Chapter 32
A/N Stubbornness
Thank you for all the reviews
Time jump 4 years
It was late August in Charlottesville and Suzanne was sitting on the edge of Lizzie's bed. They had started calling her Lizzie when she turned 4. She threw a fit when called Elizabeth one day and stomped her foot and announced that she would be Lizzie from now on. The whole family got a kick out of it, but it had stuck.
Tomorrow was her first day of school and they were deciding on what outfit for her to wear. Suzanne was on the verge of tears. Where had my baby gone? It was just yesterday I was carrying her in my tummy and tomorrow I have to leave her at school. I am not ready for my baby to grow up.
Benjamin walked by the doorway and glanced in. He saw the stricken look on Suzanne's face. He walked in and sat down beside her and pulled her into a side hug. He knew what was circulating in her brain, he just had to figure out a way to pull her out of her funk. It was a big step taking your child to school for the first time. He himself was not looking forward to it.
Later that evening curled up in bed together, He placed a soft kiss on her shoulder. "Sweetheart, I know tomorrow will be hard for you, it will be hard for me too. Lizzie is a strong, independent, above average little person. She will thrive in school and be happy. Don't let it make you sad."
"I know what you are saying logically, it just makes me sad that my baby girl is growing up. I am used to having her and Will around all day running around the office and the farm. I will miss having her there. We used to often take a ride when Mom took Will in for his nap. I will have to go back to riding alone," she said as she was wiping tears from her eyes.
This gave Benjamin an idea. It had been a while since they had ridden together. He decided on Saturday, the whole family would go on a family ride.
Lizzie had been riding since she was about 2 ½. Joe had come and got her from her office one morning and taken her to the corral. He had one of the more gentle mares saddled and was walking beside her. She had a 1000 watt smile on her face that was a carbon copy of Suzanne's.
Suzanne had been riding since about that age as well. Will didn't take to riding as well but Joe still held out hope he would come to love it in time.
The next morning they pulled up in front of the school and Lizzie opened the car door and hopped out. Suzanne and Benjamin were walking towards her when she put up her hand stopping them. "Mom, Dad, I got it from here. I know where my classroom is and since I already met my teacher I am good to go," she said as she sauntered off towards the school front doors.
Suzanne turned towards Benjamin and he could tell she was on the verge of tears. He walked her over and put her in the car. He drove them to his office and sat her down on the couch. He pulled her onto his lap and let her cry. He had tears running down his face also.
"Benjamin, our Baby is not a baby any more and where did that independent streak come from?" she said with watery eyes.
He pushed her back from him and raised his eyebrow at her. "You really have to ask me that? Mrs. Independent and Stubborn, I can do this when you tackle something new. She is your carbon copy and acts just like you," he told her laughing.
She smacked him on his arm and stood up and walked away from him. "I am not stubborn, just determined when I set my mind to something," she said glaring at him.
He walked over to her, circling her waist with his arm. "Ok, don't get all riled up. What do you want to do until we go collect our DETERMINED daughter from school? Will is at the farm and we have the whole day to do what we want," he told her with a glint in his eyes.
"Hmmm, let me think. Want to walk around downtown? Or play a boardgame?" she answered back with a smirk on her face.
"Woman, you are going to be the death of me," he said, smacking her on the butt.
She walked away swaying her hips at him towards his office door. She looked over her shoulder at him as he was still standing where she left him. "You coming?" she asked as she walked out the door.
He took off at a sprint to catch up to her. "No yet, but hopefully soon," he whispered into her ear as he pulled her back to his chest.
At three o'clock they arrived at the school pick up line and waited for Lizzie to come out. She bound out the doors and ran over to the car and climbed in.
"I had the most fun today. I have a new friend who also loves horses. She lives not too far from our house. We sat together at lunch. We wanted to know if we could go riding this weekend?" she asked animated.
Benjamin had planned the family riding on Saturday, but was willing to give it up to make his little princess happy.
"Let me talk to Grandpa and her parents and see what we can work out," Suzanne told her.
Will was spending the night at the farm, so Lizzie had her parents undivided attention at dinner. She was regaling them with the story of her new best friend Isabelle. She told them that Isabelle had been riding horses her whole life just like Lizzie. They had moved to Charlottesville over the summer. Her dad had taken a new job and they had moved from Colorado. They had not been able to move their horses so she had not ridden in several months. Lizzie really wanted her to be able to come out and ride with her.
Suzanne would talk to Isabelle's mom the next morning when she dropped Lizzie at school about having them out to the farm so the girls could ride.
