Chapter 7

Elizabeth was almost asleep in the chair when she heard a knock on the door, she went to see whom it was.

"Izzy!" Mat said as she opened the door, "Oh I'm sorry did I wake you? It just got dark!"

"No, no its fine. I was just tired and Will just fell asleep. He spent the afternoon with Joey at the shop."

"Ohhhh," Mat said almost disgusted then he got all perky and annoying again, "I've come here to ask you a question!"

"The answers no Mat," Elizabeth said rolling her eyes.

"Come on Izzy dear, one night. Just give me one night to try and convince you how perfect we are for each other."

"Mat I've already told you a million times, I'm happily married!"

"Oh right, to that low life captain of some sorts. I'm starting to wonder if he's even real."

"He's real alright, and next week you'll regret ever laying eyes on me. Now if I have to do it myself I will throw you onto that street if you do not leave my home this instant," she said beginning to close the door on him.

Mat smiled, "Is that a threat or a promise?" he said as he slithered his way in behind her.

"Mat what are you—? Get out. You are so—"

"Come on ple—ase!"

"Shhhh, you'll wake Will! And no, I will never go anywhere with you Mr. Gaverty, Good night!" She said shoving him outside and closing the door behind him.

"But I—" He was stopped by the door slamming in his face, "Good night to you too!" He said pouting off.

Will was woken up by the door as it shut, "Mama?"

"Oh sorry dear," she said going over to him.

"Mama who was that?"

"….No one, are you hungry? You haven't had any dinner."

"Mama, why does Mr. Gaverty always try to get you to go with him? Doesn't he know about Papa?" Will said with his big brown eyes looking up at Elizabeth as they headed into the kitchen.

"He knows about him, dear."

"Mama?"

"Yes."

"When is Papa coming home?"

Elizabeth froze in her tracks, "Ummm, soon. Why?"

"I just… I want to meet him."

"Why the sudden interest in your Papa lately?" Elizabeth said lovingly as she went over to him.

"I don't know," Will said holding something back.

"Will, have those boys been teasing you again?" she said kneeling down to him.

Will started rambling, "They… they said that I don't have a father, and that if I do then he doesn't love us. Then I told them that he was a captain of a big ship and that he loved us a lot but you said he didn't have a choice but to stay out there. And—"

"No, no, no honey. Don't listen to them," she said hugging him, "You're father loves us with all his heart and he wants to be here, don't let anyone tell you different, okay?"

He nodded his head.

"You know what, I've got an idea. Go get your shoes on." Elizabeth said happily.

"Why?"

"Let's go and eat at the festival, just you and me."

"Really?" Will exclaimed.

"Uh-huh! Now hurry along, I'll go get my purse."

"But Momma you said that we couldn't. You said that—"

"Who cares what I said earlier, let's go have fun! Come on you can be my date!" She joked as he ran off to get his shoes.

"Okay Momma!" he exclaimed running.

Elizabeth laughed a little and gave out a sigh. She then grabbed her purse and her and Will went out the door and down the street.

"Sooo, Will what shall we do first?"

"Eat! I'm starving! Momma can I get a candy if I eat all my food?"

"Oh what the heck, we're living on the edge tonight," she joked, "You can have candy first!"

"Really Momma?" He exclaimed.

"Yep! And then we can play a few games and maybe even dance!"

"Oh Momma do we have to dance?" he said looking up at her.

"Well I heard a little bird say that Clara was going to be there…"

Will's face lit up. "Clara's going to be there? How do you know?"

"Her mother came into the restaurant today and told me they would be at the festival tonight!"

Will suddenly grabbed her hand and began running fast.

"Will?" Elizabeth laughed, "May I ask what the hurry is?"

"Come on, we have to get there!"

They both laughed as he dragged her until they finally reached the festival. It was full of life; people everywhere, bright lights, the smell of the food and candy, the welcoming music, they loved it there.

After Will and Elizabeth ate they were headed to play some games when Will suddenly yelled, "Momma! Momma! Look!"

"What is it?"

"There she is!" he said pointing in the direction of the dance area.

"Well, go on, ask here to dance!"

"Really? But what about you Momma?"

"I'll be fine, go!" she laughed. He gave her a quick look and then ran in the direction of the crowd. Elizabeth trailed behind and found a seat near the dance area.

