Chapter 5

Having him so close to her had been strangely intoxicating. It was strange because it had been intoxicating. Elizabeth wasn't quite sure how she felt about the sensation or, for that matter, the entire situation. Only two days had gone by since she had visited the club with Will and Andy, and it had been sneaking into her thoughts ever since.

It wouldn't have been at the forefront of her thoughts had Will not asked her to dance. Not only had the frisky dancing gotten her so flustered, after the three had ordered a few more drinks, and Andy left them to talk to another girl, the intimacy only increased as they sat near the bar.

Will's head tilted slightly as a new song faded in. He looked at her and offered his hand. "Let's go."

She was slightly tanked and confused. "Where?"

"Out there," he said, motioning towards the dancers.

"What? You really want to piss Andy off again?"

He started pulling her with him as he walked. "No. He's not even out there. I just want to dance to this song."

Elizabeth listened to it and asked, "What is it?"

"I've no idea, but it's the only slow song they've played all evening innit?."

Will managed to drag her behind him. The two of them began to dance, and Elizabeth was secretly pleased to again feel the long-forgotten fluttering sensation developing in her stomach as he grabbed her hand in one of his before placing his other on her waist. She felt slightly awkward, a combination of the alcohol and the uncertainty of what to do with her other arm. When Will gave her a half smile, she wrapped her free hand around his shoulder. They stood so close together that her face was almost against his. The smell of his cologne made her break out into a ridiculous grin. Embarrassed, she turned her head so he couldn't see.

"Now, when was the last time you were able to dance like this?" His voice cracked faintly.

"It's been a few years."

"Having fun?"

She hesitated, not because she wasn't having fun but because she hadn't expected the unusual reaction her body was having the entire night. "I am."

The song continued, and they moved together slowly. Elizabeth closed her eyes and fought the urge to rest her head against his collarbone. She didn't understand the conflicting feeling of awkwardness and silliness that suddenly washed over her. It had been years since she felt such things. All she could attribute it to was the fact that it had been so long since she had danced with Paul – with anyone, really. But even that reasoning couldn't explain why she suddenly felt shy being so close to him.

When she felt Will nudge her, she opened her eyes. The song had ended and the next was already pumping through the speakers. Elizabeth hadn't noticed and could feel a flush creep up her neck. Sheepishly, she followed her friend back to the bar and avoided the dance floor the rest of the evening.

"Liz!"

Andy's voice cut through her thoughts. His mocking tone snapped her back to reality, and that she was, in fact, in her parents' house. The Swann family was gathered around the table looking expectantly at her.

"I'm sorry. What?"

Her brother rolled his eyes. "We were in the middle of discussing whether to hold Mum and Dad's anniversary celebration here or find a place in the city. I was telling Dad yesterday that I have a mate who works at New Madeira, and he may be able to get us connected with some people who will let us set up in a corporate room."

The conversation in which she'd been engaged flooded back into her mind. In June, Weatherby and Helen would be entering their thirty-fifth year of marriage. They insisted on something small, a gathering of close friends and family in their own home, but Elizabeth knew that having a party in her parents' home would more than likely exhaust them, and they would be left to clean up afterwards. She had been slowly coaxing them into considering having their celebration elsewhere, and her brother's new suggestion seemed to be the best option so far. "That sounds brilliant, Andy."

Uncertainty spread across Weatherby's face. "I'm not sure–"

"Come off it, Dad. This will be brilliant. It's right by the Pier, and everyone you invite will already know where it is. The place is huge and absolutely perfect for this," Andy insisted.

"The cost–"

"I'm telling you, the bloke I know at New Madeira can set us up with a bloody good deal. His sister paid next to nothing for her own wedding reception. It'll be easy peasy!"

To avoid a father-son meltdown, Helen interrupted. "Andy, ask your friend, and we'll decide what to do after he's worked out the details."

"Done deal," he said, reaching across the table to grab his mother's hand and shake it. "Now, where's dinner? I'm starving."

Helen stood and led Andy into the kitchen. The two of them brought the food to the table, and Elizabeth called Emma into the room while Weatherby continued to sit in his seat, content to watch with an amused expression over the young man's enthusiasm of his mother's cooking. When all plates had been filled, Andy managed to ingest a third of his plate's contents before anyone else was able to sample every selection. Helen scolded her son for setting a bad example for the small girl, but he shrugged and kept shoveling. Elizabeth struggled not to smile because she didn't want her mother's frown directed at her. Emma laughed at her uncle, calling him a pig, and he snorted in response.

When everyone finished, Weatherby and Andy left to sit in the back garden on the recently furnished patio. Emma followed them but opted to play in the grass as they watched. Elizabeth helped her mother clear the table and put away the leftover food.

"You know, Mum," she said, placing the last wine glass back in the cabinet, "if you're interested in the hotel, you'd better reserve it soon. We'll have to get the invitations in the post after all the details have been decided."

Helen sighed. "I really don't want anything elaborate. Extravagance just isn't my style."

