First Impressions: A Contemporary Retelling of Pride and Prejudice

by Debra White Smith

  Her shoulders slumped, and she tugged a dead stem from a hanging ivy. At least there was some light in their lives. God answered their prayers, and Linda decided not to get an abortion. According to the latest, though, Eddi’s parents still didn’t know about the pregnancy.

  Eddi aimlessly gazed around the rows of townhouses. A green sports car pulled into the parking lot a hundred yards away. At first Eddi speculated that the vehicle might be Jenny’s Toyota. The last she heard from her parents, they were all driving down together in their minivan. But plans had a way of changing at the last minute.

  She squinted against the sun. As the vehicle neared, she deduced that the car was a Mercedes, not a Toyota. The trickling of water announced that the fern pot was overflowing. Eddi moved the hose to a pot of geraniums and continued to observe the vehicle.

  Someone in the passenger seat began to wave. At first Eddi politely returned the gesture and assumed the person would soon realize the mistake. When the vehicle whipped into the spot beside Eddi’s Mustang, she recognized the person waving.

  “Cheri Locaste!” Eddi whispered and the water hose slipped from her hand. Eddi had received a postcard from Cheri last week. The front of the card featured the mountains of Switzerland. A hurried note from Cheri announced her marriage and declared she and Conner were having the time of their lives. Other than that, Eddi hadn’t heard a word from Cheri since the week before she and Conner eloped. At last night’s practice, Mrs. DeBloom mentioned that Cheri would be back soon. Eddi had wondered then if she and Conner planned to live in London, although the prospect seemed highly unlikely. She couldn’t imagine that London, Texas, population 6,352, would ever be sufficient for Conner’s elite taste.

  Her friend opened the car door and jumped out. “Eddi!” she squealed with more vivacity than Eddi imagined Cheri had ever possessed.

  “Cheri!” Eddi returned. She stepped over the running water and hurried forward.

  Cheri met her halfway and enveloped her in a warm embrace. The whiff of Chanel No. 5 bespoke Cheri’s change in fortune. When Eddi pulled away from her, she realized Cheri also wore a light application of makeup that looked far more refined than the over-the-counter variety. She also sported a wispy haircut that did wonders for her oval face.

  “Can you believe it?” Cheri exclaimed. “Conner and I got married!” The groom’s car door slammed.

  “No, I can’t believe it!” Eddi responded and tried to make herself sound far more enthused than she actually was.

  Conner stepped to Cheri’s side and slid his arm around his bride. “Good to see you, Eddi,” he said with an aloof nod.

  “It’s good to see you, too, Conner,” Eddi returned and couldn’t miss the resentful glint in his eyes.

  “So this is your little home?” he questioned as if he couldn’t believe Eddi would turn down his riches to continue in her present status.

  “Yes, this is it!” Eddi motioned toward her townhouse and hesitated a second before extending an invitation to enter. At last, she decided that Cheri was still her friend. Even if Conner wasn’t her most cherished acquaintance, she still wanted to be hospitable. “Would you guys like to come in?”

  “Sure,” Cheri agreed and moved beside Eddi. “Oh, you should see our home,” Cheri oozed. “It sits on a small lake with a vaulted great room and a huge picture window that overlooks the lake. We even have deer.”

  “Sounds like every woman’s dream,” Eddi said as she walked toward the water faucet. She bent and twisted the handle to the off position. The water’s telltale hiss ceased.

  “Absolutely!” Cheri agreed.

  “You’ll have to come visit us sometime,” Conner said as Eddi walked to her front door.

  “Of course, I’d love to,” Eddi agreed. When she opened her home and stepped inside, the aroma of roasting brisket enveloped them. Roddy pranced from his spot near the window and offered a welcoming yap.

  “This is so quaint,” Conner said. He tugged on the edge of his collar as Eddi had seen him do a hundred times.

  She figured his and Cheri’s less-is-more shorts and polo shirts cost as much as half her wardrobe. Eddi glanced down at her simple capri pants and cotton shirt. She started to tell Conner about last year’s job offer from a major Boston law firm, but she stopped herself. By now, she could have been making leagues more money than the small town would ever supply her. But she had purposefully chosen a simple life in a town where a new dinner theater was the center of culture. Eddi doubted her affluent cousin would ever understand her lack of interest in the fast lane.

