Beginning, Section II, Next Section

Chapter 6

Posted on 2010-01-15

Will awakened a couple of hours later with Beth's steady breathing indicating that she was sleeping peacefully. He knew that Marie's illness caused her to relive her mother's death , but he still wondered if she thought she had to prove something to either him or herself. He held her tightly hoping for his strength to somehow seep into her body.

Eventually, she shifted a little but still held onto his arms around her. "MMM, I love being wrapped up in you," she purred.

"Saying things like that leads to trouble, madam" he spoke into her ear while lightly kissing her hair, his lips then trailing down her neck.

"Just how much trouble are we talking about?' she managed to get out, greatly affected by his attentions.

"Elizabeth, would you rather talk about today, about all of this that's happening?" he stopped his kissing and stilled his hands.

"No, I don't want to talk. I just want to hear you talk to me, Fitzwilliam; to hear you tell me how much you love me. Tell me how good we are together." She turned over and faced him on the pillow, "Only don't use any words." He was all too eager to comply with her wishes.

The sun was setting when Will made himself release her to go downstairs and talk to Richard and to call Ed to see if he and Marie needed anything. Throwing on his sweats and his favorite Purdue shirt, he grabbed his cell phone and closed the door behind him. Ed answered in a whisper and said that Marie had awoken a bit ago, and had been able to take in some Gatorade and had then fallen back to sleep. He said that they had plenty of food at the house and for Will to stay put with Lizzybeth for the night.

While they were talking, Ed got another call and clicked over; a few minutes later he came back on and said that it ahd been Rachel and Georgiana, and that they planned to come in late the next morning and do whatever needed to be done around the house. They had also told him that they wanted to take Callie to the mall in Defiance to see Santa and enjoy all the things the stores had set up for kids. Ed laughed and said that Georgiana was taking her job as auntie very seriously and that Rachel wanted to tag along. They asked if they could keep Callie at Rachel's dorm in Defiance overnight and then Will or Richard could pick her up on Sunday.

"Wow." The hearts of those two young women always amazed Will. "Don't they have finals or something they should be studying for?"

"They said they were working on that tonight and that they had cleared their schedules until Georgiana headed back up to BG. I say we take them up on their offers."

"Hey, if they can do it, it's fine with me. Tell Rachel, though, that I have to run it by Elizabeth about Callie being gone two nights in a row. I think Callie would love being on campus. Are you Okay, though?" Will's tone changed at the question.

"I guess so. I just want the test to come back saying the tumor's shrunk. And I just want my wife back. I'm not asking too much, am I?"

"Yeah. I get ya. Call us if you need anything and give the girls a big hug for me, Okay?"

Will found Richard in the kitchen staring into the fridge for no particular reason, but when he saw Will, he grabbed two beers and the men sat down at the kitchen table. Relating the incidents of the day, his cousin shook his head and cursed the effects of the chemo on all of them. Upon hearing the plan of the two co-eds, he smiled and told Will that was further proof of the fantastic job he had done in raising Georgiana. They were sitting at the table nursing their beers when Beth appeared in the doorway.

"Will," she said as her body swayed, "I'm very hungry. I think I need to eat something right now." Both men were up and moving toward her quickly as her body began to crumple. Will got there a split second before Richard and caught her as her legs gave way.

"Elizabeth!" they both shouted as she collapsed in her husband's arms. Will looked at Richard helplessly. "What do I do?"

"Take her back upstairs. I'm call Juanita. She has to have some soup or something at the house. Elizabeth said she needed to eat. I bet she hasn't had anything all day."

"Okay, you're probably right." Beth began to come around and she moaned Will's name. "Honey, I've got you," he assured her. "You passed out for a minute. I'm taking you back upstairs." He continued to talk to her as he climbed the steps with her in his arms for the second time that day. Again, he set her on the bed, asking her how she felt.

"I'm a little dizzy. I don't remember going downstairs at all. I think I'm losing my mind."

"No, you're just exhausted and you haven't eaten anything all day, have you?"

She admitted that she hadn't and fell back against the pillows. At that moment, Richard knocked on the door and walked in with a glass of orange juice. He handed it to Beth while giving her the once over. "I called Juanita and she's on her way with some soup and heaven knows what else. How's the patient?"

"I'm a little embarrassed actually. I've never done that before." She drank the juice down in one gulp and looked up sheepishly at the two worried cousins. "You should see your faces. I'm fine. Just a little hungry. To tell the truth, I don't think I've had anything to drink today either."

As the two men admonished her, they heard the back door open and all three knew the Mexican cavalry had arrived to save the day once again. Ten minutes later they had Beth propped up on the bed with a bowl of soup, cheese and crackers and a large cup of herbal tea. Juanita asked her several questions all the while clucking and tutting at her answers.

"She do too much, El Toro. You must stop her." She lectured Will.

"I've tried to talk to her Mamacita, but she doesn't listen to me." Will sounded like a little child telling on his sibling.

"Who does not listen to El Toro! You are the husband; lead the wife. It is simple"

"I'm right here, you know." Beth chuckled wearily. "Juanita, Will has been telling me to slow down. I promise I will. Marie's chemo is over for now, and next week I just know she is going to get good news, so we're praying she won't need radiation."

Her husband wasn't buying it "Well, I'm telling you, no more cleaning and cooking over there. I'll pay for a cleaning service and order food delivered. No, Elizabeth, it's not up for debate. You have no idea how much you two scared Ed and me today." He then explained to her the call from Rachel and Beth didn't protest. Actually, she was pleased that Callie would receive such good treatment over the weekend. In the end, she agreed to Will's plan and said that she would hold off on the tutoring project with Elise Roberts until after the first of the year.

Later that evening while Beth talked to Marie on the phone, Will and Richard lounged in the den finishing the discussion they had begun before Beth passed out before them. Will couldn't help his distraction as Richard talked about plans for the Un-Christmas Pageant.

"Will, you haven't heard one word I've said, and I've decided not to hold it against you because you are such a worrywart," he smiled good naturedly, " But I've been wondering; Will, could Elizabeth be pregnant?"

Will's eyes opened wide in surprise. "No, no. Why would you think that?"

"I don't know. She's shown some of the symptoms I've heard people talk before, you know, fatigue, queasiness, smells getting to her and she was a regular she bear the other day…"

"I hear what you're saying, but no. She said last week that she had her period then. You can't have that and be pregnant, right?"

"Yeah, like I would know." Richard chucked him on the shoulder.

"Well, doesn't Dr. Phil cover that?"

"I haven't watched that in weeks, thank you very much. But Will, what if she is? Would you be happy?"

Will's eyes danced as a huge smile spread across his face. "What do you think? But I can't let myself go there, Rich. I really don't think she is."

"Well, you've always been a pretty fast worker, my friend." Richard laughed. He wasn't an expert, but his money was riding on a new little Stephens in about eight months.

The weekend seemed to fly by as Beth spent much of it either sleeping or being spoiled by her husband. Will brought her all of her favorite foods including her guilty pleasure, the crème puff. They watched movies in their room and she enjoyed a very long, very luxurious bubble bath accompanied by candle light and a certain attendant. She insisted on worshiping Sunday morning which Will reluctantly agreed upon. As they drove to Defiance to retrieve Callie, Beth seemed more like herself and thanked Will for taking such good care of her. They called Jeannie and she related her busy weekend of activities including going to see Santa herself.

As much as he grumbled about it, Richard spent quite a bit of time working on the sets for the pageant. He was in the auditorium putting together a frame when he saw Elise approaching out of the corner of his eye. He decided to continue what he was doing and wait to see if she approached him. He didn't have long to wait.

"I see you're hard at work again,." she commented from the apron of the stage.

"I'm trying to get the main set complete today so that Will can paint the background tonight. He's coming over after his day in Ft. Wayne." He didn't look up from his work.

"Oh." Great. I can't even get him to look at me. How will I ever get him to engage in a conversation? "Isn't that where their other daughter lives?"

"Yes," he answered still hammering.

"Elizabeth told me a little about her. The program sounds excellent."

"MMM HMM."

He's not going to make this easy on me. "You're not going to help me through this, are you?"

That got his attention. "Help you? Help you through what?" He looked up at with a mixture of curiosity and frustration.

"I'd like a chance to talk to you. To explain myself." She looked around to make sure there was no one else around.

"You're about seventeen years too late." The hammering began again.

"There's so much that you don't know. There's so much that I should tell you." Her heart beat wildly and she actually felt herself trembling as she spoke. I need to calm down and try to reason with him. I need so much to tell him the truth.

"I hardly think this is the time or the place…" He glanced back at her.

"Okay. Well, you name the time and place then." She bit her lip waiting for his reply.

"I don't know if I really want to hear it. I don't see how it could be material to anything now." He knew he sounded bitter and unrelenting, but that's how he felt.

"It's material to everything." By now she walked around and climbed the steps onto the stage. She stood right next to where he was working, attempting to spread the canvas on the frame.

"You flatter yourself, don't you think? Seventeen years is a long time, Ellie. Lots has happened that had nothing to do with you." He shot back.

His words stung her just as if he had slapped her. Before she could reply, a voice announced over the speakers that she was needed in the office. Richard sighed and continued to hammer as if dismissing her. She glared at him, torn between what she wanted to say, what she should say and the need to leave to return to the office. In what seemed like several minutes, she finally replied, "Lots has happened that had nothing to do with you, either, but you never left my heart." She turned her spiked heel and walked off the stage and out of the auditorium.

How can I get him to at least hear me out? I've waited for seventeen years to be able to talk to him and he can't even stand to be in the same room with me. I knew it would be difficult, but I didn't think he'd just flatly refuse to talk to me. Utterly defeated, she made her way through the empty halls pulling herself back together to assume her principal persona.

Richard continued to hammer, but the pounding became more insistent and erratic. He actually struck his thumb at one point, but he didn't stop to look at it or acknowledge the pain it caused. He was dumbfounded by what Elise had spoken, and he wasn't sure he wanted to know what she meant.

In his fury, he worked with a vengeance, completing the frames and stretching the mats; all were in readiness, waiting for Will. He was putting his tools in the chest when his cousin appeared. "Geeze, did you finish all of this today?"

"Yes. I want this thing done and over with." Richard growled.

"What's happened?" Will's senses were on alert.

"Nothing. I just want this done so that I can stay the heck out of this school."

"Richard, come on. What happened?" Will insisted. He stood by his cousin and stared him down.

"Alright, alright, I'll tell you but I don't want any lectures or any advice. Just listen." Will nodded and then listened to Richard's tirade about his conversation with Elise. "…You're in my heart.' What kind of BS is that?" he finished.

