Of Literature and Lattes, page 28
What made Ryan return to Andante?
Why did Alyssa go to the Sweet Shoppe, despite being told by the FBI not to contact Jill? Could you stay away?
Would you like to visit Winsome again?
Acknowledgments
I had so much fun with this story. I have never returned to a town before, but after inventing Winsome in The Printed Letter Bookshop, I was eager to return and meet old friends again. And while many of these thanks I will deliver in person, it’s also important to note them here.
Elizabeth, I’m forever grateful for your insight into this story. Your suggestions and encouragement helped push me when I wasn’t sure which way to go. Thank you to Mason, Matthew, Elizabeth, and Mary Margaret—you are beyond gracious and incredibly generous! And Coffee Man, you keep me going! Thank you!
Endless gratitude goes to my agent, Claudia Cross, and to Amanda Bostic, Jocelyn Bailey, LB Norton, and Jodi Hughes for . . . well, everything; Kristen Andrews and HCCP’s design team; Paul Fisher, Kerri Potts, Matt Bray, Marcee Wardell, and Margaret Kercher for all your marketing support; and the sales team for championing my stories.
Last, but never least . . . Thank you. Thank you to the readers, bloggers, reviewers, and now friends who generously read my stories, trust me with their hearts and time, and share me with their friends! Thank you for joining me here and reaching out to me on social media.
An Excerpt from Dear Mr. Knightley
April 2
Dear Sir,
It has been a year since I turned down your generous offer. Father John warned me at the time that I was making a terrible mistake, but I wouldn’t listen. He felt that by dismissing that opportunity I was injuring not only myself, but all the foster children helped by your foundation.
I hope any perceived ingratitude on my part didn’t harm anyone else’s dreams. I wasn’t ungrateful; I just wanted to leave Grace House. A group home is a difficult place to live, and I’d been there for eight years. And even though I knew graduate school meant more education and better job prospects, it also meant living at Grace House another two years. At the time I couldn’t face that prospect.
My heart has always been in my books and writing, but I couldn’t risk losing a paying job to pursue a dream. Now I’m ready to try. Not because I failed, but because this degree gives me the chance to link my passion with my livelihood.
Please let me know if the grant is still available. I will understand if you have selected another candidate.
Sincerely,
Samantha Moore
April 7
Dear Ms. Moore,
The grant for full tuition to the master’s program at Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism remains available. At the strong recommendation of Father John, and due to the confidence he has in you, the director of the Dover Foundation has agreed to give you this second chance. There is, however, one stipulation. The director wants to receive personal progress letters from you as reassurance that this decision was the right one. You may write to him as you would to a journal, letting him know how your studies are going. He has opened a post office box for this purpose so you won’t feel the added pressure of an immediate connection to him or to the foundation. Additionally, he will not write back, but asks that you write to him regularly about “things that matter.”
He recognizes that this is an unusual requirement, but the foundation needs to know that its resources are being used in the best way possible. Given your sudden change of heart, he feels it is not too much to ask. To make this easier for you, he will also remain anonymous. You may write to him at this address under the name George Knightley.
Sincerely,
Laura Temper
Personal Assistant to Mr. G. Knightley
April 12
Dear Mr. Knightley,
Thank you so much for giving me this opportunity. I submitted my application to Medill this morning. I had to use a couple papers on Dickens and Austen in place of the journalism samples requested. While that may count against me, I felt the rest of my application was strong.
If you will allow, I want to honor Father John’s trust and yours by explaining my “sudden change of heart,” as Ms. Temper described it. When I graduated college last spring, I had two opportunities: your grant to fund graduate school or a job at Ernst & Young. In my eagerness to leave Grace House and conquer the world, I chose the job. Six weeks ago I was fired. At the exit meeting my boss claimed I was “unengaged,” especially with regard to peer and client interactions. I did good work there, Mr. Knightley. Good solid work. But “relating” in the workplace is important too, I gather. That’s where I failed.
I’m guessing from your literary choice of pseudonym that you are very likely acquainted with another admirable character from fiction—Elizabeth Bennet, Jane Austen’s complex and enchanting heroine. At Ernst & Young I tried to project Lizzy’s boldness and spirit, but clearly she had a confidence and charm that was more than I could sustain on a daily basis. So now here I am, back at Grace House, taking advantage of the state’s willingness to provide a home for me till I’m twenty-five if I stay in school.
Nevertheless, Father John still doubts me and couldn’t resist a lecture this morning. I tried to listen, but my eyes wandered around his office: photographs of all the children who have passed through Grace House cover every space that isn’t taken up with books. He loves murder mysteries: Agatha Christie, James Patterson, Alex Powell, P. D. James, Patricia Cornwell . . . I’ve read most of them. The first day we met, right before I turned fifteen, he challenged me to stretch beyond the classics.
“Are you listening, Sam?” Father John finally noticed my wandering eyes. “The Medill program is straight up your alley. You’re a great reader and writer.”
“‘I deserve neither such praise nor such censure. I am not a great reader, and I have pleasure in many things.’” Elizabeth Bennet has a useful reply for every situation.
