This chapter is dedicated to a very dear friend of mine whom I never had the good fortune to meet in person, yet came to love dearly. I'm pretty sure she was a member here, and likely reviewed as much as she did on other sites. She was a great reader of Jane Austen Fanfiction and is greatly missed. Thank you to all of her real life friends who talked to me when I was writing this chapter. There's a bright star in the sky smiling down on us.
Chapter 55
Charlie finally exited his room around 11:30, slipping downstairs quietly, blushing as he apologized profusely to Maggie, and returning a short while later with a tray of toast, tea, Vitamin B Complex and Ibuprofen. Neither he nor Jane was seen again until nearly dinnertime.
Elizabeth was in her room getting dressed after spending the afternoon at the beach when Jane walked in. She looked at her sister uncertainly, asking, "Is everything okay?"
Jane was suddenly hugging Elizabeth. "Everything's wonderful. He loves me, Lizzy. He really does." She pulled back and grinned broadly.
Though truly happy for her sister, Elizabeth couldn't help but think of the embarrassing situation they'd created. "That's great, Jane!" She hoped it didn't sound forced.
In an instant, Jane's smile dropped and she blushed crimson. "I'm so sorry! We were drunk, and..." She sat down on her bed. "I'm sorry, Lizzy."
Elizabeth sat beside her and wrapped her arm around Jane's shoulder. "It's all right, sis. I'm really glad you two worked things out."
For most of the next half hour, Jane told Elizabeth how she and Charlie had spent most of the day talking about their 'relationship,' of their pasts, and all the possibilities for the future. By the time they went downstairs to join the others, they were laughing and teasing each other.
Later that evening, both sisters moved their belongings from their shared room.
Will and Elizabeth both woke early Tuesday – well, early for people on a relaxing shore vacation. After enjoying each other's company for a while, Will took the dogs downstairs, returning a few minutes later with coffee. They then spent the next hour sitting side by side on their bed, reading email, checking in with work, and perhaps surfing the web.
As they joined the others, both felt compelled to keep an eye on Charlie and Jane, though everything seemed fine. The new couple was never more than a few feet apart, even as they remained in company most of the day. Their only time alone was when they chose to sit by themselves on the ferry to Lewes, Delaware, where the entire group went to spend the afternoon touring historic houses and to dine at The Buttery.
Wednesday began much like Tuesday. After letting out the dogs and bringing back coffee, Elizabeth settled beside Will with her computer. As soon as she logged into work, she discovered a small problem; fortunately she was able to fix it in a few minutes, spending the rest of the time answering emails from friends and checking for story updates.
The remainder of the day was spent lazily around the house and at the beach. They even opted for pizza delivery that night, just to keep Maggie from preparing a feast, since no one else felt up to cooking.
Thursday, however, did not start off so well. Will hadn't been on his computer ten minutes before he grabbed his cell phone. A moment later, his laptop was set aside, and he began pacing as he spoke in an agitated tone for several minutes. Finally, he said, "Goodbye," and sat down on the bed suddenly, dropping his head as he began to feel a headache coming on.
Elizabeth quickly set her notebook on the nightstand and scooted behind him. She began rubbing his shoulders, trying to relieve his evident tension. "Is everything okay?"
"Yeah, I think it is now," he exhaled, nodding his head slowly. He leaned back into her hands, her kneading working effectively to loosen his muscles.
After a minute or so, he whispered, "I love you, Liz," and turned his head to capture her lips with his own. "You're wonderful, my love."
Their passions ignited, and the last of Will's tension dissipated in the surest method.
Needless to say, it was rather late when they descended the stairs. They could hear Georgiana practicing her piano, but there seemed to be no other activity within the house. A note on the kitchen counter explained that Charlie and Jane had driven up to Wildwood and Maggie and Tiffany had gone shopping.
The note also said to check the oven, and Elizabeth wasn't surprised to find still warm muffins covered with a towel inside. She pulled them out and set them on the table while Will refilled their coffee cups. As they ate, they perused the morning paper and discussed how to spend the day, deciding upon a visit to the Bird Observatory.
They were just heading back upstairs to get ready when Will's phone rang.
"Darcy," he answered it. Then after a couple "okays" and a few very short responses, Will said, "I'll call you back in five." He pressed the end call button and released a big sigh.
Stepping in front of him, Elizabeth slipped her arms under his and wrapped them around his waist. She rested her head against his chest and said, "I think I'll take the dogs for a walk up the beach." His arms tightened around her, and she was pretty sure she could feel him nodding. "Call me or come find me when you're done."
"Thank you, Liz." He kissed the top of her head. "I love you."
She pulled back enough to look up and face him. "I love you too." She then drew up her right hand and stroked his cheek. "I won't tell you not to work too hard; I understand." She kissed his lips lightly. "Now go, so you can get it over with."
He kissed her once more and headed up the stairs.
