Page 31 of Positively, Penelope

From: Josephine Martin

To: Penelope Edgewood, Izzy Edgewood, Luke Edgewood

Date: September13

Subject: Re: Websites and bicycles

Oh, Penelope, the twins are making the most delightful sounds. I’m attaching a photo of their smiles! Noah smiles a little more than Ember, but I believe it’s because she’s taking in everything with those intelligent eyes of hers. I can already tell that they’re both brilliant. At the rate Noah is growing, he should be ableto wear the derby you bought him by the time you’re home for Christmas. Won’t that be delightful! I can get a photo of the two of you in your hats.

Izzy and Luke have been wonderful! I can’t imagine trying to manage taking care of the children without a little help. I really don’t know how women actually get dressed and brush their teeth while managing newborns. Just getting to church without spit-up on me feels like a true miracle from heaven, but Patrick and I have gotten into a good routine, I think. Though at times I believe this fatherhood thing has rattled even his sanguine disposition. He arrived at church with two different shoes, and you know how much he appreciates shoes... and feet. What self-respecting podiatrist wouldn’t?

Oh, Penelope! Randy Davis asked about you in church Sunday. It seems that he’s never forgotten about that one date you two went on in high school. You remember? The one that involved a Ferris wheel ride and the ill-timed flight pattern of a bird? The scar on his forehead is barely noticeable. Anyway, I think you ought to look him up when you return to Mt. Airy, Penelope. He’s opened his own restaurant and it’s doing quite well.

Love,

Josephine

PS: I don’t care that you watchCall the Midwife, I still don’t think it’s a good idea to ride a bicycle while wearing a skirt.

Text from Penelope to Josephine:Grace in the movieReturn to Mewears a skirt when she rides her bicycle in Italy. I just thought you ought to be reminded that skirt-ridingis not completely relegated to historical time periods, though that movie is moving into the “historical” category at this point.

Penelope:Randy Davis doesn’t like Julie Andrews. The bird was a sign.

Josephine:Calling a movie that came out in 2000 “historical” is not helping your point. And perhaps Randy has grown out of his childish dislike. Some men do, you know?

From: Penelope Edgewood

To: Luke Edgewood, Izzy Edgewood, Josephine Martin

Date: September13

Subject: Strange coincidence or something... stranger?

Maybe it’s nothing, but...

You know all those fun marketing ideas I’ve shared with the team at The Darling House? Well, today my first graphics came out in the local newspapers and on social media. They looked great and Gwynn sent me an email to say so. But then, this afternoon, I got a look at the paper and Emblem Studios featured their advertisements in the paper too. Same day. And their graphics look strangely similar to the ones I used. I know, I know... it could just be a coincidence. Likely it is. Their advertisements, of course, were twice the size of ours, so that wasn’t helpful.

I plan to make some fun videos of the community theater group during rehearsals for their fall production, and I plan to make a few reels and posts for it. I didn’t share that with the team because they don’t appear to be social media folks, except Alec. He has a social media account, which consists of photos of him in various places around the world . . . and, might I add, he alwayslooks fantastic. I’d LOVE to see him in some vintage suits. With those shoulders? Heaven help me!

Am I being paranoid about the graphics? The website goes live today and I’m delving into the depths of storage, but... well, the idea that someone on the team is sharing my ideas? Surely not! Who would sabotage their own beloved theater?

Never mind. I’m being ridiculous.

Paranoid,

Penelope

PS: But it is strange.

Chapter7

From: Penelope Edgewood

To: Izzy Edgewood, Luke Edgewood

Date: September13

Subject: Curiouser and curiouser

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