The Flight Path Less Traveled

by Leigh Dreyer

  “Whose car is that?” Elizabeth asked.

  “I was just wondering the same thing. Maybe the Bingleys came for a visit?” They walked through the doorway to Netherfield. “Charles,” Darcy called.

  “Jane?”

  Elizabeth followed Darcy into the living room and spotted the blonde woman sitting on the couch.

  “Hello, William.”

  14

  “Oh! I forgot… Anne, who let you in?” Darcy asked.

  “Jane was on her way out. Remember…? I’m here because of Richard.”

  “Richard?” asked Elizabeth.

  “Darcy didn’t tell you?”

  Elizabeth’s eyed Darcy, who looked as confused as she felt.

  “Tell me what?”

  “About him and me?”

  “Uh, is there a ‘him and you’?”

  “Unfortunately,” Anne said. From what Elizabeth remembered of her conversations with Darcy, Darcy and Anne had broken their own engagement years before, just after basic training. He hadn’t even been a pilot at the time. Anne had been playmates with him and Richard when they were in elementary school and that was pretty much the sum total of their interaction with each other. She quickly attempted to recall any hint that Richard and Anne had ever even liked each other.

  Elizabeth, shared a bemused glance with Darcy, laughed, and asked, “Since when?”

  Anne smiled, pressing her lips together. It was a smile of moderate amusement that most people use when being treated to an exceptionally bad pun.

  “About a week ago.”

  “You’re not still talking about the prank are you?”

  “Well, that prank nearly got me fired by Catherine for dallying with her other nephew.”

  Darcy stood full of righteous indignation. “You weren’t dallying!”

  “She accused me of using government property and resources to flirt with a member of the military.”

  “That isn’t a thing. You don’t even work in the same organizations.”

  “Well, I know that, and you know that, and Elizabeth knows that, but that doesn’t mean Catherine cares to hear what I have to say.”

  Darcy looked at once confused, horrified, and angry, and Anne seemed resigned to fate. Elizabeth had no idea what they were talking about and was becoming increasingly frustrated with her ignorant state.

  “You and the colonel?” she finally blurted.

  “Lizzy, I thought it was no big thing. I talked to Georgiana and Richard a week or so ago, and Georgiana told me that she and Richard’s mom had played a prank on him, getting her college-age friends to call and flirt with him. They only stopped when he claimed he was engaged to Anne.”

  “So, you aren’t together, but Catherine thinks you are.” Elizabeth succinctly summed up the situation. Her college professors would be so proud at her ability to state the obvious.

  Anne nodded, blue eyes sparkling.

  “How did she even find out?” Elizabeth asked, trying to laugh at the absurdity.

  “That’s a good question, actually,” Darcy said. “How did Aunt Catherine find out?”

  “Joann Quigley.”

  “Not Patricia’s daughter.”

  “The very same. The little stuck up, inbred sow.”

  “Come on. Joann is very pretty,” Darcy interjected.

  “Who?” Elizabeth asked.

  Anne answered, “Joann Quigley is the daughter of Bill and Patricia Quigley. They own Quigley Meats, a Northeastern brand and assorted other national brands. You probably haven’t heard of them because they keep their name mostly quiet, but if you have eaten a canned good in your life, the Quigley’s probably had a hand in its production.”

  “They make the wine labels for Pemberley wine,” Darcy said.

  “And you are here, because…” Elizabeth found she was feeling vulnerable from her conversation with her parents and protective of her privacy with Darcy.

  “I needed to get away from Catherine, of course, and just started driving, and well, here I am.”

  Elizabeth’s head nearly turned around on her neck, her eyes wide.

  “I did text when I started the drive that I would come down here. And Georgiana told me she had talked to you a couple days ago and said you weren’t flying, so I assumed it was still okay…”

  “Is anyone else hot? This room feels warm to me.”

  “It’s November. I realize it’s not New York, but we are far from hot.”

