Letters in Time, Reiss Susan [read me a book TXT] 📗

that. I must admit the dinner was fabulous. Gretchen is a great cook, but I have no idea what kind of a writer she is. Nobody brought anything to critique.” I threw my hands up in the air and let them fall in my lap.

“Okay, now that you’ve had your rant, do you feel better?” he asked.

I didn’t want to admit it, but I did feel better.

“Maybe this group wasn’t a good fit for you,” he continued. “I’ll keep my ears open to find another one in the area.”

I almost blurted out, NO! But I locked my lips tight. Why couldn't he just do handyman things? He was only trying to help. If he found another group, I didn't have to go.

I settled back in my seat. “Thank you.  And thank you for coming to get me tonight. I’m sure you have other things you and Ghost would rather be doing.”

He smiled as he glanced my way. “No problem, we’re glad to do it, especially while I have the time. A few weeks down the road, I’ll be working all hours with the harvest and won’t have time for anything until it gets cold.” He smiled at me again.

“What, what is it?” I ran my fingers over my lips. “Do I have something on my face?”

He chuckled.  “No, I like seeing you like this. Not so uptight. Maybe you’re getting more comfortable with my driving.”

“I – I’m comfortable.” I could hear the lie behind my words. I hoped he couldn’t.

“In the beginning, you were tense. You watched how I did everything. You must have almost bitten your tongue off to keep from telling me what to do.”

“I did not.  I think you’re a fine driver.”

“And the other day?” he asked. “Are you gonna tell me that you weren’t nervous?”

Driving made me nervous, period. It didn’t matter who was behind the wheel. I was used to being independent. Now, I was at everyone’s mercy. I could feel resentment bubbling up and tried to tamp it down. Why was he pushing this point?

“All right, I’ll admit I was a little nervous, but—”

“A little?!”

That did it.  I erupted. “OKAY! I was a nervous wreck. Those ladies back there think it must be terrific to be driven around by a stunningly handsome chauffeur. No, don’t get any ideas. I’m just voicing what they were saying. I don’t even want to think about what was going through their minds.”

“Emma, maybe—"

“I don’t need to be treated that way. There’s nothing to envy about my situation.” I stared out the windshield, my eyes boring holes into the darkness. “I don’t need people in my life who think they know everything about everything. Why should I want to spend time with a simpering group of wannabees out here, so far from civilization?” I shifted my gaze to the passenger window. There wasn’t anything to see in the dark, only the reflection of my face staring back at me.

I straightened up. "No, coming here was a mistake. I thought I could do it without Uncle Jack, but I was wrong. I need to go home, home to Philadelphia."

TJ cleared his throat. “That’s going to be tricky since you won’t have a home to go to for another few months.”

I’d forgotten that a stranger was living in my apartment. I peeked at TJ out of the corner of my eye. If he showed any sign that this was funny, I didn’t know what I would do. But he looked straight at the road, his face not betraying whatever he was thinking.

“I-I can, I-I have…” I stopped. I was stuttering. I began again. “I can stay with friends. I can go to a hotel if I have to.”

He shot me a look of surprise. “For months?!”

“Eyes on the road, please.  One bad accident in my life is enough.”

He shifted his eyes back to the road. “But you’re comfortable here.”

I folded my arms and didn’t answer. There was no way I would let his down-home logic crack my resolve.

He ignored my defiance. "Seems to me you should stay where you feel settled. After all, you'll have to deal with the same thing in Philadelphia that you're facing here. Won't do any good to run away."

I turned my head slowly to look at him. “What?  That makes no sense.”

“Yes, it does,” he insisted. “There are mirrors in Philly, too. Maybe it’s time for you to face yourself and accept who you are.”

My breath caught before the words came out in a flood. “Your arrogance knows no bounds. Who do you think you are?” It was time for me to set this man straight.  “I’ll tell you who you are.” I turned toward him as far as the seat belt would allow. “You’re just a man with a big education who has come to this community, ready to tell people what they should do and how.  Sure, you probably know plants and soil, but that doesn’t make you an expert about people. You have big equipment—combines and planters and who knows what else. You roll over other people’s land, believing you’re doing some good. Well, let me tell you that being hired to spread seeds or harvest crops doesn't allow you to roll over people's lives." I shifted around and folded my arms. "You have no right and no say in my life."

Ghost growled as TJ steered to the side of the road and slammed the truck's brakes. We sat staring silently out the window. I tried to catch my breath. Part of me cringed as I waited for the explosion. He’d probably call Mr. Saffire tomorrow and quit. I’d gone