Page 36 of Authentically, Izzy
Subject: Re: Clark Gable at the library??
What guy? If he doesn’t live nearby, then I really think there is a perfect local option who showed up quite providentially at the library! A Mr.Gable to sweep you off your feet! Did you get his number? Maybe you could call him first?
Josephine
PS: I would find it “remarkable” if you had a date to bring to the Spring Street Fair. Maybe one that looks like Clark Gable!
Text from Eli to Izzy:Izzy. This is Eli Montgomery. Would you have time to meet for coffee tomorrow? Where’s a good spot?
Text from Izzy to Penelope and Luke:So... Eli texted me to ask me to meet him for coffee. Thus it begins... again. BTW, when did guys stop calling first?
Text from Izzy to Eli:Hi, Eli, good to hear from you. Would you like to meet at Pages Bookstore? They have great coffee and pastries. Plus, they have books!
Eli:Bookstores are some of my favorite places. Tomorrow? 10:00?
Izzy:See you then.
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Heart-to-Heart
Date: March18
Brodie,
How was your business trip? Where are some places you’ve traveled that you enjoyed most?
The cliffs are stunning! I’d love to hear their stories and search for treasure. And if the ghosts behave themselves, I wouldn’t mind exploring their haunts either.
I’ve never traveled internationally (except through books), but there’s a piece of me that wants to. I’m not sure why the prospect makes me nervous. Perhaps it’s a mix between being afraid some of the places I’ve read about will prove less magical in reality, the idea of navigating all the newness of traveling in such a big way, and my debilitating fear of flying.
Your photos and descriptions have resurrected the internal battle though, in a good way. Someday. It’s that constant dream that seems just out of reach... at least for my courage. That sounds ridiculous, doesn’t it?
And though I’ve never used the wordmawkishbefore, I was happy to know you understood. You may use or be mawkish whenever you like. I appreciate that you appreciated my sentiments. I’m sorry about your father. Time turns pain into memory, but I feel as if there is always this missing spot in my life.
I’ve never read P. G. Wodehouse. His books look ridiculously wonderful.
I’m not sure how exciting my book reading would be at the library, but story time is open to the public, so of course you’d be welcome. And I happen to own a Gandalf hat as well as a deerstalker hat (though Sir Arthur Conan Doyle never references one for his famous fictional detective). I still wear it when I readThe Hound of the Baskervillesto the middle school story-time group every October. If you need a pipe, I have one of those too. Gandalf style.
What a wonderful job you have! To own not only one but several bookshops! What are they like? I searched online, but there are only descriptions and no real presence. Do you want to grow them?I picture quaint spaces with reading nooks and towering shelves. If your marketing person can post some photos of people enjoying Sutherland’s, it may increase interest (or at least do it for curious southern Americans who ache to peek into bookshops virtually).
I cannot wait to get your reaction to Andy Griffith. So many of the people in my town share his accent, including me. So at least you’ll have fair warning when we have our video chat.
Izzy
PS: I’m sending a separate email with days and times to see if any of those will work for you to have a video call.
PPS: Do you enjoy in-person conversations typically? Or are you more comfortable behind the screen?
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Heart-to-Heart
Date: March19
Isabelle,
I feel certain I will enjoy a face-to-face conversation with you.