  Elizabeth was just working herself up to be really annoyed with Darcy’s lack of communication when Jane walked in, a grocery bag in each hand. “Lizzy, I’m so glad you’re home. Give me a hand with these groceries.”

  As Elizabeth helped put canned goods away, she asked through clenched teeth, “Why didn’t you let me kill him?”

  “Too many witnesses.”

  Elizabeth nodded as if this statement made complete sense as Jane led her to sit at the table.

  “You’re going to have to relax. Anne is staying for the next week. She’s already talked to Charles and me. And Darcy loves you; you’re the one rejecting him. If you’re going to be a cat, then stop sending him mixed signals and finally get together. Otherwise, deal with it.”

  Elizabeth was taken aback at her sister’s bluntness. Marriage had been so incredibly good for her, especially for her confidence. She was still the sweet, beautiful Jane she had been before, but now she was beginning to develop boundaries. She stood up for herself and knew when to stand her ground. It was a change Elizabeth had encouraged for years but, now that she was the recipient, was not sure whether she liked it.

  “You’re right, of course. You always were the smartest sister.”

  “Well, I won’t argue with you.”

  “Do you think I should be with Darcy?”

  “Are you asking me? Really?”

  She shrugged.

  “I think you are an idiot if you don’t end up together. Not only is he rich, well-mannered, and conveniently handsome, but he’s crazy about you.”

  Elizabeth laughed and was surprised the smile felt so natural on her lips. “He is, isn’t he?”

  “You’d be stupid not to see it.”

  “I should tell him.”

  “You should.”

  “But what about Anne?”

  Jane shook her head. “What about her?”

  “I can’t tell him while she’s here.”

  “Now you’re being ridiculous.”

  “I know. I know. It’s stupid. I just can’t. Besides, I’ve got my board in December and I need to focus. I need to have my priorities in line.”

  Jane looked sympathetically down at her sister.

  “Well, it doesn’t matter tonight. I’m going back in there and then to bed pretty soon. Can I get you anything before I say good night?”

  “Probably a pain killer for my head.”

  Jane tossed a bottle of Advil from a cabinet to Elizabeth. She took two, then returned to the living room.

  After a few more minutes of listening to chatter about people Elizabeth did not know, she asked, “Would you all mind if I went up to bed? It’s been a long day and my head hurts.”

  “Can I walk you upstairs?” Darcy whispered in her ear.

  She blushed, looked at Anne briefly, and nodded. “Night.”

  When they arrived at her door, she said, “Thanks for coming to tuck me in. You know, I don’t need much help anymore.”

  “I know.”

  She leaned her shoulder against one side of the door while Darcy did the same on the other side.

  “She’s really pretty when she isn’t on her phone.”

  “Who?”

  “Anne.”

  “She is.” Darcy pushed a stray curl behind Elizabeth’s ear and ran his thumb along her jaw, letting his hand caress the smooth skin of her face. “Not as pretty as you.”

  Elizabeth smiled at him.

  “I love you.” Elizabeth closed her eyes and felt Darcy’s hand fall down her back as he came close and pressed his lip
s to hers. She wrapped her arms around his neck and let the moment sink into her memory.

  When she had finally pulled away and rested her head on his chest, she spoke. “I wish you had told me Anne was coming.”

  He squeezed her tightly. “I know. Honestly, I have been so focused on us, I had forgotten all about her.”

  “Good save.”

  He kissed her hair. “I’ll let you get to bed. I’ve got to review a little for work tomorrow.”

  She nodded feeling the emptiness as he stepped away, even though he still held her hand. “See you in the morning.”

  “Sweet dreams, love.”

  Elizabeth sprung lightly from her bed, put on her running clothes, and stepped out of her front door into the perfect morning. The pink clouds of a beginning sunrise shone through the trees in the avenue as she ran past the neighbor’s fields.

