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“But why–why won’t he—”
“I'm not saying anything else about Will. I may have already said too much.” Elizabeth sighed and closed her eyes, trying to rein in her emotions. “The thing is, Mom…you have to stop seeing Lydia as someone who can do no wrong. She’s a grown woman who has made bad choices and doesn't care about who those choices have hurt. It's time you opened your eyes and really took a good look at her...and at me. You’ve put me down for so long, and I don't deserve it. I'm your daughter too. It's time you started acting like my mother.”
Mr. Bennet sat down next to his wife, but kept his eyes on Elizabeth. “We've let you down. Not just you, but Jane too.” He grasped his oldest daughter’s hand. “And Lydia. All three of you girls. We haven't been very good parents to you, have we?”
His question hung in the air. No one said a word.
* * *
It had been onlysix days since Will had left South Carolina, but it felt more like sixty. He’d finally dealt with some long-neglected issues at the office, and although everything was on an even keel, he realized it probably hadn't been the best week for Stephanie to come out and visit. Despite that, her short trip had gone well, and he was suitably impressed.
On top of work matters was his concern with the upcoming arraignment and everything looming on the horizon for Georgiana. He had a deep-seated fear that some legal technicality would arise out of the blue and somehow set both men free. Every time he thought about the battle she was facing, that fear would dance around in his head, and it was hard for him to tamp it down. But he had to; she was coming to Boston tomorrow to stay with him, and he needed to make sure he projected confidence when he was with her. And for the most part, hewasconfident; Maggie Harper assured him they had every reason to be.
As busy as he was during the day, that only left the nights—the very long, sleepless nights—to delve into everything that happened between him and Elizabeth. The ball was in her court now, and he realized this was exactly what he’d done to her: he’d left her in limbo. Not knowing what was going through her mind was the worst—that, and the memory of those tears running silently down her cheeks. That vision had haunted him all week.
He’d met with a therapist this week, and his gut told him that they would be a good fit. Some things he could work on right away, like his tendency to catastrophize—which he hadn’t known was a real thinguntilthis week. But some things would take deeper digging.
He quickly glanced at his watch then called Charles, knowing he and Jane had planned on giving Mr. and Mrs. Bennet the news of their engagement today. Charles had mentioned that Elizabeth was going to stop by, and he was anxious for any news of her.
“How did everything go?”
“Jane’s parents were happy for us, of course, but I have to be honest, it was a pretty screwed-up day. Elizabeth came over, and things got messy.”
“What do you mean? Is she okay?”
“I think so. I think she said a lot of things to her parents that they were probably long overdue to hear.”
Will sighed. “It's about time. How did your future in-laws take it?”
“I've never seen Mrs. Bennet so quiet. Mr. Bennet was…he was shocked. I don't think he realized how lacking he’s been as a father. Jane is hanging out with Lizzy tonight, just to make sure she’s okay.”
Will was relieved to hear it; he was glad Elizabeth had her sister to lean on.
“Um, not to change the subject, but you and Lizzy are the only wedding party we have. Are you okay with that?”
“Of course. Why, is Elizabeth uncomfortable with it?”
“I don't know. Jane is going to talk to her about it tonight. I just don't want you to feel weird.”
“Notbeing your best man would feel weird, and I can’t imagine anyone but Elizabeth standing up with Jane. We’re adults. I’m sure we’ll be fine. Hey, I don't have to plan a bachelor party, do I?”
Charles chuckled. “Please don't. I don't want one. I just want to get married.”
Will sighed, the weight of what he’d lost suddenly feeling that much heavier. “Married to your angel.”
“Yes. Married to my angel.”
* * *
Despite everythingthat had happened this afternoon, Elizabeth feltgood. She’d finally stood up to her parents, and she realized that the recent chain of events—the situation with Will, and her subsequent circumstances with Jason—had all served to strengthen and bolster her.
For far too long, she’d avoided confrontation,becauseof Jason. That one little innocuous conversation she’d had with him years ago, about spending time with her, had happened the day before he walked out; and she realized that since then, she’d subconsciously avoided any confrontationat all. She didn’t want to deal with the backlash, didn’t want to deal with the feelings it evoked. She’d done it for years with her parents, and she’dalmostdone it with Will, when everything had happened with Caroline and Anne…she’d just backed away from him, shutting him out, until he’d flown home and forced her to face him.
But no longer. She’d stood up to Jason, and it felt liberating. She’d received closure, she supposed, but at the same time, it was as if a part of herself that had been sealed shut was reopening.
Jane arrived a short time later, and the sisters sat outside on the deck, enjoying the sunset and the light breeze coming in off the water that alleviated the lingering heat of the day.
They briefly touched on what had happened earlier in the day with their parents. Both agreed that the conversation had been a long time coming, and left it at that; neither wanted to rehash it.
