Beginning , Previous Section , Section VIII

Jump to new as of November 23, 2004

Chapter 18 ~ continued

She turned and looked at the varied assortment of beach houses along the beachfront. “I wonder what it would be like to live here.”

“You mean year-round?”

She nodded. “You can see some of these houses aren’t for rent.”

“I still assumed they’d be vacation homes, second homes.”

“Surely a few people would live here all the time.”

“I guess so. Mostly retired people.”

“Wouldn’t hurricanes come through here?”

“Probably. I’m sure the houses on the mainland are better off since this barrier island protects them.”

“Driving down here, I saw signs marking the hurricane evacuation route. It’s like snow routes up north.”

“What’s your ideal place to live? Someplace like this? Or in the mountains? Or are you a city girl?”

“I’ve definitely grown out of the city. The beach is nice at this time of year, but it gets too hot in the summer. And the hurricanes freak me out.”

“No more than tornadoes should.”

“I try to stay clear of those, too. I like the idea of living in the mountains. The Appalachian Mountains are in the western part of Virginia, so I’ve seen quite a bit of those. I think that’s also why I prefer a smaller mountain range than the massive Rockies. The Appalachians seem friendlier, less menacing.”

“You grew up in Virginia?”

Elizabeth nodded. “What about you? Where’s your ideal locale?”

“I really like living in the forest where I am now. But I wouldn’t object to living on the coast, but not the beach – if that makes sense.”

“Like living on cliffs looking out to sea?”

“Yeah.”

“East or west coast?”

“Not having seen much of the east coast, I’d have to say west right now.”

“Really?”

Will nodded. “I mean, I’ve seen Boston, but I would hardly call that seeing the residential east coast.”

They began to cross the bridge spanning the bay between the island and the mainland.

“I don’t think I’d like to live here, though,” Elizabeth said, looking at the limited development on the mainland. “It’s too culturally empty. I enjoy doing things in the city which I couldn’t do here.”

“It’s not like St Louis is a great city, though.”

Elizabeth shrugged. “It’s not my favourite place, no. I liked Chicago better as a city. If only the people I was attached to in St Louis moved up there.” She paused, then added with some emphasis, “And if only the winters weren’t so bad!”

There was a pause as they crossed one of the patches where the road is on firmer land rather than a bridge. To one side, the water was very choppy, while the water on the other side was calm and glassily smooth. People lined the seawall fishing in the dusk.

Will held out his hand and Elizabeth slid hers into it with a smile. He squeezed her hand affectionately. They remained silent until they reached the mainland and began driving along highway 98 along the coast.

“So is this our first date?” asked Will.

“Depends.”

“On?”

“What do you call the evening you took me out to dinner and to hear Leif?”

“A thank you gift.”

She raised one eyebrow. “You didn’t have other intensions?”

He looked at her honestly and said, “I was not conscious of other intensions at that time.”

“When did things become conscious for you?”

“I only cleared my head about a month or so after we fought. But I thought it was too late by that point.”

“What about before that?”

“I thought I knew what I was about, but I didn’t.”

She nodded in understanding.

The discussion moved to other topics for the rest of the drive to the restaurant. They talked about movies they enjoyed or loathed, favourite books, forms of art, music, and debated foreign affairs.

As they crossed St George Bay, Will asked, “How did I not get to know you this well when we lived together for five weeks?”

Elizabeth shrugged. “You didn’t care.”

“Hang on a minute,” Will protested. “You can’t put all the blame on me.”

She grinned at him. “No, you’re right. Georgiana was also partly to blame. She took up a lot of attention.”

The bridge crossing the bay ended and Will pulled off Highway 98 into the parking lot of the restaurant. The parking lot was full, leaving Will few options for parking. He pulled into a grassy spot further away from the restaurant. They got out and began walking towards the establishment.

The restaurant looked like it had been built in stages, mostly made of wood with a tin roof. They walked up the ramp to the deck and went inside. The small foyer was full of people talking loudly. A large fish tank contained exotic fish and other marine flora and fauna. Will mentioned their name and went back to wait with Elizabeth.

“It’ll be a few minutes,” he exclaimed, having to lean down beside her ear to make himself heard.

“Will it be quieter when we sit down?”

“Yeah. The bar is just right there. We’ll be outside.”

She nodded.

Will rested an arm around her shoulder, running his hands through the curls at the base of her neck. He kissed the top of her head as she leaned into him a little.

Will felt very content. Things were going very well. Conversation had been free-flowing in the car – easy and relaxed. Not that he doubted it would be. It just reaffirmed his conviction of their compatibility.

“Darcy?” the hostess called out.

Will guided Elizabeth forward and she maneuvered through the crowd, following the hostess. They passed through the dining room full of families eating at tables, out onto the deck. The hostess seated them at a table for two against the railing looking out over the bay.

As Elizabeth sat down she exclaimed, “This is really nice, Will, thank you!”

“I’m glad it’s turned out so well.”

“Let’s hope the food is good, too.”

“It should be.”

A waiter came and took their order for drinks, then left them to peruse the menu. The couple studied it in silence for several minutes. Finally Elizabeth asked, “What are you thinking of?”

“I’m very tempted by the Mahi Mahi in teriyaki sauce. What about you?”

“The Cajun grilled grouper.”

“Shall we get some oysters? It seems like that’s their specialty.”

Elizabeth made a doubtful face.

“We could split half a dozen.”

“I’m not sure if I like them.”

“Let’s try them, anyway.”

“All right.”

They ordered from the waiter and sipped their drinks in silence for a while. It was quite a bit quieter outside on the deck; the place had a different ambience – relaxing, laid back. Elizabeth pointed to the left of Will’s shoulder. He turned to see a formation of birds, half gliding, half flying only a foot above the water.

“What are they?” asked Will.

“I think they’re pelicans.”

“I didn’t know they flew in groups.”

“I didn’t either.”

Will observed them as they disappeared into the darkness. “They looked like pterodactyls of the dinosaur era.”

Elizabeth smiled. “They did, didn’t they?”

The faint moonlight glinted and flickered off the rippling water, mingling with the light coming from the restaurant. Elizabeth absentmindedly stirred her iced tea with her straw.

“Tell me about your childhood,” asked Will.

“My childhood?”

“I want to know you better. I’ve only picked up a couple things from Jane and Charles.”

Elizabeth looked down at her iced tea, swishing it around and around. “We grew up in Virginia. We lived in Richmond when I was very little, and then right around the time Lydia was born, we moved outside of Richmond to Colonial Heights. It was a suburban community. Rather boring. I have four sisters. Jane is older, the rest are younger – Mary, Kate, and Lydia. Mary teaches theology at Colby College in Maine.” Elizabeth snorted. “Talk about bad winters. Then Kate’s still trying to get a BS in Biology at VSU – Virginia State. And Lydia is at Virginia Community College. She slacked off in high school.”

“What do your parents do?”

“Mom raised us. Dad was the director of the Career Development Center at the University of Richmond. That’s where I began getting an interest in human resources.

“Makes more sense now. What was it like living in a family of 7?”

“Busy. Noisy at times. Cramped until Jane and I moved out. It was difficult when I wanted privacy growing up as a teenager. But there’s a rather substantial support network that I’ve begin to appreciate more since I’ve known you.”

Will nodded.

“You have no family?”

“Georgiana is my family. I have an aunt who I don’t speak to.”

“Why?”

“I didn’t like her when she was my guardian. She kept trying to get me to do things, saying it was what my parents had wanted. I soon learned to see through that. Made me bitter.”

Will pulled away from the table when the waiter delivered their food, allowing the plate of Mahi Mahi to be placed in front of him. The plate of oysters was put in the middle of the table while Elizabeth received her grouper.

“Is there anything else I can get you two?” asked the waiter.

Will looked at Elizabeth who shook her head. “Not right now, thank you,” he replied.

“It smells delicious!” exclaimed Elizabeth.

They were silent for a few minutes as they began to eat.

“This is really good. Here, try some.” Will held a forkful of fish across the table. Elizabeth took the bite he proffered.

“I like teriyaki flavour a lot,” she replied. “And it’s excellent fish. Do you want some of mine?”

Will nodded and picked a bit off her plate.

“Tell me, how did you get into what you do now? Was it pretty established this was what you wanted to do, or what?”

“I was exposed to it by my father. I liked working with people. I took business classes in college and slowly found my niche. I did internships in the personnel area and became good at it. Got a job after college and worked my way up. Then I got fed up with answering to someone else and decided to try consulting.”

“It’s a pretty gutsy move.”

“Brash is the word I’d use,” Elizabeth replied derisively.

“Do you want to continue it?”

“For right now, it presents a unique challenge I enjoy taking on. There may come a time when the novelty has worn off and I begin looking for something new.”

“Try one of the oysters.”

Elizabeth picked one of the half shells up and looked at it dubiously.

“Try it!” encouraged Will.

“How do you eat it?”

“Like this.” Will took one in his hand, took a fork and pried the meat from the shell, then popped it into his mouth and swallowed. It took tremendous effort to restrain from puckering his face from the strong saltiness.

She mimicked his actions and put it in her mouth. Will watched in great amusement as she struggled to swallow the rather slimy oyster meat, then as her face did pucker in a most becoming fashion.

“Ugh!” she exclaimed, grabbing her ice tea and taking several copious gulps.

“You didn’t like it?”

“Is it supposed to be that salty?” she asked in disbelief.

Will nodded. “We could have ordered them fried or in some kind of sauce, or stewed.”

“Why did we get raw ones?”

“You didn’t specify which kind you wanted.”

“I didn’t know!” she protested. She narrowed her eyes at him. “You knew, didn’t you? Brat.”

Will laughed at her. He took another one and dipped it in his teriyaki sauce before eating it.

“Try putting sugar on it,” Will said with a straight face.

Elizabeth eyed him. “I’m not going to trust you anymore.”

“What? First date and I’ve lost my credibility already?”

“Your fault.”