Elizabeth frowned as she watched him go, then she headed to the back door where Hamlet and Hershey greeted her eagerly. She scratched their ears and spoke in a happy voice. "Yes, I love you guys. You're my good boys. Wanna go for a walk?" Their tails lashed furiously.
A few short minutes later, they were walking along the beach, Hershey playing in the water as much as Elizabeth would allow and Hamlet tolerating the wet sand, as long as the water didn't come to get him.
They had made it a good half-mile up the beach when Hamlet's tail began whipping Elizabeth's leg. She followed his eyes and saw an older lady walking along the water toward them with a small dog pulling anxiously at her lead. When the leash was nearly tugged from her left hand, she knew Hershey was just as excited.
Elizabeth smiled at the woman as they closed the distance, and the woman smiled back. As soon as they reached one another, the small dog ran under Hamlet, effectively tangling him in her leash, and tried to jump on Hershey.
"I hope you don't mind," the lady said. "Caitlin loves big dogs."
Laughing, Elizabeth answered, "Not at all." Trying to point at her two dogs as she spoke, she said, "Hamlet and Hershey don't seem to mind at all."
"Beautiful dogs."
"Thank you. Yours is quite cute too. What breed is she?"
The lady's face seemed to light up. "My Caitlin isa pretty girl." She grinned down at the dog, who almost seemed to smile up at her mistress for a moment. "I have pictures of her on everything." She slid her finger along her necklace until she held the charm out for Elizabeth to see. "I just got this pendant with my precious little Dandie Dinmont Terrier on it."
Elizabeth had leaned in a bit to look at the necklace when she froze with surprise. She lifted her gaze and almost stared at the woman for a moment. "I... I know a lady online who has a Dandie Dinmont named Caitlin... but she lives in California." She hated the sound of confusion in her voice.
"Dandiefan?" the lady asked.
Elizabeth nodded.
"That's me," she replied. "Mary Ostrand. It obviously wasn't a Dandie site, and you're probably not a Santa Barbara Mac Lover. Are you a Jane Austen fan?"
"Yes!" Smiling warmly, she nodded. "I love your comments! I'm Lizzy, LizzyBee."
Elizabeth was a bit startled to find herself suddenly in Mary's embrace. "It's great to meet you, Lizzy. Your 'Kellynch Diaries' is a wonderful story. Have you posted an update this week? You really left us hanging, leaving Anne and Frederick alone like that."
"No, I've been a bit busy lately," Elizabeth laughed. "And thank you. I really should work on the next chapter."
Not used to talking about her writing with anyone, she looked down at the dogs. Hershey was lying in the sand, Caitlin's front paws on his side while she and the still-tangled Hamlet met nose to nose. "It's a good thing my boyfriend isn't here right now," Elizabeth said as she tried to untangle the leashes. "I'm not sure what he'd think of his dog submitting so easily."
"It's a sign of his good nature," Mary said. "He should be pleased." She petted Hershey's head as he sat up.
Elizabeth tried to brush the sand off one of his ears before she bent down and kissed it. "Yes, Hershey is a sweetie." She then scratched her own dog's long neck. "And my Hammie's a big lug."
"So what brings you to New Jersey?" Elizabeth asked.
"I took Caitlin to a dog show near Baltimore last weekend, and she did very well. But an old friend of mine is now at Princeton, and she invited me to stay a few days so Caitlin could enjoy the beach before we go home. Caitlin misses our long walks when we travel, so we drove the Dandievan up and accepted her offer."
"Dandievan?"
"Oh yes," Mary replied. "Caitlin and I go everywhere in my Dandievan. It's a Honda Odyssey with a painting of a Dandie on it. I even have plates that say D-A-N-D-I-V-N."
Elizabeth somehow felt safe teasing her. "I knew you were obsessed."
"Isn't everything worth enjoying worth obsessing about?" Mary teased in return.
Telling Mary she was staying in the direction Mary was heading, they began walking down the beach together. "So tell me," Elizabeth had to ask, "you remember that dog story a couple years ago? Did you really read it aloud to Caitlin?"
"Of course I did. We always read it right when we got home from our walk on the beach. She loved it! It's too bad her new story is too explicit for Caitlin's delicate ears; though I must admit I'm enjoying it. Are you reading it?"
"I am," Elizabeth admitted, not adding that she was reading the 'PG-13' version.
They discussed other favorite stories and authors as they strolled along the beach, allowing Hershey to play in the water while Caitlin and Hamlet dodged the gentle waves each time the water threatened their paws. They had just switched topics to Mary's love of helping kids as a math tutor when Hershey suddenly tried to run ahead, giving his leash a hard tug.
Elizabeth looked up and saw a familiar figure in the distance. Knowing it was against the rules, but with so few people around, she let go of his leash and said, "Go get Daddy," and Hershey started running directly toward Will.
Mary laughed, and as they continued walking, Elizabeth explained that she had been walking alone with the dogs because Will had been detained by work. A couple minutes later they met up, Hershey having already been reunited with his master, eager to see his canine friends again.
"All done?" Elizabeth asked.