"Maybe it's not BS. Have you even considered that, Richard? Elizabeth swears there is more to this story. I'm beginning to think so, too."

Richard didn't answer for quite awhile as he watched Will begin to paint the winter scene on the stretched canvas. "Even if there is," he sighed, "what difference does it make now? So much time has passed Will. She knew how to find me. She knew my family's home was here."

Will threw his hands up in surrender. "Hey, I'm not defending her, I'm just saying that maybe you should hear her out before you're done with the whole thing. Look at all that Elizabeth and I went through to get to each other."

"One in a million. You guys are one in a million. Life doesn't usually throw that much good anybody's way, let alone mine."

"Maybe, but I still think you should give her a chance. I think you deserve an answer, an explanation, Richard. I think she owes it to you."

"Well, I don't know. That can of worms may be better left unopened." The two men were silent as Will concentrated on his painting and Richard let his mind go back to memories of Ellie and their times together. She loved to laugh and they attended any comedy movie or play that was around the campus. She made fun of her sorority sisters and the fraternity men who thought they could win any woman. He remembered that she specifically taunted Jeffery Roberts, calling him shallow, vain and pretentious. "How in the world did she end up with him?" he muttered under his breath.

Will was "in the zone" and didn't hear his cousin. He had called Beth on his way back to town. She sounded fine and said that she had eaten quite a bit that day and was feeling more like herself. She did comment that the coffee must have changed somehow because she really couldn't stand the smell of it anymore. She and Callie were going to do homework before the men came home, and she said Marie was feeling better as well.

He accomplished much more than he had anticipated in that two hour time span. Richard had left saying he intended to work out when he got home. Stepping back to look at what he had achieved, he noticed Elise standing in the shadows. "Ms. Roberts." He acknowledged.

"Mr. Stephens." She answered hesitantly.

"Please, you can call me Will. I'm here as a parent. No need to be formal." He tried to sound casual.

"Oh, but you are much more than that, aren't you?" she replied in a very crisp, controlled manner as she stood rigidly stood before him.

"The board member thing has nothing to do with helping for the Extravaganza." He walked towards her.

"I wasn't talking about that. You've been judging me ever since that first meeting of the parents and volunteers. You're doing it right now." She still hadn't move and Will was perplexed by her challenging tone.

"Ms. Roberts, I'm sorry you feel that way. Maybe I am trying to get some kind of read on you, after all you are a new employee of the district," he hedged.

She countered. "You just said that being a member of the board had nothing to do with it."

"Well, Okay, I did say that didn't I?" Will paused. "You have to admit that this is rather an awkward situation. Richard is the closest thing to a brother that I have now. We've - he's been through a lot."

"And I'm to blame?" she took a step towards him.

"I didn't say that. Ms. Roberts; you are very defensive."

"I suppose I am. I'm not the cold hearted witch he's painted me to be." She said quietly while her hands stayed secure behind her back. Although she knew intellectually that Will presented no threat to her, his massive physical size and the fact that he was not only Richard's cousin, but a member of the school board intimidated her.

I can't get a read on this woman. "He hasn't painted you in any manner." Will found himself retreating to his very formal and guarded personality when he felt unsure of what a person, especially a female, was about. "He only just recently told my wife and me the entire story. I had no idea." I do not want to have this conversation.

"And I will repeat that I am not what he thinks I am." By now she stood mere inches away from Will, and he could see the hurt in her eyes.

"Ms. Roberts, I suggest you talk this over with Richard. I'm not the one you should be telling this to."

"I tried. He refused." Elsie hesitated and willed her hands to unclasp behind her. He's not going to hurt me. He's protecting his own, but… she took a deep breath "I need your help to get him to listen to me."

Will mulled over her request and noticed her posture changed from very controlled to almost defeated. "I'm sure that wasn't easy for you to say. I can tell you that just today I suggested to Richard that he hear you out. He didn't seem inclined to want to do that. I'm not sure that it's in anyone's best interest for me to get involved here."

"You're right," Elise's head lowered. ."It wasn't easy for me to ask for your help. I guess I should have known your answer."

"Ms. Roberts," Will cut in.

"No, it's Okay. He's your family and I'm the woman who spurned him and just suddenly appeared back in his life. But I assure you, Mr. Stephens, I paid a huge price for what happened all those years ago." She turned and began walking away.

"So did Richard," Will answered. She stopped for a moment and then continued out the door.

Elise didn't feel any better after talking to Cammie,. who had suggested that Elise march herself over to that overgrown farm house and let Richard have it with both barrels. Cammie told her friend that Richard was acting out of male pride and that Elise just had to break through it. "I've known nothing but rejection for sixteen years, Cammie. I don't know if I have it in me to watch him walk away from me. Maybe I should just let him think the worst of me and be done with it."

"Is that what you truly want, Elise? You're free from Jeffrey and your father, thank God, but I don't think you'll ever truly be free until this is cleared up. Even if he still rejects you, he'll know the truth and you can move on. I know you swore it wasn't the reason, but you and I both know you took this job in Bryan hoping to see him again."

"Cammie, I did not know he was here…" Elise began to argue.

"But you were banking on his family being here," she gently reminded her.

"Okay, Okay, you're right. Cammie; all of those years, even at the worst, I still held out hope that one day I'd find him and he'd forgive me and I'd finally be happy."

"Elise, there is no 'happily ever after' you do realize that, right?" Cammi sighed at her friend's naiveté

They hung up with Elise still believing that she deserved at least a little of the fairy tale. Look at Elizabeth Stephens. What an amazing story that woman's life is. I wonder if she would let me get to know her better or if she would be as leery of me as her husband. I've been so alone for so long, I'd don't even know if I know how to make a friend. Cammie fought for our relationship and lost so much because of me, maybe I shouldn't bring anyone else into my life. Still, her story intrigues me and she won the heart of a Stephen's man. She sighed longingly, I'm pitiful, that's for sure.

With one week to go until the performance, Beth, toting several of the costumes for the children to try on, stopped by the school. Pleased with the fittings, she was in the process of cleaning up the little dressing room beside the stage when Elise appeared in the door.

"Elizabeth, do you have a moment?" Elise held her breath and looked at her expectantly.

"Yes, I do. Give me a minute to finish this and I'll come out to the auditorium, if that's Okay."

"Actually, school's out in about ten minutes; could you meet me at the diner on Main Street in thirty minutes? Do you have to get home to start dinner or anything?"

Beth smiled to herself at Elise's constant comments about her domestic life. She had told Will that she believed that Elise was either the epitome of feminism or that her husband must be some kind of brute. She was beginning to believe in the brute theory. "No, I actually have the crock pot going so we can eat whenever I get home. Will is working on his thesis project today, so I'm sure he'll enjoy the peace and quiet until Callie charges into the house.

When Beth arrived, she found the diner fairly empty, so she had her pick of seats. She chose a corner table so that she could see when Elise approached. When Beth had called Will and told him about Elise's request, he'd been amused that Elise had sought her out. He reminded his wife that he and Richard were a lot alike and didn't appreciate people butting into their lives.

Beth scoffed."I have four words of you, Fitzwilliam: Project Pride & Prejudice." He laughed as he hung up the phone.

Beth studied Elise as she walked quickly up to the diner; she saw a beautiful, but very uptight, very sad woman. Elise reminded Beth of women she had met in her life who had been abused and were working to get their lives back together. I hope I'm wrong about that, but I don't think that I am. Shaking the thought out of her head, she smiled and waved as Elise moved towards her.

They ordered coffee and chit-chatted until they exhausted their supply of small talk. Beth had decided to let Elise lead the conversation as she was the one who had asked for the metting. They sat in silence for a few minutes and Beth could see the nervousness warring with the woman's need for control. Finally, she looked straight at Beth and began.

"I hope you don't mind, but I did some homework on you." Beth was a little startled at this revelation but didn't respond. "First, I read the articles about you and your husband. Quite a story, there, isn't it? But, I have to admit, I dug a little further by asking around and learning a bit more. You made quite an impression in the short time you've been here, Elizabeth."

"I don't quite know how to respond to that." Beth started to sip the coffee, but the odor caused her to turn nose up. She decided to stick with the water.

"If you and I had met without any foreknowledge of each other, I think we would have become friends." Elise looked at Beth though her lashes.

"Elise, I have very little 'foreknowledge' of you other than that you broke the heart of someone who is very dear to me. I try to withhold judgment of people as I hope people do with me, but I have to say that I love Richard very much. He was a tremendous friend and supporter when Fitzwilliam and I needed someone to help us work things through. That being said, I choose my friends carefully, but in the end, they are my friends, not my husband's or his family's." Beth looked at her pointedly.

Elise nodded to signify she understood Beth's point before she continued. "It's difficult moving to a new town," she said in low, soft voice, staring down into her coffee cup like it would verify her feelings. "I know no one here. I'm starting over again."

"I didn't realize that. When I moved here, Fitzwilliam and I weren't speaking." Elise looked up at her in surprise. "That's a whole other story. But my best friend and her family were here so I didn't feel all alone, and Richard helped as well. This is a great little town, though." Beth smiled. "Unless you don't like little towns. Where were you living before moving here?"

Elise carefully answered Beth's question. She described her house in Detroit and then talked briefly of her divorce and her father's death. She explained that her mother still lived in Perrysburg, but had suffered a stroke and now resided in a long term care community.

Beth listened attentively but intuitively knew that Elise spoke only in generalities about the life she led before moving to Bryan. Beth actually respected her for it as she would have been suspicious if Elise had just poured her heart out. She asked Elise where she lived now and how she liked the school. They laughed at some of the hijinks of elementary children and Beth shared a little more about Jeannie and Callie.

An hour later the women parted each feeling like they were beginning to build a friendship. Before Beth got into her car, she turned to Elise, "What you said earlier about our friendship, I won't lie to you; I'd like to be your friend; but if it's too much for Richard, I won't hurt him. I also know there's way more to your story, Elise. I'd like to help you, but I simply will not allow Richard to be hurt again."

Elise nodded while Beth spoke. "I'd like us to be friends, too, Elizabeth. Somehow I think you can help me. I won't lie to you, either; I hope you can help me to reach him. I need to tell him the whole story. Only my ex-husband and my best friend know the truth about my life since I broke it off with Richard. I owe him the truth; I owe it to myself to tell him."

"I'll pray for you, Elise. I'll pray that Richard will be ready to hear you someday soon. And I'll pray that you will be healed." They held each other's gaze for a moment until Beth broke the contact by closing the door and driving away.

Later that night, locked in her husband's loving embrace, Beth recounted her conversation with Elise. "Something horrible happened to her, Fitzwilliam. I just know it. Richard said that Jeffery Roberts was a jerk. God only knows what may have gone on there. I know I jump to conclusions about men sometimes, but I don't think I'm wrong in this case."