Will propped his chin on his hand and gazed her fondly, intently, for several moments. When she noticed his interest she stopped her hand, fork in the air, and asked, “What? Do I have something on my face?”

Will smiled very slightly and shook his head.

She put her hand down and returned his gaze.

Knowing she expected an explanation, he simply said, “I enjoy being with you.”

Elizabeth smiled in amusement and opened her mouth, hesitated, seemed to think twice, and then her face softened. “The feeling is mutual,” she said.

Will reached across the table for her hand. She gave it to him unhesitatingly. “Thank you.”

“For what?” asked Elizabeth in bewilderment.

“For giving me a chance.”

“But I should be thanking you. You’re the one who’s been steadfast, putting with my stubbornness and willfulness. I won’t hear of you thanking me.”

Will kissed her hand and then sat back.

They ate in silence for a few minutes.

“Did you ever think about having a family when you were younger?” asked Will.

“By family do you mean children?”

“Mostly.”

“Not really. Before I met George, before Jane met Charles, I couldn’t imagine spending my life with one person. I couldn’t imagine finding someone I could tolerate that much. So then children hardly entered the realm of possibility.”

“What about after you met George?”

“Even then it was hard to imagine spending the rest of my life like that. I don’t know how much of that feeling was things not working out with him, or how much is just the difficulty of seeing into the future. We talked about children quite a bit. But I didn’t want to make the sacrifice in my career at that point.”

“What did George want?” Will could almost see a parallel to his own failed marriage. He’d wanted children, his wife hadn’t. He’d pressured Caroline into it – something he was not proud of now. The thought of George attempting to do the same to Elizabeth brought out angry – though hypocritical – feelings toward her ex-husband. How could anyone force her to undergo such a big lifestyle change without her support?

“I think he wanted that lifestyle. The wife and two point five children in a suburban house. But I’m not sure how much he really thought about and wanted to be a parent. Perhaps he would have become more excited once the idea was more of a reality, I don’t know.”

Will almost visibly winced. He’d wanted the lifestyle – not the parenting. He’d changed his mind since, of course, but that didn’t rid him of the guilt of his previous sentiments.

“What about now? Do you still feel the same way?”

“No. I’ve been through a lot. Now I’ve reached a point in my career where I wouldn’t mind as much putting it on hold for a while.”

This was all she would say. Will sensed some awkwardness. They both seemed to avoid making any references to a permanent future together. This also meant Georgiana. Will strongly suspected Elizabeth loved Georgiana dearly. But they were both cautious of that becoming a basis for their relationship.

Will changed the subject. “Are you glad you came on this vacation? I remember you were hesitant at first.”

“I wasn’t sure if it was wise to be taking off a week at this point. I’m very glad I came. Mostly I did to see you again. We’d not seen each other in three months or so.”

“Not for lack of trying.”

“No. Things just worked against us.”

“Are you going to be able to visit soon, then?”

“Not for a couple weeks since I’ll have to catch up from this vacation. And then it’s a question of do I visit but prolong my stay in Chicago? Or do I not visit, but I get things wrapped up sooner in Chicago?”

“Why don’t we see how you do before making that decision?”

Elizabeth nodded.

The waiter came and took their plates away.

“Do you want dessert?” Will asked.

Elizabeth shook her head. “Not after all those Milano cookies I ate this afternoon.”

Will paid the bill, then they walked out of the restaurant.

“What time is it?” Elizabeth asked as they walked through the parking lot.

“10:15.”

“That late?” she exclaimed.

“Yep.” He grabbed her hand and turned her to him to wrap the other around her face.

“I have a wonderful time around you,” he said.

“I enjoy your company, too,” she returned.

He leaned down and kissed her several times lightly before she wrapped a hand around his head and held him for a deeper kiss, prolonging it as long as they could. When they broke away, Elizabeth smiled hesitantly. “Um, thank you for dinner.”

Will chuckled softly. “We should head back.”

Elizabeth nodded and they made their way to the car, holding hands.

The hour-long drive home was much quieter. Will found a classical music station coming from Tallahassee. Occasionally he suspected she’d fallen asleep, but when he looked at her, she was merely staring out through the window, her forehead resting against it. It was a companionable silence – comfortable rather than awkward.

They got home at 11:30, pulling the car under the house. Will asked Elizabeth when they got out, “Do you want to take a short stroll on the beach?”

“I’d love to.”

They walked out on the boardwalk. The wind had picked up substantially; it felt moist. Elizabeth wrapped her sweater more tightly around herself and picked the strands of hair out of her mouth.

The rhythmic sound of the waves drew them closer to the blackness of the ocean. Again, they could see the winking lights of boats on the horizon. Whereas the previous night had been clear with a sky full of stars, tonight, only the brightest stars were visible as clouds formed over head.

“Seems like it’s going to storm soon,” Elizabeth said.

Will nodded. He slid his arm around her, rubbing her back a little.

“Did you have any plans for tomorrow?” she asked.

He shook his head. “Don’t think so. I know Charles and I wanted to play Star Wars against each other at some point. He said he’d install the game on my computer and teach me.”

“I’ve heard him boasting about beating the computer at the difficult level, so forgive me if I’m not totally supportive of you, but I think you’re going to get your ass whooped.”

“But it’ll be fun,” Will pointed out with a grin.

They stood there for several more minutes before getting too chilled and walking inside. Jane and Charles had already gone to bed, so Will quietly kissed Elizabeth good night and went to his room to check on Georgiana and get into bed.

Everyone else was already having breakfast when Elizabeth appeared, curls tousled and pajamas rumpled. She rubbed her eyes sleepily, squinting slightly from the brighter light in the front room. They all stopped and stared at her.

“Are you feeling okay, Elizabeth?” asked Jane, getting up and feeling Elizabeth’s forehead.

Elizabeth grumpily pushed Jane’s hand away. “I’m fine.”

No one said anything as Elizabeth dazedly looked around the room then walked up to the sliding doors and looked out on the beach. A storm front had moved in and thunderstorms had raged during the early hours of the morning. Now the sky was dark and overcast raining lightly while the strong winds brought large waves crashing into the shore. Will watched Elizabeth staring outside for a few silent minutes before she announced, “I’m going to get dressed,” and went back to her room.

Jane hesitated a few moments before following her sister. Will heard her ask, “Are you sure you’re all right? When did you go to bed?”

“I think it must have been 12:30.”

“And you slept right through?”

“Yes. Honestly, it’s like you want me to be psycho.”

“Elizabeth, that’s not fair. I’m just concerned.”

“Don’t be. I’m fine. Vacation is good for me. I’m catching up on my sleep.”

Charles distracted Will, saying, “Since it’s a rainy day, did you want to try Star Wars again?”

“Sure.”

“As soon as you’re more experienced with building up your civilization, you can get to the fun part of developing attack strategies.”

Will nodded.

Jane returned and sat down to her breakfast again.

The day was spent inside playing computer games, card games, and hide and seek with the little ones.

As the day ended, Will and Charles saved their game so that Charles could begin supper preparations. Upon discovering Elizabeth’s absence from the house, Will went outside to see if he could find her. Not seeing her on the deck or below the house, he went down to the beach and found her hidden from view by the sand dunes, squatting close to the water’s edge, watching the waves’ hypnotic curvature and formations.

He approached her from the side so she could see him coming. He sat down beside her. They didn’t say anything for at least five minutes, just watching the sea and the beach. It somehow became more sublime due to the absence of other people – one could maintain a closer link nature.

“Only one more day of vacation left.”

Elizabeth grimaced. “I’ve only just begun to unwind.”

“Maybe you could prevent yourself from winding up so much again when you go back to Chicago.”

“I’ll try, I promise.”

“Then you could also take a vacation when you move to St Louis. Perhaps take a lighter workload for a while.”

“I can’t. I’m kind of in difficult financial straits right now.”

“Oh, right.” He’d forgotten. “But, it still won’t help you any more by overworking.”

“It’s hard not to believe that if I work hard enough, I can get on top of everything. I feel like that notion is the dangling carrot in front of me.”

There was a long silence. “We should go back in and help with supper,” Elizabeth finally said.

Will nodded. Elizabeth stood up. Will held his hands up to her. Elizabeth looked down at him in exasperation, then grasped them and pulled him up to his feet. Will enveloped her in his arms and kissed her. “I’ll miss you,” he said.

“You have a good track record for that,” she quipped, smiling at him.

“Can I come visit you or do you think it best not to?”

“Let me see how things go when I get back. If I think that I could spend quality time with you to make the trip worth it, then I’ll tell you.”

Will slung an arm around her shoulders as they trudged back to the boardwalk. He ran his hand through her curls. She ducked away from him. “Don’t. You’ll make them all tangled up and then it’ll be impossible to pull a comb through my hair.”

Will guffawed. “The wind’s been playing merry hell with your hair the past half hour!”

Elizabeth sniffed indignantly and skipped down the boardwalk to the shower. She rinsed off her feet, making sure to splash Will a few times.

Will grabbed her head as she was bent down brushing the sand off. Pushing it closer to the stream of water he said, “Perhaps a soaking will help get the tangles out.”

Elizabeth squealed. “William Darcy!” She jerked away then turned the hose on him, spraying the water on his trousers.

Seeing the look on Will’s face, Elizabeth took off for the house, slipping inside the doors and locking them before Will could get in.

Rather than make a scene, Will simply went to Jane and Charles’ bedroom sliding door, further along the deck, and entered the house there.

He walked into the living room and up behind Elizabeth who stood clutching the door handle and attempting to peer around the deck to find where he’d gone.

Will was tempted to do something drastic, like dump a pot-full of water on her. But instead he simply said, “I’d watch your back if I were you,” causing Elizabeth to shriek and jump at least a foot in air. She collapsed against the glass, clutching her racing heart.

“Geez, Will! You scared the living hell out of me?”

Will smirked and went to go change. Charles caught Will’s eye as he passed and raised his eyebrow in amused, but pointed, observation.

