by Ruby Cruz
“Will you be able to get off work, Lizzy?” Jane inquired. “I thought you were working tomorrow.”
“I’m scheduled, but Lydia said she would take my shift and could use the overtime. And I don’t have to be back again until Friday and the weekend shift.”
“Who’s covering for you, Will?” Charlie asked.
“I did my rounds this morning and Dr. Xiang agreed to cover my office appointments the next few days. The cardiology team will have to perform rounds for me, but that couldn’t be avoided. My aunt is planning for services to take place on Wednesday, to allow people to adjust their schedules so they may attend.” He turned to me and added, “My grandfather had many business colleagues here in the U.S. and overseas. Aunt Catherine was insistent that everybody have the ability to pay their respects.”
Darcy’s phone rang and when he checked the readout, he announced, “I should take this. It’s my aunt. Excuse me.” He stepped out of the room and, when he answered, his subdued voice echoed from the hallway. Mrs. Pratchett took the opportunity to excuse herself to complete her packing.
“Well, munchkin, we should let Aunt Lizzy and Dr. Darcy get going. They have somewhere important they need to go to,” Jane told Chloe, who was busy munching on her third shortbread cookie. Despite the brightness of her tone, she seemed a bit weary.
Chloe shook her head rebelliously and scampered away, leaving a trail of cookie crumbs in her wake.
Jane sighed. “I swear she skipped over the Terrible Twos and is in full-blown Terrible Threes sometimes.”
“She was pretty good while you were gone. She just missed you. I think this is her way of getting you back for leaving her behind.”
“I knew we should’ve taken her with us.”
“Relax, honey, I’m joking. I enjoyed having her around. I don’t get to see her as often now that I’m living here.”
“You’re welcome to come and visit anytime, you know that.”
“Between work and school starting up again next week, that probably won’t be for a while.”
“Just know the offer always stands.” She sighed again. “I missed her so much, but I can definitely say I don’t miss this,” she stated as she stood and left to chase after her daughter.
Once Jane was out of the room, Charlie said, “She did miss Chloe terribly. She could barely sleep the first couple of nights, and I had to talk her out of calling you half a dozen times to check up on her.”
“I wouldn’t have minded.”
“No, but if she’d had her choice, she would’ve been on FaceTime the entire trip. Thank you again for watching her. I don’t think Jane would’ve agreed to the trip otherwise.”
“It’s important for you guys to have time together as a couple without the munchkin around. I get that.”
“Again, thank you.” He paused, his eyes shifting away. He almost appeared embarrassed. “Has Jane spoken to you…about Chloe’s father?”
“What do you mean?”
Before he could answer, Chloe’s cries increased in volume, indicating that she and Jane were approaching. He closed his mouth, a guilty expression on his face.
Jane carried Chloe into the room as her daughter’s wailing filled the space. “I think it’s time to go,” Jane announced. “Nap time.”
The three of them left after a hasty goodbye, and I found Darcy seated at his desk in his study, his countenance even more severe than earlier.
“What’s wrong?”
He looked up at me, but his mind was obviously still absorbed in whatever was causing his grim expression.
I approached him and placed a hand on his shoulder. “What is it?”
He covered my hand with his and exhaled. “It’s nothing, just, um, more arrangements my aunt needs for me to take care of.” He looked up at me and his features softened slightly. “Are you packed?”
I nodded and mentally checked off items from my list. I owned only one black dress so I’d packed that and hoped my other clothing choices would be appropriate for whatever family obligations we’d be required to attend.
“As soon as Mrs. Pratchett is ready, the driver will bring us to the airfield before heading to Westchester.”
He seemed so lost and far away. I stepped behind him, wrapped my arms around his shoulders, and leaned my head against the top of his. “Do you need me to help you pack?”
“Hmm?” When I repeated the question, he answered, “No. Thank you.” He fell silent again.