"I don't think you are either, but my loyalty is with Richard. Just be careful. I love that you want to help her and him, but …"

"I know. But do you have a better plan?" she teased. He had to admit he did not. He also had to admit that he was done thinking about Richard for the night.

Chapter 7

Posted on 2010-01-18

Richard had not slept well for several nights. In between the replaying of his conversation with Elise, his imagining what she was doing and the throbbing of his thumb, which was now turning an interesting shade of green;, he couldn't rest. Fortunately, he had been able to complete the set pieces in his workshop at the farm. All he had left to do was bring them to the school by Friday so that the kids would have the following three school days to practice with them. The big show was on Thursday evening.

Callie practiced her speaking part continuously. Richard was getting just a little bit tired of hearing that as well. As a matter of fact, just about everything was ticking him off; and he wasn't too shy about letting the others in the house know his feelings.

Thursday morning started innocently enough. He waited upstairs until he heard Beth leave with Callie to walk her down to the bus stop. Will left at the same time to run into Defiance for some research on his thesis. His first draft was due the next week and he was working diligently to complete it before the deadline.

Walking into the kitchen, Richard grabbed a cup of coffee and searched for the cereal when he heard the front door open and Beth making gagging noises. Getting off the counter stool as quickly as he could, he saw her heading for the bathroom. I knew it; morning sickness. Why haven't they told me? I live in the same house for crying out loud! Nothing is a secret around here. He stomped back to the kitchen to finish his breakfast.

A few minutes later, Beth appeared looking quite pale and a little unsteady. Although angry that he hadn't been included in the news, Richard felt concern for her as she slumped into a chair. "Elizabeth, are you alright?"

"Yes, yes, just…just…" she burst into tears.

Not expecting that reaction, he hurried over to her, "What's the matter? Elizabeth…"

"Richard, I'm really freaking out. My nerves must be shot and I'm afraid to tell Fitzwilliam. All of this stress with Marie, learning all I can about the farm and everything, my stomach is in knots. Every morning this week I've been like this. I promised him I'd rest more, but it's not helping. Richard why are you laughing at me! I'm serious!"

"You're also pregnant," He diagnosed smugly.

"You're not listening to me – Richard, I can't be pregnant." Beth's eyes were wide as saucers and her heart was beating against her chest.

"Now that's funny. Even your eight year old wonders why you two sleep so much and have to take naps. No, Elizabeth, you are pregnant. You have all the classic symptoms. I can't believe you haven't pieced it together."

"But Richard, just two weeks ago I had my…"

"Yes, yes, Will said the same thing, but I looked it up. Lots of women have some spotting and even light…oh, for heaven's sake, why are you talking to me about this? Doesn't Will hear you in the morning?"

"I've been running to the other bathroom. I didn't want him to worry. Oh, Richard, do you really think it's possible- we've only been married nine weeks." Beth began pacing around the room but smiling broadly at the thought.

"Please do not make me have this conversation. Come on, I'm taking you to town. You're buying one of those pregnancy tests. But you will NOT tell me the results. Wait until Will gets home. He would kill me if I knew officially before him, but apparently I'm the only one in this house who looks things up and draws the right conclusions."

Less than an hour later Richard, in Will's office, heard Beth shout for joy from the upstairs master bedroom. He smiled to himself knowing what happiness this news would bring to the family and their friends. He allowed himself a minute of self pity then shook it off quickly. I am happy for them, but this is all the more incentive for me to get the house built. They need to be a family here, and I need….I need…something.

Calling to Beth from the foot of the steps, he told her he was going to town to show some houses then heading to the school. Before leaving, he called back up that he was going to pick Callie up and take her out to dinner. He figured that the newlyweds would like the time alone to digest how much their lives were going to change again.

Beth kept going back and looking at the wands from the tests. She had bought two different tests and they both revealed the same thing – she was pregnant. The couple had talked about the possibility and they had not really used protection, so this shouldn't have come as such a shock, but she thought that she was too old, or that it would take longer or something. Thinking back, she figured that she must be at least a month, if not six weeks pregnant.

Still somewhat in shock when the phone rang, she recognized Marie's number, and suddenly remembered that this was the day she received the tests results. Saying a quick prayer, she answered the phone. "Marie? Please tell me good news?"

"I will, Beth, I will. It's shrunk. A lot. They're really pleased. The lumpectomy is scheduled for next week. He's going to biopsy some lymph nodes just to be safe, but they really think they caught it all in time. Beth, it's the best possible news!" Marie sobbed on the other end.

"Yes, yes it is! Oh, honey, I'm so happy for you! Is Ed with you? Now that this isn't hanging over your head, you can finally get some rest." Tears of joy streamed down Beth's face..

"He's with me and we're both going back to bed to rest. Then we're going to Mason's for dinner. I'm hungry today. Beth, would you and Will like to come with us?"

"No, Marie, this is your moment with Ed. We'll come over tomorrow and bring some decadent kind of dessert – "

"Crème puffs" they said together and laughed.

A huge smile spread across Beth's face.This day just keeps getting better and better! She looked down at her belly and placed her hand over it. As if on cue her stomach lurched and she raced back to the bathroom. Now that she knew the reason behind her sickness, she wasn't fearful anymore. She cleaned herself up, took a long shower and went downstairs to wait for her husband to come home.

Richard felt irritated and exhausted; not a good combination. He must have shown that tiresome couple over ten properties and each one they minutely criticized and made no bones about telling him their assessments. The wife came close to describing him as a slumlord and it had been all he could do not to dismiss them out of hand and move on. Yet with the tough economy, having ten open listings was not good and he tried to lay on the charm. The fact that the husband also seemed irritated comforted him a little and in the end he confidently believed that they would settle on one of the houses and get back to him in due time.

Now quite accustomed to the sign in routine at the school, Richard quickly pulled Will's truck to the back entrance near the auditorium. With some luck, he would be able to assemble these last pieces before school let out, collect Callie and enjoy his little princess' company. He was thinking about Callie's reaction to becoming a big sister when he saw her, Elise, out of the corner of his eye. Geeze, does she have my movements tracked or something?

As if reading his mind, Elise stated, "The secretary informed me that you were here and may need some help." She began climbing the steps to the stage.

"Yes, and I can see that you are dressed to be able to assist in moving props and scenery."

He continued using the power screwdriver to attach two pieces together. "A suit and heels are highly conducive to carpentry work," he sneered as he glanced sideways to see her walk across the stage.

"I don't remember you being quite so sarcastic."

"I don't remember you – "

"Please don't say something hurtful or spiteful. I've had quite enough of that." She cut him off. If he had lifted his head and looked at her, he would have seen the wounded and sorrowful expression that she so often attempted to hide. He also would have seen that she had a change of clothes with her. She ducked into the dressing room just down the hall from backstage and began changing.

"What is her problem?" He muttered under his breath. Setting down his tools, he marched off stage in search of her. "I've had enough. She wants to talk, Okay, we'll talk." Stomping through the backstage area, he couldn't imagine where she had disappeared to. He heard a noise and followed it, jerking open the dressing room door, "Alright, Ellie, I've had enough…" When he beheld Elise, stripped down to just her bra and panties, attempting to pull on a pair of jeans, his jaw dropped and his eyes felt close to popping out of his head.

"Oh my God, Richard!" she screamed then lost her footing in the pant leg and tumbled to the floor. She frantically attempted to pull up the jeans and cover herself with her arms, which was impossible to do at the same time. Further vexation set in as Richard began to laugh at her making no move to assist her or to look away. "You could help me!" she hissed.

"I could. But I much prefer watching from this position." He was in fact, enjoying the show just a little too much.

"Richard Andrew Stephens, stop being a jerk and help me or get out!"

"Ellie, lighten up! If you could see yourself right now, you look like, you look like…"

"An ass, I know, Rich, please!" The insistence and vulnerability in her voice finally persuaded him to move toward her.

"No," he insisted as he held out his hand to her, "you look like the girl I used to know." He helped her up, and without thinking, bent down and began to pull up her jeans. She stood stiff, frozen at his ministrations. Suddenly realizing what he was doing, he abruptly stepped away from her, cursing his stupidity.

Elise's legs felt as if they were on fire where he'd touched her. She knew she was turning fifteen shades of red, but there wasn't anything she could do about that. She jerked her pants the rest of the way, zippered them, and reached for the T shirt that had fallen to the floor with her. "I wish that were true."

"It is," he said as he walked back to her and turned her around to look in the mirror mounted on the dressing room wall. "Look, your hair is not perfect, your clothes are wrinkled, and you're blushing like a school girl. That's the Ellie I knew and…" he stopped in horror as realized what he was going to say,

"…loved" she finished it for him and they both stared at their reflections in the mirror. Richard broke the spell and quickly walked out of the door, slamming it behind him.

Seething in a low whisper, he vowed, "Oh, no, Miss Ellie, you are not going to do this to me."

When he reached the spot where he had left his tools, several students stood around apparently waiting for him. Taking a breath to steel himself, he listened as they informed him that they were the backstage crew and were sent to assist him. They told him that they'd do whatever he needed as long as they were finished before the bell rang. He was in the middle of directing two of the kids where to place the giant candy cane when Ellie stormed onto the stage. Fortunately, before she opened her mouth, she saw the students and snapped it shut. Looking at her in amazement, the kids naturally made way for her, gawking, as Richard ordered her to haul several props to the other end of the stage.

At last, the bell rang and the kids scattered like roaches when the lights come on, leaving the two adults alone again. They worked silently for a few more moments until Richard announced that he had to get Callie who would be waiting for him in front of the building. Grabbing his tools, he glanced quickly at Elise before exiting. She stood stiffly, shaking head hands on her hips, but she chose to bite her tongue and let him flee the scene.

Beth had expected Will home before noon, but it was twelve thirty and she still hadn't heard from him. She was starving and began to munch on some crackers while she drank some ginger ale. I could call him, but I'm afraid I'll spill the beans over the phone. She decided to call Doc and make the appointment with the OBGYN to make it all official. He had an opening for next Thursday, so she took it. A call had come through while she was talking to the receptionist, and of course it was Will. He informed her that he was on a roll and had actually finished the draft. He was on his way home.

She felt as nervous as she had on the night he proposed. She thought back to their walk by the river and the amazing words of love he had spoken to her. So much had happened in the past seven months since she moved to Bryan. And now she was pregnant. Truly, it felt like a miracle to her. The only thing missing was Jeannie. Six months had passed since the last time she joined her family for an entire week; Dr. Evans believed they were ready to try it again. She would be home from the week between Christmas Eve to New Year's Eve.