Their last day on the beach brought a return of the sun, but not warmer temperatures. Elizabeth grumbled about having to wear sweaters at the beach in Florida.

“Give it three more months and you’ll be grumbling about the sweltering temperatures in St Louis,” quipped Jane.

Will decided he had to brave the ocean at least. He didn’t know if he could hold his head up if he went back to the office and said he never swam in the ocean. So when the sun was at its zenith, Will wrapped a towel around his shoulders and scuttled down to the water’s edge. He hesitated, putting his toe in a couple times. Goose pimples covered his body as the wind penetrated his flimsy towel.

He turned back to toss his towel on the dry sand and found a row of spectators. Elizabeth stood with Georgiana on her hip watching, while Jane and Charles sat beside Tobin, who was occupied with pushing sand around. Elizabeth smiled and waved at him.

Now feeling like he really had to go in, Will turned back to the sea. A particularly large wave caused the water to rush up and cover his feet.

“Good lord,” Will muttered.

He decided it was better to plunge in than go lightly. Taking a big step in, he paused as another wave crashed in and brought the water up to mid calf. He took a couple more steps and sucked his breath in one big gasp as a wave brought the water up to his chest. He shivered. It was damn cold! Will swore. He took a deep breath and then dove into the next incoming wave.

He almost breathed in water as the full, icy force of it hit him. The water was relatively clear, though a yellowy green colour. He felt the sway of the current and the waves moving him. He swam down until his belly was a few inches from the sand, and swam away from the shore. The vigour of swimming helped keep the blood moving in his veins. As he became numb, the pain wasn’t so harsh anymore.

When he needed air, Will swam up to the surface and found himself a hundred yards from the shore and at least fifty yards further down the beach. He shook the hair from his head and began swimming along the surface of the water, parallel towards to the house. Salt water invaded his mouth, a tangy bitterness causing thirst. He stopped and tread water for a few moments, looking around. No one else in sight was in the water, though there were more people on the beach than there had been the day before.

Will spotted Georgie waving at him from the water’s edge, still in Elizabeth’s arms. It was a sight that thrilled him. It was his earnest wish for Elizabeth to become a mother to his daughter. Not only did he think Georgie needed one, but he also believed she couldn’t have a better mother than Elizabeth. He knew Elizabeth loved Georgie, and the toddler seemed very attached to Elizabeth. But he knew he mustn’t force the issue, nor let it be the reason why he wanted Elizabeth in his life. He was aware that Elizabeth was cautious as well. He doubted she would really step into the role until they had actually married.

Will waved back at them, then began to swim to shore. He was very cold, and thoughts of a warm bath dominated his thinking. The waves began to carry him toward the beach. He caught a wave and glided in, scraping the last few feet on the sand. He stood and hopped out of the water.

He shook his head, ridding his hair of excess water. Elizabeth came up to him smirking and holding his towel out to him with her free hand. He took it from her and quickly ran it all over his body. As he scrubbed his head with the towel, he heard Elizabeth speak. He stopped scrubbing and wrapped the towel around his shoulders.

“What’d you say?”

“I said I didn’t believe you’d actually do it.”

“Yeah, well, peer pressure can be pretty powerful,” Will snorted.

“We didn’t pressure you to do anything!” Elizabeth retorted.

“Just because you didn’t intentionally do it, doesn’t mean I didn’t feel it – imagined or not,” Will laughed.

“Was it cold?”

Will took her hand and put it on his cheek.

“Good grief! You’re frigid! And your lips have turned blue.”

“Does that answer your question?”

“Let’s go inside.”

As they walked up to the boardwalk, Will heard Elizabeth mutter, “I don’t know what to make of you.”

Will found Elizabeth packing after he’d had a very hot shower. Georgie sat between the pillows playing with something.

“Is that-?”

“My bra, yes. She apparently finds it fascinating,” Elizabeth replied with a shrug.

“Should I be concerned that my daughter is playing with bras at age 2?”

Elizabeth laughed. “Not yet, dear.”

“When are you leaving?”

“My flight’s at 9, so I’m going to have supper very soon and then hit the road.”

“I don’t suppose I could persuade you to drive back to St Louis with us and then get a train to Chicago?”

“No. I have a big enough guilt trip taking this much time off work.”

“It’s done you good, though.”

“Yes, it has. But it’s time for me to go back to work.”

Will clasped her hand, interrupting her packing so she would look at him. “Call me when you get home safely.”

“On the house phone here?”

Will nodded.

“I promise.”

She leaned down and kissed him. Will still felt surprised deep inside by her action. He’d gone for so long against her resistance, to have this abrupt change still unsettled him. He returned the kiss as long as she would let him.

Turning back to her task she said, “Go if you’re going to distract me.”

Will flopped back on the bed and said, “I’ll be good, I promise.”

She turned back to the bedside table and opened a drawer. Taking out a book she tossed it at him. “Oof! Was that necessary?” asked Will, wincing at the book hitting his stomach.

“This is some light reading for after I’m gone,” Elizabeth said mischievously.

Will looked at the book. “An Affair Most Wicked?” His eyebrows rose as high as they could go.

Elizabeth laughed.

“Did you read it?”

She laughed again. “No.”

“But you’re recommending it to me?”

Georgie crawled onto her father. Will had the wind punched out of him a second time in two minutes. “Georgie,” he picked her up and turned her around, sitting her on his chest facing him.

She leaned forward and tugged at his shirt collar. Will lifted her up in the air and jiggled her. She squealed with laugher. He dropped her down to him and blew a raspberry on her cheek. She squealed again.

Will caught Elizabeth looking down at them with a faraway wistful look. He quickly looked away.

Elizabeth left an hour and a half later, driving the rental car to Tallahassee airport. Will had said his goodbyes while they were still in the privacy of her room, but he still hugged her as he stood with everyone else outside by the car.

“I love you,” she’d whispered to him.

“I love you, too.”

Then she was gone. Will remained outside with Georgie after the Bingley’s had gone inside.

“Come on, Georgie. We need to put you to bed. We have a long drive tomorrow.”

Will trudged up the wooden steps to the back door of the house.

Chapter 19

Posted on Thursday, 18 November 2004

Life was difficult upon returning to work. Jane, who had been taking pictures throughout the vacation, emailed him a collection of nice ones. Mrs. Reynolds caught him flipping through them nostalgically at least twice during his first week back.

“You’ve been a bit different since you returned,” she said to him the second time.

“Sorry.”

“I thought you had a nice time.”

“I did,” Will assured her. “But life seems dull now.”

“Of course St Louis will seem dreary after a week spent on the beach in Florida. Especially at this time of year. Just you wait until the daffodils and dogwoods start coming out, and then the apple blossoms and the crocuses and then the roses in the summer.”

Will looked doubtful. “No, I don’t think it’s that. Never mind. Did you need something from me?”

“Yes, I need these letters signed, please.”

Will glanced through them, then scrawled his signature at the bottom of the letters.

It did help that Elizabeth emailed him at least once a day, and then he would call her when he got home from work. Sometimes she would still be at the office, other times out in the city, and a few times he would catch her at home.

A week after they had left the beach, Will called her from his cell phone as he wandered through Schnuck’s. He’d gotten one of those shopping carts with the plastic red car in front. Georgie was driving, smashing the horn happily while Will tossed various food items into the cart. The cart was fiendishly difficult to maneuver with the red car attachment, but as long as he didn’t go too quickly, he wouldn’t knock any towers of cereal boxes or soup cans over.

“What’s the noise?” Elizabeth asked.

“It’s Georgie honking the horn,” Will replied wearily.

“What I don’t understand is why you call me at times like this! You’re in the middle of doing something. Or you’ll call me when you’re lost in St Louis and I can’t do a thing to help you.”

“Those are mundane mindless things that don’t require me to cease functioning. I can multitask you know.”

“I’m so impressed,” she said dryly. “You can walk and chew gum at the same time.”

“I don’t chew gum.”

“That’s fine, as long as you don’t smack it either.”

“Nope, I don’t do that.”

He stopped, considering the kind of bread he wanted for the week. He decided on Pepperidge Farm five grain bread and tossed a loaf into the cart.

“What are you doing?” he asked her idly.

“I’m doing the ironing actually.”

“Why ‘actually’?”

“Because it’s a rare occurrence that I get it done.”

“Don’t you like ironing?”

“Not at all. I try and get out of it if I possible can. Why, do you?”

“I don’t mind it. I put the television on or a movie and I can do the ironing then. Another mindless task that I can do while talking to you.”

“Oh, I got your CD in the mail today. Thank you so much.”

“Have you listened to it yet?”

“Not all of it. I like the song Green Eyes.”

“It’s a good one.”

“And Clocks I love!”

“No, Georgie, stay in the car.”

Elizabeth laughed.

“Sorry, go on.”

“That’s all I had to say. I’ll tell you later what I think about the CD.”

“How are things going?”

“Eh, they’re okay. Nothing hot.”

“Crap. I gotta go.”

Elizabeth laughed again at him. “I’ll talk to you later.”

“Bye, love.”

Will jogged down the aisle and turned Georgiana around. “No, I said don’t get out of the car, didn’t I? Daddy said to stay here, didn’t he?”

Will put her back inside and closed the red plastic door. Why didn’t they put locks on these things?

Several evenings later, Will called Elizabeth after Georgiana was in bed. “What are you doing?”

“Vacuuming,” she replied.

“That’s not very sexy.”

Elizabeth cracked out a loud laugh. “What would you prefer? Get into a bubble bath?”

“That’d do it.”

She chuckled. “Sorry, but no.”

“Why are you vacuuming?”

“I’ve been packing up boxes in the tiny bit of spare time I have and trying to tidy as I go so I won’t have a massive cleaning job on my hands when I’ve emptied the apartment of my things. I’m trying to get this ruddy stain out of the armchair. I have no recollection of how it got there.”

“You have fun with that then.”

“Did you have a good day?”

“Yes, I did. Charles and I went out to lunch together.”

“That’s nice.”

“Yeah. I sometimes wonder if we’d do more things together if we both didn’t have young children.”

