Page 28 of Authentically, Izzy
I am resorting to calling you Josie again. I’d refuse to come if I hadn’t promised your sweet husband that I’d bring my chocolate chip brownie cake.
Your beef stroganoff better be worth every minute.
How manychildrendoes Murphy have? And more importantly, what are their ages? For some reason the idea of dating a man whose children are my age doesn’t sit too well with me. Imagine Aunt Louisa marrying someone your age. He’d be yourstepfather! There is no amount of stroganoff or brownie cake to steady that thought.
And, there is no war.
Izzy
PS: If loving me means you will continue with the matchmaking, would you please love me less?
Text from Penelope to Izzy and Luke:I want a Brodie. I know two couples who met through online communities. One is happily married with three children. The other... well, I can’t remember how long his prison sentence is.
Luke:Reread your last text and think about it.
Luke:Izzy, what did Grandma used to quote when we were afraid?
Izzy:“Eat your vegetables or your hair will fall out”?
Luke:Other grandmother.
Izzy:“Have courage, dear heart.” Thank you, Luke.
***
Heart-to-Heart
Date: March14
Brodie,
My grandfather used to call me Isabelle and, apart from the smell of tobacco, I have excellent memories of him. I’m not sure what you mean by my “growing into” my name, but it intrigues me, much like a clue to something I must figure out, and I adore mysteries. Agatha Christie is one of my favorite authors in the genre.
I’m not good at pretending either. The dozen children who hear me read during story time at the library will attest to it, especially when it’s a book I don’t like. The poor things have been lovely about pointing out my frowns . . . or growls, on occasion. And no wonder James Barrie created something as wonderful as children’s laughter to be the origin of fairies. Ah,Peter Pan!
It’s much easier to be authentic with children than adults, I think, because they seem to see through us anyway and get right to the heart of the matter. Adults rarely indulge in such honesty and directness, which makes this conversation so refreshing.
Maybe the combination of anonymity and kindred spirits loosens some sort of boundary most awkward first-encounters build? Does that make any sense? And, to my own surprise, I like it more than I thought I would. Perhaps it’s the company.
The weather here is fairly temperate, if by temperate you mean our winters rarely become abominably cold or our summers ghastly hot. We have days of both each year, but they aren’t common. Though it never snows enough for me. There’s something about going for a walk in the snow, seeing all the crystallized beauty, and then returning home to snuggle up by a fire with a hot chocolate and a good book to read. It makes the snow all the more magical to end it with such a scene. I suppose you have a great deal of snow in Skymar?
I love my work at the library because I can help people discover new stories, and, as I said before, the children keep me honest. I daydream about something different that still involves books but on a more intimate scale, and someday I hope to put those dreams into practice. But for now the library is the perfect spot for me. Unfortunately, I’m not sure what that “something different” is quite yet.
As far as hobbit-ish adventures go, I’m afraid I feel much more like Frodo in the “adventuring” department than his uncle Bilbo,but this bookish adventure we have started has certainly been a wonderful surprise.
What sort of business does your family have? Do you love it or are you struck with wanderlust for something else?
Izzy
PS: I’ve attached a photo of Samwise. That blurry spot in the corner is likely my thumb. I’m notorious for ruining the best photos with my thumbs. Samwise looks wonderful, however, so that is enough.
PPS: You may call me Isabelle.
From: Izzy Edgewood
To: Penelope Edgewood, Luke Edgewood
Date: March14