Lost in her thoughts, she barely heard the Jeep pull up behind the house. Deciding at the last minute to meet him up in their room, she scurried up the stairs. Will walked through the kitchen door and saw the evidence of Beth's upset stomach, the crackers and ginger ale still out. He quickly put the soda back in the fridge and called her name. No answer. Frowning, he figured that she was probably upstairs resting. He quietly ascended the steps and opened the door to their room.

His wife was not asleep. Far from it. She stood in the middle of the room wearing that tight leather vest and skirt she had tempted him with at his bachelor party. It looked even tighter now, and shorter, and way more tempting. "Well, hello to you, too." he growled as he hurriedly approached his wife.

"Not so fast, sir. You better get a good look at me now 'cause it'll be a long time, if ever, that I fit into this again." She teased as he began covering her face with light kisses.

"What?" he was so entranced in the vision of her, that he was sure he misunderstood what she said. "If anything, it should be loose on you. You haven't been eating at all lately." His lips began their journey again.

"Look again." She willed herself to step away from him. His lips in a full out pout, Will tried to understand what she meant. His hungry eyes looked her up and down. "Honey, I don't know what you…" Wait, is she kind of spilling out the top? "Elizabeth, what's going on? What are you trying to tell me, or show me?"

"Fitzwilliam, I'm…we're…Fitzwilliam, we're going to have a baby," she let it out in one long, ecstatic breath searching his face to see his reaction.

He stood there, absolutely still, incredulous, terrified, amazed, star struck, and absolutely head over heels in love with his wife and now, too, with the life that was inside of her. "Elizabeth," he walked back towards her; his eyes were shining and he unashamedly let the tears streak down his face. "I love you so much. Pregnant? You're sure, aren't you?"

She could only nod. His reaction overwhelmed her. He held her tightly and began his light kisses again. This time, his hand rested on her stomach and he kept repeating "thank you, thank you, thank you."

When she awoke a few hours later, she felt momentarily saddened that she wasn't in her husband's embrace until she realized that Will's head now rested on her abdomen. He was whispering to their unborn child, talking as if they were face to face.

"Your momma is the best in the world, little one. You're going to be so spoiled, even before you meet this world. I never knew how much I wanted you until your momma told me today." His breath caught with emotion, and he felt his wife's hands soothingly stroking his hair. He looked up at her in unabashed wonder and love, "Do we have to tell everyone right away? Can we keep this between us for a little while at least? I know that's selfish, but…do you mind terribly?"

Beth laughed at his puppy eyes and the silly grin that covered his face. How I love this man! "I'd like that, too. It's still so early, and a lot can happen in the first few months. The only one who knows is Richard – now don't get upset, he figured it out on his own and took me to get the pregnancy tests. Fitzwilliam, he is such a good man. We've got to do something to help him. He has to listen to Elise; one way or the other they have to fight it out and then either move on separately or find their way back to each other."

Will put his mouth back against Beth's stomach. "Did I also tell you, little one, that your momma is a hopeless romantic? Now she'll work her magic on your 'uncle' Richard and he'll fall hopelessly in love with that blue-eyed ball of fire, just like your momma bewitched me to fall in love with her!" He kissed the spot below her belly button and laughed.

"Bewitched you? Ha! If anything you spun your web and trapped me, sir. Now I'm going to be an old woman having a baby. I'll be the oldest pregnant woman in Doc's office, you mark my words," she teased as Will began marching his lips back up to capture her mouth.

"We'll be in our walkers together then, madam. I do not care."

Richard had called Georgiana and told her that he and Callie were on their way to take her out to dinner. The call surprised her but as she opened to dorm room to let them in, she expressed her happiness to see them. "Good Lord!" Richard snorted. "I'd forgotten how small these rooms are. It's a wonder you don't bite your roommate like a trapped rat."

"Ewww," both girls exclaimed and then gifted him with tickles and giggling. Feeling his spirits lifted, he told Georgie she could pick wherever she wanted to go, but they only had about two hours as they had to be back on the road to Bryan by seven.

She led them to a local pizza joint known for its ridiculous choice of toppings. They boasted that they could make anything that anyone requested, so rising to the challenge, Richard ordered a Reuben pizza complete with sauerkraut and thousand island dressing while Callie requested a small pb&j, hold the sauce. Disgusted with them both, Georgiana ordered a Hawaiian pizza with extra coconut. Richard remarked that coconut on a pizza was "so totally more gross" than sauerkraut and so the good natured teasing and the all too short evening, passed..

Kissing his cousin for luck on the last two finals she needed to take before she would be home, Richard escorted Callie back to the truck. He told her that he had gone to BGSU as well a long time ago. Without thinking, he told her that Mrs. Roberts had attended the school the same time as he. Callie found that astounding as most children cannot fathom that teachers and principals could ever have had any kind of life outside of the school building. Richard laughed and told Callie in a confidential tone that Mrs. Roberts had been a very fun lady, once upon a time. Callie's incredulous expression was priceless and she promised to not tell anyone. "They wouldn't believe me anyway," she sighed and Richard knew she was correct.

Within thirty minutes of the trip home to Bryan, Callie fell asleep. Richard knew he would catch it from her mother for not doing her homework with her, but he just needed to have fun and be with the two females besides Beth who loved him unconditionally. Through Callie, he felt he had found some redemption from his sin of neglect of his family. He loved spending time with her, making her laugh and teaching her to ride Butterscotch. Georgiana had told him long ago she did not blame him for leaving them to pursue the military, but it didn't assuage his guilt.

Carrying his princess into the house, it didn't surprise him when he found no one downstairs even though it was a little before eight. As he climbed the stairs, he heard the master bedroom door open. Will and Beth, in their robes, met him at the landing. Richard couldn't help but laugh at the ridiculous smile on his cousin's face. Will reached out to take Callie, but Richard whispered that he'd take her to her room.

The three adults settled the princess in her bed. She awoke as her momma slipped off her shoes and socks. "I had a peanut butter and jelly pizza," she announced triumphantly though stifling a yawn.

"Oh really," her momma replied while casting a severe look at Richard who merely laughed.

Callie began her nightly ritual to pray. She thanked God for her momma and daddy, for Jeannie to be safe, for Georgie and Seth to study hard, and for Marie to get her hair back soon. She paused a moment and they looked up at her to make sure she hadn't fallen back asleep, Beth and Will recognized the gleam in her eye which usually indicated a zinger was coming. "And God," she continued, "thank you for my Uncle Richard taking me to his old school. It's funny that he went there with Mrs. Roberts. Maybe they can be friends again. I don't think she has a husband anymore, so she needs a new one. Amen."

Her parents looked over to see Richard actually blushing. Callie kissed them all quite innocently and rolled over to continue her dreams. Will stifled a grin by pretending to cough, and Beth looked a Richard with empathy while squeezing his arm. "Come on, guys" she directed them out the door. "I'm starving, and I think we have a lot to talk about."

After demolishing the leftovers from their dinner with Juanita, Beth declared herself full. Will and Richard watched with much amusement as she ploughed through her plate and then proceeded to eat off of Will's. "I hope you don't lose that in the morning." Will worried that she wasn't getting enough nutrition.

"Me either, as she recently been informed me that she's using my bathroom to keep you from getting upset." Richard poked his cousin who laughed heartily.

The couple happily shared their news even though they knew that Richard was well aware of the fact. He hugged Beth and smacked Will on the shoulder before the two men embraced. They all agreed that they would say nothing until Beth was ready. She suggested that maybe she would tell the rest of the family and Marie's on Christmas and Will asked if he could announce the news at the New Year's Party. He shared how at the end of last year's celebration he had prayed that his whole family would be together the next year and how the answered prayer was taking on an entirely different meaning than he had anticipated.

Marie and Ed were beaming the next evening when the Stephens family dropped by with the promised special dessert. Though not looking forward to surgery, Marie felt confident that the chemo had done its job and that after her recovery, she could live her life without the specter of cancer looming over her. Ed inquired after Beth's health and she quickly answered that she was fine. Both Will and Richard looked away and Will moved to divert the conversation by talking about their plans for Christmas. Callie insisted that the couple come to the Holiday Extravaganza but they carefully explained about Marie's procedure which was planned for that same day.

Callie walked over to Marie and touched her scarf. "I pray for your hair to come back,." she said confidently. "Now I'll pray for that surgery to be quick and get that nasty cancer out. Will it hurt?"

Marie explained as best she could for an eight year old to understand. "But by Christmas I'll be feeling much better, I promise. Soon my hair will start growing again, too. Your prayers work, Callie."

"I know. I prayed for Daddy to marry Momma and that happened. I prayed for him to be my daddy and that happened. I prayed for a horse for a long time and I now I get to ride Butterscotch. But Momma says that God isn't Santa Claus so I can't be greedy or anything."

"Yes, what your momma says is true." Marie answered while giving her a hug. "Let's dig into these crème puffs."

Without the thesis draft hanging over his head, Will finished the scenery for the Extravaganza on Monday evening. Richard refused to accompany him claiming he'd finished his work until the day of the show when he had promised the kids he would help out back stage with the props. Beth and Marie finished the simple costumes and all proceeded according to plan. Callie had a case of nerves the morning of show before she left for school, but her parents reminded her that they would be there and everything would be fine.

When Richard arrived an hour before the assembly for the students, he couldn't believe that the crowd of parents were already setting up cameras and claiming choice seats. " I thought the evening performance was for the parents and families," he motioned to Beth.

"It is, but never get in the way of a proud momma or poppa. Just you wait, Richard."

"What? Remember who are talking to," his old self effacing humor returned. " I'm too old for that nonsense."

"Yeah, right. I'll tell Callie that the next time she wants to play with you."

"That's different," he snorted.

"I don't think so, Richard. She cast a spell over you from the first time you saw her. There's a special bond between you two, and I'm glad for it. When your house is finished, she'll be devastated." Beth responded honestly.

"I'll be five minutes away. You all will finally be a family by yourselves."

"We are a family now with you and Seth and Georgiana. But that's enough of that talk. I get too emotional nowadays. I don't' want the kids to see me blubbering." She walked away chasing after a snowman who had some strings hanging off of his custome.

Elise had been standing off to the side of the stage listening to their conversation. She marveled at the ease with which the two spoke and wished for Richard to let down his guard with her. She didn't blame him for his distrust; she just wished they could move past it somehow. Deciding to make her presence known, she walked over to stand next to him. "For what it's worth, Rich, I always thought you would make an excellent father."

Richard startled at her voice but continued looking at the kids scurrying about placing all the props were they needed to go. "If I was such an excellent catch, why did you throw me back?" He started to walk away but she caught his arm.

