Son of a Preacher Man by Karen M. Cox

Author:Karen M. Cox [Cox, Karen M]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780999100035
Publisher: Adalia Street Press via Indie Author Project

I paced for a full ten minutes, throwing books and clothes and banging drawers. I was desperate to get out of that room and walk around the town to clear my head, but my ankle had stiffened up and hurt pretty bad, so long walks weren’t an option. About eight thirty, Dad came by to get me for breakfast and have Doc take another look at my ankle. I wasn’t in a mood for company, so I begged off supper at the Millers and asked Dad to take me back to the boarding house, pretending I wanted to take a nap. If he saw my misery, he didn’t call any attention to it.

When I got back to the room, I discovered a fat envelope with my name on it just inside the threshold, like it had been slid under the door.

Lizzie, I thought. Anger filled my heart and I seriously considered ripping the letter to shreds, but then curiosity got the better of me. I ran my letter opener across the top of the envelope and pulled out a stack of pages that held the promise of a good long explanation of Lizzie’s inexplicable behavior that morning. I sat on the bed, propped my leg up, and began to read.

Billy Ray,

First of all, don’t worry. I’m not going to use this letter to lash out at you. I know I said some awful things to you this morning, but you said some pretty mean words yourself. I also know I deserve some of what you dished out. But I have to say, you’ve got some strange notions about women in general and about me in particular. I can understand that you wouldn’t understand much about girls, growing up without your mama around. Plus, if you’ve ever had a ten-minute conversation with Marlene Miller, I’m sure you know every rumor that’s ever been told about me. I can only imagine what you must think.

After you and I became friends, I never wanted to taint your view of me with the truth. That’s my pride, I guess—thinking you saw something in me that I wanted to see in myself. But what you saw isn’t the real Lizzie and believing in it is hurting you. So now I suppose I don’t have any choice but to tell you why this town treats me like they do. I remember once you asked me about it, and I said maybe someday I could tell you. I guess that day is today. I cautioned you not to put me on a pedestal—now you’re about to find out why.

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