Just a One Night Stand

Part I: Strange Bedfellows

January 1, 1957

Elizabeth Collins-Stoddard winced at the bright sunlight peering in through the windows, screwing her eyes shut and grumbling.

Whoever got the idea to throw a New Year's party should rot in hell…

It had, of course, been her idiot husband's idea. Paul often did such things, just so he could disappear from Collinwood Manor while the remaining family members became too involved in the thrall of booze and music. Elizabeth cursed under her breath, head pounding as she rose from bed and made to stretch. She quickly grasped at the sheets, wrapping them around herself when she realized she was naked. And there was someone in bed next to her. Not having any memory of the previous night, Elizabeth reached forward and pulled back the comforter.

It was Willie Loomis.

"W-Willie?"

Loomis stirred, grumbling to himself. It took him a rather long moment for him to realize where he was and who he was with. Once he put two and two together, he promptly wrapped a spare blanket around his waist and stumbled out of bed.

"Uh... Mornin' Ms. Elizabeth…"

"I think this is an occasion we will never speak of again." Elizabeth replied.

"Most likely. Uh…l-lemme find my clothes and I'll get breakfast started…"

Willie dressed as quickly as he could while nursing a hangover and staggered out of the room without giving Elizabeth so much as a second glance. Elizabeth wanted nothing more than to crawl back into bed and sleep off her hangover. As (rather pleasant) memories of the night before broke through her hangover-induced haze, she forced herself out of bed, grabbing a fresh set of clothes and dragged herself to the bathroom.

Honestly, Elizabeth, she thought as she turned on the facet for a shower. He's hired help for God's sake. You could have done so much better than that.

She stepped into the shower, letting her head under the jet and slicking her hair back before leaning against the wall. Once again, flashes of the night before ran through her mind as her mind cleared. Finally feeling sober enough to make an appearance for the rest of the family, she turned off the water and stepped out of the shower, winding her hair up in a spare towel. Elizabeth sighed in a combination of both disgust and surprise at seeing a love bite on her right breast. For being rather dim, Willie apparently knew what he was doing. After drying her hair and seeing she looked presentable, she finally walked out of her room and was greeted by her brother and sister-in-law.

"Happy New Year, Elizabeth," said Roger Collins solemnly. He too apparently had an alcohol-fueled New Year's Eve, but Elizabeth was sure she had much more fun.

"You too, Roger."

"Willie certainly seemed…off this morning. More so than usual, anyway," Laura Collins said pleasantly. Out of the three people in the room, she seemed the most chipper. "Had breakfast set out then drove off somewhere."

"Willie Loomis is a buffoon, Laura," replied Roger, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Not exactly the sharpest tool in the shed."

Elizabeth had a sudden urge to snap at her brother, but held her tongue. What happened between her and Willie was nothing but a drunken fling. She would think him nothing more than a loyal friend and hired hand, no matter what happened now.