She called her parents to make sure that it was okay with them also. They agreed and were happy that Lizzie had made a friend at school.
The next day when they pulled up to the school, Lizzie jumped out of the car and ran over to meet Isabelle. She stuck her head in the window of isabelle's mom's car and told her to pull into a parking spot and talk to her mom.
Suzanne parked and got out of the car and walked over to the car that pulled up. Samantha got out of the car and walked up to Suzanne.
"Suzanne Adams," she said as she put her hand out to the woman.
'Samantha Barnes, but everyone calls me Sam. Nice to meet you," she said as she shook hands with the other woman.
"I am so glad the girls are becoming friends. Lizzie wanted me to ask if Isabelle could come out to our family farm and ride this weekend?" Suzanne asked Sam.
"You have time to grab a coffee?" Sam asked her.
"Of course, want to meet at the coffee shop a couple of blocks up the road?" Suzanne said.
They met in the parking lot and walked in grabbing a booth in the back.
"Our family moved here about 4 months ago from Colorado. My husband Frank took a new job. We lived on a ranch in Colorado, but are forced to live in town here. Isabelle misses the horses and she had been sulking about it ever since," Sam explained.
"I feel for her, I can't imagine not being able to ride whenever I want to. Just so you know my family farm is about 6 miles out of town. My family raises horses and have for several generations. My Dad and brother are the brains behind the business. Your family is welcome anytime," Suzanne told her.
"I am sure that Isabelle will be ecstatic when she finds out she will be able to ride again. We were trying to figure out how to get her to ride here," Sam told her.
"We should get our families together this week and maybe this weekend meet at the farm for a family day," Suzanne told her.
They agreed and both left to go about their day after exchanging phone numbers.
Suzanne called Benjamin once she arrived at her office to tell him about meeting with Sam that morning. She told him about the plans that she made for dinner. Benjamin agreed.
Suzanne and Benjamin both had made friends in college, but since both of them stayed on for grad school most of their friends had moved away to take jobs. It would be nice to have another couple with a child as friends. She was looking forward to their dinner. She called Sam to set up the final details of dinner.
Thursday evening found the Adams and the Barnes at the family steakhouse for their dinner. Will, the youngest of the brood, found himself the lone man out. Frank and Sam only had one child Isabelle and she was occupied with Lizzie, so he occupied his time coloring as the adults talked and got to know each other.
As dinner went on, the couples found that they truly had a lot in common and were enjoying each other's company.
"So do you think you would like to bring the family out to my family farm on Saturday?" Suzanne asked Sam.
"I think if we didn't we would have a daughter's revolt on our hands. Those two are already thick as thieves," she laughed pointing at Lizzie and Isabelle.
It was a school night and getting late. They made their plans for Saturday and both families said goodbye until Saturday.
Saturday rolled around and Suzanne was in the kitchen making breakfast before they left for the farm. Lizzie had been antsy all morning and drove her brother crazy.
"Mom, Lizzie won't settle down. She keeps running up and down the stairs and bugging me," he whined.
"Lizzie, settle down and come eat your breakfast. It will be time to go soon," she said, as she laughed at her daughter's antics.
They met the Barnes's at the edge of town and Lizzie had insisted on getting in the car with Isabelle. This made Will extremely happy not to have to put up with her in the confines of the car.
Her Mom and Dad met them when they walked up to the house. Introductions were made and everyone walked towards the barn. Joe had the barn hands saddle up all the horses for everyone and they were tied to the corral panels waiting on them,
Will didn't want to go riding so he would be staying back at the house with Ellen. Joe had an auction he was going to and gave his apologies for having to leave. Suzanne would lead the group on the ride.
She asked Sam at dinner the other night what their riding experience was so that she could be sure they were matched with the right horse.
Sam had told her that they had all been riding for years and that Isabelle was first put on a horse when she was 3. Suzanne was comfortable with the horse/human matchups and mounted Blaze.
Ellen had packed food and it was on Blaze and Ranger, who Benjamin would be riding. She was going to take them to the north pasture and then up to the lake. They could spend the day at the lake and also get some riding in too.
The Adams and Barnes families thoroughly enjoyed their day and were kinda sad to see it come to an end. Ellen had made a huge dinner and insisted that they stay to eat.
Joe had returned from the auction and asked how their day had gone. They relayed that it had been a wonderful day and thanked them for hosting them.
Suzanne and Benjamin were cuddled up in bed that night. They had both really enjoyed the day and were happy they made new friends. They decided that it would be a good long term friendship.
Yes this is Elizabeth's friend from her CIA days. I decided to introduce her now. They will be separated for a while and per the original series reunite later.