Love Letters From Ladybug Farm - Donna Ball [22]
“It couldn’t be easier,” Lindsay agreed. “All we really have to do is mow the lawn.”
“And I’ll touch up the paint on the arbor.”
“We should put padlocks on the chicken yard gate.”
“And do something with Rebel.”
Cici looked at Bridget sternly. “We are not putting that dog in a boarding kennel. Even if we could find one to take him, we don’t have enough insurance to cover the damage he’d do.”
Bridget just smiled. “Do you know, we’ve been through an awful lot since we moved in here. The roof, the plumbing, the heating, the sheep ... There were times when I thought we’d never catch a break.”
“Most of the time,” clarified Cici.
“But now...” She linked one arm through Cici’s and the other through Lindsay’s. “Just look at us. Our house is in a magazine! Lindsay has a real art studio with people paying her to give them lessons, and I get to cater an entire wedding, and people are coming all the way from Washington, DC, and begging us to host their party.”
“Lori’s doing great in college,” Cici put in.
“And Noah got that scholarship,” Lindsay said.
Bridget took a deep breath of the warm late afternoon air and declared, “Paul was right. Our dreams are actually coming true.”
“And it’s about damn time,” Cici pronounced, and they all laughed.
“The best part is,” Lindsay said as they turned to go into the house, “right now, for the first time in a long time, I can’t think of a single thing to worry about.”
But of course she spoke too soon.
September 10, 2000
My darling—
It’s raining. I see your face in the droplets that form on my window. It’s a face I can only imagine, and I dream about it every night. Sometimes I ache for you so much I can hardly breathe. It hurts. I never thought there could be a hurt so big.
It was raining the day I left you, do you remember? I hope not. I hope you don’t think of me, and hurt like I do, every time it rains. I’d rather you not think of me at all.
Still, today I saw your face in the rain. I just wanted you to know that.
5
The Wonders of Modern Technology
SMarcello319: Buongiorno, mi amore! How does the world regard the most beautiful of all Americans of my acquaintance today?
LadiLori27: How many Americans do you know, anyway?
SMarcello319: Only the beautiful ones, mi amore.
LadiLori27: Maybe I’m not beautiful. Maybe that’s not even my photograph.
SMarcello319: You would lie to Facebook?
LadiLori27: Maybe that’s not your photograph either. Maybe you’re not even Italian.
SMarcello319: Could anyone who is not Italian make the English this bad?
LadiLori27: You have a point. You couldn’t do this much damage to the English language if you were translating it from Sanskrit.
SMarcello319: I am slain!
LadiLori27: LOL LOL
SMarcello319: I have for you the answer from my papa. But I think I will tell it to you in Italian if you cannot laugh no more at my English.
LadiLori27: I’m sorry. No Italian please! I hate looking things up!
SMarcello319: I know. This is why you make me to look up them for you.
LadiLori27: What did he say?
SMarcello319: He say you are very beautiful, too. And for beautiful American girl he will make introduction.
LadiLori27: Sergio, you are the best! Thank you, thank you! This could make all the difference!
SMarcello319: Yes, I am the best. I am happy you also see it.
LadiLori27: You’re funny.
SMarcello319: And handsome.
LadiLori27: Maybe. But I don’t believe everything I see on the Internet.
SMarcello319: Do you have a lover?
LadiLori27: Do you mean boyfriend? No.
SMarcello319: Would you like to have one?
LadiLori27: Thank you. But I’d rather have an internship.
SMarcello319: You have very much mistaken priorities.
LadiLori27: I also have a class.
SMarcello319: You are funny to talk to Lori. Will you be online later?
LadiLori27: I’ll e-mail you.
SMarcello319: My breath is caught as I await your every word. Ciao!
Lori’s smile was tender, secret,