“I’d say so.”

“Have you always liked him?”

“As far as I can remember, yeah.”

“There weren’t any moments of jealousy?”

“What are you getting at? That I ever fancied Charles?”

“No! I meant jealous that he was taking away your sister.”

“Oh, no, not really. A little, but he made her happy. And he liked me. So I never felt excluded. I didn’t have as much time with her as I used to, but I wasn’t left out completely. I didn’t feel like a third wheel going with them, either.”

“Do you think they’ll have more children?”

“Most likely if things work out.”

“Would you want children?” Will asked as lightly as he could. He wanted to know, but he didn’t want it to turn into a serious, loaded discussion.

“Do I want children?” she repeated in surprise and uncertainty. “I don’t know. I don’t feel like I’m at a point where I could make that decision.” There was an awkward pause. “Do you mean me giving birth to a child? Or me taking responsibility for a child, like adopting?”

“Either.”

“I’m still squeamish about the idea of giving birth. But billions of women have done it over the millennia.”

She seemed doubtful and hesitant, uncomfortable, so Will said, “Do you negotiate maternity leave in your job?”

“It’s part of what I do, yes.”

“What about when women adopt? Do they get maternity leave?”

“Sometimes.”

“The same amount of time and conditions?”

“Adoption leave, what it’s been called, is more common in Britain and the EU and some of the Commonwealth like Canada, New Zealand and Australia. It hasn’t caught on as much here in the US as far as I know.”

“What’s your opinion on it?”

“I think it’s a good idea to support adoption as much as possible. If adoption leave like maternity leave would help, then I’m in support of it.”

“Have you ever had to deal with it?”

“I’ve had a client who was sued by a couple to get equal leave to adopt. I wasn’t involved with that case, but I knew of it.”

“Would you take time off for children?”

“Will, where are these questions going?”

“I’m merely curious,” he lied. “You’re a bit of a feminist – you work very long hours, I’m just wondering what you’d do about children if you wanted them.”

“I don’t know. Feminism doesn’t mean anti-family. I just don’t know because I’m not there yet.”

Will knew she was becoming defensive, so he changed the subject. “Georgiana’s still at that stage where if she can’t see you, then you must not be able to see her.”

Elizabeth laughed. “That’s so cute!”

“You just play along, you know? ‘Where did she go? I wonder where she is!’” he mimicked himself.

“How long will she play before she gets bored?”

“Maybe half an hour. Depending on her energy level.”

“How is your gardening going?”

“It’s not. I haven’t had time recently, or else it’s been raining. A cold, wet rain. Then I have a conference I have to go to later this week.”

“Where is it?”

“It’s in San Francisco. See some of the West coast for a change. I’ll have to put on my schmoozing suit and chat up some clients.”

“Schmoozing suit?”

“Yep. I look sharp in it.”

“So modest.”

“I have to be if I’m to win over these people.”

“How do you do it?”

“I’ve found a tactic that works is rather than going straight to the bigwigs, like the Trustees and Presidents and Deans of universities and colleges, to go to actual admissions officers, the ones having to deal with all the paperwork. I show them the product and convince them to ask for it from their superiors. They’re often the ones with more longevity in the institution. The upper ones can come and go depending on politics.”

“What are you going to do with Georgiana?”

“I’m taking her with me. Not the ideal solution. They do have a day care – mostly for women with their children – but I’m not terribly keen on leaving her there.”

“I’d offer to care for her myself, except for the timing.”

“I know. I have another conference I think the week after you get here, so if you could babysit then, that would be a tremendous help.”

“I’m not giving you a definite answer, but I don’t see why not.”

“Great.”

Great! It was starting! Maybe he could convince her to take some time off and spend larger amounts of time with Georgiana. Maybe Georgiana could stay at home with Elizabeth for a few days a week, rather than spending so much time in the office. The fantasies in his head began to grow.

Another two weeks of emails and frequent, but casual, phone conversations passed. Every now and then, they would get into long, involved discussions on more personal issues. Will found out more about her first marriage and her college years. He told her tales of Caroline’s pregnancy period and memories of his parents and his youth.

Will’s idyll began to fall to pieces about one week before Elizabeth was due to move. Rick’s phone call was the stone that initially cracked the glass. From there, the cracks spidered out until the pieces began to fall and shatter on the concrete.

“Will, it’s Rick.”

“Hey, how are you doing?”

“Not good. Listen. You’ve got to tell her.”

“Who?”

“Elizabeth.”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean she somehow became suspicious and is in my office right now demanding answers.”

“How?”

“She figured out somehow that the fees she had to pay were substantially less than normal. She’s in here demanding an explanation. I won’t be the one to tell her.”

Will buried his face in his hand, the other holding the phone to his ear. “S***.” He thought for several moments about what to do. Excuses popped into his mind, but he frustratedly pushed them away. Those would only make matters worse with her. He had to make a clean breast of it.

He sighed deeply and said, “Tell her to call me.”

“That’s it?”

“Yeah. Just avoid any explaining and tell her I’ll talk to her about it.”

“She’s really pissed, Will.”

“I’m sure she is.”

“She’s looking better than I’ve ever seen her though,” Rick said appreciatively.

“Rick,” Will growled.

“I’ll deal with her now.”

Will hung up and scrubbed his face, mentally drained and exhausted already. He kept trying to think of a way of avoiding the argument he knew would come. Things had been going so well. He knew it was too good to last. Even so, he held some small hope of being able to work through it.

Mrs. Reynolds knocked and opened his office door. “Elizabeth is on the phone for you.”

Will tried to gauge Elizabeth’s initial reaction by perhaps reading Mrs. Reynolds’ facial expression, but received no help.

Picking up, Will said, “Hi Elizabeth.”

“Why am I calling you? How do you know my lawyer? How does my lawyer know you?” Her questions were sharp and she seemed angrier than Will expected.

“Rick is an old college friend of mine. We were in a fraternity together; roommates for a semester.”

“Excuse me?”

She must have been on her cell phone. The wind made it hard for him to hear her.

“I can barely hear you. Find a quiet place to sit down and let me explain.”

“Will, tell me this is something benign.” Her voice was pleading. It hurt more than any yelling. He was tearing down the fragile trust that had taken him so long to build. He didn’t know if he would ever be able to rebuild it now.

“It’s not,” Will said, burying his face in his hand. “Find a place to sit down.”

No more words were exchanged as she walked through Chicago’s streets. He listened to her breathing and began to think through how he would explain everything. Instinctively he knew nothing but the truth would do by this point.

The extraneous noises quieted substantially. “Talk,” she said brusquely.

“Remember how you found out about the lawsuit at my house? You left suddenly, you were upset about it. I wanted to help. I’d have done anything in my power to help. I still would. Part of that’s selfish. I wanted the lawsuit to be over so you could come back. It had interrupted my dreams. So I tried to think of something I could do. I knew my old friend Rick was a lawyer in Chicago, so I gave him a call and asked if he’d do this favour for me. Then I had Jane suggest Rick to you. You couldn’t have gone with him if you’d chosen not to. But you liked him, so you did. I guess you’ve found out that Rick’s one high-paid lawyer. So I helped pay for some of his costs. He took a reduction in his usual pay, too, as a favour to me.” Will took a moment to think and take a deep breath. “There was one weekend when Georgiana and I came up to Chicago and stayed with Rick to help with some grunt work on the case. I did some basic screening interviews in the defendant company. Georgie and I were in Rick’s office when you came in. Georgie didn’t keep too quiet in that closet, either. That’s pretty much it.”

“And-” she broke off and cleared her throat. “And when were you planning on telling me?”

Will didn’t have an answer. “I thought it would just sort of go away.” It was a truthful answer, if not the right one.

There was a long silence. Will strained to hear her on the other end of the line. Was she angry? Crying? Would this blow over easily?

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

“Because I knew you’d be stubborn about refusing any help.”

“If you knew I wouldn’t want it, why did you do it?” Will heard it – the anger in her voice. It seemed bottled up. He winced, hoping she wouldn’t explode at him while on the phone.

“I love you. It’s natural for someone to want to help a loved one in need.”

“Will!” He jerked the phone away from his ear, smarting from the volume. “If it’s against someone’s will, don’t do it! Just don’t! I didn’t want help! If I had, I’d have asked for it!”

“No, you won’t!” he shouted back. “You never ask for help! If you were one to ask for help when you needed it, then maybe I wouldn’t have done it.”

“Did you ever consider the reasons why I never ask for help? Do you know me so well you know that inside I’m really begging for help, but I’m just too proud and stuck up to admit it?”

“No. You know that’s not true.”

“You tell me, then, why I don’t ask for help.”

Will now felt like giving her the same answer she’d just spat at him – that she was too proud to ask for it. He decided to evade the question.

“Look, I told you that I did it because I love you. But I didn’t want you to feel obligated to me because of it.”

“You’re telling me you were afraid I’d love you for your money?” Her voice was dangerously low.

It sounded so cheap when she said it. “Yeah, sort of,” he said.

“How could you?” she yelled. “Do you know how sleazy that makes me feel?!”

“Wait, Elizabeth. Don’t twist my words.”

“How else would you put it, Will?”

He struggled. Things had gotten way out of his control.

“I can’t talk to you like this,” she said abruptly.

“Wait, what?”

“I need to get off the phone with you, that’s what!”

“You’re just going to end it like that?”

“If you knew any better, you’d hang up too.”

“Then what? That’s it? One argument and you give up?”

She sounded even more angry as she snapped, “Now I really have to go! Just think about it, Will. Both of us say nasty things when we’re angry.”

“Fine. Go then.”

“Bye.”

And with a snap of the cell phone she was gone. Will stared at his desk, stunned, for several moments. Putting the receiver back onto its cradle, Will sat back. What the hell just happened? Angry, he wondered what she implied. She was being unreasonable. Here he’d helped her win her lawsuit and what did he get in return? An argument. Perhaps even the end of the relationship he’d been working toward for the past two years.