"We – or should I say I – can make it simple. It doesn't have to be over-the-top. We'll have the hotel cater if you'd like and only invite your good friends. Your brother will be there with his wife and kids, and Andy and Emma and I will be there. It can be small. Just make sure you really consider New Madeira. You wouldn't have to worry about keeping anything clean. When it's over, you and Dad can come straight home…or you could stay there. We could reserve you a room."

Helen nodded and directed Elizabeth out of the kitchen. "As long as it's not too expensive, I'll accept the offer."

"It's a really good idea, Mum."

The two of them walked outside to join the rest of their family. Elizabeth sat down on the swing next to Andy, and Helen joined her husband on the other end of the patio. Casual conversation passed between the adults as they watched Emma pretend to cook with special herbs she claimed to have found in the grass. The little girl whistled to herself as she prepared her food. After twenty minutes, the older pair left their children to go inside, declaring that the cold was too much to bear, and Emma followed when her grandmother offered her hot tea. Elizabeth stared into nothingness for a few minutes, debating with herself as to whether she should follow her daughter or not.

"What's wrong with you?"

Confused, she turned to face Andy, who looked a little concerned. "I'm fine."

"You've seemed a little out of it today. You feeling alright?"

"What, you mean like, am I getting sick?"

"I dunno. Are you?"

"No," she replied slowly. "Are you sure you're alright?"

"Liz, it's like you've been in a trance all day. You and I come to Mum and Dad's place every Sunday. Today you're just not…it's like you're here, but you're not here."

"I'm sorry. I guess I'm just tired."

"You don't look tired."

Elizabeth smiled. "I'll take that as a compliment." She ruffled her brother's hair. "I'm fine!" she insisted, but the concern in his eyes didn't disappear, and Elizabeth decided to divulge part of what had been infiltrating her mind.

"I've just been having these thoughts lately," she said. "They're confusing, and I'm not sure what's going on in my head…"

"What is it?"

"I'm afraid that I might…fancy Will."

There was a pause, and the stony expression on Andy's face dissolved into an amused smirk. "You're winding me up, aren't you? What do you mean you might fancy him? How can you be unsure about something like that?"

Her face grew hot as she defended herself. "Look, you asked me what was going on, and I told you. Don't be a prick."

"You're being serious! Liz, really?"

She stared icily at him before directing her glare to her feet and away from him.

"How long has this been happening?"

"There's nothing 'happening'," she mumbled, "at least not with Will. He doesn't know. I don't even know what I'm talking about. I can't remember what it's like to fall for someone. It's been so long…" she trailed off. Even though she'd experienced the falling feeling often in university, it had been well over six and a half years since she had done so for someone. Elizabeth wrung her hands in embarrassed nervousness.

"Well, I think it's wonderful," he said, wrapping his arm around her shoulders and pulling her towards him. "It's about time you've found someone. Even if it is Will…"

She flicked her eyes back to his face. "I said I didn't know if I actually fancy him! And even if I do, it's not a bad thing!"

"Let me call him and set up your date. How's this Friday?"

Knowing he wasn't being serious didn't prevent the surge of anxiety within her. "Andy, you can't! Please! Don't."

"I'm not going to tell him. I'm not that much of a bastard brother."

Elizabeth buried her face in his coat. "I feel like I'm thirteen again." She looked up at him with wide eyes and pleaded, "I don't want to be thirteen again!"

He laughed and kissed the top of her head. "We'll just keep our fingers crossed that he catches on soon enough. Then you can enter the awkward stages faster."

Elizabeth groaned into his shoulder.

Two weeks later, a Saturday evening had arrived, and Elizabeth felt as if she were going to go mad. It had been a busy week at work. Even though she normally worked two days a week, the school had been registering new children for the next school year, and she had volunteered to work every day. The registration process happened every year, but somehow Elizabeth managed to always forget how frustrating parents could be. Most of the children at Emma's old nursery school were from well-to-do families – just like Emma had been – and those parents were always demanding. It made her wonder whether or not she and Paul had been so annoying.

To add to the frustration of working three extra days, Emma had spent the entire day being a diva. At the moment, she was refusing to eat the dinner her mother had prepared for them. Elizabeth did her best to never raise her voice in anger, but the last of her buttons had been pressed, and she didn't think she could hold out very much longer. An unexpected knock at the door distracted her from the situation.

"Can I see who it is?" Emma asked.

"No. Stay right where you are."

Because the girl was in a stubborn mood, she followed Elizabeth to the door. For reasons unknown to her, this annoyed Elizabeth even more. She hated feeling so irritated with her daughter, but nothing could prevent it. She looked through the small window next to the door and was surprised to see who was visiting her. When she opened the door, Emma ran forward to greet their guest.

"Will!"

He scooped her up in a hug and stepped inside. "How are you, Emma?"

"Not good."

"Not well," Elizabeth corrected.

Emma huffed and turned back to Will. "Mummy won't let me eat what I want to for dinner."

"Is that so?" he asked. The three of them walked to the dining room.

"A ketchup sandwich is not appropriate for dinner."

Will laughed. "A ketchup sandwich?"

"That's what she wants, and I told her no."

"Your mum is being mean, isn't she?"

"Yes," the girl pouted.

He smiled at her and walked into the kitchen. "Emma, why don't we make ourselves a ketchup sandwich?"