Will had ran up to a little girl about his height, she had long brown curly hair, she was wearing a blue dress. This was Clara, Will crush for years. Elizabeth and Clara's mother, Katherine, were good friends. They had both showed up around the same time on the island, both with husbands that couldn't be with them, except Katherine's husband Jonathan had died a year before they met. Elizabeth and Katherine helped each other out a lot since they were both young mother's on their own. Katherine knew Clara liked Will, and Elizabeth knew Will like Clara; they thought it was adorable watching them together.

After a minute of watching, Elizabeth was surprised when someone joined her.

"I knew you couldn't resist me," a deep voice said from behind her.

She whipped her head around, she knew that voice. "Mat, I just came to get Will out of the house."

"Of course you did," he said sarcastically.

"I'm serious, now if you'd excuse me I–" Elizabeth said as she began to stand up.

"Nuh-uh-uh, you're not going anywhere, except for that dance floor with me," he said taking her wrist.

"Mat let go I—"

"Come on Izzy, one dance, that's all it'll take."

"No, I'm not dancing with you."

His grip on her wrist tightened, "Yes, you are."

"Mat your hurting my wrist."

"Come on—" he was interrupted by a voice behind him.

"If she doesn't to dance, then she doesn't want to dance Gaverty," Joey said coming up behind Mat.

"Lyle, this is none of your business, run along to your wench sister now," Mat sat whipping his head around.

Lyle was Joey's last name.

"First of all, I thought you and my sister were quite acquainted?" Joey said with a smirk, "And second of all—"

"I don't care Lyle! Step away from me and my lady or you will—"

"Your lady?" Joey and Elizabeth exclaimed at the same time.

"Yes, you may not know it Elizabeth but it doesn't matter what you think you want, all that matters is what I want, cause when I want something I get it."

Elizabeth was about to yell at him when she was stopped by Joey yelling first.

"You know what Gaverty, grow up. Everyone knows that you are a low-life snake so why don't you just move along."

Mat let go of Elizabeth and headed to Joey, "Lyle you just made a big mistake!"

"Really?"

"Uh-huh, now no one and I mean, no one comes between me and what I want."

"I don't believe that."

"Really well you're about too."

"Come on guys, this is ridiculous why don't we just—" Elizabeth was trying to stop the two men from arguing because she knew what would happen next.

"No Elizabeth, I think Lyle here needs to learn a little lesson," Mat said rolling up his sleeves.

"Bring it on pretty boy," Joey said smugly as he did the same.

Mat was furious; he began to punch Joey but was stopped by Joey's fist knocking him to the ground.

"That felt good," Joey said as Mat lay on the ground in pain.

"Joey!" Elizabeth yelped as she went to the ground to help Mat up.

"But I thought—" Joey exclaimed confused.

"See Lyle, always a shop boy, never a man," Mat chuckled as he started to walk away holding his nose in pain, "Come on Izzy!"

Elizabeth stood there between them.

"Elizabeth!" he said trying to get her to go with him.

"Elizabeth don't listen to him he only—" Joey whispered to Elizabeth.

"Both of you just… shut up!" she said as she began to storm off towards the opposite said of the dance floor.

"Elizabeth!" both the men yelled as they went after her but stopped.

"See what you did!" Mat said throwing his hands up.

"I did?" Joey exclaimed.

"Yeah you!"

"I'm not the one who almost broke his wrist."

"You are… pathetic!" Mat laughed.

"I wouldn't be talking," Joey laughed.

"She could never love you, sure you've got money but you're not like me. You see I have twice the money you do, but were both rich. But if Elizabeth's as smart as she looks, then she'll chose right, which would be me of course."

"If Elizabeth's as smart as I know she is, she'll never get near you. Besides, aren't you worried about having someone who actually has an advanced vocabulary? I thought you would be more of the dumb blonde type?"

"I don't have a type, I love all women—"

"You mean all women who are stupid enough to spend time with you?"

"You better watch your mouth shop boy or I'll—"

"You'll what? Send one of your little guys to 'take care of me' or something along those lines. If anyone should be watching their mouth it should be you!"

"Sleep with one eye open tonight Lyle, and watch your back."

"Ri—ght."

Mat then walked off to his group of washed up, rich, drunken friends and went on with the festival. While Joey went to se if Elizabeth was okay.