It was only 3:30 in the afternoon, but Will felt unable to spend the rest of the day in the office. Shutting his laptop, he detached it from its docking station and slid it into his briefcase with the collection of reports he needed to review.

Walking out of his office, he said abruptly, “I’m going home for the day. Take messages and I’ll see you tomorrow.”

His temper hadn’t cooled when he walked into the nursery to collect Georgiana. He waited impatiently while Avni collected her things together in the baby bag. He scooped Georgiana in his arms and tossed the bag across his chest.

“Have a good day, Mr. Darcy,” Avni said.

He merely nodded in reply as he left. Georgiana seemed to sense his anger, for she didn’t say anything. Sucking on her pacifier, she stared wide-eyed up at him. He refused to look at his daughter, knowing he’d only feel worse.

The drive home cooled his temper somewhat. Retaining the relationship became more important than his pride. That evening, he called Elizabeth’s apartment and cell phone at least five times each, always getting the answering machine.

He couldn’t get any work done or sleep. Instead, he sat in his arm chair in the long back room. He tried one last time at midnight.

“Elizabeth,” he began once the answering machine had picked up, “You can’t keep this silent treatment going like this. It’s not how it works. Come on, Elizabeth. You’re there, pick up and let’s talk about this.” He didn’t get any response. He sighed. “Please, Elizabeth.”

Still nothing. He hung up and sat back in the arm chair. She had sat beside him, in the other arm chair. Here they had first tentatively talked about being something more than friends. Was this where it would end, too? Coming up against her silence diminished his anger and increased his worry. The fear that this would be the end of their relationship intensified.

He spent much of the night staring outside, sometimes falling restlessly asleep in the arm chair. Waking early, he decided to go into the office. It seemed pointless to remain at home being unproductive. Georgie was cranky about being woken up early. It only made the day seem that much worse.

When he got to his desk he tried calling her again. She must be refusing to answer his calls using caller ID. He got up and went to Mrs. Reynolds’ desk phone. He dialed Elizabeth’s cell phone and almost immediately got an answer.

“Hi,” she said.

“Hello,” he replied.

“I see,” her voice instantly changed to an icy tone, “You’re resorting to trickery now, are you?”

“You won’t answer my calls!”

“Then respect that! It’s something you have yet to learn! I asked that we not talk. You won’t listen.”

“Look, you were right,” he said hurriedly. “I should have told you.”

“Why?”

“Why what?”

“Why should you have told me?”

“Because it was wrong to keep it secret from you.”

“No. This is why I’m not going to speak to you for a while. I’m so angry, I’m going to say things I’ll regret later. And you still haven’t got it yet.”

“But-“

“I promise I’ll talk to you again,” she said firmly, but more gently. “Later.”

She hung up, and Will was left to reflect on what she said. There was obviously something he was doing wrong. Standing up, he went into his office and slammed the door as hard as he could. Georgiana looked up from where she was playing with Tehbeh, her face showing fright from Daddy’s temper. Will saw the progression of her emotions to tears.

“Oh, no. Don’t cry. Please,” Will pleaded.

Closing her eyes, opening her mouth, tilting her head, Georgiana bawled.

Heaving a deep sigh, Will picked her up and began to comfort her. “Daddy’s not mad at you. Everything’s fine.” She was tired. He’d woken her up early. It would be another hour before the nursery would be open.

Later that afternoon, Will called Jane. “I don’t get it. She’s furious about it, but won’t tell me why. She won’t speak to me.”

“I can’t be much help to you. You’ll have to sort it out with her.”

“I’m trying! But she won’t talk to me. She won’t answer any of my calls, she’ll hang up if I use a number her caller ID doesn’t know.”

“Elizabeth used to need cooling off periods when she got in fights with her sisters. She has a temper. You know that. She knows that. So she usually tries to calm down before doing something she’d regret. Give her some time. Do some quiet reflection on your own. If two weeks go by and you still haven’t heard from her, then try again.”

“Two weeks!”

“I’m not saying it’ll be two weeks. Just give her that much time before you try calling.”

“What then? What if she still won’t talk to me?”

“I don’t know. I’m not a fairy godmother who can wave her wand and fix relationships.”

“Thanks for your help, Jane.”

Will remained in a black mood for two days while he heard nothing from Elizabeth. At the end of the second, Mrs. Reynolds poked her head in his office and observed, “You’re turning into the ogre from before Elizabeth’s time here. I’m sure she’d be pleased to know all her work on you is gone at the slightest sign of troubled waters.”

Though he was angry at Mrs. Reynolds’ words, he knew them to be true. He took Georgiana out to the St Louis Bread Company that night as a treat to both of them. She had fun getting soup all over her overalls. Will lent his head on his hand and simply watched Georgiana. He hadn’t really been with her since the argument. Sure, he’d taken care of her and done the necessary tasks, but he hadn’t really played with her and given her his full attention. She had been more unhappy than usual over the period of time, too. He decided to turn over a new leaf.

Elizabeth needed time to cool off. He would respect that, but he couldn’t do nothing at all. He still loved her.

Will handed Georgiana a napkin. She clutched it in soup covered hands and stared at him as if to say, “And what is this for?” He took one for himself and made a show of wiping his face with it. She imitated him, staring wide-eyed at him. It worked to some extent – she had less soup dripping down her chin.

Will resolved to pay more attention to Georgiana and not to be an ogre at work. He’d act as if everything was fine with Elizabeth and himself.

“Did you want some M&Ms?”

“Yah,” she replied, holding out her grubby hand.

When she’d had a few, he picked her up and took her to the restroom to wash off, giving her the rest of the M&Ms for the car ride home. Georgiana went to bed early that night, falling asleep in his arms by the fire at first. Will took her upstairs and laid her down in her crib, then went into his office. Sitting down at his laptop, he began to write an email to Elizabeth. Leaving out any allusion to conflict between them, he wrote her about other things about his day – the dogwoods that were becoming more and more noticeable amidst the winter woods as they came into bloom; Georgiana’s antics at dinner; musings about where the name M&Ms came from and how he couldn’t spell it. He sent it, then settled down to crack down on some of the work he’d put off over the past few days.

Day by day passed without word from Elizabeth. Still, he wrote to her once a day, adding his words of love and affection at the end. The day marked on his calendar for Elizabeth’s final move to St Louis passed by like the others. Will began to lose hope; it had been over a week. He called Jane to make sure Elizabeth was all right at least. He’d intended to help her move. Charles said he and Jane had gone to help her with the larger things. Will felt hurt that he’d been left out.

Three worrisome days later, Elizabeth emailed him.

Meet me at the Chocolate Bar on Park Street at 8.

Attempting to keep his mind off the impending encounter, Will worked late, keeping an eye on Georgiana in his office once the nursery had closed. At seven, they picked up a small dinner and continued on to the Chocolate Bar. The small establishment was nestled in a block of yuppie stores like a boutique and a yoga studio. Yet, in true St Louis fashion, one block over were the projects and abandoned houses, boarded up and decorated with graffiti.

Will parked along the street and took Georgiana out of the car seat. He grabbed her winter coat and hat, put them on her and placed her on the ground. Together, they walked down the sidewalk toward the Chocolate Bar. It was the sort of place that one could easily miss if they did not know it was there. He’d never seen advertising for it, assuming that it was primarily by word of mouth. It was also the sort of place where one could find couples in fine evening dress, or college students in cut off jeans.

Pushing open the door, Will watched Georgiana step up into the store and shut the door behind them. He looked around but didn’t see Elizabeth anywhere. He walked around the side of the kitchen to where the tables and chairs were in the back. Elizabeth sat in the corner facing the entrance. She waved and indicated he should get their drinks first. Turning, he went back to the bar and waited in line. Hoisting Georgiana onto his hip, he pointed out the goldfish on a shelf behind the bar, the flowers made of chocolate, the truffles in birds’ nests, and the beautiful cakes and pastries underneath the glass countertop.

“I’d like a cup of warm milk, and the La Morte hot chocolate, please.”

“Name?”

“William.”

He walked back to the sitting area toward Elizabeth. She stood up, smiling a little. She held out her hands to take Georgiana. Will handed his daughter to her. Elizabeth kissed his cheek.

“Hello.”

“Hi. Did you want anything?”

“No, I’ve got my hot chocolate.”

“I’m going to go pick ours up. I’ll be right back.”

Will returned to pick up their order, then came back to sit down. Elizabeth had found a high chair for Georgiana to sit in. Will put a straw in the milk and put it on the table in front of Georgie, holding it down firmly while she leaned forward to drink.

“How did your move go?”

“As well as could be expected. At least I wasn’t doing it in the summer. Moving is hot work.”

“Do you feel a noticeable difference in the weather here compared to Chicago?”

“I think so, yes.”

Will despaired as they sat there talking about the weather of all things. He decided to tackle the situation head on. It was better than pretending there wasn’t a gulf between them.

“Your temper’s cooled down?”

Elizabeth shot him a warning look. “I believe I’m more capable of talking this over with you without biting your head off, yes.”

“So you didn’t just put me in the dog house for a week?”

“Maybe that had a little to do with it, yes. But you mustn’t think that was the only reason. I can’t tell you how much I had going on these past two weeks. I really couldn’t deal with this additional mess. Talking on the phone isn’t the best way to discuss something like this. I could see myself becoming more angry and irrational. The result wouldn’t have been good. So I put it aside until I could handle it.”

“And you moving without giving me a word…?”

“Was sort of a test.”

“A test?”

She nodded, taking a sip of the rich, thick hot chocolate.

“You going to explain this?”

“For me, the bottom line is I don’t want help unless I ask for it. I wanted to see if you would respect my wishes regarding the move.”

Will shot out a hand to catch the glass as Georgie tipped it to access the straw. “Don’t tip it,” he said.

Elizabeth ruffled the toddler’s hair.

Will’s other hand clenched his mug of hot chocolate. “My motives in helping you were good.”

“They may have been, but I didn’t ask for it.”

