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Sunday wasa day of sleeping in and lounging about and then doing some prep work for their real first day of research. Elizabeth’s headaches were minimal, and she tried to stave them off by staying hydrated and resting when she could. She always went to bed early, which Marie complained about quite regularly.
“You keep leaving me with Thomas and the lovebirds.”
The two women were sitting outside on Sunday afternoon, enjoying a cold beer and the rare breeze that came across the yard.
Elizabeth laughed. “I'm sorry, but I need to make sure I'm getting enough rest.” She’d told Marie about her unfortunate softball mishap. “The last thing I need is to have a relapse or something while I'm down here.”
“I know. I’d be cautious too, I guess. Nothing would pull me away from here.”
They fell silent again, listening to the birds and enjoying the peace. Elizabeth enjoyed Marie, and was thankful for her presence. She was outgoing, funny, and smart, and they'd had some truly ridiculous conversations over the past few days—Marie considered herself a font of useless knowledge about pop culture—as well as some scientific conversations that would make a layman’s head spin. They thought nothing of having a lengthy discussion on the aragonite saturation states and pH of St. Helena Sound or debating the causes of the spatial and temporal ranges of titration alkalinity in the Combahee River. Yes, Elizabeth found herself very happy for the distraction that was Marie.
She’d finally confessed to Marie that she and Jason had been involved while they were in college, but it was only because Marie had noticed Elizabeth’s change in demeanor whenever he was around and had started to ask questions. Elizabeth told her they’d parted ways a long time ago and hadn't spoken since.
“Remember when we first got here, and I asked about your status?” Marie asked now. “First you said you weren't sure, then you said you were in a relationship. So which is it?”
“God, you’re nosy,” Elizabeth said, trying to inject levity into her tone.
“Seriously, Lizzy. I can tell you're preoccupied. I mean, I don't know you that well, but I can see it. Sometimes you just drift off, and you look a little sad.”
Elizabeth was shocked.Am I that obvious? Is it written all over my face?
“I can tell you're making an effort to get whatever—or whoever—is making you sad out of your mind,” Marie continued, “but I can still see it once in a while.”
“I really don't want to talk about it, okay? When I said I was in a relationship, I meant it. I am. Let's just leave it at that.”
As she lay in bed that night, she asked herself why she still felt that way—because Will was making it obvious with every day that passed that their relationship was over. But she needed him to say it to her face, and she needed to know why.
What shewouldn'tdo was chase him down and beg him to talk to her or plead with him to give her answers. Nowaywould she put herself through that hell again like she did with Jason. Calling, leaving messages, crying when his voice mail picked up again and again…
No, she wouldn't chase him. When he was ready to talk to her again, he'd have to come findher. Chaseherdown. Makeherlisten.
He’d done it once before, when he’d rushed home from California, and she’d made it so easy for him. But she’d wanted to make it easy; even then, she knew she couldn't be without him. Now, she was facing the very real possibility that shewouldbe without him forever; and still, one question haunted her.
Why?
* * *
Will flew backto Boston on Sunday, ending his trip to California with an overnight stay in San Francisco. He was glad he’d stayed; it gave him the opportunity to have an open and honest conversation with Richard and Lauren. Will had apologized to Lauren, and told her he was looking forward to getting to know her, and would do whatever it took to smooth things over between them. She’d assured him that she had no ulterior motives, and that her feelings for Richard were true. It was a relief, and the cousins parted on good terms.
Now, as he sat in his office Sunday afternoon, he focused on Elizabeth's eyes staring back at him from the picture on his desk. He’d managed to stop himself from pulling up pictures of her on his phone over the past week, and now here she was, beaming at him. His eyes roamed the picture greedily, soaking in every detail, even though he’d gazed at it dozens of times before. He sighed and picked up his phone to call his sister, desperate for a distraction.
“Hey, Georgie. I’m back,” he said when she answered.
“Hi! When did you get in?”
“Just a little while ago.”
“Are you coming back to the Cape?”
“I don't know. I suppose I will at some point.”
“Let me know. Um, Matt's here, but he's getting ready to head back to Boston, so I should go.”
“Matt's there now?”
“Yes, he spent the weekend.”
“Again?”
