She narrowed her eyes, trying to deduce what he was up to, then turned back to Jenna.
"So, dress fitting at nine and meeting Fritz….."
"After that."
"Obviously. Anything else?"
Jenna didn't answer. She and Les were busy looking into each other's eyes and tuning the rest of the world out. Beth was really and truly pleased that the most important person in her world would soon be happily settled. But they were downright nauseating to watch at times.
The waitress returned with the ice and set it down in front of William, leaning in unnecessarily close as she did so. He thanked her, then took the liberty of dumping Beth's soda into the ice-packed jar mug.
On seeing this Kara blurted, "What are you doing?"
William looked across the table at her and answered defensively, "She likes ice."
Kara pushed up from the table, muttering something about needing fresh air, and Beth surveyed William, feeling some of her own ice chip spontaneously from her exterior.
William looked back at her quietly, every trace of the mock flirtation he'd been slathering on the waitress vanishing. In this moment, it felt like they were at a table for two.
"How's Gianna?" Beth asked quietly.
William looked surprised for an instant before answering. "She's okay."
"I'll see her at the wedding, right?"
"I doubt she'll be able to wait that long," William admitted with an expression Beth didn't understand. Exasperation mingled with affection, she decided after a moment. "She's been counting down ever since Les and Jenna set the date."
Beth flushed with pleasure and dropped her eyes. Unsure what to say to such a straightforward confession, she just tucked her hair behind her ear. The food had begun to arrive, and hopefully it would distract William from her apparent chagrin.
~:~
Mr. Bradford signed the bill for dinner while the party collected their belongings and tucked their chairs into the table. Mrs. Bradford had suggested that they all come back to their house for dessert, since the only thing on the menu at Bob's was Fresh Cow Pies and the title had put them all off their appetites.
"So, did you work out the cake fiasco?" Beth asked Jenna as they walked arm-in-arm toward William's car.
"Cake fiasco?" Jenna furrowed her brow. "Oh, that. Yes, it's all fine now." She looked around for a moment, anywhere but at Beth. "I hope it wasn't too awkward for William to pick you up."
"Whatever. You know it was awkward."
Jenna's apologetic expression didn't quite mask the smile behind her eyes. "You two seem to be okay now, though."
"We're tolerating each other for your sakes, Jenna. There's a difference. We'll send you two on your honeymoon and never see each other again." The words sounded sad to Beth.
"Is that what you want?"
"It's not totally up to me, is it?" she answered, ignoring the base question.
"No, but-"
"It doesn't matter anymore."
"You keep saying that."
"So?"
"So, are you sure you're not trying to convince yourself?"
"Jenna, I never thought I'd say this to you, but mind your own business!"
Jenna squeezed Beth in an exuberant hug. "Aren't you glad I'm getting married and you'll finally be rid of me?"
"Yeah, totally," Beth lied. "Marriage - love it!"
Jenna smiled impishly, opened the driver side door and climbed behind the wheel. Beth groaned as she opened the passenger side door. It was going to be such a long weekend.
HOPE
"We must stem the tide of malice…."
~Mary Bennet, Pride & Prejudice
The Bradfords' house was enormous. A handsome drive outside city limits, it was an elegant house that looked more like a castle. There were ponds and fountains nestled here and there in the landscape, with a bridge or two and several hunched willow trees. And that was just the front yard. Beth would not have been surprised to hear that they had an amusement park behind the house, Bradford Land, or something to that effect. It was picturesque, like something out of a fairy tale. Perfect for the wedding.
The cars pulled up one by one, their occupants spilling out into the driveway. Jenna and Beth had driven together and Les had ridden with William, no doubt to avoid any more discomfort for the time being. Beth wasn't very grateful at all; she knew that fresh agony would be on its way soon.
