*Authors note*

Thank you so much to all the comments, favorites and follows! I appreciate every one of them.

I did realize while diving into this chapter that there is a reason why not many people have done a modern "not a Bennet" story. It is difficult with modern technology and just normal conversation that things would not naturally come up quickly between these two families. So it's been an amusing challenge to make this story interesting without revealing all in the first paragraph. Ha. But I am determined to hopefully give this story the best try I can!

Also please remember this is FICTION so even though I know it's hard to do sometimes, for the sake of a fun story try your best to suspend disbelief this once and have fun friends!

Chapter 2

May 21, 2022

Gallatin, TN

Lizzy

"Lizzy, pass me more of that pork, please." Uncle Ed said after having already filled his plate twice. Before I could even reach for the platter Aunt Maddie stopped my hand.

"Oh don't listen to him Lizzy, he's clearly had enough. Any more and we will have to roll him out of here." Aunt Maddie said with an eye roll. I laugh at their silliness. How they can be so silly outside of the department and so serious while working. The two of them have been with me for every meeting with the state, every time I had to do anything with my Missing Kid status.

Uncle Ed huffed a little at his wife, but then decided to change subjects. "Liz, when do you head to camp?"

"On Monday. Just hoping we get a little more rain then we did last year. It was so sweltering hot." I said while filling my plate with a little more mashed potatoes and corn.

"Oh honey, do be careful! The idea of you out in that horrid heat each day makes me so worried. You always come back so red and thin. I don't want you getting heat stroke out there." Mom points her fork dramatically towards the window for emphasis.

I glance at Jane and share a knowing smile at Moms dramatics. If we were to be outside on a pristine perfect sunny light-breezy day, mom would have something to warn us against. It never failed. I try not to roll my eyes.

"She will be just fine Fran, she has been going to this camp since she was 8. Calm down love." Dad says giving mom a pleading look and me loving wink. "How was your last week at Lucas' shop?"

Jane lets out a laugh. Everyone looks toward her hoping she will tell all. Knowing she had another crazy Lizzy story to share.

"In normal Lizzy fashion, she dropped a book on a customer's nose!" Jane said, trying not to bust with laughter while getting the sentence out.

I smile and shrug my shoulders. No use denying it.

"You hit someone's nose! That's mean Lizzy!" Little Mary's eyes widened with shock.

Aunt Maddie leaned over her four year old daughter. She smoothed the back of her head full of blonde curls that matched her fathers. "She didn't do it on purpose sweetie, well at least we don't think so" Aunt Maddie looked towards Jane and I, hoping one of us would continue the crazy tale.

"Not on purpose. I would never willingly drop a book on someone. Unless they truly deserved it. Like if they stole a clown's nose or knocked over a flamingo." I make a silly face at Mary and she giggled at my silliness.

"I love flamingos!" Mary brightly announced.

"I know you do Mare-bear." I winked at the sweet little girl.

After dinner we moved into the living room. Everyone found a spot to lounge and settled in. Uncle Ed sat next to Dad's lounge chair, which was already fully stretched out. I would not be surprised if Dad would be snoozing soon.

Jane and Mom sat on the love seat against the wall. Aunt Maddie and I had found spots on the floor beside Mary as she played with her blocks.

It was a typical Saturday evening. Since Jane and I moved to Nashville, we don't always make it back for Family dinner. But mom hopes and sometimes threatens us to be here at least twice a month. It's only about a 40 min drive from Nashville. But when life gets busy, mom has to do some extra convincing for us to make the trek out. Today her convincing came in the form of chocolate chip brownies. Neither Jane or I can usually pass up chocolate… and mom knows it. She also knows after I come back from camp I will be starting my new Job, so she wants to get in as many times as she can before that.

"Janey, how did the interview go the other day?" Aunt Maddie said while helping her daughter add a few more blocks to her tower.

I noticed mom's face light up. I know Jane has already filled her in with the positive interview. She has been praying for Jane to find a good job like this one forever.

"It went really well. The owner seemed very positive. They want to open fairly soon, by the fall. They are renting a place, so they won't have to deal with major construction. But they will be remodeling quite a bit. I am a little unsure they will be able to get all they need done before their projected date. But he seemed very determined. He said he would let me know if I got the job by next week." Jane said excitedly but then became quiet and uncertain towards the end of her speech.

I reached up from my spot on the floor and held her hand for a second. Meeting her eyes, trying to give her a comforting smile. She smiled back and seemed to calm a bit.

"Jane, the interview was just two days ago, I wouldn't give up hope yet." I reminded her. She nodded her head in acceptance.

"Did you apply for Manager or assistant manager like you have been?" Uncle Ed asked. Mimicking dads laid back position but in the non-lounge chair.

"I applied for Manager. I am hoping my three years as Assistant Manager at Fleming's will help. But we will see."

"They would be crazy not to want you! You are the whole package Jane!" Mom loudly announced from the kitchen. Most likely she was getting the desserts ready. I jumped up and headed back into the kitchen to help. Anything to get to the chocolate faster.

I grabbed the coffee thermos, bowls and spoons. Mom was behind me with the plate of brownies and Mayfield vanilla ice cream to top it.

