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“Ha.”
He chuckled. “I was worried you were more hurt than you’d let on, that's all. And since we've decided to go slow, I'll be damned if the first time we make love again will be on your couch in a fumbling rush.”
“I thought we were fumbling along pretty well. And it wasn’t about Lydia, I don't want you to think that. It’s just… I don't want to wait anymore. I need you,allof you. Iwantall of you.”
He groaned. “I want you too, Lizzy. Never doubt that for a second. But doing it this way just feels right to me. I know that probably sounds ridiculous coming from me, but it's how I feel. It’s like…I want a clean slate. We'll set aside some time to talk once the wedding is over, and we'll go from there.”
“It doesn’t sound ridiculous.” Her phone chirped, and she read the text from Jane. “My father would like to talk to me, and my mother is on her way over. Ugh, I really don't want to do this right now.” She sighed. “Do you think Jane would believe me if I told her I had an appointment for a physical?”
He smiled sympathetically. “Would you like me to go with you?”
“Are you sure you’re up for it? I have a feeling it won’t be pretty.”
He nodded. “Absolutely. I want to be with you.”
“Okay, then. Let's go.”
Ten minutes later, they’d made the walk via the beach to Charles’s house. The air inside was saturated with tension, and the occupants of the living room were silent. Elizabeth’s parents sat on the loveseat, while Jane and Charles were on the couch. It was obvious her parents were surprised to see her with Will, and her mother stared at him and Charles as if expecting them to bite. Elizabeth finally had enough of the silence and spoke up.
“Why are we all here? What's going on?” She held Will's hand as they stood in front of the fireplace, and he gave it a squeeze.
“Your mother and I have some things to say,” Mr. Bennet said and glanced briefly at his wife. “Both of us feel terrible about everything that’s happened, and we owe you all an apology.”
“Yes, you do,” Jane said. “But do you understand what you're apologizing for?”
“Of course we do,” Mrs. Bennet answered. “I never should have said those things to you yesterday. I was angry, and I lashed out.”
Jane's eyes widened. “Youwere angry? Now you know how I've felt, and how Elizabeth has felt, for years. Something has to change, Mom.Youhave to change, both of you. I don't expect it to happen overnight, but it has to happen or else we're just going to grow further and further apart.”
“Jane's right,” Elizabeth said. “Mom, I haven’t heard a peep from you since we talked almost three weeks ago. Not a word.”
Mrs. Bennet stared at her hands, folded in her lap. “I'm sorry. I–I didn't know what to do. I was so shocked by everything you told me. What does a mother say to her daughter after hearing all that? You're right, I've behaved horribly, and I–I don't know how to–how to start again. But I’m sorry. I truly am.” She turned to her husband. “I've been awful, haven't I?”
“I've been just as bad, Frances,” Mr. Bennet said, and turned to Jane. “We know one conversation won’t fix everything. But it’s a start, isn’t it?”
Jane glanced at Elizabeth, then at Charles, and then at her parents. “It's a start.”
* * *
Jane and Charleswere married by a Justice of the Peace in a small, quaint chapel near the beach. From the moment Charles laid eyes on his bride, he struggled to keep his composure, while Jane was a lost cause. By the end of the short but beautiful afternoon ceremony, there wasn't a dry eye in the place.
The backyard reception was flawless. Two enormous, open-sided tents, set up end to end, graced the back lawn, and hundreds of white fairy lights adorned each. The sunset was glorious, and the gentle breeze coming in off the water was just enough to keep everything cool.
As the only members of the wedding party, Will and Elizabeth shared a small table with the bride and groom. After a delicious meal of filet mignon and lobster, Elizabeth excused herself to go to the restroom and, on the way back to the table, spied her aunt and uncle standing at the bar and went to join them.
They chatted for a few minutes, and then Dee nodded toward Will. “He looks so dashing in his suit.”
Elizabeth grinned. “Very dashing.” She saw the open curiosity in her aunt’s expression—it had been there for most of the day—but knew they couldn’t have that conversation today.
“How are things with your parents?” her uncle asked. “I talked to your mother earlier, and noticed she seems a bit subdued.”
Elizabeth’s eyes traveled to where her parents were talking to Georgiana and Matt. After their conversation on Thursday, Charles and Jane had relented and allowed Mr. and Mrs. Bennet—and Lydia—to come to the wedding after all, and Mr. Bennet had given Jane away.
Elizabeth sighed. “I think things are okay. Shaky, but okay.”
“I mentioned to her that the old homestead is for sale again. It’s a shame it keeps bouncing from owner to owner. I'd love to see it restored to its former glory, but I’m not sure the right person will come along.”
Elizabeth was saddened by the news. She’d always said that if she ever won the lottery, the first thing she would do is buy her grandparents’ house. However, since she hardly everplayedthe lottery, the chances of that happening were pretty slim.
