“Hey, Lettie’s looking cute.”
“I hadn’t noticed. Your sister is my date tonight.”
“Only because you want to make Lettie jealous.”
“No, because Caroline’s loser boyfriend dumped her again, and she doesn’t want to face all your nosy relatives alone.”
“Yeah, that. And to make Lettie jealous,” says Charlie. “I’m only needling you, so you don’t let something good pass you by. I think you still have a chance with Lettie.”
I ponder how much of Charlie’s assertions come from inside information from Jane or simply by his general sunny take on life.
“What about Caroline?” I ask.
Charlie laughs outright. “Caroline deserves to be adored the same way I adore Jane. I want no less for her.Youare not an option.”
I sigh. “I hope I’m not leading Caroline on.”
“I doubt it. It’s obvious you’re not that interested.” Charlie nods his head toward the party. “Now go get your girl.” And we both know he doesn’t mean his sister.
As I head off, I see my mom mingling with guests by the pool. I’m so relieved that she’s been in town more this year.
“Have you seen Caroline?” I ask.
“She’s with Lettie Benson and some doctor. I heard her say something about giving them a tour of the orchard.”
I should be grateful that Caroline is being so friendly, but I’m a little irritated. I helped my dad plant those trees when we moved from the ranch to this house in El Dorado Hills. We moved for the schools and because my mom was tired of living in a hundred-year-old farmhouse. As a twelve-year-old, I was sad to leave the freedom of living and working on the ranch. Something my dad seemed to understand when he suggested I help him plant an orchard on the new property. Over the years, the small orchard has become my own personal sanctuary. It feels more like my space than my bedroom or my office. If anyone is going to give Lettie a tour of my orchard, it should be me. Not that I like Lettie.
“Great, thanks!” I speed walk to the gate leading to the almond trees, even though I know cocktail hour will end soon, meaning dinner will be served, and I really should be there to host.
“You’re welcome!” my mom calls with a knowing smile. She thinks she sees right through me, and that I’m eager to see Caroline. This afternoon, when I debated what to wear, my mom said, “I’ve never seen you so anxious about an event.” I brushed it off. There was no need to tell her that what I was really worried about was seeing Lettie again.
I can’t say how many times I’ve started a text to her. She was rude, but I was ruder. I owe her an apology. But each time I compose a text, I delete it. It’s hard to get the tone just right by text. Eventually, I realized I must see her in person to make things right. So, I’m hoping to get her alone tonight to apologize. Though the prospect is daunting.
The small orchard is only small compared to our other orchards. It’s big enough to get lost in. I’m not sure where they went. I hear a loud yelp. I follow the sound around the corner down the next aisle. A rattlesnake blocks the path between the three of them and me. Colin stands in front of Lettie and Caroline with his arms outstretched.
“Stay back, ladies! I know what to do.” Before I can say a word, he breaks a branch off a tree, ignoring the perfectly useful spade leaning against the trunk. He holds the stick up like Lady Liberty carrying her torch, then pokes the snake’s middle, trying to lift it with the stick. He somehow manages to catch the snake with the fork of the stick. But when the serpent slithers, Colin squeals, throwing the stick and the snake. They both land at Lettie’s feet. The snake surges toward her. She screams and jumps back. Then, in one swift movement, Lettie grabs the spade and brushes the reptile off the path.
“That’s how it’s done!” Colin says, clapping his hands. “Teamwork.” He puts a hand up to give Lettie a high five. She leaves him hanging and puts the shovel back where she found it.
Caroline squats in her gold shimmery dress to snap photos of the snake as it disappears into the wildflowers.
“Nice job!” I say to Lettie. I mean it. I’m impressed with her quick thinking.
“It’s amazing what you can do when filled with terror,” she says with a wry smile.
“Thanks for not tearing apart my trees.” My eyes dart to Colin,
“You don’t even know what happened,” He huffs. “You showed up at the last minute,”
I so want to pick a fight with this guy. But I’m also desperate to show Lettie that I don’t think I’m superior to everyone (just her date), and that I can control my temper. I take a deep breath. “Perhaps you’re right.”
“Of course, I am. Don’t give me your revisionist BS.” I raise my eyebrows at Lettie as if to say, seriously, this guy? Her face remains a mask of frosty indifference.
But when Colin looks the other way, she turns to me, gives me a withering stare and sticks out her tongue. In the blink of an eye, she’s gazing straight ahead with a serene expression. This woman. She’s going to be my downfall.
How frequently Mr. Darcy’s eyes were fixed on her.
—Pride and Prejudice