"Please can we have this conversation? Please, Richard," she whispered as her eyes were pleading with him.

"Alright. Alright!" he whispered back in agitation. "I will listen to you. But that's all." He shook her hand off his arm and stormed off calling to a group of boys who were getting ready to let a candy cane take a dive.

The production flew by in a blur for Elise. She was walking on air after finally hearing him commit to listening to her reasons for what happened all those years ago. She couldn't help smiling as she stood backstage not really doing anything but occasionally directing a child to the proper place. Coming out of her trance, she determined that he was not getting away until a date and time had been set for them to meet. She had one week before the holiday break when she and Cammi would leave to go on a cruise to escape the Christmas blues, and she planned to have this off her conscience by then.

The third grade performed triumphantly save for the few students who threw up, tripped in their costumes, or totally forgot their lines. All had been expected and no permanent damage had been done. By eight o'clock that night, it was all over. The teachers, administrator and parents slumped in chairs, exhausted. Will had ordered pizzas to be delivered as they took down the set, or as they say in the theatre, the strike party commenced. After a worried glance at this wife, Will sent her home with Callie after they had their food.

By nine thirty everything had been taken down and either destroyed, recycled, or put into storage. Will, Richard and Elise were the last three to leave. Mumbling some excuse about looking for something somewhere, Will made himself scarce and ambled out to the truck to wait on Richard.

"He's not very smooth, is he?" Elise laughed nervously as Will exited stage right.

"Don't tell him that," Richard smiled tentatively. "Lord, this was exhausting."

"But fun" She looked up at him expectantly.

"At times," came his cautious reply. "A certain memory from the dressing room comes to mind."

Elise blushed, and Richard laughed. "I'm glad that I can still make you laugh," she replied.

"A little, anyway."

"Richard, I'm going away for the Christmas break. A cruise actually." She looked at him to see his reaction.

"Oh. Well, have a good time, then." He didn't know why, but her announcement bothered him.

"Can we please talk before I go? I'd like to have this behind me so I can have a peaceful time."

"I'm sure your partner will appreciate that," he was fishing, but he didn't care.

"My partner is Cammie." She smiled knowing what he was about.

"Oh, Lord, Cammie the Maneater; it would figure you two were still friends."

"She's the only one I have. Except I think Elizabeth and I could be friends, if it's alright with you."

"Elizabeth can be friends with whomever she chooses. And you would be hard pressed to find a better one." He was relieved both in the knowledge of her traveling companion and that she wished to befriend Beth.

"So, I'm leaving next Saturday and I won't be back until New Year's Day."

"Oh. Spending New Year's on the Love Boat?" So much for the relief.

"No. We're staying in Miami for New Year's" She looked at him again to see reaction. Is it too much to hope for an invitation to his family's party? She thought it likely that the tradition remained even after all that had happened.

"Yuck. Miami for New Year's – home of the lounge lizards and old geezers. Have fun with that!" he teased.

"Well, I have no other offers…" Oh, my lord, I am pitiful.

"A lot can happen between now and then." That's all she getting from me on that score.

"Yes, I suppose. So, when can we meet?" a little disappointment coursed through her, but considering that she had no idea how he would take what she wanted to tell him, she had to be content that the door wasn't actually closed and locked.

"What about Friday night; or will you be too busy packing?" He laughed, "After all, I'm sure it takes a long time to pack bathing suits and gowns for the captain's table."

"Bathing suits, yes. Gowns, no way. I'm through with that kind of life. I doubt if we'll even eat in the main dining hall. I'm going to relax and get away. Cammie, on the other hand…"

"You don't need to say a thing. Most cheetahs don't change their spots. Though she may have become a cougar by now." He raised a brow.

"Ha! She'll laugh at that one, as she is quite the cougar now, she says. Anyway, Friday is fine. Would you mind coming to my place?" Please, please…

Warning, Warning, Danger Will Robinson! "I don't know, Ellie. Your place?"

"I don't want to have this conversation in public, and if you walk out on me, at least I'll be at home." She smiled weakly.

"Oh." He thought a minute about how tricky this whole thing was. He wished he could think it over but somehow he didn't think she'd let him out of the school without an answer. "OK. I'll be at your place at eight sharp. Here's my contact info. Just shoot me an email with your address." He handed her his card, the same one that he gave out to renters and other business associates, attempting to be businesslike and sound nonchalant.

For a brief second their fingers connected as she took the card from him. Both felt the shock of it and drew away quickly. "OK, I'll send it to you tomorrow, in between talking to kids and scolding parents."

"Shouldn't that be the other way around?"

"You have no idea." She walked away and made sure that she had a little bounce in her step and sway in her hips so that he could see what he was missing.

He knew all too well.

Chapter 8

Posted on 2010-01-23

Beth heard her husband leave for Ft. Wayne the next morning, but she couldn't rouse herself any more than to give him quick kiss. She was exhausted from sitting with Marie during the lumpectomy and afterwards in her hospital room. Richard had stayed with Callie until she got on the bus and then joined the group as they waited for news from the surgeon. Beth only became sick once, and Ed was too distracted to notice her absence, and seemed oblivious to her subsequent munching on crackers.

The procedure didn't take long at all, and the surgeon met them in the waiting room a little over an hour later. He said that he believed the tumor was localized, but he did biopsy several lymph nodes to be on the safe side. He indicated that the oncologist would call with the results within the next week to ten days. He reiterated that what he'd seen that day left him hopeful of a full recovery and he smiled as he walked away from the jubilant crowd.

Hugs happened all around and Richard noticed that Seth had embraced Rachel a little longer than necessary as did Justin and Georgiana. He shot his little brother a questioning lifted brow, but Seth ignored the look. All four college students had been able to finish their finals and get back to Bryan early that morning. It was obvious they were running on caffeine and adrenaline and both Will and Ed ordered them to go their homes and get some sleep.

Marie was only going to be in a day and then the drainage tube would be removed and she would start her recovery. If the nodes were clear, no radiation would be indicated, so they all prayed that would be the case. She was sore and would take a while before she could lift anything heavy, but overall she was optimistic and ready to spend the holiday with her family and the Stephens.

Yawning while remembering the day before,Beth decided that morning to allow herself the luxury of Richard once again walking Callie to the little shelter, She drifted off to sleep while thinking of her weekend plans. Jeannie was coming home and she wanted to take the girls to the mall for Santa and to shop for their new daddy and the rest of the family. She had the feeling this would be the last year for Callie to believe in Santa, and subsequently Jeannie would follow suit. Her last thoughts were of the next Christmas and of a new baby to start the traditions with again. These blissful thoughts left her sighing in contentment.

Later that afternoon, Will called and asked Beth if he could spend some time with the girls before bringing home Chinese take-out for supper. Beth figured he was planning something she didn't need to know about, so she congratulated him that on a great idea. She called Marie, to check on her friend, and made sugar cookie dough to refrigerate, so it would be ready to roll and decorate the next afternoon.

Elise stood at her typical sentry location on the circular drive at the end of the day when she spied Will getting out of his truck. He walked around and let out a little girl she had never seen before. Callie ran up to them when she heard her daddy call her name. The two girls hugged and Elise heard Callie call her Jeannie. Elise observed the cute red head closely. She was jumping up and down and saying something about shopping for their momma. Suddenly she realized that Will was watching her watch them. She smiled in her embarrassment, but Will seemed to take it in stride. Holding both girls' hands, they walked over to where Elise was standing.

"Mrs. Roberts, this is my older daughter, Jeannie. Jeannie, this is Mrs. Roberts. She is a principal here at Callie's school." Will looked every inch the proud papa, and Elise couldn't help but notice the obvious affection he had for his new daughters.

"Jeannie," Callie called in her most instructive voice, "this is the lady who went to school with Uncle Richard. He said that she was funny back then."

"Uncle Richard is funny all the time," Jeannie said as she studied the very stern looking lady, "You don't look like you're very funny."

"Oh, well..," Elise began to try to think of a reply before Will saved her

"Girls, Mrs. Roberts has to keep watch to make sure all the kids are safe with the cars and the buses, so we should let her do that, OK?' They both nodded. Callie told her goodbye and the three walked away, but not before Will had given her a sympathetic glance and mouthed, "Sorry".

When they were settled in the truck, Will informed them that they were going to go shopping to pick out presents for their momma. The excited girls informed Will that they had never shopped for their momma before. Jeannie asked if they were going to get any presents for themselves, and Will laughed and answered that it all depended on how well they behaved in the store.

Driving through town, Callie explained to Will that they shopped at Wal-Mart all the time and she knew exactly what her momma liked. Will had been thinking along the lines of going to Defiance for the mall, but then thought that the drive might be too much, so he turned into the parking lot of the superstore. Not his favorite place in the world, but the girls could pick out some things and he knew Beth would love whatever they chose.

He was actually surprised that they did pick out some very nice hair accessories with Callie pointing out that Beth referred to them as "hair toys". They laughed at their momma's silliness. Walking through the music section, Callie pointed to a CD by Josh Groban and told Will that her momma liked him and could they buy that. One more gift went into the basket.

Jeannie spied a sweater with "Happy New Year" written on it and wanted that to give to Beth. Will wondered at the practicality of having a shirt to wear maybe one or two days out of the year, but he wanted to let Jeannie have a pick, so in it went. They all saw a sweatshirt decorated with a saying about being a great mom, and the final no brainer gift was selected.

They invaded the house with a ton of Chinese food and much giggling and whispering by the girls. Will thought they'd be lucky if Beth didn't know her gifts by the end of the night, but Callie kept a tight reign on her sister's tongue. The group decided they couldn't wait until tomorrow to decorate the sugar cookies and the chaos of many cooks took over the kitchen.

By nine o'clock, both girls were snug in their beds, Richard and Seth were locked in a serious Wii competition and Georgiana begged off to her room, still drained from her first week of college finals. Will and Beth collapsed on the coach in the living room, content to talk of how wonderful it was to have everybody home and healthy and happy.

A few minutes later, Georgiana walked into the living room with shiny eyes. "May I talk to you for just a minute?" she asked and sat down in a chair.

"Georgiana, what's the matter?" Will asked with unmasked concern.

"It's nothing, really; don't look so worried, Will." She smiled though a tear escaped her eye. "It's just I wanted to thank you for tonight."

"Chinese take out brings tears to your eyes? Is the food that bad at BG?" Beth teased, not sure why Georgiana was so emotional

"Well, yes, but that's not it." Georgiana smiled at Beth's humor. "I don't remember the Christmases with my parents. And Juanita was a pretty good substitute, but tonight was the first time I've ever made decorated sugar cookies for Christmas. It was just so much fun and I'm happy to be home, and I'm…I'm just happy you are here with us, Elizabeth. I'm happy that you are home with us; that we're a family."