I put the coffee on the side table she always had set up near the dining room with different sugars and creams to fix your coffee how you liked it. It also had tons of different coffee mugs on it. Some silly from different vacations we took over the years to pretty delicate ones Jane and I got for her birthdays and Mother's Days.

I noticed on the windowsill the newly framed picture of me, mom and dad at my college graduation. Jane had taken the picture and during it I had to concentrate on not looking at her silly face she was sending our way. As shy and reserved as Jane could be at times, she also had a very silly side that she rarely shared with anyone outside the family.

Beside my graduation picture, was a frame I had seen my whole life. Or at least the life I remember. It was tiny footprints in the shape of a heart, below it said in a pink script "Elizabeth Rose Bennet, always will be in our hearts." I ran my hand over the white frame detailed with pink flowers.

I have always been told of baby Elizabeth that they lost at birth. That she was born around the same time they believe I was. So when they had found me, they felt it was heaven sent that my name was Elizabeth too. I know I am not the baby they lost, but honestly I was happy to fill that void for them.

Mom saw me admiring the frames. I felt her hand sweetly rub my back. She then tilted my face towards hers. She saw the tears slowly track down my face. She cupped my face with her hands and with her thumbs rubbed my tears away.

"Do you know how much we love you?" Her familiar words made me smile, but as the tears continued to fall all I could do was nod my head. "There is not a day that goes by where I wish we could reunite you with your family, but I have been beyond thankful for everyday God has given us with you." She kisses my forehead, just as she has done my whole life. I then wrap my arms around her tightly.

"Thank you mom. You will never know how thankful I am for you and dad taking me in." She laughed and pulled back slightly from my embrace.

"Baby, there was no taking you. I don't think I could separate you from Jane if our lives depended on it." I smiled at her teasing tone and then at Jane who was making silly faces at Mary in the living room.

Mom gave my forehead another quick kiss and one more rub on my back. "Ok let's get these brownies served before your dad is fast asleep." She winked at me and started dishing out a bowl for everyone.

I took a second and lingered a minute observing my family. It might not be the family I was born with, but I loved them like they were.

June 6, 2022

Nashville, TN

Charles

I could barely contain myself as soon as she walked into our newly rented space. It was a shell of a place. We had stripped it down to almost its bare bones. But that's the only way to really give it our trademark Bella's Cafe style.

I showed her to the back room where I had made a makeshift office. I watched her sit gracefully and once again was awed by her beauty.

Darcy was high strung about me hiring someone else. Apparently I couldn't hide my interest and he could tell the minute we first met Jane Bennet. By the time we got to the interview I was a goner. She was just so perfect.

Darcy just kept going on about the problems of dating a subordinate. Especially when first opening a restaurant. But honestly he just sounded like the teachers on Charlie Brown.

Waaa wa wwwwwaaa wwwaaaaaaa

All I knew was she was absolutely gorgeous and exactly what we were looking for in a manager. She had tons of contacts, she seemed to be highly connected with all local areas. Even before we hired her she had given us a few names for contractors that were perfect for the remodel.

I stared across the fold out table I was using for a desk. I could feel I had a major goofy smile on my face. But she was looking back at me so sweetly. Patiently just waiting for me to speak.

Speak! Like now! Ya crazy man!

I let out a cough as my brain catches up with me. "Miss Bennet, we are so happy that you decided to work for us. We know you will be the perfect person to lead this team."

She smiled brightly at my statement. Her light blue eyes shining back at me. She was picturesque. Never have I ever seen such beauty and such grace… wait where have I heard that before?

A cough behind me shakes me out of my thoughts. Will walked purposefully into the room and set a stack of papers on the table. Clearly upset that he caught me in dreamland, proving his point of why I shouldn't hire Jane. Apparently I couldn't be trusted to get work done.

I jump up quickly and welcome the distraction. "Miss Bennet, do you remember Will Darcy?" She nods with a slight smile and he does the same but his smile is almost non existent. His Mr. Big Shot face is on full force. Which always makes me laugh. Most of the time when he gets like this, I can't help but mess with him. It's just too much fun.

I smack him on the back a little harder than needed. I notice him flinch a little from the unexpected pain. "Will, so glad you came in, do you mind telling Miss Bennet our projected dates?" Will looks at me with a glare. Obviously not wanting to be a part of this discussion.

Jane thankfully just smiled politely at both of us. "Like we mentioned during your interview, our projected opening date is November 12. We are Hoping to get the doors open before the Holidays. We don't want to miss the extra Holiday traffic of special events and parties the season brings in." Jane and I nod in agreement. "We hope to have the main remodel done in a month." Will said while straightening the stack of papers he had placed on the table earlier.

Jane's eyes grew a fraction wider from Will's last statement.

"Miss Bennet, do you not believe that's doable? I see your hesitation." I try to say nonchalantly. Not like I have been watching every movement of hers like a creepy stalker.

"It just seems like a lot to be done for the full remodel. A remodel like this normally would take more like three months." Jane says while looking around at the building that has been stripped down to its studs.

