
M&M: Yes. Totally different. Obviously.
BTTP: Are you feeling as bewildered as I am right now? All this time we’ve been in the same town.
M&M: Bewildered doesn’t begin to cover it.
BTTP: So, I’ll touch base with you before the Fall Festival. We’ll need to know what to look for.
M&M: Sounds good. I’m still working on my costume. I’ll keep you posted.
