Read Online The Reading Circle by Ashton Lee - Free Book Online Page B

them!”
    She nudged him gently with her elbow. “Ashes to ashes, dust to dust!”
    After the laughter had died down, Locke frowned her way. “What made you bring all that up? I haven’t thought of it in years.”
    â€œThe truth of the matter is, I was just thinking that you and I are survivors, mainly,” she began, speaking as calmly as possible to drive home her point. “We came through these nuclear blast drills as gullible little kids and then the loss of our loved ones for real as adults. But nothing could take us out. We ought to give ourselves a pat on the back and then move on.” She waited to see if he was tumbling to her ploy, but he appeared to be mostly perplexed as she closed up the scrapbook and put it to one side.
    â€œBut I think we have moved on,” he said, fingering his lapel absent-mindedly. “I mean, we’re smack dab in the middle of this very comfortable relationship, aren’t we? Is there something you aren’t happy with?”
    Well, the scrapbook “duck and cover” ploy hadn’t worked, either, it seemed. Enough of all this beating around the bush. Miss Voncille now realized she was just going to have to be more direct and hope for the best. Men could be so obtuse sometimes.
    â€œLocke, I’m sure you know I have the most profound respect for your beautiful and beloved wife, Pamela,” she began, taking the bull by the horns. “Why, if it hadn’t been for that touching letter she left you encouraging you to get on with your life the way she did, you and I might never have become an item. It was just lovely that she gave you permission to try for love again after her death, and I’ll forever be indebted to her for that.”
    He patted her hand and beamed. “She thought we might be perfect for each other, and she was right. Her woman’s intuition, I suppose. So what’s the problem? I got together with you just as she suggested, didn’t I?”
    Miss Voncille forged ahead. It was too late to retreat now. “It’s just that your Pamela enjoyed something I don’t have. She was happily married to you for many, many years. I’d like that to happen to me—or us, rather. But I haven’t been asked yet. The truth is, I’d like very much to do this up proper at the altar.”
    He withdrew his hand from hers and sat up straight, giving her a look of disbelief. “Really? You want a church wedding with all the trimmings? I thought we could go on indefinitely the way we have been. You know, back and forth between our two houses as the spirit moves us. One night it’s your sleepover, the next night it’s mine. That way we never get in a rut.”
    She did her best to smile at his response, but what she really wanted to do was shake him by his lapels until he came to his senses. This was no laughing matter, no “spend-the-night company” issue to be resolved rationally with not even a nod to the underlying emotions about to bubble up and over.
    â€œI would have to say no to the ‘all the trimmings’ part. We’re too old for that. Why, we probably wouldn’t even get the first present. Not even a gift certificate. People would figure we have everything we need, and they’d be right about that. But we’re not too old to walk down the aisle or exchange vows in a small ceremony somewhere,” she told him. “Why, it could even just be the two of us with a justice of the peace. We’re both on polite speaking terms with Henry Marsden, even though he makes that awful whistling sound with his teeth whenever the letter S comes along.”
    â€œSibilance,” he noted immediately, quickly returning to her suggestion. “But why go to the trouble? Weddings are for people starting out in life. After that, who’s really paying attention?” His tone was earnest enough, and she could have strangled him again for that.
    Instead, she