“Did you want it?”

“No.”

“What would you have done?”

“I would have managed. Probably gotten a different lawyer.”

Running a hand through his hair, he protested, “But you never ask for help anyway! Even when you should.”

“To you, asking help is an easy thing, isn’t it? What does it mean to you?”

“What?”

“Asking for someone’s help. No – asking for money. How do you feel asking for money from someone?”

“Depends on the someone.”

“A friend.”

“I don’t know. I don’t feel that comfortable asking for it.”

“Exactly. And you snap at me for not asking for help?” She paused. “What do you think that implies about me, asking for help? It means I can’t do it alone.”

Will groaned inwardly. Here was her stubborn independence shining through.

Georgiana began fussing, squirming in her seat. Will reached into his bag and pulled out a couple of her toys, putting them in her reach. She took the plastic caterpillar and immediately tossed it on the floor. Bending down to pick it up, he said, “So this is your pride getting hurt.”

“You’ve just admitted that you have the same ‘pride’ or whatever you wish to call it.”

“But I wouldn’t get into such a huge argument if someone did give me help.”

“No, you didn’t just give it to me, you did so without my consent or knowledge. And this was more than just slipping a twenty dollar bill in my pocket. Then you kept silent about it indefinitely.”

“Look, all I wanted to do was help you.”

“Then why didn’t you tell me?”

“Because I knew you wouldn’t-” Will trailed off. He wasn’t winning this argument somehow. He hid his face by bending down once again to pick up the caterpillar.

“Because you knew I’d object,” she finished for him.

“And I’m not seeing why. Okay, I understand that it’s difficult for you to ask for it. But why refuse it when help is offered?”

Elizabeth ran a hand through her short curls. She took a couple sips of the hot chocolate. “Because it’s humiliating,” she said with intense feeling. Will looked at her. “It’s humiliating to be seen as … as … some helpless woman who can’t do it on her own. It’s humiliating to have that damned knight in shining armour come to the rescue.” Her voice broke, tears rimming her eyes. “I’ve tried so hard to be able to respect myself, to be someone I’m proud of. That’s taken me to more extremes of independence than most people, but that’s just how I am. And it hurts… really hurts, to find that what I’ve done is not of my own merit. All along, I’ve got help.”

Will caught Georgiana’s arm as she was about to throw down the caterpillar again. “No,” he said sternly.

Turning back to Elizabeth, he took her hand in his and waited until she was looking at him. “I’m sorry,” he said, gently, looking softly, earnestly into her face. “I’m sorry for making you feel that way. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you. But things were awkward then. I’d only just seen you again for the first time in over a year. Telling you just didn’t seem an option. But I realize and understand how that makes you feel, now.”

She nodded, accepting his apology.

“But you have to understand that people who love you want to help you, don’t want to see you struggle, and take joy in helping you. It’s a mutual thing, not a power dynamic. You helped me enormously when we first met, when Georgie was an infant. I had to humble myself in front of you time and again. Imagine how bad things could have gone if I hadn’t asked for any help.”

“But you asked for it.”

“Yes, I did. Listen. Let’s come to a compromise. I’ll respect your wishes, as long as you will accept a helping hand graciously, and ask for it when you really need it.”

She eyed him suspiciously. “So in other words you’ll tell me you’re helping me as long as I accept it. If I don’t want it, then you won’t tell me.”

“No. Stop twisting my words.”

“I’m not. I’m merely clarifying what you said.”

“No. I won’t secretly do things like that any more. You can reject it if you want. But learn to live in a network of family and friends helping each other. You’re back in St Louis now. You’ve got me, Jane, and Charles to contend with. None of us will sit by and let you suffer.”

“Fine,” she said wearily.

Georgiana had grown increasingly fussy as time passed. Now both toys had been thrown aside, the caterpillar hitting the back of another customer this time. Will apologized profusely and picked up the dratted toy. Elizabeth handed him the other one and said, “You need to get her to bed.”

“Yes, I do!”

“Let’s go then.”

They gathered their things and put their dishes into a tub. Walking out, Will asked, “So am I out of the dog house now?”

“You weren’t really in the dog house.”

“But you wouldn’t speak to me.”

“That was more for your sake! You wouldn’t have wanted to speak to me in the state I was in. I was trying to finish up three contracts at once as well as packing up and sorting out rent problems and arranging when Jane and Charles could help me move down, and attempting to get my landlady in St Louis to clean up after the disgusting previous resident. I didn’t want you caught up in all that.”

“But what if I did? It doesn’t matter how messy your life is. If it’s your life, I want to be a part of it.”

Will stopped her so she could face him. “Do you understand that?”

She looked somewhat meek. “Now I do,” she said in a small voice. She sighed. “Everything made so much sense at the time.”

He paused before saying quietly, “I really missed you. I was afraid you weren’t going to talk to me again.”

She looked up at him with incredulous bewilderment. “Why would you think that?”

“Well, you were so angry on the phone, you wouldn’t talk to me on the phone, wouldn’t email…. What was I supposed to think?”

She hugged him as best she could with Georgiana on his hip. “I’m sorry, Will. I didn’t mean to give the impression that I was ending everything. I just had this very difficult time period to get through before I could be rewarded with seeing you again. If I hadn’t been moving to St Louis a week later, I would have sorted things through earlier. But since I just had to get through this period and then I’d have plenty of time to see you and talk with you, I just held off in the meantime.”

Will felt her smile as her cheek was pressed against his. She said in a low voice in his ear, “You didn’t think you were getting rid of me that easily, did you?”

She pulled away, kissing him lightly.

“I can call you?”

“Yes.”

“Will you answer?”

“Yes.”

“Do you have a land line yet?”

“Yes. I’ll email you the information about the house and number tomorrow.”

“Did you get any of my emails?”

They meandered down the sidewalk. The evening was warmer than usual, though still quite brisk.

“Yes, I did. I looked forward to them every day. They reminded me why I love you.”

He felt a sense of relief hearing those words. He still hadn’t been entirely sure where they stood. Sliding his free arm around her shoulder and pulling her closer, he asked, “And why is that?”

“Oh, it’ll take a very long time to answer that question.”

“How long?”

“Months? Maybe years?”

“Can we start with dinner at my house this Saturday evening?”

“I think so. Or we could do dinner at my apartment. You come over and help me unpack and I’ll make dinner.”

“Was that you asking me for help?”

She grinned up at him. “Yes.”

“Didn’t sound like a question to me.”

“Will you come help me unpack this Saturday?”

Will leaned down and caught her lips with his. She leaned into the kiss, returning it as passionately as he. She pulled away after several moments. “Is that a yes?”

“Yes,” he murmured and leaned in to kiss her again, but Georgiana began wriggling so much he almost dropped her.

He put her down on the ground. She began running off. “Georgie. Come back. Stop. Georgie. Georgiana Darcy!” he finally snapped. She turned between two parked cars on the curb. “Georgie!” Will yelled and darted between the cars to grab her as she approached the road.

His yank on her arm must have been rougher than he intended, for Georgiana began crying.

Elizabeth approached Will, putting her hand on his head, then back, rubbing it. “Is she okay?” He couldn’t answer. “Are you okay?” she asked, looking at him more closely.

She began to pry his arms from Georgiana, then took the upset toddler into her own arms. “There, there,” she soothed, bouncing her up and down. “Shh, you’re fine. You’re safe. Just don’t go running into streets, okay? Not a good thing to do. You scare daddy doing that. Shh, shh.” Elizabeth rubbed the toddler’s back and murmured soothingly to her. “You okay?” Elizabeth asked him, looking at him in concern.

He nodded, scrubbing his face and running his hands through his hair.

Elizabeth kissed him briefly and said, “You should get home.”

He nodded.

Elizabeth began leading the way to his car. Will followed and unlocked the car, letting Elizabeth put Georgiana in the car seat. She kissed the toddler good night, then shut the door. Turning to Will she asked again, “You’re sure you’re okay?”

“Yeah. Just shaken up.”

“I understand.” She hugged him, holding him for several minutes before kissing him and saying, “I’ll see you on Saturday. I’ll email you directions.”

Will got in the car and sat there for several moments, still attempting to clear his mind of adrenalin. The sheer amount of fear over losing Georgiana as she’d ran into the street was overwhelming. He turned to look at her in her car seat. She was squirming, attempting to get out of the car seat.

Will put his hand on her leg and she stopped to look at him. He didn’t say anything for a few moments. What should he say? He felt like crushing her to him and never letting her go, but at the same time wanted to scold and yell at her for disobeying him and causing him such worry.

“You disobeyed Daddy,” he finally said calmly. She stared back at him. “Do you understand? Don’t run into the street. Ever.”

He wasn’t sure if this would stick in her mind. He wanted to burn it there. Never ever run into the street. Don’t give Daddy a heart attack.

Boxes occupied most of the front room. Elizabeth wasn’t even able to open the door all the way.

“Hi, come on in.”

Will leaned down to kiss her as Georgiana wandered into the apartment, weaving in between the boxes towering over her.

“I’ve brought you another plant as a house warming present.”

“Thank you, Will!” She hugged him, taking the potted African violets from him.

“How long have you been working on this?” asked Will, stepping in and closing the door behind him.

“Off and on for several days. I wasn’t very organized in packing everything up, so that’s been problematic now. I can’t find things.”

Will wondered if that wasn’t much different from normally.

“What can I start doing to help?” he asked.

“I guess open a box and see what’s in it. If it’s kitchen stuff, start putting it away in the kitchen. If it’s office stuff, take it into my bedroom.”

“Bedroom? Your office is your bedroom?”

“Hey! Do you see another room to put it in?”

“You just have a living room, kitchenette, bedroom and bathroom?”

“Yes.”

“Quite small, isn’t it?”

“It’s actually an average size for a single person. But yes I am scaling down. Had to.”

“I thought we’d established that working in the bedroom wasn’t-“

“Yes, yes, I know,” she interrupted. “I promise it’s only for while I’m unpacking.”