Will stared at his sister in amazement; first he felt guilty for all the things that Georgie had missed after their parents' death, but then he stopped himself and thanked God for the hundredth time for Beth's presence in their lives. He stood up and hugged his sister tightly telling her how much he loved her and how happy he was to have her home again. Beth soon joined the embrace and her tears freely flowed as well. She wanted so badly to tell Georgiana the news about the baby, but she stopped herself. Later, Will confessed the same thing, but they then resolved to try to wait it out.

"The rate we're going" he deadpanned, "the whole world will know before we see Doc to make sure." They both laughed before retreating upstairs to enjoyi each other's company in a more intimate manner.

Inspired by the holiday cheer, Georgiana woke up the next morning before anyone else in the house and quietly began working in the kitchen. Up next, Callie skipped though the hallway happily surprised to find her "auntie" at work. The two worked together and soon they announced the breakfast feast by knocking on everyone's doors upstairs. Jeannie was more than happy to answer the call and after a few minutes a groggy Seth and Richard entered announcing they were starved. Beth and Will were not really missed until they realized all the pancakes and bacon had been hungrily gobbled up. After assuring Callie and Jeannie that their momma and daddy would not be angry, the massive clean up effort began.

Will had heard the commotion as well as the quiet knock and wanted to join but didn't want to awaken Beth, so he opted to let his stomach growl and continued to embrace his sleeping wife. She sighed in his arms and murmured something about loving her family as he began teasing her awake with butterfly kisses and sweet whispers in her ear. Meanwhile Richard and the girls had tiptoed up the stairs and were standing outside the master bedroom. Richard listened for a few seconds and determined that the coast was clear. At the last minute he decided to give the still newlyweds a little warning so in a stage whisper started the backwards countdown from 10. He laughed out loud as he heard cursing and fumbling around coming from the room. Regardless, he swung the door opened and sent the giggling girls inside to properly awaken their parents.

Tickling, hugging, pillow throwing and eventually snuggling filled the morning and Beth's heart to overflowing. Ever watchful, Will made sure that the girls didn't hurt their momma or their new little one but still permitted mayhem in the king sized bed. After awhile, Beth had to excuse herself quickly and she was grateful that her nightgown was on and the girls were not listening to her inside the bathroom. Will made a big effort to entertain them for distraction. After a few more tickles, he told the girls to go downstairs and wait for them to join them. Thankfully, he had heard them before their surprise attack and had managed to find his pajama bottoms before their entrance. Making a mental note to throttle Richard as soon as he had something to eat, he and called out to Beth, who answered that she'd be out in a minute but that she didn't want to eat anything at the moment.

Georgiana tagged along as Beth and her daughters drove into Defiance for Christmas shopping and enjoying time at the mall. They visited Santa, drank hot chocolate, consumed candy canes, and managed to purchase presents for all on the list except, of course, for Georgiana. The girls picked out a World's best Dad sweatshirt for Will, with much giggling surrounding that purchase. They also found his favorite cologne to add to their gifts.

Beth was absolutely stuck as to what to give the man who had given her almost everything she had ever wished for. He had insisted on her not buying him a wedding gift and it vexed her to this day that she abided by his wishes, especially with all the things he had gifted to her. She did see some handsome, bulky sweaters which she dearly loved seeing him in because she felt they made him look so earthy and manly. She purchased two and a new wallet with plenty of tabs for pictures as he had commented he wanted to carry his girls with him wherever he went.

While Georgiana had the sisters at the indoor playground, Beth slipped into a lingerie store. Laughing to herself that she only had a few more months to look good in this type of adornment, she purchased several items that she would "give" to her husband when they were alone. She also splurged on some lotion and shower gel that smelled heavenly to her, again laughing that tomorrow those smells may make her sick. She quickly decided to give Georgiana some scented bath products and would look for something in the next week to give her from the girls.

As usual, the weekend flew by and all too soon, Beth was up preparing breakfast before Will and Jeannie had to scoot off to Ft. Wayne. Hugging her daughter tightly, she reminded her that they would see her in ten days and then she'd be home for an entire week. Jeannie acted like she was excited at that notion and armed with a few sugar cookies, danced out the door with her daddy. As had become their Monday morning ritual, Callie slipped her hand into her momma's as they waved goodbye to Will and Jeannie at the door. She squeezed it tightly and reminded her momma how much she loved her and that Jeannie would be back home soon.

Richard behaved like a cat on a hot tin roof. Seth asked him several times why he was so jumpy and what in the world was going on. Will and Beth had talked with him as well, and assured him that this was the right move between and Ellie and him. Finally, on Thursday evening, after Richard thrashed Seth in a very aggressive game of pool, his younger brother accused him of being a hypocrite.

"What do you mean?" Richard shot back defensively.

"You're always yammering at me to open up and tell you what's on my mind. Even at Marie's surgery, you gave me the look about hovering around Rachel. You never talk to me about your personal life, Rich. I don't even know if you have one. Outside of your 'dates' with Callie, how long has it been since you've even gone out for real?"

Richard looked incredulously at his little brother while throwing his hands up in surrender. Well, there it is. He's twenty and now he sees more action than I. I think I've hit my rock bottom. With a sneering lip he told his brother to back off and at least give him a little respect. Seth would not have it and asked the question again. "Okay, Okay, suffice it to say it's been over a year, more like eighteen months or so as I was in Afghanistan this time last year in case you've forgotten."

"No, I hadn't forgotten, but geeze, man, no wonder you're so uptight. You need to find you a woman---"

"Just stop it right there, little brother. I will not have this conversation with you. I'll have you know that I have a date tomorrow. Thank you very much." He instantly regretted telling him as soon as the words left his mouth.

"Really, well you better spill, bro 'cause this is news to me." Seth settled into the recliner and took a swig of soda waiting to hear the details.

Richard paused, fighting with himself over what to say. Finally, he decided he might as well tell all and spent the next half hour relaying his past with Elise. As he finished, Seth let out a low whistle. "All I can say is, 'wow'." He shook his head at his big brother. "You never mentioned her to me. Never."

"There wasn't anything to say. But now she is suddenly back in my life and I really don't know what to think about it."

"Well, come tomorrow night at this time, I bet you'll know something." He made Richard promise to talk to him about it when he felt ready, especially after Richard said he knew he would get the third degree from Beth and Will when he returned home. "Your own house just keeps sounding sweeter and sweeter, huh?" his baby brother teased, and the two broke it up for the evening.

Although quite aware of what Richard would face the next evening, Thursday saw Will and Beth remaining in their own little world. Doc had confirmed what Beth already knew was true: she was about six weeks pregnant, which meant that she was due at the end of July. They talked about her morning sickness and the importance of nutrition, and Doc prescribed vitamins and an iron supplement that he told her to begin immediately. Beth asked many questions, including ones about her fears of being an older, first time mom. Both she and Will had stated, emphatically, that she wouldn't terminate the pregnancy if anything was wrong, but that they just wanted to be prepared. Doc assured them that they could run some tests when Beth was out of her first trimester and that they would then go from there. Her appointments set up for the next seven months, they left on cloud

As they talked more on the drive back to the farm, they both decided they didn't want to know the sex of the baby if at all possible. Will had already talked to Richard about building a cradle and he couldn't help himself about thinking of how to paint the baby's room. Beth laughed at his eagerness but made him promise not to do anything until after the New Year when she would she would past the first trimester. Although quite faithful, she still didn't want to do too much in advance.

Georgiana and Seth were just getting up and drowsily walking into the kitchen. Beth offered to fix them breakfast and commenced to scrambles some eggs. When the bacon began frying, she looked over to Will who saw that she was overcome by the smell. He quickly walked over to the stove so she could exit. The concern on his face did not escape his sister. "Will, is something wrong with Beth? I noticed she hasn't been eating very much."

Dodging the question, he said the food was almost ready and he was putting it on plates for them when Beth came back in, trying to look nonchalant but as usual, she was a little unsteady. Georgiana grew alarmed and repeated her question directly to Beth this time. Will and Beth exchanged glances and now even Seth was on full alert. About that time Richard came in from working out in the stables and broke the tension by exclaiming he could smell the food as he got closer to the house.

Looking around at everyone, he asked,"What's up? Were you all talking about me or something?"

"No, bro, we were not." Seth answered, "We were just waiting for Beth to tell us why she's not feeling well."

"Oh…" Richard sighed and smiled at the couple standing there. Beth looked a little tired but almost serene while Will displayed that goofy grin he'd had since last week. Deciding to stick around to see how this conversation was going to progress, he sat down and stole a bacon strip from Seth's plate.

Will looked with annoyance at his family, but he couldn't hold the frown; he was just too darn happy. Holding Beth's hand he squeezed it and her squeeze in return told him that she would support whatever he decided to do at that moment. Realizing they at least had a week of the secret together, he looked back over at Seth and Georgiana and began, "Well, it seems that Beth does have a condition…"

Georgiana's eyes grew wide and Seth dropped his fork which clattered onto the floor. Beth squeezed her husband's hand tightly and she looked at him sharply. "Will…don't tease them like that," she whispered as Richard began chuckling.

"Okay, Okay, calm down you two." Will laughed. "The condition is known as 'I'm going to be a daddy'. Again. Only this time the natural way."

Both Seth and Georgiana were on their feet in an instant hugging the new parents and saying their congratulations. Georgiana then burst into tears and hugged her brother tightly again. Will couldn't help but tear up himself as she kept saying how much she loved the two of them and how exciting it will be to have a baby in the house that had once been so full of children. Seth slapped his cousin on the back and made a comment similar to his brother's about such a fast worker which added more laughter to the domestic scene.

Richard studied the family in front of him with a mixture of happiness and longing. A year ago he would have denied any feelings of wanting to settle down and anticipate a family of his own, but he had undergone such a dramatic change in his thinking and emotions since his injury and through his association with Beth and her daughters. He truly yearned to find happiness and to have his own family. That knowledge hit him like a lightning strike and he had a difficult time responding to Seth and Georgiana's questions and the overall happiness in the room.

The group agreed to keep this joyful news to themselves until Beth would announce it on Christmas to Marie's family. She also said that she wanted to tell the girls on Christmas morning. Although desiring to make the big announcement at the New Year's Party, they debated whether to do so as Beth didn't want to be the center of attention. Richard pointed out that was an impossibility as she was already the new wife and those who hadn't attended the wedding would be quite curious to watch the newlyweds. Will said he would play it by ear and couldn't help lifting Beth into his arms and spinning her around the room exclaiming his love and how happy his was to have all of his family with him at last.

