First Impressions: A Modern Pride and Prejudice Adaptation

Chapter 32

"...And I swear I would be happy to never speak to another man for the rest of my life!" Liz finished, before glancing up into her uncle's face. "Present company excepted of course."

Mr. Gardiner chuckled. "That bad, huh?"

Liz sighed deeply, resting her head on her folded arms. "You don't even know... Honestly, it's been an absolutely atrocious year." She had been careful, as careful as she could be, to phrase her troubles without naming too many names or revealing too many secrets. But she couldn't bear to keep her troubles to herself. She didn't dare look at Jane, though she knew when she did, she would see an expression of perfect neutrality. She shook her head, dragging her chin across her wrists. "Everything has been so weird. I'm really looking forward to this break."

Her aunt and uncle laughed heartily, but Jane remained quiet. In fact, she had been quiet all week. And not in Jane's usual, slightly dreamy, contented way of being quiet. She had been withdrawn, even a little fidgety. Liz peered at her older sister out of the corner of her eye until the waiter came with their food and she had to pull her arms off the table.

As she unfolded her silverware from her napkin, Liz considered the past few days. If it were anyone but Jane, she might have thought she was being avoided. When she suggested they meet for lunch, Jane had a lunch meeting. When she asked to wander a museum in the afternoon together, Jane had to stay late with paperwork. Every time she tried to spend time alone, Jane seemed to have something else more pressing to attend to.

She fidgeted as they ate, twitching at every lull in the conversation. She wanted to ask her questions while Jane was trapped, held captive by the meal, but it would be unfair to force her to answer in front of their aunt and uncle, out in public. She waited, too when they were in the car, pulling one foot up onto the seat and resting her arm against the drawn-up knee.

Jane was going to be staying at the Gardiner's house with the children while they were gone. They had picked her up for dinner and she would stay that night to be there in the morning. She sat quietly, watching pensively out the window, not once looking towards her sister.

Liz brought her hand to her face, started to nibble on her thumbnail, and then forced herself to stop, tucking her thumb beneath her other fingers. She waited as they hit two red lights, waited as they made the sharp turn into the neighborhood. She waited until they were in the garage, their aunt and uncle already unlocking the door into the house.

She put her hand on her sister's shoulder and waited one last second, until the Gardiners were inside the house. Jane looked at her expectantly. "Jane, can we talk?"

"Sure. About what?" She wrapped her purse strap around one hand and began inching towards the door.

Liz took a wide step, trying to get between her and the exit. "How are you doing?"

"I'm fine. What about you? Are you excited for your trip?" She unwrapped the strap, carefully not looking at Liz, and pulled it over one shoulder.

"Yes, but don't deflect. How are you doing? How's work?"

"I'm really fine. There's just a lot... a lot of work to be done. More than I thought." She tossed her head when her voice broke, disguising it by throwing her hair over her shoulder. Before Liz could stop her, reach out again to touch her, Jane took advantage of her longer legs to pull around her and open the door again. "Well, it's going to be an early morning, so I think we'd better head to bed. Good night, Lizzie!" she said brightly, in a tone so confident that Liz could not even argue that she wasn't tired yet.

She left the door open behind her; Liz watched her back as she proceeded down the short hallway, frowning.

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