Hyacinth (Suitors of Seattle) Read Free Page A

this would help.  She could imagine herself in love with Lawrence...yes, that's what she'd do.  He wouldn't mind her chatting with him as if she was in love for research would he?
    Lawrence smiled.  "I love the pot roast, and the pork chop.  I also like the fried chicken."
    Hyacinth smiled at him as sweetly as she could muster, thinking back to the way Rose had always smiled at her beaux when they'd come to court her.   She thought she did a pretty good job of imitating her eldest sister.  "You just pick for me, please.  I'm sure I'll like anything you choose."
    Lawrence grinned at the girl beside him, thrilled she was showing an interest in him.  "I'll do that then.  Is there anything you don't like?"
    Hyacinth shook her head.  She'd always been willing to eat just about anything.  "Nothing."  She waited as he chose what he wanted, desperately wanting to ask him about his writing.  She'd read one of his books back when he'd been courting Amaryllis, although, she wasn't certain she could really call what they'd done courting.  Amaryllis had been in love with Alex before, during, and after her short courtship with Lawrence.
    Lawrence closed the menu and reached out to take Hyacinth's hand in his.  Her look was one of astonishment for a moment, and then her face settled into its normal passive look.  "So tell me about your writing.  I know you didn't just decide one day when you finished with school that you were going to start writing every day.  When did you start?"
    Hyacinth thought about the question for a moment, contemplating how to answer him.  She was startled that he'd asked her the very question she was going to ask him.  Maybe it was a normal question for writers to ask one another.  "I think since the first day I realized that the letters I'd been practicing writing formed words I knew that someday I wanted to write something people would want to read.  I've read so many things because I had to, but I've had very little time to read just because I want to.  Now that I'm out of school, I'm trying to change that.  I'm writing as much as I can, because I love it so much, but I'm making certain I take time to read as well."  She loved losing herself in the world of storybooks.  She and her sister Amaryllis had that in common.  Some of the others enjoyed reading, but they all preferred people to books, except maybe Hyacinth and Amaryllis.
    Lawrence nodded. "Keep reading.  I think of reading as a way to fill the space that's emptied with all the writing I do.  That may not make much sense...."  He frowned for a moment, trying to think of a better way to describe it.
    "I think I understand.  You mean that it's like you have a finite number of words that you have inside you, and once you've written them all, you have to replenish them with more reading?"  She'd never thought of reading that way, but it made a lot of sense to her.  When she spent a lot of time writing and little time reading, the words were harder to write.
    "Exactly!  I'm so glad you understand me even when I'm not being very articulate."
    Hyacinth shook her head.  "You're a published writer.  Are you admitting you're not always articulate?"  Was that even possible?  She'd always put writers on such a high pedestal and wanted to emulate them.  Could they be just like everyone else?
    He laughed softly.  "I don't know why people think that writers are so articulate all the time.  I'm not.  I work hard at writing which is why I can be articulate there.  Talking to someone I don't have as much time to ponder my words."  He shook his head for a moment.  "Sometimes it really annoys me that people think writing is so easy.  Honestly?  It's hard work!"
    She nodded. "I'm discovering that.  I thought that when I had time to write the words would just flow from my pen, and I'd finish a book in just a few months, and I'd be done forever."   The opposite had proven true.  The more time she had to write, the less easy it