  “Oh, Conner!” Cheri exclaimed. “I left my pictures out in my suitcase. I wanted to show Eddi some shots of our honeymoon. Would you go out—”

  “Sure, dear,” he said and bestowed a kiss on Cheri’s forehead.

  The second the door closed, Cheri turned to her friend, clasped her hands, and said, “I know you well enough by now, Eddi—you think I shouldn’t have married so quickly, don’t you?”

  “Well . . .” Eddi hedged.

  “It’s best for us to just get it all out in the open,” Cheri continued with candid certainty.

  “Who am I to—” Eddi began and then stopped herself. “Okay, Cheri,” she said and toyed with the fringe of her short hair. “You’ve made your choices, I just hope it all works out. I just hope . . .” Eddi shook her head. “I hope you don’t rock along a few years and meet the man you could have fallen madly in love with. I would die a thousand deaths if I married for convenience and then someone like—like—” Dave Davidson came along, she thought. Her heart twisted into a knot of despair, and she restated her comment. “If someone came along who knocked my socks off so much I could never be happy with my husband again because I never loved him in the first place.”

  “Who’s to say I won’t fall madly in love with Conner?” Cheri asked, her hazel eyes sure of the possibility.

  “Who’s to say you will?” Eddi countered and couldn’t imagine herself ever falling in love with her cousin.

  “Just because Conner isn’t your cup of tea, doesn’t mean he isn’t another woman’s,” Cheri claimed with pragmatic conviction.

  “Of course. I can understand that,” Eddi concurred.

  “I could have gone my whole life and not had another opportunity like this one.” Cheri raised her chin. “The way I see it, I don’t have to worry about growing old and being penniless and childless now. Conner has already shown me a richer life experience than I’ve ever known. My mother says I’ve done the right thing.”

  My mother would have said the same thing if I’d married him, Eddi thought and couldn’t imagine being the wife of a man who had been chasing another woman mere days before. She wanted to ask Cheri how she could ever trust Conner’s vow of loyalty. Roddy scratched at her leg, and Eddi bent to pick him up. She thought of her father and his heart-wrenching honesty about his marriage. In that second, Eddi decided she would rather be an old maid before settling for a marriage without earthshaking love.

  Eddi shifted Roddy into the crook of her left arm and gripped her friend’s hand. “Cheri, we all have these choices to make in life. I want you to know that even though I wouldn’t have made your choice, I will always respect your decision. Besides all that,” she paused for a spontaneous hug, “we’re third cousins now.”

  With delightful glee, Cheri clung to Eddi and graced her with another whiff of expensive perfume. “I know. Isn’t it great? Once I move to Houston with Conner, I’ll have you over, okay?”

  “Sure,” Eddi said. “So you’re going to stay here awhile, then?”

  “Yes. I’ve talked to the school, and they’ve asked me to stay until Christmas break. I’m actually contracted through the whole school year. They’re graciously releasing me six months early. Conner and I will take turns commuting on the weekend. And this way, I get to finish my part in the play.”

  Soon, Conner stepped back into the house with the honeymoon photos in hand. While Eddi and Cheri settled onto the couch and enjoyed a fulfill
ing conversation about Switzerland, Conner strolled around the modest living room. Eddi figured the man was taking inventory of all her inferior furnishings so he could make a point of mentioning them later to his wife. On a testy urge, she almost told him her couch came from the “nearly new” shop next to her law office. Finally, she decided that might be a little too spiteful for the well-being of future relationships.

  The only comment Conner made involved his satisfaction that Eddi had never been to Switzerland. She didn’t tell him that she’d spent time in England as an intern or that she’d lived in the Amazon jungle six weeks or that she’d been to Cambodia, Romania, and Mexico on mission trips. Instead, Eddi endured Conner’s remarks with a grace Jenny would have applauded.

  Within an hour, Eddi’s patience was rewarded. Cheri ended the visit with vows of sisterly devotion before speeding away in Conner’s Mercedes. As Eddi stood in her doorway and watched them leave, she could only hope that her friend didn’t one day call, lamenting her rash choice.