“All right. Is Georgiana going to be okay? Is there anything fragile you don’t want her getting into?”

“Not in open boxes, no.”

Will sat down on the carpet and slit open the box nearest him. He rummaged inside. “This looks like mostly books and CDs and videos.”

“Oh. Here, grab that pen and write that on the box.”

“Why didn’t you write on it when you packed it?”

“Because I wasn’t that organized. I was occupied with other things.”

“So what am I doing with this box?”

“Stuff it in a corner. Do you want something to drink?”

“Maybe later.”

Elizabeth walked over and sat down near him, grabbing another box and opening it. Neither said anything for a while as they worked, only the occasional comment or direction.

“It’s nice working beside you again,” Will said at one point.

Elizabeth smiled at him. “The one thing I’ve liked most about our friendship and relationship, is how natural it seems to be. You know, being able to do mundane things and still enjoy each other’s company.”

“I’ll still take you out sometime.”

“Out?”

“Fancy restaurant, maybe another concert. Rock concert perhaps? I don’t know any good bands right now. Maybe Kiss is still playing.”

Elizabeth laughed at him. Georgiana came walking toward them, dragging Tehbeh behind her. She crawled into Will’s lap, lying down and looking up at him.

“What are you doing?” asked Will. “What are you doing?” He leaned down and gave her raspberry. “Silly girl. You silly girl.”

Georgiana grabbed a fistful of his hair as she laughed and flailed her legs. Will took hold of her legs and lifted her up so she hung upside down. Depositing her on Elizabeth’s lap, he said, “Here, you take her for a while.”

Elizabeth snuffled Georgiana’s neck, sniffing around Georgiana like Elizabeth was a dog. Georgiana giggled infectiously.

“Elizabeth,” Will asked in a serious tone. She stopped what she was doing and gave him her attention. “Remember I said I had a conference this coming week. Would you be able to take care of Georgiana or would that be too much with everything like this?”

“I’d love to care for her, but you can see I don’t have much space and it’s not very safe.”

“Another option is for you to stay at my house while you care for her. She’ll be in her usual environment, which means she’ll behave better.”

“Sure. If you don’t mind.”

“Why would I mind? You’re doing me a huge favour.”

“Do you want me taking her in to the day care at your office?”

“Only if you have to do something and can’t take her with you. But otherwise you’re welcome to just stay at home.”

“All right then.”

“Wonderful.” Will kissed her cheek. “Thank you so much.”

“I should be thanking you! I get quality time with this little one,” giving the toddler a tickle, “and I get out of this dump to stay in a beautiful house in the country. How long will you be?”

“Three days. I leave Monday morning and return late Wednesday night. You’d probably need to stay Wednesday night, too.”

“Fine.”

“Great. That takes one worry off my mind.”

“How many do you have?”

“Probably not as many as you.”

“You think?”

“I guess.”

Will grabbed another box next to him and slit it open. “This has a lamp, candles, an alarm clock, a few magazines-“

“Ooh! My bedside table box. The table’s in my bedroom. Can you go and just set that stuff on it?”

Will stood up and took the box into the bedroom, taking his time threading his way through the boxes and piles. The bedroom was of a dreary generic cream colour and small, particularly dwarfed by the double bed in the corner. Putting the box down beside the nightstand, he began taking the items out and putting them on the blue and white-patterned bed. He plugged the lamp and the alarm clock in, setting the time on it. He put the magazines on the bottom shelf and the candle in the drawer. He took out two picture frames, both in an antique silver style. Will looked at the first one and smiled as he saw a 5x7 picture he’d taken of Georgiana for Elizabeth’s Christmas present. It was one of the ones in the armchair by the fire. She was laughing up at him. The second picture startled him. It was of himself with Georgiana in his arms. He recognized the awed look of adoration on his face as he was looking down at his two-week-old baby. He hadn’t remembered Elizabeth had taken a picture that first day he’d known her, the day Caroline had left. Realizing that Elizabeth had had this picture for so long, and it obviously now held a place of honour by her bed like her picture had beside his bed, Will felt a thrill of hope and tenderness, a surge of love and affection for Elizabeth.

Will finished unpacking and putting away the rest of the box before returning to the living room. He bent down and caught Elizabeth’s face with one hand, kissing her thoroughly for several moments. When he pulled away she looked surprised.

“I thought it might have been a while since I told you I love you,” Will replied to her questioning look.

Elizabeth smiled up at him. “You can’t tell me enough.”

Will kissed her a couple more times before returning to their work.

They spent the rest of the afternoon unpacking and organizing the apartment. Will tried to prevent her from unpacking a box into piles and then leaving it there without putting the stuff away before unpacking another box.

As evening fell, Elizabeth stopped to cook dinner while Will continued finding places for her things.

They sat down to eat lasagna. Will decided to take Georgiana’s shirt off rather than get tomato sauce stains all over it. He tied her bib around her and handed her the spoon.

Elizabeth propped her chin on her hand and watched Georgiana’s awkward attempts at eating. Sometimes the food didn’t quite make it to her mouth. Then she would look down like, ‘Uh oh! How did that get down there?’ and then attempt to pick it up with her left hand and drop it again in even smaller pieces.

“Did I make a bad choice of dinner?” Elizabeth asked, keeping her eyes on Georgiana.

“No. Sure, she’s not quite ready to go out on a date, but she’s not too bad now.”

They ate for a few minutes in silence before Will asked, “Do you mind me asking how you first found out about me and Rick?”

Elizabeth wiped her mouth with a napkin, sitting back in her chair. “A colleague at work and I were talking about the lawsuit. She had a friend who was facing something similar. She asked what lawyer I’d gone with, and when I said Rick Fitzwilliam, she seemed really surprised and asked how I could afford him. That was the first thing to alert me. Then I did some simple research about his usual fees and found a discrepancy.”

“What did you think at first?”

“I don’t know. If it hadn’t been over for a while, I would have suspected him of wanting ‘favours’ in return or something.”

Will shook his head in distaste.

“Then I wondered if he considered me a kind of pro bono case. And I would have argued it with him, since pro bono cases should be for people who honestly could not afford a lawyer. Or at least for a case that wasn’t so easy to win.”

“You think your case was easy?”

“Sure. I mean, as long as we filled in the right forms and asked the right questions, there really was never much chance of Lydia winning.”

“Do you remember that day you came into Rick’s office and you heard something in the closet?”

Elizabeth thought back for a moment. “When was this?”

“Maybe two or three weekends after you left my house.”

“I think so, yes.”

“What did you think it was?”

“I don’t know.”

“Come on, yes you do.”

“Well,” Elizabeth began to smile a little.

“What? Tell me!”

She laughed. “I guess I thought there was some half-dressed office assistant in there or something.”

Will laughed with her. “That’s what Rick suspected you were thinking. He was so mad at me!”

“You were in there?”

“Yeah, with Georgiana. I wasn’t able to keep her quiet.”

Will handed Georgiana her apple juice and ruffled her hair.

“Actually, knowing that does improve my opinion of him.”

Will laughed again. “I’ll have to tell him that.”

“Did he agree with you keeping it a secret?”

“To be honest and fair, no he didn’t. But he also didn’t understand too much of our history.”

Elizabeth gave him a look that told him she still didn’t think he was right.

Will changed the subject, and they continued chatting as they finished supper. Will stayed another hour helping her out before going home to put Georgiana to bed.

“I’ll see you on Monday morning,” he said, as he kissed her goodbye.

Elizabeth arrived late, parking her Acura beside Will’s Audi and hurrying up the front steps.

“I know, I know,” she said as Will gave her a where-have-you-been look. “I overslept. I’m sorry.”

“It’s fine. I’ll get my flight, don’t worry.” Handing her a list, he said, “Those are the phone numbers for the neighbours on either side of me, and Maggie in case anything happens in the forest,” replying to her incredulous look, “not that anything should happen.”

“Like what?”

“Like a large tree falling down or a forest fire. That’s the day care centre, and you have Mrs. Reynolds’ number. That’s where I’m staying and my flight information. I’ve left a lot of food for both you and Georgiana in the pantry and the fridge. She likes carrots for a snack and either warm milk or apple juice. I’ve laid out her clothes on my bed for the next few days, and her pajamas are in her crib. I’ve changed the sheets on my bed for you.”

She looked at him in surprise.

Hurriedly he replied, “She’s used to sleeping with me in the room. She’ll cry and fuss all night if she’s left alone. Try it if you like, the downstairs bedroom is fine for your use, too. But if you have problems, you’ll welcome to stay” he hesitated, “up there,” he finished lamely.

“Will,” she stopped him before he continued. “Is there anything around here that is not going to be self-evident for a reasonably intelligent person like myself?”

Will paused and took a deep breath, considering. “No,” he answered.

“All right. You’re late. I’ll be fine. We’ll be fine, won’t we Georgiana?”

“Okay. If you need me-“

“I know how to call you. Stop worrying!”

“Okay. I know,” Will picked up Georgiana and hugged her, kissing her several times on the cheeks. “Be good, my beautiful darling. Be good, okay? Listen to Elizabeth and do what she says. Are you listening?” She nodded.

Kissing Elizabeth, Will said, “Thank you so much for doing this.”

“I told you. It’s more than a pleasure.”

“You haven’t done it, yet. We’ll see what you say when I come back.”

“I love you. Now go. Don’t miss your flight.”

Will skipped down the front steps and the path, getting into his car. “Damn!” The car seat was still in his car. Getting out he opened the back door and fumbled with the buckles and straps to take it out.

Elizabeth walked up behind him. “Oh, yes I’ll need that,” she said.

He got it out and asked, “Do you know how to install it in your car?”

“I think so, yes.”

“Yes or no? Because I’ll put it in your car now if you don’t. But I don’t want you saying yes just so I can leave. I’d prefer to know Georgiana’s seat was safe.”

Elizabeth looked doubtful. “I think you’d better do it. Here, my keys are in my pocket.”