When she and Jenna got out of the car her eyes were immediately drawn to the sight of William hugging a light-haired girl who was much shorter than he was. He towered over her, making her already petite frame look positively miniscule. As they approached, Beth could see that she had large, bright blue eyes and rosy cheeks. Her complexion was much lighter than William's. Her hair was deep honey blonde, pin-straight, and just brushing her shoulders.
The girl walked slowly toward Beth, as if trying to keep herself from flying a million different ways. William trailed slightly behind, his posture hesitant. Before any sort of formal introduction could be made, Gianna closed the distance.
"Hi, Beth," Gianna said warmly as she embraced her. "I'm Gianna Darcy. It's so good to finally meet you!"
When Gianna pulled away, still grinning, Beth saw that her face betrayed her youth. It would be so very easy for someone like Jaxon to hurt her.
At that moment she hated him. She had nothing to say to this wounded angel, so she just hugged her again - hyperaware of William's scrutiny.
"How did you like Bob's?" Gianna asked in a shrewd tone as they walked into the house. Obviously, she'd been there.
"It was vastly entertaining, for several reasons," Beth assured her. "I think your brother may have an admirer, actually."
William's head came up at the sound of his name, and Beth looked back at him playfully. "I think it's safe to say our waitress wanted to give him a little spud love of her own." William smiled tolerantly when Beth and Gianna laughed at his expense.
"Funny," Beth commented, "you were pretty keen on the attention at the time."
"Not really. I was keen on seeing how many times I could get you to roll your eyes."
"And?"
"Not as many as I thought."
"Sorry to disappoint."
"William, you're such a pot-stirrer. Give the poor girl a break. She just flew in and she's probably exhausted," Gianna chided.
Not as tired as I should be, Beth realized, smiling at Gianna.
~:~
The crème brulee had been consumed and everyone lounged in a contented lull, conversing quietly in small groups. William couldn't help shooting Beth a look when Kara commented that she would like her mother's recipe. Beth managed to keep a straight face, with only the slightest twitch of her lips and sparkle in her green eyes.
Les and Jenna's parents sat together, the mothers talking about the bridesmaids' dresses, and the fathers discussing business, sports, and how much the wedding was costing. The rest of the party were sitting all together, though Les and Jenna could've been alone for all the attention they paid to anyone else. They were probably making up for the agonizing car rides when they'd been separated. If Jenna had grilled Beth half as much as Les had grilled William, then her ride had been just as uncomfortable as his.
William silently looked on as Beth and Gianna chatted amiably, and Kara stewed in silence, still sour from Beth one-upping her at dinner. The recollection still brought a triumphant grin to his face, which he didn't bother concealing. He was proud of Beth, plain and simple. As if he'd called her name, she looked up and met his eyes. A few hours ago he would've been embarrassed to be caught watching her. But he couldn't look away from the sight of the two most precious women in the world becoming friends. Beth blinked, then returned her attention to Gianna. Was it the light, or was she blushing slightly?
Kara's unwelcome voice ripped William from his pleasant observances. "So, Beth," she began sweetly, "have you been dating anyone at Hartford?"
William stiffened, clenching his jaw to keep from telling her off.
Beth seemed caught off guard by the question. "No…..I've had finals and all that."
"Well, I'm not surprised. After all, the two best looking beaus from Hartford are sitting right here." She simpered at William, who ignored her, not having quite gotten over the thought of Beth dating.
"What about that one guy you were so hot for? What was his name?" Kara looked up at the ceiling thoughtfully. "Wasn't it -"
William was mid-rise when Beth shot up, seizing Gianna's hand and blurting, "Gianna, could you show me where the bathroom is? I had one too many refills at dinner, I think. I'm going to burst."
And she loped away from Kara, towing Gianna behind her.
The pounding of William's heart echoed and rebounded off his chest wall as he slunk back down to the couch. His breathing was deep but controlled as he glared at Kara. "I would be immensely grateful if you didn't mention him in front of my sister again." Then he got up and walked outside, trying to calm his temper and make sense of his feelings.
