If it is depression that makes an artist's work valuable, then why am I spending my 5th hour in front of a blank document on my computer? The library was getting really crowded and I did not wanted to listen for the 26th time how Charlotte is really excited about going to Carol Bingley's birthday party on the 3rd ; which I why I decided to go to the quaint coffee shop which was near my old high-school. I am barely out of the hangover of my own, and it hasn't even been a week since I got blacked-out drunk on a flurry of cocktails, which is why this place was nothing short of heaven for me.

My school used to be on the side of one of the foothills of the mountains that surround Beardsley, a bit removed from the busy and noisy valley. It seems like a perfect place. One could see the view of the entire valley from a window of the school library, which used to be my favorite place. The coffee shop was right above the school, providing a better but scarier view of Beardsley. It was owned by an old man whose wife has been teaching mathematics at the school. I still remember how I used to go there after a particularly rough day at school. Joe Ellington, the owner, used to make his special hot chocolate for me. He has a gift of understanding people.

His wife was an equally kind woman; she was disappointed a bit when I told her that I wanted to be a writer, but she was nevertheless happy for me. She used to say that I have an adequate aptitude for math as well. There was a phase where I wanted to be a mathematician. But mother bullied me into changing my mind. "Anything but a slob with her nose in thick books and dark circles under her eyes", she said in her grating shrill voice one fall when I was 14. Well guess what mum, I ended up having dark circles anyways.

"I suppose I shouldn't be asking what you're working on judging from what I see" said Joe while placing my 7th cup of coffee. I let out an exasperated sigh and smiled at him. He sat down beside me as I closed down my laptop. My eyes felt extremely strained.

"I don't think I should have so much coffee", I said as I felt like sandpaper was being rubbed against my head. "Hot Chocolate?" asked Joe.

I smiled again. This time it relieved some tension off my head.

"No, Joe. I am fine" I replied as I looked out the window. Twilight was creeping as the sun was going down Mt. Andrews, the highest of the 7 mountains that surrounded the city.

The bell at the door rang vigorously as Mrs. Ellington entered brushing off the dust from her hair.

"Look what the cat dragged in Jesse" said Joe as he went to his wife taking her bag. Jesse looked at me and looked pleasantly surprised.

"Lizzie!" she said as I stood up and hugged her. Joe looked at the both of us smiling as he hanged Jesse's coat.

"You've lost weight, is everything okay?" Jesse asked as she looked at me concerned. It was so great to see the Ellingtons again after such a long time. They haven't even aged a day. I felt like I walked into a time machine.

"I'm fine Jesse. It's work" I said avoiding eye contact.

The three of us sat at the table. "I heard you were working at the main library." Jesse said as she rested her elbows on the table. "Yeah" I replied as I shrugged a bit. "How is Jane?" she asked further as she looked intently at me. "Great. She just left 2 days back for New York" I replied back as I wondered how cold that cup of coffee might have gotten. I wanted to smoke for some reason but I didn't want to do it there.

"I ran into your mother the other day" said Joe as he picked up a newspaper from a table besides ours. "We talked about you and Jane. She told me that Jane is dating John Bingley, that Hollywood guy".

"Is she going around and telling everyone?" I said. Jesse laughed a bit and said, "She is happy for Jane I suppose".

"I don't think Jane is dating anyone. She is doing so well in her career. She is seeing the world." I said.

"Doesn't it make sense that she close it all with a nice guy with her side?" said Jesse gently. "What if she doesn't need something like that to feel fulfilled" I replied, thinking to myself how wonderful it would have actually been for me to be like that. Jesse cocked her head slightly and looked at me sympathetically. I had a feeling that she maybe pitied me.

"Have you talked to Jane about it yet?" she asked, knowing the answer already. "No" I said hesitatingly. "She is busy usually" I mumbled a bit. Jesse withdrew a little as she took a few moments to compose herself.

"So what are you working on nowadays?" Jesse asked.

"Apart from the library, I am working on my book about the Jazz age" I replied with a new-found strength. "Wow Jazz!" exclaimed Joe, "My favorite type of music for sure" he said as he looked at his wife lovingly. "Didn't we met at a Jazz bar Jesse?" he asked as he held her hand. She looked over at him for a few moments and then turned to me, "Yes, and I haven't been to one ever since". All the three of us smoothly fell into a hearty laugh. I forgot how homely this coffee shop has been.

"And what about your personal life, have you been seeing anyone?" Jesse asked as she was still glowing from her husband's cute flirting.

I was completely caught off guard as I started stammering a bit. "No, not really. I haven't really got the time to…. I was very preoccupied with…" I said as Joe and Jesse tried to make any sense of the jabbering.

"Don't worry Lizzie, we'll fix you up with someone" Jesse said while smiling gently, "of course if you want to".