  She breathed in the humid morning air as she picked up the pace. Her legs stretched as she ran as fast as she could on the dirt. She relished the feeling of strength in her limbs and the rush of air through her lungs. She had not run in what felt like years, though she knew it had only been weeks. She felt like she could conquer the world if she could just make it down the road. Just to the next sign. To the next tree. To the next fence post. She should not stop. She could not stop. Something bad would happen if she did, but nothing could harm her as long as she kept running.

  She turned to see Darcy running next to her. He smiled at her and gave her a flirtatious wink.

  “Beautiful morning, isn’t it?” he asked.

  She nodded but did not respond except to smile back at him. She had noticed that he was not looking at the landscape around them where the grass had been touched with gold this morning. He was only looking at her. A blush crept into her cheeks.

  “I’m glad you decided to come out for a run with me.”

  “I always want to spend time with you, Elizabeth.”

  “I love you, Will.”

  He said something in return, but she could not hear. The wind picked up around her, rustling the leaves and distracting her for a moment. When she looked back to him, she saw Darcy running just ahead of her instead of beside her.

  “Will!”

  He did not turn, and she picked up her speed.

  “Will!”

  Her ribs were starting to protest with a stitch in her side as she felt herself slow slightly.

  “Wait for me! I want to come with you!”

  The wind gusted once more and rushed past her ears. It had started softly, but now was roaring like a jet engine. She felt herself slow. She ducked her head and leaned into in her stride. Darcy was pulling away now, the wind not seeming to affect him. Even his hair stayed perfectly still despite her own curls being thrown across her face, blocking her vision. She grabbed at it with her hands and found that she was wearing a mask. She ran her fingers around the edge of it to discover it covered her mouth and nose. An oxygen mask.

  Elizabeth’s feet felt heavy, like she was wearing combat boots instead of sneakers. The wind burst into a gale and Elizabeth lost her footing. Instead of falling forward, she fell backward and was caught by a seat with snake-like straps, like a python, wrapping around her torso and then tightening hard against her. She flailed with her arms to escape from their grasp. Her hair stopped blowing around her, and she felt a helmet press against her ears.

  With a sickening realization, she realized she was no longer running, she was flying. She grabbed the stick in front of her and gave her airplane a gentle nudge to the left. A cockpit materialized around her, and she watched the altitude indicator on the panel as it showed the plane’s slight turn of the wings.

  “Keep it straight and level, Bennet.”

  She flicked the stick back to center while the blood drained from her face. She could feel the sweat prick against her skin despite being in a tank top and shorts. There was a nauseating lurch as the aircraft plummeted. She felt like a leaf, tumbling through the air.

  Straight and level.

  Straight and level.

  She finally gave up fighting and closed her eyes for impact. Nothing happened. Nothing came. She opened her eyes and saw a single red light in the darkness. She squinted at the light and soon focused on the far-too-bright alarm clock on her nightstand. The glowing red numbers reading five thirty. As it was, not a single hint of light was coming through her windows, and she knew she needed to sit up. Her body was aching where it had pressed against the mattress, and she felt anxious to move about. If this was only a year ago, she would have been out running, feeling her feet pounding along the road and the wind on her face. She shuddered. After her nightmare, she could not even look at the ASICS which had been tucked into her closet by Jane before she got home from the hospital.

  She moved under the covers and shivered as the crisp autumn air entered her blanket cocoon. It helped her shake off the dredges of her nightmare and, after a minute, she could hardly remember the plane or the run with Darcy before it. The skin on her shoulders prickled as she quickly extricated herself from the bed and clumsily pulled on a sweater and sweat pants. Now, warm and comfortable, she made her way to the kitchen for some breakfast.

  Still in the living room, walking slowly over the wood floors in her socks, she could hear laughter from the kitchen. She could already hear eggs popping in a frying pan and smell what she worked out to be French toast. She picked up her pace until she stopped in the doorway, staring at the scene before her.

