by Sara Marks
“I have some online classes I can take and an independent study. It may take me a bit longer, but finishing the degree isn’t really a priority anymore. I don’t need a degree to paint.”
“You’re in a 1960’s bubble. Women don’t give up things to get married! You can make art and take care of yourself.”
“Well, then I’m sorry you feel I’m letting you and all feminists down,” Charlotte got up and walked away.
***
Lizbeth was devastated when she wasn’t invited to Charlotte and Colin’s quiet, civil ceremony a few days later. She didn’t get to say goodbye before they left town. She kept playing through it all again in her mind and remembered something Wil had said to her about misunderstanding people. Was that really her flaw? She thought she was so observant of people. She used all these skills she had learned in class to listen to what people said and the way they acted. What was she missing? She started paying attention to the closest person to her, Jane.
“Jane,” Lizbeth said the night Charlotte left, as they were trying to fall asleep.
“Lizbeth?”
“Do you want to be with Charlie?”
“I do.”
“Why are you taking things so slow?”
“I don’t know. I guess I’m scared. It doesn’t matter. Caroline sent an email and said they were going to be so busy for the rest of the semester with the holidays and papers, she doesn’t think we can get together. Charlie has been really busy too.”
“Have you talked to Charlie?”
“Yeah, it’s not a big deal. He doesn’t seem to be very invested in the relationship. I think I was right to be cautious. I don’t think he’s the right one for me,” Jane said with a sigh.
“Did I miss something?”
“No, it just didn’t happen.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yeah. What about you and Jorge?”
Lizbeth still hadn’t heard from Jorge despite a few calls, texts, and emails. She had gotten so frustrated and angry with him, that she had given up on their relationship.
“It’s clearly over. I don’t know if he didn’t come to the Halloween party because of Wil or something else, but he won’t talk to me. I guess he wasn’t that invested in our relationship either.”
“That’s too bad.”
“Speaking of Wil, did you know his last name is Darcy?” Lizbeth said.
“What? He’s really Mr. Darcy?”
“ He told me on Halloween when he saw my costume.”
Jane and Lizbeth lay in their respective beds and laughed.
“Lizzy and Mr. Darcy,” Jane said.
“Don’t call me Lizzy.”
***
November 15 - 2:06pm
From: Lizbeth
To: Charlotte
Subject: Forgive me?
Hi,
I have been thinking about how things ended before you got married and I’m sorry for the way I behaved and the things I said. It was wrong of me to forget that we come from different circumstances and that we see the world differently. I made it about me and it wasn’t. I miss you and wish I hadn’t been so mean before you got married. I hope you can forgive me?
L
November 15 - 3:30pm
From: Charlotte
To: Lizbeth
Subject: Re: Forgive me?
Hi,
You are always going to be forgiven. You should know that. I’m sorry I was so harsh about your response to my engagement announcement. I had come ready to be defensive. I wish you had been at the wedding too. My parents asked about you. Things are really good so far. Distance from his mother has softened Colin a bit. Maybe we can grab coffee over Thanksgiving? I’m not too far from your grandparents.
C
November 15- 5:14pm
From: Lizbeth
To: Charlotte
Subject: Re: Forgive me?
Really? Yes, let’s plan something. I’m not sure what is going on yet. I mean, other than Thanksgiving. My dad decided to keep the restaurant open so we are all going to have Thanksgiving dinner on Saturday night in Gardner. There’s a horse that needs to be ridden and spoiled. I can’t wait to see the cottage.
Side note, when you left you mentioned something about some guy is crazy about me. What did you mean?
L
November 16 - 6:26pm
From: Charlotte
To: Lizbeth
Subject: Re: Forgive me?
Hi,
Sorry, it took me so long to get back to you. Colin and I were talking about something. Why don’t you come to us for Thanksgiving? This way you aren’t bored while everything is closed. I think you’ll find this place pretty interesting and Ms. de Bourgh fascinating. Don’t worry about Mrs. C. She’s with one of the other kids this Thanksgiving. She said she’s giving us some space. You can come here on Wednesday and leave Saturday in time for dinner at your grandparents’ house.
C
November 17 - 8:01am
From: Lizbeth
To: Charlotte
Subject: Re: Forgive me?
Hi,
Talked to people in Boston and I think I’ll take you up on the offer.
You didn’t answer my question about the guy. Am I missing something?
L
November 17- 11:59am
From: Charlotte
To Lizbeth
Subject: Re: Forgive me?
Hi,
We will talk about it in person. It isn’t something for email.
C
***
Charlotte met Lizbeth at the airport on Wednesday. They made a quick stop at Lizbeth’s parents’ brownstone in Boston before driving out to Gardner. The cottage Colin and Charlotte lived in was small but quaint, and the perfect place for them to start. It was an older building, probably servants’ quarters once upon a time, but the inside had been modernized. There were two floors and a finished basement. The first floor had an open floor plan with the kitchen, dining room and den. The decor was ultramodern in grays and metallic. Lizbeth knew Charlotte had had no say in any of it. Charlotte’s taste was far more eclectic and comfortable. The two bedrooms on the second floor were also very modern. The guest room felt like a hotel room with inoffensive art on the walls and pristine linens on the bed. The dark wood of the furniture was comfortable for Lizbeth, but she imagined Charlotte would prefer an old, beat-up cast-iron bed draped in colorful quilts from Haiti. The bedrooms were the same size, each with an en suite bathroom.
