The Reading Circle by Ashton Lee Read Free Book Online Page A

Pigskin!”
    To say that Maura Beth was beginning to feel decidedly uncomfortable would have been an understatement. She found this version of Jeremy to be both peevish and unattractive. Did she dare bring up the results of last week’s book club meeting in the face of his outburst? Unfortunately, Jeremy forced the issue.
    â€œWell, I guess I needed to get that off my chest,” he added, taking another deep breath afterward. “I trust your Cherry Cola Book Club went off like clockwork. At least I know there’s still a vestige of sanity in the world. Reading Eudora Welty again will do both of us good. We’ve at least got that going for us.”
    Maura Beth suspected there was no way of easing him into what had happened, no matter how she fashioned it. So she got it over with right away, speaking faster than she normally would have. “The truth is, we won’t be reading The Robber Bridegroom after all. Your Uncle Douglas and Justin Brachle proposed that we read Forrest Gump instead. We took another vote, and Forrest Gump won quite handily.”
    Jeremy’s eyes glistened as he leaned in a little too closely. “What? You replaced a classic like The Robber Bridegroom ? Somewhere I think Eudora Welty must be turning over in her grave!”
    â€œOver the selection of a small-town book club? Oh, I suspect she’s more secure than that up in her literary heaven,” Maura Beth answered, bringing her hands together prayerfully in an attempt to lower his adrenaline level. “Besides, we can always read her next time out.” She attempted a conciliatory smile, but he didn’t even notice, turning away while he conjured up more angry words.
    â€œMy Uncle Doug as an expert on literature?” Jeremy’s sarcastic laugh was making Maura Beth even more uncomfortable, and he showed no sign of letting up on his pique. “You know as well as I do that Uncle Doug is totally addicted to Lake Cherico and his fishing lures. You’ve seen his collection mounted out there at his lake house. He ought to open up a museum and charge admission. I know it drives my aunt Connie crazy.”
    â€œOh, not anymore,” Maura Beth protested. “Didn’t you know that your uncle will be teaching her how to fish come springtime? They’re going to become a team out there on the water.”
    Jeremy’s face was becoming more and more a mask of disgust. “Good luck with that. And as for Mr. Brachle, my uncle’s partner in literary crime—um, what did I hear them calling him?”
    â€œStout Fella is the nickname you’re looking for.”
    â€œYeah, well, I don’t think he’s any great shakes at Shakespeare or any other literary figure. And now everybody has to toss out Eudora Welty and read Forrest Gump because those two want to? What’s really going on here?”
    Maura Beth resented the fact that his rhetoric was intimidating her. “But everybody voted on it, Jeremy. I had to go along with the majority. Miss Voncille liked the Vietnam part of the story, and even the Crumpton sisters thought it was a good idea. And, yes,” she admitted sheepishly, “they will all be discussing the football angle in the plot and eating tailgating dishes for the potluck. You might as well know that right now. I went along with it because I’m just not cut out to be a dictator.”
    He shot up from the sofa and began pacing around the room like an expectant father in a hospital waiting room. “Well, that’s just great, isn’t it?! Here you fought hard against the mentality of the good ole boys like Councilman Sparks on the City Council all last year to keep the library open, and now it looks like some more good ole boys are taking over your book club. One step forward, two steps back.”
    He kept at the pacing, and for a while Maura Beth said nothing, following him with her eyes. “I don’t see it that way at all.