An enormous smile appeared on her face. "Yeah!"

"Will!" Elizabeth said, forcing herself not to punch him.

"But here's the catch," he continued, ignoring Elizabeth, "you can have it, but you've got to eat your mum's cooking first."

The girl's face fell. "But I don't want to," she whined.

"I promise it will be delicious. You have to trust me, okay?"

Emma sighed dramatically. "Okay."

Will grabbed the loaf of bread and instructed Emma to get the ketchup. Elizabeth watched in astonishment as the scene unfolded in front of her. Her daughter was grinning, clearly pleased she would be allowed to eat what she originally asked for, and Will was quietly humming to himself as he made a sandwich. She could feel irritation bubbling within her. His audacity rubbed her the wrong way, and she glared at him as he overthrew her authority. When the sandwich was finished, he set it on a plate and led Emma into the dining room. He filled the plate with the food Elizabeth had prepared and then said, "I want you to try all of these things with ketchup."

Emma scrunched her face at his suggestion. "But there's apples. And peas."

"Have you never had apples and ketchup? Oh, Emma, you're missing out on a serious delicacy. Just try them," he coaxed and squirted ketchup onto the center of her plate.

"Will, can I have a word with you? Privately?" she hissed.

He looked at Elizabeth, and it was apparent to her that he had no idea why her words sounded so clipped. He nodded and followed her out of the dining room while Emma ate.

"What the hell are you doing?" she whispered angrily.

Still confused he asked, "What do you mean?"

"You show up unannounced and then proceed to completely undermine my authority. I told her she couldn't have that bloody sandwich, and you made it for her anyway."

"I just compromised. She's eating what you cooked too. What's the problem?"

Elizabeth threw her hands into the air. "The problem is that I told her no. She can't get everything she wants all the time!"

Will held his hands up in surrender, genuinely shocked at her reaction. "I'm sorry. I didn't realize it would upset you. I was just trying to help."

"I don't need any help," she snapped.

"I'm sorry."

Elizabeth let out a frustrated sigh. "It's alright. Just be careful about not treading on my toes, okay?"

She turned to leave and suddenly changed her mind. She whirled to face him. "Ketchup?"

Will became defensive. "What?"

"You made a ketchup sandwich and would eat it with apples and peas?"

"I don't eat that stuff now, but I used to eat a lot stuff like that until I was probably seventeen."

"I never knew that."

"I knew if I told you, you'd freak like you're doing now."

"That is absolutely disgusting."

"Have you tried it?"

Elizabeth stared at him blankly.

"It's not bad," he coaxed.

She shook her head at him. "You'd better not get Emma hooked on ketchup. She's already bad enough as it is."

Will laughed as they rejoined Emma at the table. She had devoured half of the items on her plate. It was clear that the ketchup idea had been successful.

"Almost done, Mummy!" she said, stuffing a ketchup covered broccoli stem into her mouth.

"Unbelievable," her mother muttered.

"How is it?" Will asked.

"Mmm! I'm glad you came over!"

"So am I. Happy to be of service to you, young lady."

For the first time since he'd arrived, Elizabeth realized she hadn't the slightest idea of why Will was in her home. So she asked him, "What brings you here?"

"Oh! The park is having a Children's Fair tomorrow afternoon, and I thought you might want to take Emma."

Emma's eyes grew wide, silently begging her mother to take her. Despite her feelings of irritation earlier, Elizabeth tried to hide her amusement with her daughter's expression. "You didn't have to make the trip over here. Why didn't you call?"

"I did, but your house line was busy, and you weren't answering your mobile."

Elizabeth realized she had her mobile on the silent setting while registering children and had forgotten to turn it off. "I had my phone on silent, but the phone here should have…" she trailed off when she saw that the phone beside the sofa was on its side. "Emma, did you bother the phone's receiver in the front room?"

"I was calling Sir Humphries. We were playing."

Elizabeth sighed. "Where was your toy phone?"

"Sir Humphries had it."

"From now on, don't use the real phone, alright?"

"Okay, Mummy. I'm sorry."

Will righted the phone as the two talked. Then Elizabeth asked, "What time does the fair start?"

"It doesn't start until one-thirty, but I've been asked to take the promotional pictures, and I've got to be there by one to check in. If you're with me, I can probably get you in for free. I can pick you two up if you don't mind arriving early."

Elizabeth looked at her daughter and asked, "Do you want to go?"

"Yeah!"

"I'll call Grammy and tell her we'll stop by for dinner after the fair."

Emma clapped her hands and squealed with delight. "Yay!"

"I'll come over around lunchtime tomorrow, and then we'll leave," Will said.

"Thank you."

"Thank you!" Emma shouted.

"No problemo, kiddo. I'll hit the road so you two can enjoy the rest of your dinner."

"Would you like to join us?"

"No thanks. I ate on my way over here."

Emma ran to the front door and hugged Will, who then hugged Elizabeth goodbye. It didn't take him long to walk to his car, and he smiled and waved to them both before driving away.

A/N: Just barely got two in one month. Don't get excited though. It may not happen again. But thanks for all the support thus far!