"Yes, finally. They should be able to go on now." He shook his head slowly. "I'm sorry I had to leave you on your own."
"I know." She frowned. Then glancing toward Mary, her expression cheered. "Fortunately, things worked out well." Turning fully, she continued. This is Mary. The boys and her little Caitlin were eager to play, and we started talking, only to discover we've known each other online for a couple of years, never expecting to meet in person."
"Will Darcy, nice to meet you." He offered his hand to shake – perfectly polite, but oh so stiff!
Mary accepted it with a warm smile. "I can tell you're a dog lover. Are you a fan of Jane Austen too? I just love Lizzy's story."
Elizabeth blushed as Will looked at her before taking her hand. "I've enjoyed the couple books I've read," he answered. "But Elizabeth hasn't talked much about what she's writing."
"Oh, I thought you knew. I'm sorry, Lizzy."
"It's all right." Elizabeth smiled up at Will, then at Mary. "He knows I write for fun. I've just been a bit shy about showing him." She squeezed his hand. "Will tends to read biographies and serious novels, not poorly-written silly fluff like I post."
"Don't believe her," Mary told Will. "Her writing's very good; and what's wrong with a story about young people in love?"
Will instantly warmed up to her. "I would like to see it, but I'll wait till she's ready."
The three of them talked for several more minutes while the dogs got their leashes completely tangled again. Once they were freed, Will used Elizabeth's digital camera and took pictures of Elizabeth, Mary and the dogs, then invited Mary and her friends to join them for dinner that evening or the next.
She said she would mention it to her friend, but she was pretty sure they had dinner plans for that evening already, and she would be leaving early in the morning.
Elizabeth and Mary hugged, then while Mary said goodbye to Will, Hamlet and Hershey, Elizabeth squatted low so Caitlin could put her paws on her legs while she petted her. "It was a great pleasure to meet you, Caitlin. You have a very special mom."
The following is my original companion note to this chapter:
I never had the good fortune to meet Mary Ostrand, but like so many JAFF members, I read her comments for a lot of stories, often ones I'd only read, and didn't comment on myself. She had a talent I doubt I'll ever possess (When I comment, I feel like I'm running around with a cookie cutter). Mary made every comment unique, and relayed to the author how much she enjoyed reading the story, and somehow, you always knew she meant it.
I feel a bit self-serving by hinting at my own 'Sirius' Intentions' in this chapter, but it is through my posting of that story that I got to know Mary. I truly loved that she read it to Caitlin, and how she always included tidbits about Caitlin in her comments.
It was also because of my story that we started sending PM's and emails. Little did Mary know that I actually had a purpose when I begged her to send me pictures of Caitlin. Yes, I knew she was beautiful, and I was truly interested in seeing her; but since Mary never mentioned it, I did not know if Caitlin was pepper or mustard colored. I doubt I had even figured out how and where at the time, but I knew I had to give Caitlin a cameo in Sirius. And her comment when she saw it?
Quote:
Caitlin and I returned from the weekend dog shows and of course we had to read the Sirius Sunday latest post. When we got to the part about the "mustard terrier" her ears perked up and when she found it's name was Catey, she immediately wondered if this is one of Caitlin's ancestors. She really got excited and is proud of the possibility of a connection with Sirius and Milton through Catey. She thinks Catey must be a relative. Caitlin is so proud!
I was thrilled by her reaction, and even more so by the personal message she sent me.
I believe that Mary touched the hearts of everyone who knew her. I would have loved meeting her in person, because everyone I know who has had that good fortune, has told me she was even lovelier in person.
Within two hours of hearing the sad news of her passing, I had this idea for including Mary. It had to wait though, for Caitlin loves the beach, even if the foam surprises her sometimes. It was the perfect setting – I just had to get there.
But then, how would such an idea be received? I guess it's a completely individual concept, but I had three people suggest that I write something for Mary within a day of her passing being posted on the JAFF boards. Aimée, too, who used to eat lunch about once a month with Mary and Caitlin, loved the idea, and has helped me with planning and had first review of the chapter. I cannot thank her enough. If anyone is offended, please accept my heartfelt apologies; my only wish was for others to know more about someone we loved so very much in this community.
So, that leads us to the only remaining question. Long before I thought about memorializing Mary in my story, my first thoughts and concerns were for her dearest friend and companion. Even though I'm completely across the country, I would have done anything in my power to help her out, and was very pleased to hear the news that Caitlin was rescued from Animal Rescue very quickly by one of Mary's friends. We, in this community, have not heard much since, though we knew Caitlin was expecting puppies.
In the last couple of weeks, I have been fortunate in finding that Caitlin and her two puppies, Daisy (originally Smokey) and Ember, born April 13, 2009 are doing very well. I had a wonderful conversation with Daisy's dad, a good friend of Mary's, and learned that Ember remains with Caitlin and her foster mother, and everyone is very happy.
Though I have been remiss with posting links lately, I have added a picture of Mary and Caitlin and one of Caitlin and her pups on debraanne dot net.
