"I do not like this situation at all Lizzy. He may be on his way to becoming a doctor but he is not one of us. He lives out west, he went to a selective high school and his parents have no table manners," said Frances Bennet exasperatedly to Lizzy as she set out the Royal Doulton tableware on French linen.
The Chens were coming over in their beat up Toyota station wagon for lunch to discuss the gunshot wedding their children had decided on.
"Mother, I'm having his baby. We are marrying in a month's time with or without your support or presence. I love George. He may not be your ideal, but he is mine. He is kind, knowledgeable and we are both determined to bring up this baby together," Lizzy explained.
Lizzy's mother was first shocked when Lizzy had introduced George to their family and begrudgingly acknowledged his kindness and attentiveness to Lizzy. Nevertheless, when she found out Lizzy was pregnant at the tender age of 21, she was aghast. She had ensured that her daughter was on contraception before she started uni. How that failed for Lizzy was befuddling.
"You have recently finished an Arts degree and now you will be looking after a baby! What happened to your dreams of travel? What will you do for a career? Will you be a stay at home mother like myself, frustrated at not being able to fulfil her dreams and ambitions? Reliant on your partner for money? Clothes? Tied down and unable to go anywhere and confined to playgrounds, mothers groups and shopping centres?" Frances reasoned.
"Mama, George and I will travel together with the baby. He still has some family in Malaysia. We will visit them after the baby is born. I plan to rent out a studio and start tutoring violin and piano. George's parents are willing to look after the baby once it is old enough."
"I still don't like it Lizzy. You could have gone to do postgraduate studies in music in London, Salzburg or even Cremona. This is all very vexing and confining. He is kind to be sure but to stay at home and be a doctor's wife? What happened to my ambitious and independent Lizzy?" Frances sighed.
"Your Lizzy fell in love", interrupted Lizzy's father, Mr John Bennet, as he walked into the dining room. A copy of the Good Weekend tucked under his right arm.
"Thank you papa." Lizzy grinned, her father the saviour coming to her rescue again.
Soon after, her other sisters swept in to join them for lunch: her eldest sister, Jane, a solicitor, and her teacher boyfriend Charles; Mary, a uni student finishing her librarianship degree; and her two younger sisters Kate and Lydia who were still high school students.
George and his family usually arrived at the Bennets before the appointed time, though Sydney weekend traffic ensured that it would take at least an hour to cross one part of the city to another. 5 minutes after the appointed time, Lizzy rang George but it went to voicemail.
"I'll ring them again in 10 minutes" said Lizzy.
"Well, we will have the entrées now or they will get cold", Frances stated frustratingly.
She was organised when it comes to lunches and dinners having honed her skills and entertained as an architect's wife these past 25 years. She had married at 24 and had Jane at 25. She once had dreams of becoming a professional dancer but she had met the handsome-looking John at a party and he provided her economic safety and social stability. She had dated Bohemian men before John and while her couplings with them were memorable, living paycheck to paycheck was not her ideal type of relationship. She sought stability and she received it.
John Bennet opened a bottle of Sauvignon Blanc and poured each member a glass, bar Kate, Lydia and Lizzy. He soon joined Lizzy at the balcony overlooking one of the hidden sparkling bays of Sydney Harbour.
"Here Lizzy, have a glass of orange juice. They will be here soon.", offered Mr Bennet.
She accepted and took a sip enjoying the fruity tartness of the juice.
"Thank you father. George and his family are never late. They are always punctual. They try so hard with us and mother not to disappoint our North Shore sensibilities", Lizzy said worriedly.
"Hush Lizzy. I like George and his parents. Sure, I wish you were older before embarking on marriage but he is a fine fellow. You are both caring people and will become caring parents. I could not have chosen a better son-in-law," then turning to look at Charles, "except perhaps for Jane's beau who ticks all the boxes for your mother," he said conspiratorially.
She smiled at her father as he walked back to the table. She rang George's number again but it went to voicemail. She looked down at the deep blue bay before her. It was a gorgeous day on Sydney Harbour. The sky was almost cloudless and the day was attracting the sailing crowd. She closed her eyes momentarily to feel the Sun's rays on her face.
The doorbell rang and she almost ran to the front door. With a bright smile she opened the door, and her smile faded immediately. Two male coppers were at the door with seriousness on their face.
"I am Detective Sergeant Taylor and this is Senior Constable Matthews. We are looking for Elizabeth Bennet," the taller of them asked.
"I am Elizabeth Bennet," she whispered.
"We found your contact details on the body of George Chen," the other said slowly.
She paused. She felt the wind rush through her ears. Her heart was being loudly. What did they say? Body?
"I beg your pardon? Body? What's happened to George?" A terrifying kind of panic imbued her voice.
"I'm sorry Miss Bennet. There is no other way to say this. Just over an hour ago, there was a car accident on the Pacific Highway. A station wagon was t-boned at an intersection by a speeding car. I'm afraid all three occupants in the wagon have passed away. Their bodies are at Royal North Shore Hospital. We need them to be identified.", explained the detective slowly but clearly.
Lizzy's world went black. She could hear the voice of her mother as she fainted:
"Lizzy, what has happened? What is happening?"