"I agree that is typical Miss Bennet, but most restaurants do not have the financial backing like we do." Will says as professional and nicely as possible. But it still comes out in his Mr. Big shot voice. Oh Will, if you weren't my best friend… I totally get why some people think you are a cocky jerk. Thankfully I know this tin man really has a heart.

Jane nods her head slowly. "Must be nice to live in that kind of world." Clearly not used to having that kind of money.

I try not to picture hundreds of things I could do to show her that she belongs in that world perfectly beside me.

I then watch as Jane opens her black satchel and pulls out a large leather notebook. She opens it up and places it on the table. On it is a detailed color coated calendar. She then hands us each a copy. "From the opening date you mentioned during the interview, I put together a timeline of when we need to get everything done by that date. Like I said I believe it will be hard, but if we stick to the schedule I know we can do it."

I look over to see a shocked amazed look on Will's face. I so badly want to take my hand and slowly close his open jaw. But I know he will most likely bite my finger in the process.

I get so excited at her foresight that I start jumping up and down. Will just rolls his eyes at me. Not surprised at all at my antics. "I knew we hired you for a reason! Well done Miss Bennet!"

She smiled brightly at me and again I was lost in her perfect blue eyes.

"Miss Bennet if you just could fill out the rest of this paperwork for us." Will says getting us back to business like always.

We finish up the paperwork and decide what the next steps will be for all three of us. I check my watch and noticed that it was lunch time.

"Would you like to grab some lunch Miss Bennet?" I say hoping Will might take the hint and leave us alone, but as much as he was trying to distract our gazes earlier I am sure he will look right past my hints.

"Oh I don't want to intrude." She says looking between the two of us, mostly at Will.

He rolls his eyes once again and lets out a small annoyed huff "I actually have an errand I need to run. But you two enjoy."

My face most likely looks as bright as a Christmas tree, I am smiling so big. I wonder how much that will cost me with Will. Most likely saving him from Caroline the next time we are all together.

I take Jane to the burrito place a couple streets over. "I recently found this place and have been obsessed with it. They have this amazing fruit tea and fruit salsa." I say as we wait in line to order.I notice her quietly chuckle beside me. "What's so funny?" I question with an eyebrow raised and an awaiting smile.

"Every burrito place in Nashville has Fruit salsa and Fruit tea. It's a Nashville thing."

"Ok. But theirs is extra awesome and I love it." She chuckled once again and smiled. The kind of smile I wanted to see for the rest of my life.

We ordered our burritos, get our fruit teas and find an open table by the front windows.

"So what got you into the restaurant business?" I ask while silently hoping I don't get sour cream on the corner of my face without knowing.

"We had a local place that was just around the corner from my house growing up. The owners always made us feel like family. I started working there as a hostess when I was fourteen and then a few years later I became a waitress. The couple taught me everything they knew and loved about working in a restaurant. I fell in love with the excitement and hospitality." She took a breath and a bite of her burrito. I had never seen someone who could eat a burrito so elegantly, but somehow this woman before me had mastered it.

"That's beautiful. It's so encouraging to hear of people in the industry that have such a true love and respect for it. Not be burdened with only caring about money and status." I took another large bite of burrito, much less graceful than hers.

After our burritos were finished, we continued to eat our remaining chips slowly. I locked eyes with her.

"Will it be massively unprofessional if I call you Jane and you call me Charles? We are a family owned business and I prefer to operate that way. We might be upscale, but I never want to lose our heart behind it." I give her a genuine smile. She nods sweetly at my requests.

"Of course, I would like that. I'll be honest the last place I worked I struggled with greatly because of the lack of warmth it bestowed. Its only care was catering to the elite and gaining more money anyway they could. They didn't really care about the people and the food itself. It was an unhealthy atmosphere and I was ready to leave it." My hand unconsciously held hers. Giving her the comfort she needed. She looked back up towards me at the kind gesture and smiled in acceptance.

"Well we are thankful to have you join our family, Jane. With that being said, I wanted you to know our heart behind Bella's Cafe." I took a big breath to help settle my emotions that came every time I thought of Izzy. "Many years ago my family had an accident occur and we lost my baby sister. It was like one of those stories you hear on the news, but never think could actually happen to you. One second she was with us, the next she was gone. She just disappeared. We have searched in every way possible for her. It's a long stretch, but my idea is to put as many Bella Cafes all around the country in hopes that she might walk in it one day." I felt her hand tighten in mine in unsaid comfort. I looked up to meet her eyes and saw unshed tears lingering in her big blue eyes.

"Oh Charles, I am so sorry to hear this." Even before she could say more, tears slowly rolled down her cheeks. "My sister Elizabeth- well she's not my sister exactly. But she is a missing kid. My family took her in and she has grown up part of our family. But because of her situation we have learned so many stories of kids that became lost at a young age. It's so heartbreaking. I am so sorry your family has experienced this loss." I continue to gain strength from her comfort and just nod my head in understanding.

"Well I hope to meet your sister one day. I know that has always been our hope, that Izzy finds love and comfort wherever she is."

"Now I understand your want to open so quickly." She smiles with a nod and I can't help but smile back.

Soon after we finish up our meal and head back to work. Ready to get Bella's Cafe open as soon as possible!