9
Darcy had never been so bewitched by any woman as he was by her. —Pride and Prejudice
Lettie Benson stands in the sunlight in a red dress, laughing. When the Cybertruck parked in my driveway, I immediately despised the owner, just on principle. But when he opened the passenger door and Lettie stepped out in that dress, looking all innocent and sexy, I despised the man even more.
I know; I said I never wanted to see her again. But I was out of my mind with hurt, anger, and disappointment. For the last few months, whenever I hung out with Charlie and Jane, I hoped she would be there and give me the chance to apologize. I got carried away with the debate and was insufferably rude.
Caroline hurries down the steps to act as hostess. “Lettie!” She hugs her. “I cannot get over this gingham dress. It’s another one of April’s, isn’t it? I think she wore it on a date years ago with Timothée Chalamet.” Do I see a flash of annoyance on Lettie’s face?
“You have a good eye. This is my cousin’s dress. Though I don’t think she ever dated Timothée.”
“Lettie,” says a nasally self-important voice. “You haven’t introduced me.”
“So sorry, Caroline, this is my date, Colin Funkhauser.”
“Dr. Funkhauser,” Colin amends.
“Ah yes, I believe Colin works with your esteemed aunt.” Lettie’s eyes flick to mine. Though her words drip with sarcasm, they’re still music to my ears. She’s actually speaking to me. I wasn’t certain she’d acknowledge me.
I put my hand out to this Colin guy. “Liam Darcy, pleased to meet you.”
“Colin Funkhauser, MD.” His sweaty hand grips mine tightly. He shakes my hand with too much enthusiasm, then looks up at my house. “This your crib?” he asks.
“I do, in fact, live here.”
“I imagine this property is worth a fair chunk of change.” As Colin speaks, I see Lettie wincing behind him. I can’t say how much it pleases me that she’s embarrassed by her date.
“What exactly do you do?” Colin persists.
“I’m a farmer.”
Caroline steps forward. “You may have heard of Pemberley Almonds. Pemberley Almond Milk. Pemberley Almond Butter.”
“I can’t stand almond milk,” Colin says. “I prefer the real thing.” He fixes his lecherous eyes on Lettie’s chest. Did I mention I hate this guy? “Besides almond trees are bad for the environment? Don’t they require a lot of water?”
“No more water than what is needed to grow the food for the dairy cows that produce the milk you drink,” says a miffed Lettie. It feels good to have her stand up for me.
“Thank you,” I mouth. She looks away, embarrassed.
I’m distracted for a moment by the arrival of another group of guests. Jane’s Aunt and Uncle Phillips. Caroline leads Lettie and her date to the backyard. I’m left to make small talk with Jane’s aunt and uncle.
“Darcy! There you are.” Charlie meets me on the path. “Great party! Thanks again for doing this.”
“Happy to. I would host your wedding if you wanted.”
“Jane is set on a snowy wedding. We’re looking at a place near Yosemite.”
“I’m never going to complain about going to Yosemite.”
“Right.” Charlie agrees.
“Hey, have you seen... ” I begin to ask Charlie.
“Lettie?” he says with a knowing grin. I’m not sure why Charlie insists I still like Lettie. After our fight, I’m over her. I only want to find her to apologize.
“No, why would I be looking for Lettie?” I ask. “Have you seen Caroline, you know, my date, your sister?”
“She was with Lettie and her date.” He punches me on the shoulder. “Fierce competition there. But then they wandered off.” I start to walk off, but Charlie sticks by my side.
“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. You are 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.