Will slid his hand in her pocket to retrieve the keys, taking the opportunity to kiss her. He opened her car and took several minutes to strap the seat in while Elizabeth watched.

“Okay. Done.”

“Anything else you’ve forgotten?”

“Don’t think so.”

“Do you have your ticket?”

“Yes.”

“Money?”

“Yes.”

“Clean underwear?”

“What?”

Elizabeth laughed. “Go!”

Will got in and backed out of the driveway. He paused before it turned out of view of the house. Elizabeth stood in front of his house with Georgiana in her arms, both of them waving goodbye. He felt his chest constrict with emotion as he watched them. She was more a part of his life, his home, his family. One step closer.

Elizabeth struggled with another box while Will squashed himself against the wall to let her pass. “How am I moving yet again?”

“Not my fault.”

“I beg to differ,” Elizabeth grunted.

Charles followed with an armload of clothes on hangers. “Have you made room in your closet?” he asked Will.

“Yes.”

“Are you sure you’ve made enough room?” asked Charles, nodding at the burden he carried.

“We’ll see, won’t we?”

Tobin came flying down the hall yelling at the top of his lungs. Will grabbed him by the stomach and swung him up. “Hey, little boy. We’re not going to be running around today, okay? We need your help bringing things in.”

“No wanna!”

“You don’t want to? But it’ll be fun! Go find your Aunt Lizzie.”

Putting him down on the floor again, Will watched as Tobin ran back the way he came screaming “Lizzie!!”

A couple moments later, Elizabeth appeared behind him, sliding her arms around his waist. Leaning her head on his shoulder, she murmured in his ear, “You seem to be working hard.”

“I’m supervising.”

“Things would go much faster and painlessly if you did a little physical labour and helped!”

Will grinned. “I’m the master of the house, I must make sure things are taken care of here.”

Elizabeth kissed his neck and replied, “I know quite well you’re never master of the house. There’s only one who rules this roost.”

“I wouldn’t say she ruled it, but she definitely has everyone in it at her beck and call.”

“Where is she?”

“With your sister at the truck.”

Moving into the study which had been transferred downstairs from the former guest room, Elizabeth whined, “I feel like I’ve been moving forever!”

“You’ve only done it for five hours this morning.”

“No, I’ve been packing since-“

“Since yesterday? I’ve been shifting entire rooms around.”

“With whose help?”

“Yours,” Will mumbled.

“Aha! That’s right!” Elizabeth wrapped her arms around his neck while his slid around her waist. “You’ve been wonderful, darling.”

“Anything I can do to get you moved in here faster.” Will began to kiss her.

“Hey,” came Charles’ voice. “I’m working my butt off here and you’re off playing hanky panky!”

Will followed Elizabeth out to the U-Haul van parked on the front lawn.

“You have a new bed?” Jane was asking Georgiana.

“Yeah.”

“What colour is it?”

“It’s – it’s – it’s white.”

“White. Wow. It’s a big girl’s bed?”

“Uh huh. And – and it’s big.”

“Bigger than you?”

“Uh huh.”

“Where is it?”

“My woom.”

“You’re room? You mean with Daddy?”

“No! My woom.”

“You’ve got your own room now?”

Georgiana nodded.

“Upstairs or downstairs?” Jane asked, making some effort to bend over to pick up a loose plastic bag of clothing.

“It’s up dere.”

“Upstairs. Wow. You’re really a big girl now, aren’t you?” Will watched in fascination as Jane poked her gravid belly with a finger. Elizabeth had told him before that sometimes the baby would shift away from an uncomfortable position for Jane if she poked him.

“Uh huh.”

“Hey Georgie!” Charles called out as he walked up to the truck. “How old are you again?”

Georgie hopped up and down in the truck and held out three fingers on both hands. “Thwee!” she cried gleefully.

“Not yet,” snorted Will. “You have eight more days to go. How many days?” He paused. “Eight. Show me. Can you show me eight?”

She looked at her hands. Will waited a few moments before taking one of her hands and spreading it wide, then taking the other and saying, “Make a three. Make a three with this hand. Just this hand.” When she’d done it, he held up both hands. “See? Eight. One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight. Eight more days.”

Elizabeth grabbed another box and took it towards the house. “And tell me again why we’re doing all of this eight days before a birthday party?”

“The same reason we’re moving in 90 degree weather,” Will retorted. “Because you have an excellence sense of timing about these things.”

The four adults worked for three hours moving things from the truck into the house. Then Jane and Charles took the U-Haul to return it and collect their car and go home, leaving Will, Elizabeth and Georgiana.

Elizabeth lay out in one of the armchairs in the living room. “Don’t you have your air conditioning on?” she groaned.

“Yes. Higher than usual since I knew Jane would be here.”

“Oh my gosh I don’t know how she stands being pregnant at this time of year!”

“It’s not like she has much choice in the matter.”

“Still, I think I’d run off to the southern hemisphere or something.”

“Or Siberia.”

“Sure.”

“I believe I remember you whining about how cold it was in Chicago.”

“It was!”

“But this is too hot.”

“Yes. I prefer temperatures in the low 80s, or in the 70s if I’m going to be doing manual labour like today.”

“I’ll be sure to tell God the next time I speak to Him.”

“Please do.”

They paused for long moments of exhausted silence. Then Will heard Elizabeth’s small voice saying, “Will?”

“Hmm?”

“Will you crack my back?”

“It’s gross, Elizabeth!”

“But it feels good. Pleeeese?” she begged.

Will sighed. “All right.”

Elizabeth got on the floor and Will used his weight and his knees to crack her back, massaging it as he went. She sighed. “That feels really good.”

When he’d finished she lay there limply.

Finally, Will turned her over and pulled her so she was sitting upright. Kissing her, he said, “Welcome home.”

She smiled back at him. “Home. It feels like one.”

“It feels more like home to me now that you’re part of it.”

“Thank you, Will.”

“Did you want to do any more moving tonight?”

She looked at him skeptically.

“Or we can eat and lay about doing nothing.”

“Sounds like a plan,” she said.

“Georgiana’s fallen asleep in the back room.”

“I know.”

“I’ll take her upstairs now.”

“She won’t wake up hungry?”

“Shouldn’t do.”

Once Will had tucked the toddler into her bigger bed with low railing along the sides of it, he returned downstairs and watched Elizabeth moving around the kitchen preparing dinner. The house did seem homier with her in it. She brought more life to the place, more vivacity and humour. Part of that had to do with a third person being present, but Elizabeth brought with her that unique spark that Will thought she embodied. She was so different, he hardly ever compared her to Caroline.

They had a quiet meal together, and then went to bed early.

Will was woken at the usual hour by a finger poking him. He was used to waking up quickly and alert. Pulling the sheet up to Elizabeth’s chin, he turned over to his edge of the bed and met with his daughter’s large eyes. She was grinning.

“Shhh,” he whispered. “Go back to your room, Georgie.” He pointed to her room, visible through his open bedroom door. He turned her around and gave her a gentle nudge in that direction.

Surprisingly, she willingly went to her room. Will turned over, wrapping an arm around Elizabeth and snuggling closer to her warmth. The air conditioning, still on full power, made the house cold. He mentally made a note to turn it down later.

Elizabeth sighed in her sleep, shifting a little, then settling once again.

Will had just begun to doze off again, when he felt a weight at the foot of the bed. He turned his head and watched as Georgiana crawled up onto the bed and up between the two bodies under the covers.

“William, what are you doing??” came Elizabeth’s muffled, sleepy voice.

“It’s not me,” he replied.

“Daddy,” Georgie whispered loudly.

Elizabeth woke up more now, and turned over, pulling the sheet up as it slipped down a little.

“Georgie, what did I tell you?” asked Will.

“How is she supposed to know that suddenly this room is off limits?” asked Elizabeth gently. “Come ‘ere, darling.” She pulled Georgie into her arms and kissed her.

Will scowled. “She’s taking over my place.”

“In this bed or with me?” smirked Elizabeth.

“Both,” he replied grumpily.

Elizabeth leaned over and kissed him slowly. “Hardly.”

Will settled back onto the pillows beside Elizabeth’s shoulder, giving the bare skin a kiss.

“What is it Georgie?” asked Elizabeth.

“Loook.”

It was her Madeline doll. She’d put a different hat on her bed.

“Wow.”

Georgie made a show of pulling it off and putting it back on again.

Elizabeth leaned down and grabbed her robe from the floor by the bed. She slipped it on and slid out of bed. Picking up Georgiana, she took her into the toddler’s room. She put her on the floor with a few of her toys. Will could hear her speaking gently to her. The low murmur of her voice was soporific.

He must have dozed off. He woke again when Elizabeth slid back into bed, shivering slightly and snuggling up to him for warmth. Will engulfed her and asked, “Is she properly preoccupied?”

“For the meanwhile,” Elizabeth replied sardonically.

They lay in contented silence for several moments. Then he asked, “Do you ever feel scared or apprehensive about taking this big step of moving in with me?”

“I don’t feel that now. Doesn’t mean I haven’t felt that in the past. But right now, it’s a wonderful decision to make.”

“You’ve held back in the past, not wanting to screw up another relationship.”

“I don’t intend to screw this one up. I’ll do everything I can to hold onto it. And that’s the difference between this and my marriage with George. I love you, and I will do whatever it takes to keep living, working, and loving harmoniously with you.”

“Me, too.”

“And there’s no way I’d leave Georgie, either. You’re both too much a part of me now.”

“I’d say the same thing. But a lot of this is your doing.”

“Mine?”

He leaned on his elbow above her, gently brushing aside the curls off her face. “You were the one to whip me into shape in the beginning. That began it all.”

“You desperately needed it, my love.”

“Even if I didn’t know it at the time, huh?” he smiled.

She caressed his dimpled cheek. “Yep. This poor pathetic daddy with a wailing infant.”

“I could hardly hold her.”

“But you soon outstripped me. You’re a wonderful daddy.”

“And I intend to be just as wonderful a husband,” he replied firmly, holding her eyes with his own intense gaze.

The End