A/N: WOW, has it really been almost two YEARS since I wrote chapter two on this story? Well I say it's about time we get it finished. What do you all think? Let's do this=)
There was noise buzzing around the dinner table. Everybody was home that night. Rose sat at the head of the table. On her left were Mary Ellen and John Curtis in his high chair. On her right were Cindy, Ben and Virginia. Next to Ben was Jim Bob and Elizabeth sat on the end. Across from Elizabeth were Jason, Paul and Erin.
"Elizabeth? Would you like to say grace tonight?" Rose asked smiling. Elizabeth looked over at her. Elizabeth sighed; she didn't feel very thankful, but she would do it anyway. She took Jason's hand from across the table and Jim Bob's next to her and closed her eyes.
"We thank you for the food you've given us and we ask that you let nourish us. I ask that you be with the family that we have at the table right now, and also those who aren't with us. I hope that by some chance everybody will be able to come home in time for my graduation. Thank you. Amen." Elizabeth opened her eyes to see some of her siblings looking at her. Jason, Mary Ellen, Erin, Cindy; they all looked worried when they watched her pick up the bowl of potatoes that sat in front of her. After a few minutes, they all looked away.
"So are you excited about starting over at Boatwright, Elizabeth?" Rose shrilled. Elizabeth smiled. That was one part of her life that was exciting even if her parents weren't able to share it with her. She nodded in response to Rose.
"I'm happy about it. I know Mama is proud of me; I just wish she could be here to see it."
"Elizabeth." Erin tried to comfort her. Elizabeth stood up and rushed out of the room. She walked through the living room and walked outside.
"She's just so upset." Erin said.
"I don't know what we're going to do with her. We're all upset about Mama and Daddy. She can't make it all about her, Erin." Mary Ellen replied.
"Should somebody go talk to her?" Jason asked.
"I think it should be one of us." Jim Bob responded. He looked over at Mary Ellen. "You and Erin have tried to help her Mary Ellen; but it doesn't seem like it's really worked. Maybe if one of us talked to her." Mary Ellen stared at her brother.
"We're all hurting Jim Bob. Mama had to leave all of us, not just her."
"I know that. But maybe one of us could talk to her easier." Ben looked over at Jim Bob.
"I'll go out and talk to her." Ben stated.
"You should eat first Ben. Elizabeth is a big girl." Cindy said. Ben looked at her.
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Elizabeth walked down the road aimlessly when she heard a horn. She turned around. The truck stopped and Drew got out.
"Drew!" Elizabeth rushed over and hugged him.
"Hey Elizabeth." Drew kissed her. "How've you been?"
"I don't know." Elizabeth sighed. Drew put his arm around her.
"What's wrong Elizabeth?" He looked into her eyes. "Are you okay?" Elizabeth shook her head.
"I'll never be okay. My mama and daddy can't come home for my graduation." Elizabeth replied. Drew nodded.
"You knew that was possible when your mama had to go to Arizona, Elizabeth." Drew stated softly. She stared at him.
"They got to you too?" Elizabeth started to walk away.
"Elizabeth!" Drew hollered. He got into the truck and slowly drove behind Elizabeth. "Elizabeth, stop." He said out the window. After a while, Elizabeth stopped and turned to face him. Her face was red and puffy.
"All I want is to see my Mama and daddy again. I would like my brother and my grandma to be at my graduation. Is that such a bad thing?" Elizabeth asked. Her voice was cracking because she'd started crying. Drew stopped the truck and got out. He went to hug Elizabeth and she wrenched away. "Nobody understands how I feel and nobody ever will!" She ran off towards Drusilla's Pond and Drew didn't follow her that time. There isn't anything he can do but let her go off on her own. She'd come to some understanding in her own time.