  She was about to close her front door when she caught sight of her parents’ van turning into the townhouse parking lot. Eddi hurried onto her sidewalk and waved with as much gusto as Cheri had upon her first arrival. Only when her father had parked the van did Eddi notice the blue Chevrolet truck pulling into the place beside her parents’ van. Her full attention riveted upon Dave Davidson in the driver’s seat while her family clambered from the minivan.

  Only when Linda hurried in front of her, squealing, “Dave, whatever are you doing here?” did Eddi realize her younger sister had joined her parents for the visit.

  Calvin stepped from the truck’s passenger side and said, “Thanks for the ride, Dave,” before slamming the door. He looked at Eddi. “My Jeep’s in the shop,” he explained. “Dave offered to give me a lift, and I took him up on it. Do you mind giving me a ride home tonight?”

  “No, not in the least,” Eddi answered, but her focus remained upon Dave, who slid from the truck to welcome her younger sibling.

  Thirty-One

  Linda flung her arms around Dave’s neck, and he returned the gesture as if she were his own little sister. To her left, Mr. Boswick’s polite greeting mingled with Eddi’s mother’s giddy exclamation over meeting Calvin again. Eddi moved near their circle to give the appearance of being a part of their conversation. But she tuned them out and strained to detect every nuance of Dave and Linda’s exchange.

  “I hear everything is going well with you,” Dave said.

  “Yes! Oh, yes, it is!” Linda giggled and held up her left hand. “We’re married now.” She wiggled her fingers, and Eddi caught sight of a modest diamond twinkling in the evening sun. “We kept it a secret until we tied the knot yesterday. I didn’t even tell my parents until this morning.”

  Eddi gasped. Nobody had informed her of Linda’s marriage.

  “Great!” Dave said enthusiastically and acted as if the news were really no news at all.

  “That wonderful minister you suggested married us in his home, just like you said. It was perfect,” she continued with rapture.

  “Is Rick here, then?” Dave glanced toward the van.

  “No, not this time.” Linda shook her head. “He had to work a double shift this weekend, and I decided I needed to get away.”

  “So, how is everything with . . .” Dave glanced up as if he sensed Eddi’s scrutiny, “ . . . with your new neighbors?” he continued but remained focused upon Eddi.

  Eddi’s insides warmed past the comfort zone, and she eyed her red toenails ensconced in her open-toed sandals. She slipped her hands into her capri pants pockets and feigned nonchalance. Nonetheless, she labored to detect every word of Linda and Dave’s conversation.

  “You mean Larnell and Klynell?” Linda asked.

  Who? Eddi thought.

  “Yes,” Dave answered.

  “Those two are absolute jewels!” Linda exclaimed, and Eddi sneaked another peek toward the conversation. “They are so helpful and so respectful and so full of kindness. I’m just so thrilled you arranged for them to help us.” Her head bobbed with every word, her reddish-blond ringlets jostling with every move.

  “I’m sure Rick couldn’t agree more.” Dave’s calculating undertone only heightened Eddi’s curiosity.

  “Are you going to stay and join us for dinner? Please say you will!” Linda tugged on Dave’s hand.

  “No, no, I’m sorry. I can’t. I promised I’d have dinner with my Aunt Maddy.” Again Dave looked at Eddi, who at once became aware that her family and Calvin were no longer nearby. She picked up the echo of her mom’s voice and the word bathroom from near her front door. Eddi stood alone by the van, a prime spectacle of the nosy elder sister. She debated half a dozen ways to retract herself from the awkward situation—all of which included running into her townhouse.

  “How are you, Eddi?” Dave asked.

  “Fine,” she responded and was proud of how cool her voice sounded. “And you?” she asked, her heart beating for even a hint of softness in his eyes.

  “Okay,” he said as if her interest were of little consequence to him. He’d acted much the same during the last several practices.

  And how did you get to be so cozy with Linda? Eddi wanted to ask but didn’t. She suddenly suspected that there was much more to Linda’s not getting an abortion and marrying Rick than she’d ever imagined.

  “You are welcome to stay if you like,” Eddi offered, but her words sounded more stilted than genuine.