I smiled and I looked down. "No. You don't have to. I honestly don't know what I want" I said feeling a sort of pain.

"Mr. Ellington," a young lad called from the next room, "there is a gentleman here to see you".

"Right" said Joe as he started to get up "I'll be right back with you Lizzie. Talk to your favorite math teacher meanwhile".

"Lizzie," Jesse now held my hand, "don't take this the wrong way sweetie but you look kind of miserable. Is everything okay?"

I looked at her face and thought about it. "Is it about your mother?" she asked as she looked intently into my eyes.

"Mother?" I was puzzled, "What are you talking about?"

Jesse realized she made a huge mistake. She winced painfully as she slapped her forehead. "Stupid, stupid me!" she said as she drooped in her chair.

We looked at each other for a couple of minutes until I said, "You are going to have to tell me sooner or later Jesse, better it be now".

"Honestly Lizzie I genuinely thought you would have known, I am so sorry" she started in a low but firm voice of a teacher.

"Your mother is having an affair"

I stared at her for 5 whole minutes as I felt myself freezing.

"What?" I finally found the courage to say.

"The rumors were around for months and none of us ever believed it really. But it just kept getting stronger and stronger." She said as she held my hand again, "I never even wanted to believe it until I saw them together in Colorado"

"Them?" I asked. "Your mother and some British guy" she said "he had red hair and was a lot shorter than your mother. I am pretty sure he was Irish".

"I don't care if he is an Irish or not!" I busted out. Jesse was a bit startled by it.

"I am sorry" I said calming myself down "what were you even doing in Colorado?" I asked.

"I was at an academic conference there" she replied sitting up a bit. "I submitted a paper in a seminar"

"And when was it?" I asked. "June" she replied timidly.

"June! And for how long have the rumors been around?" I asked kind of pissed right now.

Jesse thought something for a moment and said, "I don't really know but I heard about it for the first time last year in August, and it was a different guy back then".

My jaw dropped after hearing this. "I need some air" I said as I stood up and went near the window. I opened it and a gust of cold icy air slapped me hard across the face. Jesse swiftly came behind me and patted gently on my back.

"I know it is not my position to say this but maybe you should talk to her about it" she said slowly, "or talk to your father".

I felt like my chest would implode in itself. I was breathing in heavily.

I was in the process of collecting my thoughts when I heard the jolly laugh of Joe as he entered the room.

"Jesse! It must be a day of reunions today" he said as he came towards us, "Look it's Frank, Catherine's son!"

I turned around and saw Frank standing behind Joe, looking over his head at me. He smiled while Jesse went to him and hugged him.

"Oh Frank! It has been so long" Jesse said to him the same way she did to me. "I was devastated when I heard about your mother" she said as she tapped his cheek.

He smiled at her and nodded gently while I stood there feeling utterly trapped.

"Lizzie this is Frank Darcy, son of Catherine Darcy" Joe said as I slowly walked towards the trio, "if you don't know who she is ask your mother" he said.

I and Jesse shared a look for a moment after which she giggled nervously. Frank noticed this exchange after which he put his right hand forward saying "Hi, I'm Frank".

I weakly gave him my left hand as he tightly held it, giving a nice firm handshake.

"I should be going really" I said suddenly feeling a shortness of breath.

"Where are you headed?" Joe asked as he handed me my coat. "My apartment is one block away from the courthouse" I said as Frank and Jesse listened to me.

"Lizzie! You don't even have a car and it has gotten so dark" Jesse said as I buttoned up my coat.

"I'll be fine" I said as I avoided Darcy's gaze.

"Nonsense!" said Joe, "Frank will drop you home, where are you headed Frank?"

"My condo is right at the end of Courthouse street. Yours is on my way, I can drop you" he said having that usual grin of his.

"Perfect!" said Jesse while clapping her hands gleefully.

"No, I'm fine I'll call an uber" I protested.

Jesse came by my side and held me by my arm. She came close to me and gently whispered, "Lizzie, I really don't want you to be alone right now, just please let him drop you. Don't worry both me and Joe know him very well. He is a very nice man, you can trust him".

I stood back a bit and looked at her as he joined Joe. A few hours ago when I entered the coffee shop that hasn't changed much (except for the little addition of tables) and met the people who have not changed much(except for a few more grey hairs). But now as I stood as both of looked from me to Frank, I suddenly felt like I have entered new territory. I wondered what does Jesse know about my mother and more importantly, what does she know about Frank?

"Shall we?" Darcy stood at the door gesturing towards his black Porsche. I looked at the Ellingtons and said, "It was really lovely to meet the both of you, I will try to come to this part of the city more often".

Jesse nodded approvingly and Joe gave a reassuring smile.

Darcy opened the door of his car as I seated myself into it. He gently slammed it and in a swift movement sat behind the wheel.

I waved at the happy old couple as the Porsche sped away towards the main road.