  Darcy and Anne stood shoulder to shoulder at the stove. Darcy was dipping bread in an egg mixture before putting it into the frying pan and waiting to flip the toast. Anne was frying eggs and placing them on a plate next to her. Darcy appeared perfectly at ease. He joked, and Anne laughed and leaned into him, placing her head on his shoulder. She had rarely seen this side of Captain William “Fitz” Darcy before. She normally saw the organized, principled man with his life together in perfectly situated checklists. This French toast-flipping, joking man before her was new and different and exactly what Elizabeth wanted for her married life, but she was not the one next to him. Her stomach clenched in knots.

  When did I turn into such a jealous cat?

  She could easily picture Saturday mornings filled with the same sounds and scents before her. She could see their kids running around the room, asking to help Darcy sprinkle nutmeg into the egg mixture or playing the drums with a wooden spoon and a mixing bowl. She thought about their relationship and the moments they shared, from his searing kiss in the hospital to the phone calls on the road. She tried hard to point to the exact spot that she fell in love, the look that he had given or the words he had spoken, and failed. She was in the middle of everything before she realized she had even begun to love him. She realized that if she knew anything in her life, she knew that she was in love with William Darcy. She knew that she was in love with him. She inhaled sharply to keep from crying.

  The pair at the stove turned to the sound behind them. She looked from the Anne’s steely blue eyes to Darcy’s dark features.

  “Elizabeth?” Darcy spoke, raising his eyebrows, surprised to see her.

  Elizabeth opened her mouth to speak. She closed her mouth. Then opened it. Ugh, I look like a fish. She kept her eyes on Darcy, willing herself to tell him her mind and heart but she could not ease the constriction in her throat or stop the burning in her eyes. She watched Anne place her hand on his arm, and he turned to look at the woman that had clearly inspired domestic tranquility.

  She closed her mouth and swallowed everything she had ever thought about this man. One hot tear rolled down her cheek and she felt the burning shame of embarrassment. She turned quickly to hide her face and escape the room. A wave of emotion crashed over her. She heard Darcy and Anne speaking quietly behind her, and she suddenly felt horribly weak. She was grateful to her physical therapy and silently blessed Miss Bates as she made her way up the stairs with relative speed.

  “Elizabeth? Are you okay?” She heard Darcy climbing the stairs
behind her as she ducked into her room.

  She held everything in, unwilling to let Darcy see what she had just discovered. She loved him, but why did she feel so insecure now seeing him with his childhood friend? His ex-fiancé!

  “Totally fine. I think I just have a little low blood sugar.”

  “I felt the same way, so Anne suggested making a big breakfast.”

  She laughed nervously and sat on the edge of her bed. “I’m sure I’ll be okay in a few minutes. I’ll just stay in here for a little while.”

  Darcy slid into the spot next to her and took her hand. “Would you like some French toast? We have a few slices ready to go.”

  “That’d be great.”

  Darcy took her face in one hand and brushed her cheek with his thumb. “You are absolutely stunning in the morning. Did you know?”

  Elizabeth pressed her lips together and willed herself to look in his eyes, using all her strength to maintain her composure while she shook her head.

  Darcy kissed the cheek he had touched and walked with Elizabeth slowly back down the stairs and to the kitchen table.

  “Here you are, love. I got you some French toast and a lovely fried egg. Anne always was able to get the middle soft and runny but the whites perfectly done. It’s a gift.” Elizabeth’s lips lifted as she smiled at him, willing him to leave her alone. “Do you want anything else? Milk or orange juice or coffee…”

  “Thanks, Will.” Elizabeth tasted his name on her lips, relishing the feel of it.

  “Are you okay?”

  Elizabeth nodded, her face reddening as she had been caught savoring the words.

  “You’re not okay, are you?”

  Elizabeth felt her eyes well up. She had been killing herself with therapy and research for her board, and now, just as she had figured out how in love she was―and wanted to do something about it, she knew that if she wanted a career in the Air Force, she could do absolutely nothing about it. What’s worse, she had found that someone else fit Darcy like a glove, and Darcy would not have to wait years to be with her. Elizabeth could have lied to anyone else.