  “No, that’s okay.” Dave averted his eyes. “Aunt Maddy is waiting.”

  “Sure, I understand.” After an awkward silence, Eddi pointed toward her home. “Well, I guess I’ll, I’ll, just, uh, go on inside with the rest of the family,” she muttered and sauntered into her townhouse. Before closing the door, Eddi spied Linda in animated conversation with Dave. The smell of roasting brisket reminded her she needed to check on the evening’s entree. Instead, she moved to the narrow window beside the door and tugged aside the curtain.

  “Interesting, isn’t it?” Jenny’s whisper sent a jolt though Eddi, and she jumped.

  “You scared me,” she said and turned to her sister.

  “If you haven’t figured it out,” Jenny continued, “there’s a lot you don’t know.”

  “No joke.” Eddi placed her hands on her hips. “Why am I always the last one to find out?” she asked.

  Jenny glanced over her shoulder. Eddi noted her father, amiably chatting with Calvin near the television. She assumed her mom had found the restroom.

  “Let’s sneak upstairs for a minute.” Jenny jerked her head toward the spiral stairway.

  “Let’s do,” Eddi agreed and led the way to her bedroom.

  As soon as Jenny walked into the room, Eddi closed the door and passed her brass bed. The window facing the parking lot was her targeted destination. She inserted her index finger between the blinds and separated them enough for a peephole. Sure enough, Linda and Dave were still locked in conversation. Eddi’s assumption that Dave detested her family began to waver.

  “What is going on?” Eddi asked.

  “You want the long version or the short?” Jenny asked.

  “You know me, give me the long,” she said over her shoulder.

  “It would appear that the reason Linda didn’t get an abortion was a direct result of Dave’s intervention,” Jenny began.

  Eddi knitted her brows, turned from the window, and listened as her sister detailed the facts. When she finished, Jenny said, “All Dad and Mom know is that Linda is married and is expecting and that Dave helped her make arrangements because he’s Rick’s cousin. They don’t know the extent to which Dave was involved. And, well, when Linda called last night she asked me not to tell them.”

  “Or me, either, for that matter. Am I right?” Eddi quizzed.

  “Right.” Jenny slumped onto Eddi’s bed, her head tilted like a weighted iris. “I don’t know why I can’t keep secrets from you,” she complained and pinched at the pleat in her linen slacks
. “I feel like such a snitch right now.”

  Eddi lowered herself beside her sister. “If it’s any consolation, I’m grateful that you’re such a big snitch.”

  “Thanks a lot,” Jenny said with a sarcastic twist to her lips. “You really know how to encourage me, don’t you?”

  Staring at the plush carpet, Eddi considered the implications of everything Dave had orchestrated. “I just hope it all works out for Linda. I mean, Rick isn’t the most reliable person. I hope he doesn’t abuse her, or—”

  “All we can do is keep praying for God to work a miracle, Eddi. Rick might surprise us. We just never know.”

  “Right,” Eddi said, “Linda got married yesterday and today she’s coming here for the weekend. What is wrong with this picture?” Eddi placed her finger on her chin and lifted her gaze to the ceiling.

  “They’ve been living together for weeks,” Jenny said. “They’ve already been to Hawaii together, too. It’s like they had their honeymoon and now they’ve gotten married.”

  “You’re such an eternal optimist.” Eddi smiled at her sister and then sobered. “I guess if he winds up abandoning her and the baby, at least I can nail him on child support for her.”

  “Sounds like you’ve got all the worst bases covered, as usual,” Jenny said.

  Eddi flopped back and stared at the ceiling. “I guess it goes with my territory, Jenny,” she admitted. “I see so much that I’ve learned to at least prepare for the worst.”

  “But there are times when the best happens,” Jenny encouraged, her blue eyes as positive as always.

  “I guess you’re right,” Eddi said. She sat up, pulled a pillow from near her headboard, gathered it to her chest, and rested her chin on the soft folds. “Remember in Dave’s email he said he wanted to make Rick take responsibility for his actions?” Eddi asked.

  “Yes, I do.”

  “I guess he’s finally done it.”

  “Do you think that’s the only reason he did this?” Jenny asked.