Friendly Discussion
Lola poured two mugs of coffee, bringing them over, along with a spoon, and Hope helped herself to the cream and sugar still on the table from breakfast. The beginning phrases of several apologies were swirling around in her head, but actually choosing one was problematic. Hope sat stirring her drink for far too long before setting her spoon aside and saying quietly, “I apologize for what I said at church.” She took a sip of the coffee, finding it cooler than she preferred but a good distraction. “It wasn’t fair of me, and I’m sorry I hurt your feelings.”
Silence hung between them for a few moments as Lola also concentrated on her beverage before she raised her nose in the air and said, “I accept your apology. I never intended to give you the indication I’d want your position full-time. It’s a long trip into town for us.”
“I know,” Hope said, her head still down. “I realize that now.”
“While I certainly wouldn’t mind making it for a few months while they try to find another full-time schoolteacher, I can’t imagine leaving the farm every single day. I have duties here, too, you know. It’s not just Ben that minds this place.”
Hope raised her eyes to look at her friend. “I’m sure it is hard work, Lola. I apologize for being so rude the other day.”
“When I applied for that position, we hadn’t moved out here yet, you know that. I wasn’t even married. I’m not even sure if they’d allow a married woman the full-time position. I think the superintendent is a bit more of a free-thinker than some, but you know they prefer someone without her own family, someone who has as much time as necessary to devote to the students.”
Thinking of herself as someone without a family stung a little bit, particularly when her family was so wonderful, but she knew what her friend was saying. “Yes, some places have stricter requirements than others, it’s true. I would think Mr. Cartwright would choose the best candidate regardless of marital status, but it’s possible he would prefer an unmarried woman as well.”
Lola’s eyes enlarged. “I think it’s evident he did. Whether that’s changed now, I can’t say.”
Feeling a tightening in her abdomen that alerted that they were on the verge of another disagreement, Hope asked, “What do you mean?”
“Nothing, only that my pa heard that the only reason Mr. Cartwright gave you the position the first time was because you were not promised to anyone, and Ben and I already had a date set, that’s all.”
Hope took a deep breath, deciding to choose her words carefully. Lola certainly had a way of making her upset, but she hated actually fighting with her friend. “I think we were both well-qualified for the position, Lola.”
That answer seemed to satisfy her friend who took a bite of the pumpkin bread. “Mmm!” Lola finished chewing, mostly, before saying, “This is really good, Hope.”
“Thank you. It’s my grandmother’s recipe.” She smiled and took a little nibble herself, though she really wasn’t hungry. The anxiety of having to apologize, as well as the rest of the conversation she still needed to have, made her stomach restrict. Hope dusted her hands off and cleared her throat. “I’ve been thinking about the position in Texas you mentioned, the one in your aunt’s hometown. Do you happen to know if it is still available?”
It seemed to take forever for Lola to finish chewing, and Hope waited, staring at her friend’s face, looking for any sort of an indication that the position hadn’t been filled, but when Lola finally finished, she only said, “I haven’t the foggiest. Aunt Nita only mentioned it in passing, as a project of her own. It wasn’t as if she thought I’d actually know someone who might want to move there and take the job.”
“Oh,” Hope replied quietly. That made sense. For some reason, she’d thought perhaps her aunt would keep her appraised of the situation.
Before Hope could say more, Lola asked, “Why? Are you thinking of putting your name in? Hope, it’s far away. You know how long it will take for you to get down there? Do you really want to spend all that time on a train? And once you get there, what if it’s awful? My aunt says it’s still a lawless place there, you know? I’m sure she’d do her best to look after you, but she’s a busy woman. You might get there and truly hate it and end up coming back here, and by then, your position would be filled. Then what would you do? I’m just not sure it’s a good idea, Hope, that’s all.” Lola stopped then, shaking her head, and finishing the last bite of her pumpkin bread.
“I’ve told myself all of that a hundred times,” Hope began, her voice even. “But how will I know if I don’t try? I feel like, I’ve got a burning inside of me, Lola, an urge to go out there into the world and see what it’s like. Lamar’s a fine place to live, but I’m not sure it’s where I want to spend the rest of my life.”
Lola was quiet, taking her in, and Hope adjusted her gaze out the window so she wasn’t staring at her friend. The snow had melted everywhere except for under the trees, though she was sure there’d be more soon. With Christmas a week away, the worst weather was still in front of them. She wondered how much snow they got in that part of Texas, if the summer heat was deplorable, if it rained regularly or only certain times of the year.
“Are you gonna eat that?” Lola asked, breaking Hope out of her thoughts. She slid the bread across the table, and Lola tore off the corner, shoving it in her mouth, still thinking. She swallowed before she asked, “Does this have to do with Jimmy Brooks?”
Hope’s eyes widened. “Jimmy? What? No! Why would you ask that?”
Lola shrugged. “I don’t know. It’s just… you know him and Ben are friends. He’s been by a few times. Said he’d asked to court you more than once, and you keep sayin’ no.”
“I already told you that,” Hope reminded her friend. It wasn’t as if Lola wasn’t aware of the situation. It seemed like the conversation was getting nowhere, and Hope was beginning to grow frustrated with her friend.
Log in with Google Account
Chapters
Favorite
Settings