When he continued to say nothing, I began to suspect that his grandfather’s death affected him more than he was willing to admit. “I’ll go get my bags, then.” I unwrapped my arms and moved away from him, but he caught me by the wrist.
“Wait.” He stood and grabbed me in a fierce, bone-breaking hug. After a long moment, he seemed to sense my requirement to breathe because he released me, but tipped my chin up with a finger so I could face him. “You know I love you, right?” He said it quietly and my heart fluttered as his eyes searched mine intently.
“Of course. I love you, too.”
He captured my lips in an urgent, possessive kiss that, when it was over, left me breathless and wanting more, but he stepped away from me. “I’ll meet you at the car in a little bit. I still have some business to take care of before we leave.”
Again, that lost, sad look lingered in his eyes. I wanted to ask him if there was anything else wrong, but I didn’t want to pry. He would tell me if he needed to.
CHAPTER TWO
Code Green
An hour later, we arrived at Meryton Airfield. As we waited for Ana to arrive, I marveled at how different the airport was compared to Newark International. Granted, the airfield consisted of no more than a dozen hangars and a single runway in the middle of a quiet, rural neighborhood dotted with large country homes nestled within several acres of farmland.
The largest difference, at least to my eyes, was the difference in size of the planes. The commercial airliners were humongous in comparison to the single engine planes, which seemed to comprise the makeup of vehicles present. When we entered one of the hangers and I saw the plane Ana had chartered for our flight, I nearly walked home.
It seemed modern enough, but so small. Before today, I’d never had the opportunity to fly. Because the commercial jumbo jets seemed so much sturdier and larger compared to these planes, I began to sincerely question my commitment to accompany Darcy and Ana on this trip. I almost told Darcy I would just drive to the Hamptons, but he propelled me forward and up the walkway with a hand to the small of my back.
As I entered the plane, I reminded myself that my nervousness was irrational and noted the deep leather seats and crisply uniformed attendant waiting with the beverage cart. The pilot peeked his head into the cabin and greeted, “Good evening, Dr. Darcy. Miss Bennett.” I felt somewhat startled he knew my name.
“Good evening, Captain Sampson. How is the weather looking?” Darcy said.
“Clear skies straight through. We’ll take off as soon as Miss Darcy arrives and we complete our final check. We should definitely arrive before six.”
“Excellent.”
“I thought you said Ana chartered the flight. I didn’t realize you knew the pilot,” I said.
“He’s been employed by The Debourgh Group for several years. Ana was fortunate he was available to fly the company jet to come and get us.”
I remembered how he’d “borrowed” the Bingley plane to help Lydia during her debacle in Vegas and wondered why he hadn’t instead made use of his family’s plane during that time.
Before I could question him about that, Ana arrived. She was dressed in a turquoise and white maxi-dress with complementary gold sandals and jewelry. As I contemplated my go-to summer outfit - jean shorts, fitted T, and flip flops - I worried that I might be severely underdressed.
I didn’t have much more time to fret about my perpetual lack of style because Ana greeted me warmly, though her expression was muted. “I’m
so sorry to hear about your grandfather,” I said.
“Thank you.” Her smile faltered and tears glistened in her eyes.
“Were you close?”
“Not so much lately.” She glanced briefly at her brother. “As a child, I spent summers with him and my grandmother in the Hamptons. I have very fond memories of them.”
Darcy’s expression remained impassive, and before I could question them further, the pilot announced we would be taking off momentarily. As the three of us settled into our seats, the attendant served us wine and cheese. I downed my first glass and requested a second.
“Nervous?” Will asked as he reached for my hand.
“A bit. I’ve never flown before.”
“Really?” He seemed so surprised by the statement I thought his eyebrows would fall right off his head.
“Yes.”
“You should have told me. I could’ve prescribed something for you to take the edge off.”
“I’ll be fine.” The wine in my stomach was already beginning to warm me, though I also started to feel slightly nauseated. My heart began racing double time as the engine whined and readied for takeoff.