Father John gave a small smile, and I flinched. “What if I can’t do this?” I asked. “Maybe it’s a mistake.”
He sat back in his chair and took a slow breath. Eyebrows down, mouth in a line.
“Then turn this down—again—and find another job. Pound the pavement quickly, though. I can give you a couple weeks here to get on your feet, then my hands are tied.” He leaned forward. “Sam, I’ll always help you. But after this, if you’re not in school, Grace House is closed to you. This foundation helps a lot of kids here, and I won’t jeopardize that support because you can’t commit. So decide right now.”
A tear rolled down my cheek. Father John never gets charged up, but I deserved it. I should only be grateful to you both, and here I was questioning your help. But help is hard, Mr. Knightley—even when I desperately need it. Every foster placement of my childhood was intended to help me; every new social worker tried to help my case; when I was sent back home at twelve, the judge meant to help my life too . . . I’m so tired of help.
“I’m sorry, Father John, you’re right. I want this grant and I asked for it again. I must seem so ungrateful to you, to be questioning again.”
“You don’t, Sam, and I can understand wanting to stand alone. Even in the best of times and circumstances, it’s hard to accept help—”
In the end, Father John believed my commitment. I hope you do too. Here is our agreement: you will pay for graduate school, and I will write you letters that give an honest accounting of my life and school—and you will never write back. That simple, right?
Thank you for that, Mr. Knightley—your anonymity. Honesty is easier when you have no face and no real name. And honesty, for me, is very easy on paper.
I also want to assure you that while I may not relate well to people in the real world, I shine in school. It’s paper-based. I will do your grant justice, Mr. Knightley. I’ll shine at Medill.
I know I’ve said more than was necessary in this letter, but I need you to know who I am. We need to have an honest beginning, even if it’s less impressive than Lizzy Bennet’s.
Sincerely,
Samantha Moore
April 21
Dear Mr. Knightley,
Each and every moment things change. For the most part, I loathe it. Change never works in my favor—as evidenced by so many foster placements, a holdup at a Chicago White Hen, getting fired from Ernst & Young, and so many other changes in my life I’d like to forget. But I needed one more—a change of my own making—so I pursued your grant again.
But it’s not of my own making, is it?
Father John told me this morning that he was the one who proposed journalism for me—it was not an original requirement for your grant. I wouldn’t have chosen it myself. My professor at Roosevelt College said I produced some of the best work on Austen, Dickens, and the Brontes he’d ever read. I’m good at fiction, Mr. Knightley. And I don’t think it’s right that Father John took away my choice. I’m twenty-three years old; I should be the author of the changes in my life.
I went to Father John and explained all this. I feel he has arbitrarily forced me into journalism—a field I don’t know and don’t write. “You need to undo that,” I pleaded. “They’ll listen to you.”
Father John closed his eyes. One might think he’d fallen asleep, but I knew better. He was praying. He does that—a lot.
Minutes passed. He opened his eyes and zeroed in on me. Sometimes I feel his eyes are tired, but not at that moment. They were piercing and direct. I knew his answer before he opened his mouth.
“Sam, I won’t . . . but you can. Write the foundation’s director and ask.” Father John stared into my eyes, measuring his words. “Don’t lie. Don’t tell them I’ve changed my mind. I have not. I am wholly against a change in program.”
“How can you say that?” My own shrill voice surprised me.
“I’ve known you for eight years, Sam. I’ve watched you grow, I’ve watched you succeed, and I’ve watched you retreat. I want the best for you, and with every fiber of my being, I am convinced that ‘the best’ is not more fiction, but finding your way around in the real world and its people.”
I opened my mouth to protest, but he held up his hand. “Consider carefully. If the foundation is unwilling to alter your grant, you may accept or you may walk away. You always have a choice.”
“That’s not fair.”
Father John’s eyes clouded. “My dear, what in your life has ever come close to fair? That’s not how this life works.” He leaned forward and stretched his hands out across the desk. “I’m sorry, Sam. If I could protect you from any more pain, I would. But I can only pray and do the very best God calls me to do. If I’m wrong about this, I hope that someday you will forgive me.”
“‘My temper would perhaps be called resentful.—My good opinion once lost is lost forever.’” When Elizabeth Bennet doesn’t come through, one can always count on Mr. Darcy to provide the right response. I shook my head and, quoting no one, said, “I won’t forgive you, Father John. I don’t forgive.” And I walked out.
I don’t care if that was ungenerous, Mr. Knightley. He overstepped, and he’s wrong. So now I’m asking you: Will you let me decide?
Sincerely,
Samantha Moore
The story continues in Dear Mr. Knightley by Katherine Reay.
About the Author
Katherine Reay is a national bestselling and award-winning author who has enjoyed a lifelong affair with books. She publishes both fiction and nonfiction, and her writing can also be found in magazines and blogs. Katherine holds a BA and MS from Northwestern University. She currently writes full-time and lives outside Chicago, Illinois, with her husband and three children.
