Chapter 1
Ooo – I love ya, baby. Ooo – I love ya, girl. I glanced over at my youngest sister, Lydia. She was unconcernedly digging through her bags for the offensive object. Lydia did not mind all the attention her cell phone was bringing. Not in the least
Grief! Why do I always sit with my family on Sundays?! Of course I knew the answer. I had been sitting in this pew basically my whole life and probably would always do so. I sighed and glanced back up to where my father stood giving a sermon on obedience. It was not that I was bored. Well, ok, I kind of was. But I had a great excuse – I always do. My father usually practiced his sermons by preaching them at me on Friday afternoon. Therefore, I had already heard this particular sermon several times.
I, Elizabeth Bennet, let my mind wander. No new thing I assure you. I thought of school, of friends, of the social gathering coming up. I smiled. In our early teens Jane and I had set up a game night and invited much of the Church youth. At the point of this story, although we were no longer teens, my friends and I often took turns hosting clean fun nights. That Friday my best friend, Charlotte, was inviting our group over to her house for "fun and brownies" as she said. Charlotte was my absolute best friend in the world – except for Jane of course. She lived with her parents in their old two story and her days were filled with housekeeping, and the few classes she enjoyed at the neighborhood college. Her deepest darkest wish was to get married. If fact that was possibly the greatest disagreement we ever had. She really used to idolize the idea of getting married and in the later years her standerd for the perfect man deteriorated. In better language she grew desperate and was willing to marry anyone – but I am getting ahead of myself. Back to friendship: Charlotte and I were the type or dynamic duo that led Jane to say she did not want to be seen in public with us. Jane is so kind and soft and sweet she can never bear to be a nuisance which is exactly what Charlotte and I always were. Jane is the best human being I have ever met. She thinks the best of everyone and over looks all their faults but she is still smart enough to not trust scoundrels and kind enough to still put down creepy stalkers – hard.
Suddenly, I was pulled back into reality – literally. I felt a tug on my arm in someone or something's attempt to make me stand. I blinked. Everyone had risen and Mary was playing the interlude for the final hymn.
Oh! Lizzy, you will get into trouble some day for always wool-gathering away the service. I smiled a thanks to Jane as I stood up, promising myself I would pay better attention next time.
nNmMmNn
After a coffee and cake fellowship Jane and I left in her car to go out to lunch.
"Poor Father," I said in an exaggerated British accent as I leaned my head back against the passenger-seat head-rest. Jane plopped into her seat and began to search for her keys. I shifted back to my regular tone to say, "I wish Lydia would not bring her phone to Church."
"Or silence it," commented Jane.
"Or play less offensive music. Seriously!" I snorted.
"Where do you want to go?" asked Jane, changing the topic.
"Hum, how about a diner."
Jane thought a moment. "Coffee Planet?"
"Sure, why not?" I complied. We were both quiet for a while as Jane pulled out and started for town. I broke the peace, as usual. "So, what do you have going on this week?"
"Mrs. Golding had a new baby last week, so I want to visit them. Also, Mrs. Smith is having knee surgery on Wednesday, so I am going to the hospital to see her after that. Maria has a piano recital on Tuesday and I have babysitting for the Foresters on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday."
"Looks like a full week. I had forgotten about Maria's recital. Are you printing the bulletins?"
"Mmh," nodded Jane, turning on her right blinker. "And you?"
"Well, let me see, I have school on Monday, school on Tuesday, school on Wednesday, school on Thursday, and – oh, school on Friday." I smirked at my sister, and yes, I do a great smirk.
"Do you work at all this week?" Jane asked after smiling at my dramatics.
"Yes, my regular schedule." I thought about my own busy week. I would get to my first class by 9 o'clock on Monday morning and after my last class I would drive straight over to Hannafords. I had started working there several years ago and gradually went from cart collector to bagger to stocker. Two weeks before I had been moved into the sales department and finally given a cash register. Of course I worked long hours: 3:30 pm to 12 am but –
"Lizzy? Shall we get lunch?"
Slowly my brain registered Jane's blue eyes looking at me. "Oh, yeah. Sorry."
nNmMmNn
"Jane, do you ever get the feeling we are not really moving anywhere in life?" I queried around my mouthful of sandwich.
Jane looked thoughtful." I feel happy right now, but I wouldn't mind a change either. If the right guy came along I would be excited to marry and move out."
I laughed. "You are so fortunate. You at least will never want for candidates."
"Lizzy! –"
"Nay, I do not exaggerate. For why would men not like you? You are beautiful, smart, thoughtful, and have a wonderfully sweet disposition. My only fear is that you will be forced to house your old spinster sister after your marriage – if I am ever to be free to leave our house." My voice was light but I was perfectly serious and my sister knew.
"Oh, Lizzy. For your sake, I would marry today, but before we move out I should like to find the right man. I should wish – I should so much like to marry – for love."
"And so you shall my dear Jane," exclaimed I. "Only think: if you traveled a bit and met new people to choose from…"
Jane looked thoughtful and paused for a minute before turning to me. "And what about you?"
I gazed out the window and answered slowly, carefully. "I have decided only deep, deep love will ever persuade me to marry. So," I forced my tone to lightened, "I shall become a gray, old maid; live with you and your sweet, charming husband; and teach your many children how to climb trees in skirts, ride a bike without holding on, and shoot BBs at moving targets." We both dissolved into fits of laughter.
nNmMmNn
Monday morning came, as always. Jane woke at six for some devotional time while the house was quiet. I, being used to late nights, would get up around eight and frantically fly about to dress and prepare for school and work. Mary was up but was forbidden to touch the piano until at least seven. Rev. Bennet, my dad was quietly getting ready for his day. He would be gone before the others awoke. Before he left he would come into our room, say good-bye to anyone up, and kiss me on my dreaming head.
Beep, beep, b-e-e-p… I groaned and rolled over. I had been having a horrible dream about Lydia moving in with Jane and me. The worst part was that Lydia's phone would not stop ringing. Gradually the fog cleared and I realized Lydia would never have such a harmless ringtone. "Jane? Where did you hide my alarm clock?"
"It's on the top shelf of the dresser," Jane pointed with her chin across the room from me.
"Uggh," was my dignified reply as I threw off my covers and pulled hair from my mouth. I walked dizzily over to the bookshelf, grabbed my clock, and punched off the alarm. I tossed it back onto my messy bed and went into the bathroom.
Ten minutes later I was pulling on my bathrobe and stepping out from the steamy shower room.
"Lydia, it's 8:30." I heard Jane call from the kitchen.
What! 8:30? I have to Move! I made my bed, and shrugged into blue jeans and a long-sleeved T. Then came the glitch: my favorite black sweatshirt was not on its hook! Where is it?! I don't have time – my eyes caught sight of Lydia sitting up and yawning. "Lydia Bennet, why do you wear my clothes when you have perfectly good ones of your own?!"
"Huh? Oh, sorry, Lizzy," she gave an innocent smile. "It was so dark last night. (yawn) I thought that it was mine. It is rather tight." She smirked and started to pull it off. "Here."
"I don't want it now! You slept in it!" I flew into the closet and grabbed a gray sweater and my sneakers. "Jane, have a great day – "
"Here," my sister pressed a bag into my hand.
"Thanks, you're the best," I squashed my three meals for the day into my backpack, watched out of the corner of my eye as Jane grimaced, then threw my arm around her neck. "Bye, see ya tomorrow."
"Same time, same place." We had done that for years. Yes, Jane and I owed our very existence to each other.