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Will was at Jane’s by eleven o'clock the next morning, and when Elizabeth swung open the door his eyes locked on hers. She looked bright and fresh, like a burst of sunshine.
“Good morning,” he said with a smile.
“Good morning.” She gestured for him to come inside. “Where are we off to?”
“Georgie mentioned that she and Matt went to the Public Gardens recently, and I thought we could go there. I packed a lunch for us, if that's okay. I hope you don't mind.”
“That sounds fine.”
Jane came down the hallway, and she eyed him impassively. “Hi, Will.”
“Hi, Jane.”
She didn't smile, and while she’d been civil to him last night, he knew he would still have to tread lightly with her. Her forgiveness and acceptance of him would be hard-won; he expected no less.
Elizabeth was busy digging through her small purse. “I'll be right back. My sunglasses must be in my other bag.”
She disappeared down the hall, leaving Jane and Will alone.
“So…” he said, feeling like he was under a microscope.
“So...what?”
“I feel like you might have something to say.”
She pursed her lips and arched an eyebrow. “Do I really have to say it?”
“No, you don't. Message received. And I know you probably don't believe me—I don't blame you—but I won't let her down again.”
“I want to believe you, but your actions will speak louder than your words. When I see that you've stood by her, when I see that you've seen the error of your ways and have done something to correct them...maybe then we can be friends again.”
He only nodded in response, and Elizabeth came down the hall again, sunglasses in hand.
“Okay, I'm ready,” she said with a smile. “Let’s go.”
* * *
They arrivedat the Public Gardens and made their way down to the pond, finding a spot under one of the weeping willows. The long branches drooped down low, grazing the water.
“Is this okay?” Will asked.
“This is perfect.”
Elizabeth walked to the edge of the water, and he set the cooler down and opened a blanket, spreading it in the shade next to the massive tree. He went to join her, and they watched a group of people on the opposite bank as they fed the ducks gathered there. The breeze coming in off of the pond cooled the humid air, but it was still very warm in the sunshine.
She inhaled deeply. “I haven't been here in a long time. It almost feels like we're not in the city.”
“Are you hungry?”
“No, not really. Not yet. Can we sit?”
“Sure.”
He led her over to the blanket and they sat next to each other, almost shoulder to shoulder, facing the pond. They remained silent, but she’d mentioned to him on the way here that she wasn’t on a schedule and could go back to the Cape at any time, so with that in mind, he would go at her pace.
She turned to him, but after a moment her gaze went back to the pond.