“Katherine de Bourgh was very kind to not only update the cottage for us, but to decorate it,” Charlotte said when she brought Lizbeth to the guest room.
The basement was where Lizbeth saw touches of Charlotte. The basement wasn’t a proper basement. The small cottage was built into a hill. While the west side had no windows, the east side had floor to ceiling French doors that opened to the back door and let in beautiful natural morning light. Colin had made his wife a small art studio space and Charlotte was already sketching and planning projects. There was a chair in a corner that Lizbeth recognized from the apartment she and Charlotte had shared with Jane the year before. Charlotte had designed fabric to cover it. Lizbeth remembered splitting the cost of printing the fabric with Jane as Charlotte’s Christmas present that year. Charlotte had recovered the chair and it had become her favorite spot to sketch from. The table had obviously been painted by Charlotte to go with the chair. On the side table sat some of Charlotte’s sketches of landscapes. Lizbeth had spent much of her childhood on the North Shore of Massachusetts and knew Charlotte would have plenty to sketch and paint for years.
“In the spring, I’m going to start gardening again,” Charlotte said. “My father and I did it when I was a kid. It was one of the few ways we ate healthy food. Ms. de Bourgh has some ideas on what
will grow best in the space and look the prettiest.
“Consider blueberries. They grow wonderfully out here. Also, an apple tree will give you more than you need.”
“I’ll keep that in mind. I want to have a summer English garden in the front too. Just flowers everywhere coming up the walk.”
“That would look wonderful against the stone.”
Lizbeth had to smile. She was glad to have her friend back.
***
Lizbeth slept well that night. Colin had come home after Lizbeth and Charlotte went to bed. She had heard him talking as she read in her own room. She couldn’t make out the words, but he had sounded excited. She hadn’t bothered getting up to say hello. He would have plenty to say to her the next day.
“Well, Lizbeth, isn’t it just lovely out here? I imagine I’d feel a lot of regret if I turned down an opportunity to be in such a lovely location,” Colin said the next morning at breakfast.
Lizbeth refrained from rolling her eyes.
“It is beautiful. Charlotte told me about her garden plans.”
“Yes, well. How is everything at school?”
“Much as you left it.”
“Your family is fine with you missing Thanksgiving?”
“My parents will be very busy all day today. Restaurants are very popular on Thanksgiving for people who can’t get out of town. My father’s restaurant is completely booked and my mother has to help out. We’re going to do Thanksgiving on Saturday night.”
“I didn’t realize your father was a chef.”
“Colin, I am sure I told you that Lizbeth’s father owns that restaurant Ms. de Bourgh is usually raving about.”
Lizbeth watched as Colin processed this information, but he said nothing.
“Lizbeth, please don’t be mad, but I didn’t tell you about our plans today,” Charlotte said.
“It won’t just be the three of us here?”
“What? Oh, no, I couldn’t begin to think about a whole meal for Thanksgiving this year. No, we’ll be having dinner at Ms. de Bourgh’s house, and there will be more people than I led you to believe.”
“I’m here to spend time with you. The more the merrier?”
“There are more people than you’re expecting: the three of us, plus Anne, Katherine’s daughter, and her nephew Christopher. Chris and Anne, are Wil’s cousins. What I failed to mention is that Wil will be joining us as well.”
“Jane told me he was in New Orleans with Charlie and Caroline. Why is he here?”
“There was a flood in their parents’ house, so Caroline and Charlie went elsewhere for Thanksgiving. Wil changed his plans after I invited you.”
“Will his sister Ginny be here?”
“No, she’s in California with Chris’s parents.”
“I guess I’ll just have to suck it up and deal. Is it rude to bring a book?”
“Yes,” Charlotte said with a smirk.
“Don’t worry about wearing something fancy, Lizbeth,” Colin said. “Just wear the nicest thing you brought.”
Lizbeth wore a pretty V-neck purple dress and a black cardigan to Thanksgiving dinner. They drove up to the huge main house. Lizbeth knew the house from having spent much of her childhood in the area, but it had been vacant most of that time. Lizbeth decided not to mention that her family owned the other large property next door. Residents of the town fought to make sure that neither property would be broken up and sold to developers. People liked Gardner for its small-New-England-town feel. Her grandfather often made comments about how people could move to Worcester if they wanted a big city.
The house had a full staff for the day. Colin parked the car in the driveway and a butler opened the door for them. Lizbeth could see maids carrying dishes and other items as they got organized for dinner. She suspected there was someone in the kitchen doing the cooking and someone else hired to help with cleanup. The house seemed smaller on the inside. There was a grand staircase, and a balcony on the second floor. In contrast to the ultra-modern and open feel to the cottage, this house was a typical New England Colonial style with separate rooms for the living room, dining room and kitchen. The rooms all had dark wallpaper in plaids or brocades.