A bitter cold and windy Friday greeted Will as he bolted out the door, running late as usual. Richard was up and had walked to the shelter and stayed with Callie until her bus arrived. Acknowledging that the weather matched his mood, he pulled up the hood up on his jacket and made his way to the stables. Working with horses tended to have a calming effect on him, and he understood why Will, for all those years, had spent so much time and energy on the animals. Jorge only came out and spoke for a only few minutes, as he recognized Richard's agitation. The older man had been around the Stephen's men long enough to know that when they were troubled, they need time and space to work things out.

The day seemed to wear on, and only Beth's light but understanding mood kept Richard from stomping around the house. As they ate lunch together, Beth attempted to draw him out about his feelings concerning the coming meeting with Elise. "Richard, you must feel anxious. I know how I suffered before finally talking things through with Will. It was torture, and I hadn't had over sixteen years of bitterness stored up."

"I wouldn't say I'm bitter…"

"Really, well I would." She smiled while putting her hand on his in a gesture that prevented him from becoming defensive.

He sighed and nodded his head, "Yes, well, you're right. At first, I hated her; then, I transferred it all over to just hating life and, I guess, God, too. As you have noticed and pointed out to me before – ever so gently." He smiled with humor.

They talked for over an hour and Richard even allowed Beth to pray for him and Elise. She told him about the fear and hurt she had seen in Elise, but t it was only in Richard's power to listen and, hopefully, forgive her. In the end, she reminded him that sixteen years could not be wiped out in one night and that unrealistic expectations would only cause more problems. He hugged Beth warmly and thanked her for how she took care of the Stephens' many issues and she laughed and said it was a tough job but worth it for the fantastic house and great Mexican food.

As he left the house that night, the family was secured in the den with the fire blazing and a movie playing. A disappointed Callie sent him off with a kiss and a hug and told him to have fun but hurry home. Laughing as he tugged on her ponytail, he answered, "Yes, little momma," and walked out the door.

A torturous fifteen minute drive to town with the wind blowing fiercely, added to Richard's mounting anxiety. Taking several deep breaths and remembering all that Beth had said and prayed, he admonished himself to keep an open mind, not lose his temper and to make sure that she knew what the past years had done to him as well. As he pulled up to the townhouse on the edge of Bryan City limits, he deeply inhaled again and tried not to compare this to going before an inquest, reminding himself that he was the injured party who had every right to be angry,

Elise had actually left school early that day. Even though it was last day before the break when principals were needed the most to keep everybody on task, she was too sick to care. Cammi had attempted to calm her friend's nerves the night before by surprising her and coming a day early. They stayed up late into the night with Elise alternating between laughing and crying as she practiced what she would say and how she would respond to Richard's possible reaction. They even role played it. This was where the laughter took place as Cammi was quite humorous acting like Richard. From what she remembered of the brash ROTC member, she exaggerated his swagger and talked in a southern drawl that he really didn't have but was effective nonetheless.

She was still there when Elise staggered into her townhouse because she knew her friend probably wouldn't make it through the day. After talking a few more minutes and drinking some herbal tea, Cammi demanded Elise go upstairs and rest. She tucked her friend in her bed in a rare display of outrward affection. She was going to spend the night so that they could leave together for the airport the next day, but she already announced that she would be out of the house by seven thirty that night and wouldn't return until Elise called her.

"Although I have no idea what to do with myself in this god forsaken excuse of a town," she had smiled at Elise. "I guess I'll go to a movie and sit at the diner until you call, looking quite ravishing, but still all alone."

The debate over what to wear finally resulted in black dress pants and a Christmas sweater purchased just that week when she felt she needed a little cheering. She pulled her hair up, but not into the severe bun she wore during school. This time it was just loosely in a ponytail so she wouldn't' be tempted to twirl it, a habit she picked up during her marriage. With a flick of the switch, her gas logs were lit ,bathing the rather sterile room with warmth. She had chilled a bottle of wine along with the brand of beer Richard had preferred all those years ago.

And she waited.

Calling himself a chicken, Richard finally got out of the Jeep and walked slowly up the steps letting the wind whip through him. His knock was immediately answered and he smiled to himself knowing she must have been standing right by the door. "Hello," he managed and the wind took most of the greeting with it

"Wow! Just come on in." she hollered and she shut the door immediately after him. "I had no idea it was blowing that hard."

"Yeah, the drive in was interesting. It looks like we may even get our first big snow." Great. Reduced to talking about the weather, he rolled his eyes at his own awkwardness.

Elise couldn't help but smile at his obvious nervousness. She thought he looked every bit as handsome as he did back in college with his light brown hair that was now revealing its curliness as he was letting it grow out of the military cut. His large six foot plus frame still held its muscular build, or was maybe even a little more tone than she remembered as well. The only thing that had changed was the sadness around his hazel eyes .Realizing he was waiting for her to comment, she replied, "Yes, I did hear that. But we're old pros at dealing with the weather, aren't we?" She gestured to take his coat which he handed off but remained standing. "Please, Rich, we don't need to be that formal, do we? Go ahead and make yourself comfortable."

Unknowingly, she had switched to the calm and detached Elise, wife of Jeffrey Roberts who could host a dinner party while nursing bruises, or attend a charity event just hours after finding her husband in their bed with another woman. Richard thought she seemed a bit business like for what this meeting was supposed to be about, but then again, he had seen her performance as a school administrator, so he wasn't all that shocked.

"Would you like some wine or I have Coors chilled," she smiled hoping he would understand that in his interest, she remembered things about him.

"A beer would be nice, thanks." He sat down in a chair the furthest from the fire as he was already feeling a bit warm.

Opening the bottle, she didn't bother bringing a glass as another memory of him laughing about wasting time to pour and then having to wash the glass afterwards caused her to smile again. She handed him the bottle and motioned to coasters on the table next to the chair. Telling herself that the best way was just to dive in, she sat down, curled her legs under while setting down her glass of wine. "I guess the best way to do this is to just start talking." She looked at him to see him nod his approval. "All I ask is that you just let me say it all. Afterwards, I'll answer what I can, and I'll let you do what you think you need to. Is that Okay?" her anxious eyes pleaded with him that it would be.

"Whatever you think is best. I told you I would listen, and that's what I'll do." He wanted to down the beer in one gulp, but decided that wasn't best, as he needed all his faculties about him in her presence.

Taking a very deep breath and briefly closing her eyes to steady herself, Elise began unraveling the excruciating tale of her adlult life. "I guess I'll start from New Year's Day after you dropped me at the sorority house. My father had already left several messages for me to call him. I didn't even get the chance to tell my sisters because he bombarded me constantly with his opinions of you and our marriage plans. Cammi didn't even know for several days. Anyway, Richard he was so mean, so angry with me. He said that I was meant for a better man, a wealthier man who could give me all that I dreamed of. He berated me for getting involved with someone in the military who never had any roots or any connections.

"I tried to tell him about how smart you were, how you made me laugh and your sense of duty and honor. I explained about the farm and how your family was settled now and definitely had roots in Pemberville, but he didn't care. He went on and accused me of being pregnant and called me terrible names. I never knew my father to be so cruel, so demeaning…" her voice broke at the memory, but she fought to put the mask back on and continue. Richard watched the struggle, but he was fighting himself as he wanted to defend her honor even now after all this time. Still, he promised to listen, so he forced himself to remain silent.

Just keep going, she told herself as she regained control. "My mother wouldn't stand up to him even though she was impressed with you. She thought you were quite charming, and she was convinced you were meant to do great things. She was concerned with the military life, and she wasn't convinced I could be a good wife to a man in the service, but she told me privately that she wished somehow we could make it work.

"But my father, Richard, was at me constantly. He starting showing up on campus and demanding we talk. He threatened to pull all his support from me, but I told him that didn't matter. I wanted to be your wife. He was furious and I actually thought he was going to strike me at one point, but he stormed out of my room and left. I heard nothing for several days, and I fooled myself into believing he would leave me – us alone; but that was only the calm before the real storm." She stood up at that point and walked toward the fireplace. Her emotions were in turmoil and she was trying to steel herself for more of the tale.

Staring at the fire, she steadied herself and continued. "Several nights later, he called and asked me to meet him at the Student Union. I thought that was a little weird, but I walked over and he was waiting. Soon another man joined us and he introduced him as Aaron Roberts, Jeffery's father. We made small talk for a few minutes then Mr. Roberts left saying he was going to visit with Jeffery. After he was out of ear shot, my father laid out the plans for my future." She finally turned around and Richard saw plainly the hurt in her eyes.

"It seemed that Mr. Roberts had just been hired into a senior position in the bank my father worked for and held a high position in as well. He was auditing records and found discrepancies in several of my father's accounts and in his expense reports. He had been falsifying records for years to the tune of over half a million dollars."

Richard gasped, "Good Lord, Ellie."

She nodded her head and continued, "Roberts tried to blackmail my father, but my father didn't have any ready cash available as he'd used the money to buy our home, and our boat and to bankroll our high lifestyle. I don't know how they reached the decision, but, somehow, they agreed that if I married Jeffrey and stayed married until the statute of limitation expired, my father could keep his job and pay Mr. Roberts off a fraction at a time. If I didn't agree, my father would go to jail, my mother would be disgraced and homeless, and I actually feared what else my father might do to get himself out of the mess. Obviously, my father committed a terrible crime, but Mr. Roberts was…Richard, the man was… he was purely evil," she finally managed to articulate through her horrible memories.

Richard grabbed the beer and did drink it all in gulp. "Ellie, why didn't you tell me?" he couldn't help but asking despite his promise of silence.

"I was terrified," she replied while wringing her hands. "Plain and simple. My father was a hard man, but I did love him. I couldn't imagine my mother's shame and agony. He told me she knew nothing of their finances or of what he had done. My mother was always frail with a weak heart and high blood pressure, so I couldn't risk it."

Again trying to gain control, Elise sat down on the edge of the couch with her eyes staring at the floor. "By the time I left the Student Union, I had two weeks to break it off with you and one month to begin dating Jeffrey. I had to agree to be engaged by the end of term and be married after I graduated the next year. That's why I was so evasive before we went out that night. That's why I couldn't wear your ring. I tried many times to tell you everything, but my father would call or even Mr. Roberts would leave messages to remind me of my agreement." She finally looked at him to see his expression of anger and frustration.

"And you didn't trust me, or trust our love. You could have at least told me the truth." He said with gritted teeth.

