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No wonder Ruby was hiding.
With a sigh, she pulled the slim box onto her lap and went into the living room, where she settled her-self onto the sofa, plopping her foot on a pillow on the coffee table. All thoughts of Ruby and Dean and true love vanished.
Her fingers were shaking as she opened the manila envelope marked NEW LETTERS and pulled out the stack of mail. On the top was a small, wrinkled, stationery-size envelope postmarked GREAT FALLS, MONTANA. She carefully opened it, unfolded the letter; and began to read.
Nora:
I cant bring myself to write Dear" anymore. Ive written to you a dozen times over the last few years. Twice you have published my letters, and once you wrote me a private letter, saying that you hoped things were getting better.
You cant imagine what that meant to me. I was drowning in a bad marriage, and you were always there.
Can you imagine how it feels to know the kind of person Ive been taking advice from?
I looked up to you. Believed in you. My husband only broke my heart. You have broken my spirit. If only you had been honest, I might have continued to admire you.
Now, I see that youre just another hack celebrity selling a product you dont use.
Dont bother answering this letter, or even printing it in Nora Knows Best. I dont care about your opinion, and I certainly wont be reading your columns anymore. I dont suppose Im alone in that decision. If I want to read fiction, Ill go to the library. You have no right to offer anyone advice on anything anymore.
May God forgive you, Nora Bridge. Your fans will not.
Nora folded the letter and slid it back into the envelope. She needed something to get her mind off of this. She reached for the television remote, not surprised at all to see that Caroline had upgraded the television here at the summer house. With small kids in this media age, it was probably essential.
She pressed the “on” button-and heard her own name being spoken.
It was The Sarah Purcell Show-one of those talk fests where women came together to chat. The coffee klatch of the new millennium.
Nora wanted to change the channel or look away, but she was like a fish caught on the hook of her own name.
On-screen, a heavyset woman was standing in the audience. Sarah was beside her; holding a microphone to the womans mouth. “I trusted Nora Bridge,” the lady said. “Now, I feel like an idiot. ”
Another woman in a nearby row stood up. “How could you be stupid enough to trust a celebrity? They all lie and cheat to get ahead. Thats how public life is. ”
The heavyset woman flushed. She looked ready to cry. "I didnt think she was like those other ones. .
Sarah took the microphone back. “That brings up a good point, Dr. Harrison,” she said, speaking to the gentleman sitting on the stage. “People are angry at Nora Bridge because she lied to them, but is it really a lie? Do you have to tell people everything about your life, just because youre in the public eye?”
The doctor smiled coolly for the camera. “Certainly a public figure has a right to his or her secrets . . . unless and until those secrets become germane. In this case, Nora had no right to hold herself out as an expert on love and family and commitments. But of course, its ludicrous for people to trust her anyway . . . an uneducated woman whose only claim to fame is a daily newspaper column. Trust should be reserved for professionals who are trained to help people. ”
Sarah stopped. “Now, wait a minute, Doctor. I dont think education-”
“Nora Bridge pretended to have answers, but no one bothered to wonder where those answers came from. Hopefully, Americans have learned that it takes more than an open microphone to solve peoples problems. It takes education, and empathy, and integrity areas in which Ms. Bridge is sorely lacking. ”
“And shes a coward,” someone said from the crowd. "I mean . . . where is she? She owes us –
Nora snapped off the television. She couldnt seem to move, not even to wheel her self out of the room. A tremor was spreading through her, chilling her from the inside out, and her throat was so tight it was hard to breathe.
“Nora?”
She froze, her heart pounding. She hadnt even heard footsteps on the stairs.
God, she didnt want her daughter to see her like this . . .
Ruby came into the room, walked slowly around the wheelchair; then sat down on the leather chair across from Nora. “Did you sleep well?”
Nora stared down at her own hands, and thought, Oh, please, just go away . . . dont talk to me now . . . . “Yes,” she managed, "thank you.
I read your columns," Ruby said when the silence had gone on too long.
