Page 47 of Sensing Selma
“If this is too emotional, Mother, we can turn back.”
“No. No.” She cleared her throat. “I’m not emotional at all. I love this. It just reminds me of all the attempts your father made to improve Selma Sanctuary. It doesn’t leave me sad...not really...not anymore.”
“You like it here, don’t you?”
She nodded and chuckled. “Very much. It might even prove to be difficult to leave.”
“Well, let’s not think of that just yet.”
We’d reached the last topiary, trimmed in the fashion of a large squirrel holding a nut. The path circled around the squirrel and looped back to the path leading back to the driveway.
“Have you noticed how distracted your sister is of late?”Mother said as we returned to the smooth surface of the driveway.
I’d rarely known my sister to not be distracted by one thing or another. On a few occasions I’d seen her smiling and laughing with Damon Dominic. I knew little about him but sensed that he was as immature and irresponsible as Holly was. I could see nothing positive coming out of her relationship with him.
“I think she might be quite smitten with one of the male actors in this movie,” I said, careful not to say too much.
“Oh,” Mother said with a giggle. “Yes. And I think it might be that Damen fellow. Oh, what a charmer he is. Did I tell you? He’s the one who wheeled me around the ballroom that first day. Yes. Yes. Quite the charmer. Were I Holly’s age, I’d be smitten, too.”
My heart sank as I momentarily found myself thinking about Bradley. A sharp pang hit my chest, and I grimaced. I tightened my hold of the wheelchair as his face came to my mind’s eye, so clear, so handsome, so...gone.
No, I thought with a shake of my head. Do not sink back into that headspace. It does no good. No good at all. What’s done is done. There’s no changing it.
“There are days when I miss Selma Sanctuary,” Mother said. “Just the sense of being in my own home. But I have to admit that everyone here is so sweet and charming. What luck we’ve found.” She twisted around to glance back at me. “What luck you’ve found; working for Keely. Have you seen her with Abbie and Ayra?How truly wonderful they all are.”
I nodded. “Yes. I’ve become quite fond of all three. I had no idea when I joined the Jane Austen Association Club that I would meet such wonderful women. Indeed. We are very lucky.”
THIRTEEN
Holly
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ISAT LOOKING OUT THEwindow, my thoughts constantly coming back to Damen and how he’d touched me and how he’d loved me. His hands had, at times, been rough as he’d grabbed me, yet his fingertips could be so heavenly soft and gentle.
For the most part, I retained the thrill of every moment with him. And yet, a tiny part of me felt somewhat guilty and I didn’t really understand why. Perhaps it was because we didn’t really know each other all that well. We’d walked, we’d talked, and we’d made each other laugh. What more could we want?
