Post by DREW SOLOMON on Oct 3, 2012 12:46:28 GMT -5
“No…no the starting over thing was more so you didn’t have expectations from me. I love hearing about my real parents. I love knowing what it was like before the accident, the sort of life I came from, the people who raised me…It’s fascinating and…well, as honest as Maxi is I know her views on things might be skewed due to heartache. Life couldn’t have been easy for her and it’s nice hearing about my family from someone who isn’t necessarily a part of it. Not by blood, anyway.” Drew was glad he hadn’t overstepped his bounds and actually managed to give Maureen insight she wanted. He didn’t mind when she said he wasn’t a part of her family—he was well aware of that fact. Drew had been a part of his own family, and while he saw the McManus girls as sisterly figures, he knew they weren’t blood-related. That was about the only consolation he could find for his attraction to Maureen, which was becoming more and more obvious as the day went on. Maureen went on talking about her appreciation for his thinking they were all alike and he smiled warmly in return. “I got the impression I was sort of wily in my youth.” He laughed. “Well, you were, and you’re more docile now, but you’re not all that different from the girl you used to be.” What she said next threw him a little.
“I wish I could know her now. My mother…I’m so lucky to have been blessed with Mrs. Aberdeen and she was a wonderful alternative but she wasn’t really a replacement.” It struck him how much she reflected his thoughts about his own mother. Since her death, Mrs. Periwinkle and Mrs. Miller had been wonderful alternatives, but they weren’t his mother. His heart ached a little for the woman standing beside him, knowing exactly how she must be feeling. “I’m sorry…I feel like I’m overstepping the ‘starting fresh’ bounds now.” She gave him a small smile and he returned it warmly with a small shake of his head. “Are there other marvels in here I should see?” He chuckled softly and then nodded his head, glancing to the small rows of glass-cased books. “Yeah, there’s a few. Most of these books are just obscure, old titles, but there are a few gems. They have a first edition of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice here when the author was still listed simply as ‘A Lady.’ They also have a first edition of Charles Darwin’s On the Origin of Species and Charles Dickens’ Little Dorrit. Here, I’ll show you. I know where Steve keeps the special ones.” He threw her a wink before guiding her away from the Bible and down a far aisle. Perhaps he would tell her about his mother another time. For now he wanted to lighten the air, sensing he was being something of a Debbie Downer talking about her mom and all. He wanted her to enjoy her time admiring the old books, and so his conversation remained light about the library’s small rare books collection. And unlike when he brought his students here, he felt Maureen was truly enjoying listening to what he had to say.
“I wish I could know her now. My mother…I’m so lucky to have been blessed with Mrs. Aberdeen and she was a wonderful alternative but she wasn’t really a replacement.” It struck him how much she reflected his thoughts about his own mother. Since her death, Mrs. Periwinkle and Mrs. Miller had been wonderful alternatives, but they weren’t his mother. His heart ached a little for the woman standing beside him, knowing exactly how she must be feeling. “I’m sorry…I feel like I’m overstepping the ‘starting fresh’ bounds now.” She gave him a small smile and he returned it warmly with a small shake of his head. “Are there other marvels in here I should see?” He chuckled softly and then nodded his head, glancing to the small rows of glass-cased books. “Yeah, there’s a few. Most of these books are just obscure, old titles, but there are a few gems. They have a first edition of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice here when the author was still listed simply as ‘A Lady.’ They also have a first edition of Charles Darwin’s On the Origin of Species and Charles Dickens’ Little Dorrit. Here, I’ll show you. I know where Steve keeps the special ones.” He threw her a wink before guiding her away from the Bible and down a far aisle. Perhaps he would tell her about his mother another time. For now he wanted to lighten the air, sensing he was being something of a Debbie Downer talking about her mom and all. He wanted her to enjoy her time admiring the old books, and so his conversation remained light about the library’s small rare books collection. And unlike when he brought his students here, he felt Maureen was truly enjoying listening to what he had to say.