~:~
The front door was open, and the party had spilled out onto the paved driveway that half-circled the Bradford Estate. As Beth and Gianna stepped outside, Beth felt a vague sort of sadness overtake her. She probably wouldn't see Gianna again until the wedding. And as uncomfortable as the day had been at times with William, she would feel the loss of his teasing smile and his omnipresence. At least she could look at him now without feeling mortified. Now, she just felt a sort of skewed misery. They were not enemies, at least.
Beth glanced at Gianna, relieved. She didn't think she knew who Kara was talking about earlier. Hopefully William had done some damage control while they were gone, and Kara would be keeping her perfectly painted mouth shut from now on.
It was dark outside, and the scattered group was winding down to goodbyes. Beth felt William watching her as she and Gianna walked up to stand on either side of him. When the sensation did not lift, she looked up at him, curious. His face was calm, his eyes pensive. He turned his head a fraction towards her and mouthed the words thank you.
She understood. He was grateful to her for saving Gianna from what would certainly have been a painful reminder. Nothing more.
Then he reached out cautiously and touched her hand lightly with his, loosely entwining his fingers with hers, blasting her presumption out beyond the boundaries of Bradford Land.
Her heart constricted in her chest as the death of her theory gave birth to new hope - a shiny, pink hope with its eyes still closed. They stood there, holding hands in the dark where no one could see (Beth's heart leaping up into her throat), until the party finally broke up and Jenna's parents climbed into their car to head to their hotel. When Jenna walked over to Beth, she dropped William's hand reluctantly and stepped away.
"So, where's your stuff, Beth?"
"Um, William's car. I'll go get it."
"That reminds me, dear," Mrs. Bradford chimed in, joining the group, "I hope you don't mind bunking up with Jenna in her room - the other guest wing is under renovation right now."
Beth had started to say "no, not at all" when William cut her off.
"She can stay with us, Mrs. Bradford."
Beth's eyes darted up to his, which were locked steadfastly on her. Gianna's face lit up and she came to his aid, as if on cue.
"Of course! We have a guestroom and you'll have your own bathroom and everything. Which you really need to get ready for the wedding, Beth." She beamed up at her brother. "You are so smart, William. Why didn't I think of it?"
He winked at her.
"Really, you guys, it's not necessary. I'm fine here with Jenna -"
"Actually, Beth," Jenna joined in, "with my dress and stuff everywhere, there's not much room left. It would probably be pretty scrunchy."
Jenna had never lied in her entire life, so Beth had no trouble detecting it now.
"Come on, Beth," Gianna whined, almost Lindy-ish, "I just redecorated it and everything. Please?!"
For some reason it didn't annoy Beth like Lindy did. She regarded William, gauging his reaction. She couldn't interpret his neutral expression, but it seemed carefully composed. William glanced down, plunging his hands into his pockets, and then looked back up at her from under his lashes.
"Okay," she answered quietly. "If you're sure it's no trouble…."
"Yay!" Gianna squealed, throwing her arms around Beth. Through the golden hair obscuring her vision, Beth could see that William was smiling.
~:~
Beth meandered down the hall of William's spacious apartment, running her fingers lightly along the textured taupe wall as she waited for William. He had stepped into another room to take a business call, and as Gianna had said she was stopping at the grocery store, Beth found herself alone. She regarded the pictures that flanked the hall like sentinels, feeling a bit like a trespasser. There was an eight by ten picture of who she could only imagine to be William and Gianna's mother. She was tall and slender, with Gianna's coloring and William's eyes. Next to it was a family picture of William and Gianna with their father, who looked exactly as she would expect William to look in forty years or so. In the shot, William's hair was not the precise disarray she was used to. His shoulders were almost bony, and his face was thinner. Gianna looked like she could be about nine or ten.