His fingers gripped mine - or was I gripping his? - until I had no feeling in my hand. The plane accelerated down the runway and, just as I thought we would never be airborne, the nose lifted off the ground and I felt the strange sensation of the world falling beneath us as we flew higher and higher.
Yes, I was definitely feeling nauseated now. Darcy seemed to sense my discomfort because he disengaged his fingers from mine and reached into a pocket in the side of the plane next to him. He pulled out a plastic-lined paper bag.
As soon as he handed the bag to me, I opened up the bag and filled it with the wine I’d just imbibed, the vomit burning my throat and making me feel even more nauseated than before. I didn’t stop until my stomach was empty. By then we had already reached cruising altitude.
The stewardess kindly disposed of the bag, handed me a hot towel and some peppermints, and offered me some ginger ale which I declined.
“I’m so sorry,” I apologized to everyone once I felt safe enough to speak and not vomit up my entire GI tract.
“No worries,” Ana reassured me. “At least it’s a short flight.”
The promise of a short flight was no consolation to my stomach when the descent sent me into dry heaves again. As soon as we landed, I leaned back in the seat and prayed for the nausea to finally cease.
The plane had stopped moving for at least five minutes when Darcy gently touched my cheek. “The car is waiting for us if you’re ready to leave.”
Right. I forced my eyes open. “I’m so embarrassed.”
“Don’t be. I didn’t know you’ve never flown before.”
“I may be many things, but world traveler is definitely not on that list.”
“The house is only a few minutes from here. Do you feel up for the drive? We can stay here as long as you need.”
I pushed myself out of the seat and paused slightly before testing my legs. They were surprisingly steady, so I moved towards the exit. The outside air, though warm and humid, had a decidedly salty tang which was actually pleasant following the canned air from the plane.
Darcy snaked one arm firmly around my waist, and I was glad for the added support as we descended the stairs to the tarmac. Our bags were being loaded into a waiting limousine, and the further we moved away from the plane, the more settled I felt. By the time I climbed into the vehicle, my stomach was no longer churning and doing flips and I actually started to feel a bit thirsty.
Ana, who was already seated in the limo and on her cell phone, announced, “When we were in the air, I contacted the car service. There should be cans of ginger ale in the console and…” The driver, who had finished loading the luggage into the trunk and was now sticking his head into the passenger door, handed Ana a prescription bag. “…and the anti-nausea medication William called into the pharmacy.”
I had only vague recollections of what was happening around me on the plane as I had emptied my stomach contents and then some. I marveled at how Darcy and his sister had managed so much in so little time. “Thank you. This was more than I could’ve hoped.”
Darcy opened up the prescription bag and retrieved a pill from one of the small pill pockets. “Let this dissolve in your mouth.”
Even though I already felt much better, I obeyed. There was a slightly bitter aftertaste that I washed down with a couple of sips of ice cold ginger ale. Heavenly.
When he had assured himself I was feeling better, he indicated to the driver to commence our trip.
As the car began to move, I realized I had no idea where we were headed. Darcy had mentioned the house was only a few minutes’ drive from the airport, which confused me somewhat. What house? Had he and his sister rented a place for the week? I’d been so focused on packing and the actual getting there, I had no idea where we were actually staying. The Hamptons was a pretty exclusive area to vacation, but then again, it didn’t surprise me they’d somehow managed to find somewhere for all of us to stay with only a few hours’ notice.
Darcy rested his arm casually around my shoulders as we passed impressive and immaculately kept homes. I caught more than a few glimpses of the ocean, partially hidden by sand dunes and beach grasses. The occasional sea gull circled to find its next meal.
The car maneuvered through an elaborate iron gate and down a long driveway to an elegant manor house that seemed more suited for the French countryside than the beach. When the limo slowed and parked at what appeared to be the entrance of the expansive building, I glanced questioningly at Darcy, but his expression yielded no answers. His face settled into that impassive mask I’d come to know and dread.
Wherever we were, Darcy obviously wasn’t looking forward to the experience.