* * *
KatherineReay.com
Instagram: katherinereay
Facebook: katherinereaybooks
Twitter: @Katherine_Reay
Praise for Katherine Reay
“The town of Winsome reminds me of Jan Karon’s Mitford, with its endearing characters, complex lives, and surprises where you don’t expect them. Reay has penned another poignant tale set in Winsome, Illinois, weaving truth, forgiveness, and beauty into a touching, multilayered, yet totally cozy story. You’ll root for these characters and will be sad to leave this charming town.”
—Lauren Denton, bestselling author of The Hideaway and Glory Road, for Of Literature and Lattes
“In her ode to small towns and second chances, Katherine Reay writes with affection and insight about the finer things in life—from the perfect cup of coffee and the right book at the right time to enduring friendships, the power of community, and the importance of not giving up on your loved ones or yourself. Reay’s fictional town of Winsome, Illinois, lives up to its name and will leave more than a few readers wistfully dreaming of moving there themselves.”
—Karen Dukess, author of The Last Book Party, for Of Literature and Lattes
“Like all of Reay’s novels, Of Literature and Lattes delivers a story with details so vivid you can feel the fabric slipping between your fingers, characters so rich they could slide into the booth across from you, and a message so hopeful and redemptive it will linger in your mind long after you turn the final page. Of Literature and Lattes brings the town of Winsome alive again, and I couldn’t wait to return and savor a story of forgiveness, of fresh starts, of literary delights, and of love.”
—Melissa Ferguson, author of The Dating Charade
“I just love it soooo much.”
—Annie Downs, author and host of That Sounds Fun podcast, for The Printed Letter Bookshop
“Reay understands the heartbeat of a bookstore.”
—Baker Book House, for The Printed Letter Bookshop
“The Printed Letter Bookshop is both a powerful story and a dazzling experience. I want to give this book to every woman I know—I adored falling into Reay’s world, words, and bookstore. Powerful, enchanting, and spirited, this novel will delight!”
—Patti Callahan, bestselling author of Becoming Mrs. Lewis
“The Printed Letter Bookshop is a softly elegant and invitingly intricate ode to books and the power of their communal solace. With the charm and insight of Nina George and the sheer reckless book love of Jenny Colgan, The Printed Letter Bookshop enfolds the reader in a welcome literary embrace.”
—Rachel McMillan, author of The London Restoration
“Dripping with period detail but fundamentally a modern story, The Austen Escape is a clever, warmhearted homage to Austen and her fans.”
—Shelf Awareness
“Reay handles . . . scenes with tenderness and a light touch, allowing the drama to come as much from internal conflict as external, rom-com–type misunderstandings . . . Thoughtful escapism.”
—Kirkus for The Austen Escape
“Both cleverly written and nicely layered, Reay’s latest proves to be a charming escape!”
—Denise Hunter, bestselling author of Sweetbriar Cottage and Blue Ridge Sunrise, for The Austen Escape
“As amiable as an Austen novelist could be—but with a pen just as witty—Katherine Reay proves she’s ready to become Jane to a whole new generation of women.”
—Kristy Cambron, bestselling author of The Lost Castle and the Hidden Masterpiece series, for The Austen Escape
“Reay’s sensually evocative descriptions of Italian food and scenery make this a delight for fans of Frances Mayes’s Under the Tuscan Sun.”
—Library Journal, starred review, for A Portrait of Emily Price
“A Portrait of Emily Price is a portrait of grace and love. Reay is carving her name among the literary greats.”
—Rachel Hauck, New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author of The Wedding Dress
“Katherine Reay is a remarkable author who has created her own subgenre, wrapping classic fiction around contemporary stories. Her writing is flawless and smooth, her storytelling meaningful and poignant. You’re going to love The Brontë Plot.”
—Debbie Macomber, #1 New York Times bestselling author
“Book lovers will savor the literary references as well as the story’s lessons on choices, friendship, and redemption.”
—Booklist for The Brontë Plot
“Reay treats readers to a banquet of flavors, aromas, and textures that foodies will appreciate, and clever references to literature add nuances sure to delight bibliophiles. The relatable, very real characters, however, are what will keep readers clamoring for more from this talented author.”
—Publishers Weekly, starred review, for Lizzy & Jane
“Katherine Reay’s Dear Mr. Knightley kept me up until 2:00 a.m.; I simply couldn’t put it down.”
—Eloisa James, New York Times bestselling author of Once Upon a Tower
“Book nerds, rejoice! Dear Mr. Knightley is a stunning debut—a first-water gem with humor and heart. I can hardly wait to get my hands on the next novel by this gifted new author!”
—Serena Chase, USA TODAY’s Happy Ever After blog
Also by Katherine Reay
Dear Mr. Knightley
Lizzy & Jane
The Brontë Plot
A Portrait of Emily Price
The Austen Escape
The Printed Letter Bookshop
Nonfiction
Awful Beautiful Life, with Becky Powell
Copyright
Of Literature and Lattes
Copyright © 2020 by Katherine Reay
All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means—electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, scanning, or other—except for brief quotations in critical reviews or articles, without the prior written permission of the publisher.
