“I’m considering it,” I say.
“I would move to Antarctica for this.” Gretta points to a photo of Liam shirtless from his college rowing days. I haven’t seen it before, so I take a minute to appreciate it. It’s been four months since I’ve seen him in person, but it feels a lot longer.
“What’s this?” Mom asks. I have no idea when she entered the kitchen.
“Not what, but who?” says Tilly. “Liam, Lettie’s almost boyfriend.”
“Lettie has a boyfriend? Why didn’t you tell me?” my mom asks, her face a strange mix of excitement and hurt.
“Mom.” Gretta gently places a hand on her shoulder and guides her the few short steps to the living room. Tilly and I follow. “You better sit down for this.”
My mom looks warily between the three of us.
“It’s good news,” I promise. She settles on the leather sectional my parents bought at Costco when I was 11. I sit on one side and Gretta on the other. Tilly sits on the coffee table.
I scroll to another photo of Liam, one where he’s wearing a shirt and a suit.
“Okay, this is Liam Darcy, and he and I... ” I debate what to say. Liam said I could call him my boyfriend. He was kidding, but only kind of. I’m positive the moment I tell him that I told my mom he’s my boyfriend, he’ll book a flight. It’s strange that I know this about him, but it’s also comforting. Not that long ago, I thought Liam was a player. And now, I trust him; I know he’s in this for the long run, and so am I—I think.
“Lettie... ?” My mom prods. “You just stopped talking. Who is this Liam?”
“He’s this guy that I like, and he likes me.”
Tilly thrusts the box of muffins onto my mom’s lap. “And he bakes great muffins.” My mom points to a particularly flattering photo of Liam. “This guy bakes?” she says dumbfounded. “And he likes Lettie?”
“Don’t sound so surprised,” says Gretta.
“Are you dating?” My mom still seems a little shell-shocked.
“Not yet, but he’s made it clear he wants to date me.” My mom takes my phone and scrolls through other pictures of Liam. She’s been uncharacteristically quiet. She takes a muffin.
“Mmm... these are good.” She swallows and then smiles. “I suppose this means Victor’s out of the running.”
***
Later, after I’ve filled my family’s insatiableappetite for all things Liam, I go to my room and pull out his letter. Running my fingers over thick paper, I can’t help but think of how his hand touched this stationery. I laugh a little at myself and how much my feelings have altered since June. Back then, I begrudgingly liked him, now... I don’t know how to describe it. Love, the word everyone uses, seems too quaint for this buoyant hopeful joy expanding in my chest. And yet, what other word is there?
I unfold his thick, monogrammed stationery.
My Lettie,
How did you like the muffins?
As to your question, you’re right; I have always been a morning person. And then, years of rowing have made me more so. I never find it hard to wake up if I know I’m going to be on the water. I feel the same about getting up to check emails from you. I like the quiet of the world in the morning. I especially like it when I’m on the water early when the reservoir mirrors the sunrise. It feels like I am rowing through the sky.
With the harvest over, we are going to England. Georgie doesn’t get Thanksgiving off, so we are going to her. If there’s anything you want from England, I will gladly bring it back for you.
Fitz wanted me to send you his regrets that he won’t be able to make Charlie and Jane’s wedding. They are not inviting dogs. (Rude.) He wants you to know that if he could be there, he’d give you a big, sloppy kiss. I promised him that I’d take care of the kiss. It will be big, but not sloppy. I am very much looking forward to it.
Love,
Liam
I stare at the letter. That is not a toss-a-way “Love.” He wrote it deliberately. He purposely saved it for a real letter. And he promised to kiss me. December can’t come soon enough.
This is quite shocking. He deserves to be publicly disgraced.
—Pride & Prejudice
