Page 19 of Authentically, Izzy

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Josephine (because of the pie),

Thank you. I accept your apology about the entire Heart-to-Heart initiation.

I’m not thinking of traveling any time in the near future, but I appreciate your concern for my kitchen’s tidiness. However, before you hear about it from Penelope or Aunt Louisa, I have signed up for a seminar about the business program at the community college. I think it’s time to start planning the future I want, instead of waiting for my future to happen to me.

And I am excited to discover whether nieces or nephews are in my future. Either way, you can be certain their first gift from their aunt Izzy will be a book. They make chewable ones for babies. I’ve already priced them.

Izzy

PS: How are you at knitting? Sweaters, in particular.

Text from Luke to Izzy:Stop procrastinating and write Blighty back.

Luke:I know you.

From: Izzy Edgewood

To: Luke Edgewood

Date: March8

Subject: The Authentically Izzy Challenge

Luke,

I’ve decided to treat this entire “Hobbit Brodie, the Blighty Mastiff” situation as if it’s as fictional as it feels and sounds, which means I am determined to be as much myself as I possibly can. If I am, it will prove one of two things: he is as much a fraud as I’m afraid he is, OR he is as perfectly wonderful as I’m afraid he is. I’m not sure which I prefer, but I am determined to be brave and figure it out... safely from behind my computer screen. Does that still count as authentically me?

Befuddled,

Izzy

PS: Mr.Rogers wears a cardigan. Not the same thing. Sweater-vests can have either a sexy, cerebral sort of appeal, an arrogant-prefect appearance, or... an elderly, pipe-smoking chap with a dour expression and a dog on his lap look. It’s all about the wearer, of course. I think if you wore button-downs more often, it wouldn’t hurt at all. Girls like that. Respectably buttoned.

From: Luke Edgewood

To: Izzy Edgewood

Date: March9

Subject: Re: The Authentically Izzy Challenge

You already know the answer. Stop doubting yourself.

Luke

PS: Never talk to me about clothes again. You’re terrifying. And confusing. “Respectably buttoned”?

***

Heart-to-Heart

Date: March9

Brodie,

First of all, I need to apologize for thinking you were my cousin Josie (whose real name is Josephine, but I’ve been calling her Josie as punishment for the whole matchmaking fiasco).

As far as I can tell, you are not a married, pregnant, matchmaking woman with too much time on her hands, but since your profile picture only shows an adorable sheepdog pup (which I assume is Argos), then I have no way of being sure of this. Do hobbits have dogs?