"No, you would have done something foolish like confront them or get the police involved. It was hopeless – I was hopeless," she explained as her eyes once again broke his penetrating gaze. "Father knew I hadn't broken it off, so Mr. Roberts had Jeffrey and one of his thug frat brothers wait there at the restaurant to make sure I did it that night. I had to say the most painful things I could think of so that you wouldn't pursue me. Those words were the most difficult words I ever had to say outside of my wedding vows. I swear to you Richard, the worst part of all of this was how much I hurt you." She couldn't hold the mask on her face anymore and she melted into tears.

Richard was frozen in space and time. The agony he felt watching her walk out with those men burnt inside of him as if it had just happened yesterday. He wanted to yell at her, to tell her what her choices did to him, but somehow he knew there was way more to this story; and like watching a train wreck, he couldn't stop it, nor could he look away. He had to know the whole story. "There's more to this, isn't there?"

Elise shifted in agitation, doubting now that she should have ever wanted to have this conversation. .She cursed herself for believing he would take this story and not demand to know any more. She answered quickly,"we were married for fourteen years until my Father died. They had no hold over me anymore, so I walked out and never looked back."

"Ellie, there's a whole lot more, isn't there?" he insisted. I'll be damned if I'm going to let this rest here. I want to know what that SOB did to her. He truly believed that the change in her had to be more than being trapped in a loveless marriage. He waited. She wouldn't look at him and he could tell that she was crying. "Ellie," he raised his voice but remained seated. "Tell me the whole bloody thing. Tell me what he did to you!" He sat on the edge of his seat, legs twitching in agitation.

"Richard, wasn't that enough? Why should you have to listen to all of that now? They have no power over me anymore." She wanted now to just be still, to crawl inside of herself and let the world move on without her.

"Oh yes they do!" he countered forcefully, "Whoever "they" are; they still have quite a hold on you. Start breaking the hold by telling me. Tell the man who you claimed you loved, tell me the truth."

"I don't 'claim' to have loved you, I did love you." Fire was sparking in her eyes and she was trembling with a mixture of fury and dread. Their eyes stayed locked for several moments, each feeling the intensity of the other's gaze but not daring to sever the connection.

Finally breaking the stand off, Richard cursed to himself and stood up. He walked past her to her kitchen and took out another beer. He grabbed the bottle of wine and poured more into her glass. "Talk. Now," he commanded as he threw himself back into the chair.

Admitting defeat, Elise turned her unseeing eyes back to the fire. "The one piece of the puzzle that didn't fit for me was why would Jeffrey want to marry me? He could have had any woman on campus or beyond. Finally, about two weeks after we began going out, he told me that his father was forcing him to marry me because he didn't like who he was seeing and wanted him to have a 'quality woman'. I knew there something else. I had heard some sort of scandal involving him a townie who worked at a bar, but he was actually quite a gentleman towards me, which did not fit the reputation that I had known. He swore he wouldn't touch me until I was ready and he barely kissed me for several months.

She paused for a moment and sighed before beginning again. "He gave me a ring the night after he graduated and we set the date for the next June. He went away for the summer on an already planned trip to Europe with his best friend. Kip Johnson. Did you know him? He went to BG, too." Richard shook his head but didn't say anything. "When he returned the end of August, he began working at the same bank as our fathers and was transferred to Detroit. He came down every other weekend and would stay at his frat's house. I actually thought he was a gentleman just as trapped as I was by our fathers. I didn't grow to love him, but I started to at least not hate him. I thought we could at least be friends.

"The second semester of my senior year was a blur. Between the pressure of student teaching and planning this huge society wedding, I had no time to think or feel anything. Richard, I had no idea of what happened to your family. I had to agree to sever all ties with my friends from school - even Cammi. Jeffrey paid for me to have an apartment off campus. Even if someone had known about the tragedy, I was forced to live in isolation." She did turn to look at him then; he nodded his head in acceptance and took a long draft of the beer.

"I really had no idea what kind of man I was marrying." She paused again and Richard could see her slight trembling. "On our wedding night, as soon as the door closed on the villa where we stayed, he told me that I was his now and that your name was never to be mentioned. He actually said that he would make your life a living Hell if I ever contacted you. He grabbed me and pushed me onto the bed and forced himself on me. Not once in fifteen years of marriage was I ever treated with love or respect. He never let me forget what my father had done and he never let me forget that he was forced to marry me. It seems that barmaid was pregnant and Jeffrey was forced to leave her high and dry although he claimed to have loved her." Her throat was tightening and she couldn't hold the sob back any longer.

Richard's face was red with anger, a deep rage that he had not felt since the death of his parents. He knew that those types of animals existed in the world, but he had never knowingly spoken to a victim of one. He had never loved someone who was so mistreated. He wanted to move to comfort her somehow, but his instincts told him she would not want his pity. He remained seated and softly told her that she didn't have to say anymore.

"Yes, I do." She managed to get out. "I've come this far, I might as well tell you all of it and be done." She drank some wine, took the handkerchief Richard offered her and continued. "My father refused to believe what my marriage was like and there was no way I was telling my mother. Somehow Cammi found me in Detroit after we had been married several years, and she came to the house. We started meeting secretly around town and after a few months, I told her the truth. She was livid and threatened to confront him and bring her first husband who was an attorney. He was actually a good guy, but I begged her not to and she didn't.

"One afternoon Jeffrey walked into the restaurant where we were. I guess he was having me followed or something. He stood at our table, coldly informed Cammi that he would see her husband destroyed if she ever spoke to me again. He literally dragged me out the door and that was the first day he beat me." She forced herself to look at Richard. His eyes caught hers for a second before he dropped them and cursed with his hands balled up in fists at his sides.

"Oh, God, Ellie…" He was feeling sick to his stomach by then and actually thought he'd have to run to her bathroom, but he swallowed the bile as she kept going.

With tears continually streaming down her face, she willed herself to see this through to the end. "I wasn't allowed out of the house until my bruises healed. My only outside contact was Jeffrey permitting me to get my Masters. He thought that would make him look like the big man allowing his wife to pursue her career. He arranged for me to teach at an exclusive private school that his father donated an obscene amount of money to. Therefore, the administration and faculty turned their heads when I'd show up with a busted lip, giving my weak excuses.

"After several more years, he began berating me on my inability to conceive. His taunts and criticisms were even more damaging than his physical and sexual abuse. He tracked my every move. I had absolutely no time when I wasn't watched. Our house had to be a showplace; our public image had to be impeccable. Yet he brought his lovers to our house and laughed at me when I would walk in on them."

Knowing she was coming to the end, but also that the last piece of her history with Jeffrey Roberts was the most disturbing, she picked up the goblet and drained her wine. I can do this. I can tell him this. "On our fourteenth wedding anniversary, he beat me up so badly that one of the maids called 911. I was hospitalized with broken ribs, a skull fracture and bruised internal organs." Involuntarily, she hugged her stomach and winced at the memory. "My mother had just suffered a debilitating stroke two months before and my father had to put her in a long term care facility. He was reeling from that when he was forced to come face to face with what Jeffrey did to me.

"I wouldn't press charges no matter how many officers came to my room. Jeffrey delighted in the power and threw it in my father's face the day before I was to be dismissed. He actually went so far as to tell me with my father in the room that I was so stupid to believe that I was the reason I never got pregnant. He told me had had a vasectomy before we even were engaged. He taunted us both that we still had six more years to live with my father's sins over our heads," she sobbed and struggled to even catch her breath. Richard started to rise from his chair, but found his emotions so conflicting that he truly had no idea what to do.

"Two days later my father was found by our gardner hanging from the garage rafter. He left a note outlining everything that had happened including directions to a safety deposit box with records of all that he had taken and his payoffs to Mr. Roberts. My father was dead, but I was finally free. Jeffery and his father were arrested and convicted of extortion, money laundering and a host of other things. Neither one will see the light of day for a long, long, time. In addition, I finally got the nerve to testify against him, so Jeffrey was convicted of sexual assault and domestic violence. It took almost two years to the day to see them put in prison." She stopped suddenly, sunk into the chair and wrapped her arms around herself. "Since it was such a high profile case, it moved quickly through the courts. Of course, they are appealing, but at least they are behind bars and away from me."

They sat in silence for a long time; Elise was physically and emotionally drained. Richard stared at nothing, his seething anger turned into feeling utter helplessness but he couldn't sit still any longer. Excusing himself, he walked briskly down her hallway to find the restroom. Looking at his red face in the mirror, he wondered where seventeen years of hurt, anger and pain could go from here.

Get yourself together, man and get back out in that room. She must think I'm some kind of idiot. Richard sat on the closed toilet and tried to calm himself. Images of what Elise was subjected to in the years of her marriage bombarded his imagination. Yes, he had seen the horrors of war and poverty, but he chose that life; it was not forced upon him nor was he degraded day after day. How she was functioning at all was a miracle in his eyes.

"Elizabeth was right," he murmured to himself, "We can't erase everything in one night, but I have to go back out there." Splashing his face one more time, he opened the door.

Upon entering the room, his eyes sought Elise's deflated form that was still slumped in the chair, but she was now joined by her friend. "Cammi, it's good to see you again,." Richard managed to put a reasonable sentence together.

"Is it? Hello, Richard," She put out her hand and they managed to not really shake, but hold onto each other briefly. "It's so vicious outside that I decided to come home. A nice police officer followed me. He knows you, Richard…David Anderson?"

"Yeah, I know Dave, he's a good guy," Richard couldn't take his eyes off of Elise who looked so fragile.

"Yes, I'm sure he is. Anyway, I guess you know all now, Richard. We're waiting." She stared at him in almost defiance.

"Waiting?" he asked while still only looking at Elise..

"Yes, Richard," Cammi challenged, "we're waiting for your pride to rear its ugly head and admonish her, tell her that you could have saved the day."

"Cammi," Elise warned with what little energy she had left.

"No, it's alright., Ellie. I said I would listen, and I did," he replied while looking for and retrieving his coat. As he shrugged into it, he desperately tried to piece together what he was feeling in order to say something to this woman who had just spilled her heart out to him. "I'm shocked, angered, saddened and appalled at what has happened." He forced himself to look at her and continued, "I thank you, though, for finally telling me the truth. I hope that you can find some kind of peace. I'm sorry, but that's all I can really manage to say to you tonight. Enjoy your cruise." There's' so much I want to say; so much I need to say, but I can't do that to her tonight. Not tonight.

.He walked over to where he had been sitting and finished his beer, nodded to Cammi and had his hand on the door knob before he turned around. "And if Miami isn't all it's cracked up to be, please accept our little party as an alternative for New Year's. Good night, Ellie." He attempted a weak smile.

"Good night, Richard," she sighed and a slight smile appeared on her weary face. "Merry Christmas, oh, and Happy Birthday." He stared back at her again, astonished that she remembered his birthday. "Thanks," he mumbled and made his quick exit.