Page 51 of Positively, Penelope

To: Izzy Edgewood, Luke Edgewood

Date: September22

Subject: Re: The Sound of Music

It’s about the old-fashioned relationships of older men and younger ladies, Luke. Regency-ish. Like all of Izzy’s favorite Jane Austen books. Back then it was common to have age gaps in marriages. And there’s usually a war when the romance happens.

Penelope

PS: Oh, Izzy! How dare you bring up my precious Maria as a weapon!

PPS: But there was also a war.

PPPS: I suppose six years isn’tsobad.

From: Luke Edgewood

To: Penelope Edgewood, Izzy Edgewood

Date: September22

Subject: Re: The Sound of Music

Isn’t there always a war when the romance happens? Regardless of ages?

Luke

Text from Izzy to Luke:I think we really need to get you a different dating experience.

***

Matt checked his watch. He had fifteen minutes to make his lunch meeting with Dani Lawrence, Darling volunteer who also headed up the Skymarian community theater troupe, and only one block left to walk. The sky promised a bit of afternoon rain, so driving the car this morning instead of riding his bicycle had proven providential.

And, of course, Penelope came to mind. She was now eternally linked to any thought of bicycles. He pinched his lips tight to battle against his smile. Whatever happened yesterday had to stop—the waltz and the hug and the way her joy wiggled its way into his pulse. He may not be her employer, but he wasn’t interested in an inexperienced, lighthearted, fairy-tale-dreaming partner who wasn’t prepared for the real-world work of a ready-made family.

That was just the truth of the matter.

She was young. Perhaps notasyoung as others, but in her... personality.

And she lived on the other side of the world. A veryrealdifficulty.

And he had the heart of his little girl to consider. Iris didn’t deserve another disappointment from a woman in her life.

He growled and pushed the thoughts away. Why was he even having this argument with himself? It was ridiculous. All of it. Utterly ridiculous. Penelope Edgewood was not in his future.

His phone buzzed in his pocket and he noted Gwynn’s name on the screen.

“I’m on my way to a meeting,” he said as he put the phone to his ear. “So I only have a few minutes.”

“You danced with her?”

Matt ground to a halt. “What?”

“You danced with Penelope?”

Heat drained from his face. “She told you?”

“No, Evelyn did. You haven’t danced with anyone except Iris since—”

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