~
A uniformed maid ushered us into the manor house. With her plain gray dress and starched apron with matching cap, I felt like I’d been transported to an old movie. I almost expected to see Scarlett O’Hara come sweeping down the grand staircase when another grand dame entered the room.
Dr. Catherine DeBourgh was unmistakable with her dark hair with its distinctive streak of silver, but she appeared as I’d never before seen her. Her usually perfect coif was disheveled, and her cold, blue eyes were naked of all makeup and rimmed with red and tears. Her dark suit, though immaculately tailored, was slightly rumpled, almost as if she’d slept in it. I’d only encountered her a handful of times during our acquaintance over the past twenty months, and this was the most emotion I’d ever seen her display.
Upon seeing Darcy and Ana, she dissolved into tears. Ana reached her first and held her as her aunt sobbed while Darcy stood stiffly next to me. He appeared unsure of what to do and made no move to aid in comforting his aunt.
After her sobs subsided, she dabbed at her eyes and disengaged herself from Ana to take in Darcy. The hug she offered him was much more perfunctory, and he made no move to prolong the gesture. “I’m so glad the two of you could make the trip here. Your grandfather would be proud.”
She was followed by a middle-aged woman who appeared to be in her early fifties. She was solid looking, no taller than me but with a much heavier build, with caramel colored skin and dark, curly hair pulled into a rather severe ponytail. Intelligent green eyes peered at me as Ana made introductions.
“Lizzy, this is my aunt’s assistant, Terry Portman.” Dr. DeBourgh turned to Terry and smiled warmly at her. “Miss Portman has been a godsend through this difficult time.” She gripped her hand and turned her watery gaze to Ana. “With so little family left, she’s become one of my own.”
Terry blushed. “We’ve been through much together, Catherine, you can’t deny that.”
She turned away from her and back towards Darcy and Ana. “I’ve spoken with the cook, and she’s assured me that dinner will be ready as soon as you’re settled.”
“Dr. DeBourgh
, I’m so sorry for your loss,” I asserted myself, determined to not be ignored.
She blinked at me, her pale blue eyes hardening slightly before she nodded briefly. “Thank you.”
Darcy’s hand gripped mine more tightly, but his impassive expression did not change. “Would you have someone show us which rooms we will be staying in? Lizzy did not have a good experience with the flight, and I’m sure she would like the opportunity to freshen up before dinner, as would the rest of us.” The tone of his voice was forced, almost robotic, and the way he said my name gave me the sense that he was forcing his aunt to acknowledge me.
Dr. DeBourgh looked at me as if seeing me for the first time since we entered. “Ah, yes, of course. Nurse Bennett, I almost hadn’t noticed you were dressed so…informally.” Her eyes assessed my casual attire, and I detected the hint of a sneer in her expression. “By all means, Lucia can show you to your suite where you can change into something more...appropriate for dinner.”
Crap, I’d forgotten about her edict regarding more formal clothing for dinner. The first time I’d met her at her apartment in Manhattan, I’d spent a near fortune on outfits to wear to her dinners. The only thing I’d brought with me that was remotely dressy was the black dress I’d been planning to wear to the funeral.
With no further attempt at conversation, she gestured to the young maid who’d greeted us earlier before exiting the foyer.
Lucia led us up the grand staircase which split at the top of the landing, and directed us down a long hallway flanked on either side by heavy doors. “Dr. Darcy, you and your companion are in this room. You need only call or ring the bell if you need anything. Miss Darcy, if you would please follow me, your room is further this way.”
Darcy entered the room first. Someone had taken the few minutes we’d dallied in the foyer to deliver our suitcases to the room.
I followed him through the doorway and surveyed my surroundings. The room was painted sage and the furnishings were mahogany. A peek through an open doorway revealed a four-poster bed with a matching dresser and armoire, while another doorway led to an expansive bath containing a large shower stall with multiple shower heads and a Jacuzzi tub that could have easily fit half a dozen people.