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This Love Story was Big News
When Darcy was a child, she learned to be polite. When visiting friends and relatives, her mother instructed her to accept what was offered with a spirit of gratitude. “If they hand you iced tea, thank them and drink it. It doesn’t matter if you really wanted lemonade.”
Darcy grew up believing she had to please others before herself. That’s how respectable young ladies did things. Her affluent family was very respectable, and she didn’t want to be a disgrace.
She received her degree in nursing, even though she couldn’t stand the sight of blood, sick people, or stranger’s bodily fluids. But her mother taught her nursing was altruistic. It didn’t matter Darcy longed to be a writer.
“You can write books later,” her mother said. “Once you are married and start having kids, you can do whatever you want. Until then, you need to give back to the community. Our family has been blessed and we need to pass it on. If you go into health care, it will go a long way towards your father’s next reelection.”
Darcy didn’t dare question the logic or point out the fact her mother spent most days lunching with friends or going to the spa. Her mother’s contribution to society was attending formal charity dinners in four-inch stilettos and a chic designer dress.