The butler took their jackets and led them into the living room. The formal furniture looked as uncomfortable as it really was.
“Colin! Charlotte! I’m so happy you’ve arrived! You’re the last ones to get here. This must be your friend, Lizbeth. I have heard so much about you from Colin. How wonderful to meet you,” Katherine de Bourgh said, getting to her feet.
She greeted both Charlotte and Lizbeth with kisses on each cheek, and Colin with a bear hug.
“Now,” she continued. “Introductions!”
Katherine de Bourgh was not what Lizbeth had expected. She was a petite woman in her early sixties. She was dressed in a silk, pink pastel pants suit. The outfit complemented her jet-black hair and pale complexion, even if it was from a different decade. The older woman waved her hands around the room and introduced each person in order.
This is my daughter, Anne, my nephew Christopher, and my nephew William.”
“Lizbeth and I know each other, Aunt Katherine,” Wil said.
Wil had been standing behind Lizbeth in a corner. He was dressed more formally than she had ever seen him in black slacks, a shirt, and a black jacket. He wore no tie and the first two buttons of his shirt were undone. She could see a smattering of chest hair where the shirt was open. He still sported his usual black Chucks. Lizbeth felt like he should be wearing a bowtie and cummerbund. He had gotten a haircut since she had seen him a few days ago in class. Chris dressed similarly. She could see a small resemblance between the cousins. Chris’s hair was a lighter shade of brown and his eyes were hazel. The biggest difference was a scar on Chris’s left cheek that became the focal point on his face. It didn’t ruin his handsomeness; it just changed it. Anne de Bourgh was a thin, frail girl with jet-black hair, dark brown eyes, and pale skin. She was playing up the goth element with her clothing. She wore a black Victorian-style dress with long sleeves, a high collar, and black lace. She made Lizbeth think of Wynona Ryder in Beetlejuice.
“Really, how interesting! How do you know each other?”
“We have a class together and Lizbeth is the president of the Phi Alpha Pi chapter on campus.”
“I’m a sister as well, but at Boston University’s chapter. Wil’s mother, my sister, was also a member. I expect Ginny and Anne will both be legacy members if there is a chapter at the school they choose.”
Lizbeth watched Anne roll her eyes.
“Well, now everyone knows everyone. Please sit and tell us more about yourself, Lizbeth. It is so delightful to meet someone new. Where are you from? How did you end up in Georgia for school? What are you studying?”
Lizbeth did her best to answer the questions thrown at her. She kept her answers brief as Katherine kept asking her more than she could answer.
“I grew up in Boston. I picked a school in Georgia to see another part of the country. I’m studying communications focusing on gender communication online.”
“Do you have any siblings? What do they do? What about your parents?”
“I have a younger brother, Josh, at Johnson and Wales in Rhode Island and a sister, Becca, who is a senior in high school. My mother is a writer and my father is a chef.”
“Oh, so you come from a very creative family. I feel a well-rounded woman is a balance of both creative and scholarly pursuits. Do you paint, sing, dance, or have any other artistic hobbies?”
“No, I happen to be the least talented of my family. I has piano lessons as a child, but I‘ve always been more of a reader and thinker. “
“You’ll have to play something for us after dinner. Anne has a talent for the piano, so we have plenty of sheet music.”
“I really can’t play at all.”
“Nonsense, there is no need to be modest. Speaking of the piano, William, how is Ginny coming along? Is she practicing enough? Lizbeth, I bet if you simply practice more you will feel more confident about your talent,” Katherine said.
Lizbeth looked at Wil and their eyes met briefly before he looked away.
“Ginny practices all the time. She loves the music and care packages you send to her,” Wil told Katherine.
“Lizbeth, I’m shocked you look so healthy with a chef for a father,” Katherine said, changing the subject.
Lizbeth didn’t know how to respond to being called not-fat.
“Thank you?” she said.
“What do you plan on doing with your degree once school is over in May?”
“I’m applying to graduate schools, but my career plans aren’t finalized yet. Part of me wants to stay in academia and teach. Another part of me wants to do work with social-justice organizations and in social policy.”
“None of that pays very well.”
“I’d rather find joy in what I do than be wealthy. My parents taught me to do what I love.”
“Well, writing and being a chef have never been that lucrative for career choices. I’m sure your parents are used to making financial sacrifices.”
Lizbeth turned to Colin, expecting him to share the things he had learned earlier, but he was busy eating all the little snacks left out. Charlotte was sitting back, quietly enjoying herself. It was clear nobody was going to correct the assumptions, so Lizbeth played along.
“What do you do, Chris?” Lizbeth asked, trying to deflect the spotlight.
“I’m in law school in California.”
“Have you picked a specialty yet, or are you still getting through all the required classes?”
“I’m probably going to focus on estate or tax law. This knowledge is in high demand in our family.”
“What would you do if it wasn’t in high demand?”
“Work with refugees and the immigration process for people seeking asylum from war-torn countries.”
“If you ever change your mind, I have an uncle who used to do a lot of that before he became a lobbyist.”
“What is your uncle a lobbyist for?” Katherine asked.