BRIAR CREEK
PUBLIC LIBRARY
“I found Heathcliff and Catharine’s love to be very unrealistic,” Violet said.
It was crafternoon Thursday, and in honor of Lindsey’s new puppy, they had read Wuthering Heights.
“Did you?” Nancy asked. “I thought it was powerful, especially when Catharine declares, ‘I am Heathcliff.’”
“But then she marries Linton,” Lindsey said. “I found that very sad, especially for Heathcliff.”
“But did they truly love one another or was it more of an addiction?” Violet asked.
“It seemed to me that they were all disappointed in love and then intent upon destroying those unfortunate enough to love them,” Beth said. “Very selfish people, really.”
“A lot like Edmund Sint and Markus Rushton, if you ask me,” Nancy said.
“How is Carrie doing?” Violet asked.
“Better now that she and the kids can plan Markus’s funeral and start to heal,” Lindsey said. “Bill Sint was so upset by his nephew’s actions that he has even offered to help her keep her house.”
“You know, this tragedy has really shined a light on Bill,” Nancy said. “Who knew he had so many layers?”
“I suppose it takes a crisis, like how we locals really banded together to get through the storm, to see what a person is made of,” Lindsey said.
She, for one, was very glad Bill had turned out to have more going on beneath the starched shirts and perfectly creased pants. He had undoubtedly saved her life.
“How’s that scarf coming?” Nancy asked her.
“See for yourself,” Lindsey said.
As she pulled her hook through the last stitch on the edging, she couldn’t help but feel quite pleased with herself. Five feet long by six inches wide, her mohair-cashmere scarf was finished.
It was a frothy confection, and with its sea foam green color, it looked as if it could have been snatched from an unsuspecting mermaid and washed ashore during a storm.
“Oh, now that turned out just darling,” Violet declared.
“You can wear it on your date with Sully,” Beth teased her.
Lindsey felt her face get hot. “Aren’t we supposed to be discussing Wuthering Heights?”
“Not without me,” Charlene said as she dashed into the room with Mary right behind her.
They took the last two seats and immediately pulled out their projects. Charlene had a ways to go to be finished with her ripple afghan, but Mary had finished her tea cozy and was now working on a red doggie sweater for Heathcliff.
Violet had brought the food today, and it was a calorie-inducing spread of homemade sticky buns, fruit salad, hot tea and a deli platter. Lindsey folded up her scarf and tucked it into her bag, then she filled up a plate and settled back in her chair. The fire crackled in the room, keeping the January chill at bay. She would have been happy to stay here all day.
“I think Lindsey is just trying to avoid talking about her date with Sully,” Nancy said with a twinkle in her eye.
“Tomorrow, isn’t it?” Mary asked.
Lindsey took a bite of sticky bun and indicated that she couldn’t talk with her mouth full.
“Where is he taking her?” Charlene asked Mary.
Lindsey would have protested this discussion of her personal life, but her mouth was still full.
“I don’t know,” Mary said. “He’s being very close lipped about the whole thing. It’s very annoying.”
Lindsey swallowed and said, “Did you know that Emily Brontë originally published under the name Ellis Bell and was believed to be a man?”
“There she goes, changing the subject,” Beth said with a tsk.
“The subject is supposed to be Wuthering Heights, not my personal life,” Lindsey said.
“Can we at least talk about what you’re going to wear?” Violet asked. “It is a first date, so it’s somewhat critical.”
“I’ll wear my scarf,” Lindsey said. “Happy?”
“If that’s all you’re planning on wearing, I know Sully will be, happy, that is,” Mary said.
Lindsey felt her face grow hot. “No, that’s not what I meant, oh, you!”
The women were laughing now, and Lindsey couldn’t help but laugh, too. She supposed it was a big deal, her first real date since her breakup almost a year ago. She had no idea where Sully was planning to take her, but it didn’t matter. She was happy just to spend time with him.
In fact, after escaping Edmund with her life, she was happy just to be here with her friends, sharing good food and a good book, and looking forward to seeing her puppy later. It made her realize that it really was the little things that made life worth living. Okay, that and a hot date.