It's All About the Romance...

(Sherri and Charlotte engage in one of many imaginary conversations.)

Charlotte: About the romance? For you, perhaps. It is really all about one woman's journey. You always get so carried away with the romance.

Sherri: I like romance. What's wrong with love? I get tingly when I think about Mr. Rochester and Jane alone in that arbor. Poor Jane took so long to catch on to his intentions.

Charlotte: You're giving away plot points!

Sherri: Um, Charlotte? I think they know.

Charlotte: They don't know about the vampyres creeping up on them and how Jane has to-- oh. Right. That didn't make it through edits in the original.

Sherri: Exactly. People will get to read that scene in entirety for the first time in April.

Charlotte: April! So many months away. Back to my point. It's not about the romance. That was only one leg of Jane's very long journey to becoming her own woman. Independent. Strong. Self-reliant...

Sherri: And very much in love with Rochester. You were independent, and you were in love. You know how it works. So tell us more about your handsome professor.

Charlotte: I don't know what you mean.

Sherri: (raises brow) You know. The married one. What really happened with him? Did you have an affair? Enquiring minds want to know.

Charlotte: No comment. (looks down, smooths skirts).

Sherri: Fine. Well, I can't help thinking about what might have happened if Jane had stayed with St. John Rivers.

Charlotte: She would never have survived the heat and hardships of India.

Sherri: Are you kidding? Jane? Jane's tough! She survived some major hardships. Starvation. The elements. Being raised with vampyres. What's a little heat next to slaying demons? Jane could live through anything.

Charlotte: I suppose I can't argue with that premise.

Sherri: Besides, St. John was hot. Wasn't he?

Charlotte: India. India is hot.

Sherri: But St. John... purrrr. I imagine he looks a lot like Bradley Cooper.

Charlotte: Who?

Sherri: Brad Cooper? Blond, blue eyes... have a look.

Charlotte: I prefer Mr. Rochester.

Sherri: Yes, I know. Rochester's not bad, either. I'm thinking Clive Owen? Gerard Butler? Joaquin Phoenix (without the crazy beard, though it helps to envision him as... oh right, never mind.)

Charlotte: (rolls eyes) Go read your gossip sites. Imagine how much you would be improving your mind if you weren't always, as you call it, "surfing the web." Oh, pardon. His eyes really are blue, aren't they?

Sherri: Bradley Cooper's? Aha, you did notice.

Charlotte: No comment.

(To be continued).