Page 30 of Authentically, Izzy
PPS: What is your town like? What do you love about it?
From: Josephine Martin
To: Izzy Edgewood, Luke Edgewood
Date: March15
Subject: Matchmaking
Luke (and Izzy),
Patrick told me the same thing about matchmaking last night after Izzy quite forcefully (for her) asked me to stop trying to find her a husband. (As you well know, Izzy, I am only trying to help.)
Patrick actually got a little snippy in Izzy’s defense, at which time I burst into tears and ran from the room. He’s never gotten snippy. Ever. Perhaps he’s been working too many long hours.
At any rate, I have decided to let Izzy’s romantic future fall as it may. What do I know of romance? Am I happily matched with a wonderful man and expecting two beautiful children? Do I exude the joy of a wonderfully romanced woman?
But I do love you. And I know you are one of the dearest people in the world, which means I want you to experience all the best things dear people should experience.
Plus, Luke, I’m having TWINS in less than five months. I don’t need a dog.
Josephine
PS: Well, at least there’s still Penelope.
From: Izzy Edgewood
To: Luke Edgewood, Penelope Edgewood
Date: March15
Subject: Celebrations galore
I’m not certain what makes me happier. The fact that Brodie’s family is in the book business or that Josie has stopped trying to find me a match. This is a momentous day that we must celebrate next week when Penelope comes home for spring break. I’ll take you both to pizza at Larenzo’sand we can get dessert at the bookshop next door. My dessert will likely be a book on Skymar with large photographs. Yes, I’ll splurge in purchasing one. Borrowing one from the library just won’t do this time. (Besides, I had Susan special-order the book just for me.)
I researched bookshops in Skymar and there is a book company known as Sutherland’s. Could that possibly be his family’s?! To quote a vernacular expression: Shut the front door!
His family owns a chain of BOOKSHOPS!! I really do feel as though I’m part of a reality television show and at some point (probably around the halfway mark) an ex-girlfriend from Christmas past is going to show up and alert me to my delusion. Or... worse, instead of being the genuine, wonderful, bookish-loving man Brodie appears to be, he’s... a middle-aged, married man who actually lives in Detroit and only reads the newspaper... and not even the interesting parts.
But that can’t be so. Can it? Not from the way he exudes such bookish charm on the page. Right? Can someone fake it this well through words? I’ve always preferred fiction to nonfiction, but at the moment, I’m not too sure.
I’m sorry I keep asking the same question, but . . . nothing has ever come to me this easily. Nothing! You two know that. Dean broke my heart at twenty-one. HWLMATA trampled on what was left of it at twenty-five . . . and took some of my savings along with him. I always get into trouble because I’m too trusting. Too starry-eyed. Why can’t I recognize when I’m the only one giving in a relationship? Why does it take me so long, and so much heart-exhaustion, to realize that everything is one-sided, even the conversations? Have I learned from my previous disasters enough to try? To believe? Can I be clear-sighted now? After five years and at least three dozen self-help books?
It hurts too much to let go.
Izzy
PS: Yes, I sound melodramatic. I will empty a half gallon of chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream and be sensible again. But allow me my moment.
From: Penelope Edgewood
To: Izzy Edgewood, Luke Edgewood
Date: March15
Subject: Re: Celebrations galore
Izzy,