The next picture was a snapshot of William and Gianna fishing. William had his teenage arm settled protectively across his sister's shoulders, and they smiled in the sun. The last picture gave Beth a pang. It was a newborn baby, the picture you take in the hospital right after they've popped out, with their blotchy cheeks and misshapen heads - Merry Noel.
"She won't let me take it down," William supplied quietly, startling Beth when he spoke from behind her. How long had he been standing there, watching her pry into his life?
"She's beautiful."
William's face tensed, his jaw set, and he nodded as he moved to stand beside her.
Beth studied his expression for a moment, trying to read him. "It upsets you that she keeps the picture."
William drew breath before responding. "It's a constant reminder to her of what happened. For some odd reason that's why she wants it here." He paused, shrugging. "I don't think having it up is helping her move on."
Beth took a breath and looked back at the picture thoughtfully. "I think I understand why she keeps it."
"Really, now? Well, why don't you enlighten the clueless male with your feminine intuition, then?" His expression was almost amused.
"Well," she began, gesturing to the frame, "the visual reminder helps her to feel like it wasn't all for nothing. If the picture's gone, then it's like…….there's an empty space in her life where something happened that changed her, but there's no proof that it ever happened."
William stared at Beth for several seconds, digesting her words.
Beth folded her arms. "You see this baby as Jaxon, William," she continued, softening her voice when he blanched at the name. "But she's also Gianna. She's a part of her. That kind of bond leaves a mark……just like a scar." Beth stopped, giving William a chance to process. When the silence stretched into uneasiness Beth looked around, trying to guess which of the surrounding doors led to the guestroom. William hadn't moved. He looked at the picture with wide eyes, seeming almost fearful.
"Did I do the right thing?"
Beth raised her eyebrows, unsure of his meaning.
"Encouraging her to place the baby for adoption?" he continued. "What if she hates me for it later?"
Beth was quite flabbergasted at being asked for her opinion, but it took only a second to recover. "Yes, I think you did the right thing. I think she'll thank you for it, eventually. And it was definitely best for the baby." She smiled suddenly to herself. "Although it would've been entertaining to see you as Uncle William."
Any humor that had arisen at the thought died when a pristine image of William holding a dark-haired baby girl in his arms, and smiling, flashed through Beth's mind. Suddenly it was much too warm. She rubbed her ne
ck, her eyes shifting nervously.
"So which of these six doors is the right one?"
William watched her a moment longer and then led her to the door at the end of the hall. When the light flipped on the first thing that Beth noticed was the vastness of the room. It wasn't what Beth would call a wing, but it was definitely spacious. The second thing she noticed was the plaid flannel quilt laid over the king-sized bed. There was a simple rustic feel to the room, and she turned to William with raised eyebrows.
"Guestroom, huh?"
"Yup," he answered, going in ahead of her and dropping her duffel on the bed. "You'll have your own bathroom too," he said, waving a hand in its general direction. Beth leaned into the bathroom from the doorway, taking in the jetted tub and the massive shower. She scrutinized William, waiting for the cave-in. When it didn't come, she sauntered over to the wooden dresser and ran her fingers along the first drawer.
"So, this is where I should put my clothes, right?"
William swallowed, finally looking somewhat uncomfortable.
Enjoying his anxiety, she continued. "If I open this top drawer I won't find anything you wouldn't want me to see, I don't know, like boxers or something? It's empty?"
William rushed over to the dresser, clamping his hand over the drawer. "There's a dresser in the closet for you, actually - totally empty."
Beth rolled her eyes. "I'll take the couch." She grabbed her duffel and started out of the room.
"You're not happy with the guestroom?" He looked affronted.
"This is your room, William. We've just established that."
He looked stunned. "What makes you think this is my room? You've never been here before."
"Do you keep your underwear in the guestroom? Didn't think so," Beth finished triumphantly at the look on William's face.
Then he smiled. "Those aren't my boxers! Those are….spare boxers. For when……company comes. Male company."
Pride's Prejudice Page 20