Pulling up to the familiar driveway, Darcy deeply sighs as he looks at the caller ID on his phone. “I guess that I should call her back. She’s called five times today”.
“Who’s calling you?” asks Will unbuckling his seat belt as the ignition is turned off.
“Caroline Bingley. She wants me to donate some money for her charity fashion show for the Women’s Auxiliary. She’s hoping that I will be able to help cover the cost of printing the glossy program covers that they use every year for the event.”
“Have you donated before?” asks Will knowing that his friend doesn’t particularly care about women’s fashion.
“Yes, she asks every year. However, I don’t want to talk to her. She usually calls for a purpose but twists the phone call into somehow requiring me to be out with her on what others might call a date” Darcy trying to find a way to exactly describe Caroline’s social manipulation continues “I call it more of an alternate ‘obligation’ to appease some unrequested favor that she had made me feel guilty in not complying with or responsible for.”
“Have you ever asked Caroline out on an ‘official’ date?” curiously asks Will wondering what the answer will be. Caroline has been enamored with Darcy since they were in middle school.
“Actually, no . . . Occasionally, we end up at the same place together or she asks me to be her guest to something or other. But I have never asked her out by my own initiative. Caroline is too caught up in herself for me to ever be attracted to her. She is high maintenance. She has no idea how to walk in someone else’s shoes. The world revolves around her and I do not feel like keeping myself in her universe”.
“Umm . . . honestly, I thought both of you were dating. Caroline certainly seems to think so or at least she is telling everyone that both of you are. You might want to think about clarifying that with her” thoughtfully suggests Will not wanting his cousin to unwillingly end up in the center of some gossip circles.
“This is going to take me a minute” replies Darcy hitting the name displayed on his phone in the contact list.
“I’m going in. I’ll meet you inside in a few minutes” remarks Will opening the side car door. “It looks like Jennings and Collins are already here. The big white passenger van with the red shield is parked right out front by the curb.”
“I’ll be in within the next few minutes. This phone call should not take very long” responds Darcy stretching his neck listening to the ring tone.
Will walks up the beautiful and meticulous sculptured lawn. In all the years that there have been corps officers living in that quarters this is the nicest the lawn has ever looked. Roses of various colors and scents trim the walk way and surround the house. It feels like he is walking in the midst of a city’s botanical garden when the roses are in season. The fresh floral scent overwhelms his senses. Will is surprised by its comforting and peaceful reaction it stirs in him.
After taking a few deep breaths, Will rings the doorbell and waits for someone to answer. Jennings opens the door and immediately grabs him in a huge bear hug.
“Major Debourgh told me you were coming! How is my favorite junior soldier? It’s been years. My, you have grown up into a big boy! How old are you now? Nineteen, twenty?” excitedly asks Jennings pounding him with her hands on his chest with great enthusiasm.
“Off by a decade, I’m 29 now but doing well. How are you doing? You have always been my favorite officer!” cheerfully asks Will with all sincerity.
“Good, good, good” shaking her head, Jennings continues “So how’s your love life? Did you bring anyone with you?”
“Umm . . . no . . . it’s fine” states Will feeling a bit awkward at the moment at being put on the spot to discuss his personal life “I mean. . . I’m not dating anyone at the moment . . . . but I’m happy . . . and of course looking” blushes Will not use to these questions but willing answering them because he knows Jennings genuinely cares about him “I just haven’t found the right person yet.”
“She’s coming soon, I’m sure. I can feel it. It’s better for a man to wait to get married until the end of his twenties turning the life corner into his thirties. He’s more certain of who he is, where he is going, and what he wants out of life. ‘Better to marry a man than a boy’ is what I always say” reflects Jennings lost in her own thoughts for a moment “Some men though still like to play on the playground”.
“When you meet her, let me know. I might need some help in this area. I seem to keep missing her” teases Will with a wink but enjoying the friendly banter while hugging Jennings shoulders with one arm.
“My advice is: don’t settle. Wait for the right one. She’ll show up” encourages Jennings with hopeful optimism “God will bring her along at the right time as long as you ask Him to”.
“Well, I am asking and it seems unfortunately waiting as well” frankly responds Will but feeling inspired by Jennings encouragement.
“Some of my very favorite corps cadets are here tonight that I would like you to meet. I was their corps officer at Longbourne Citadel years ago. Charlotte and Elizabeth are some of the kindest women I know” answers Jennings but then as if a spark has ignited her thoughts “Follow me, I’m going to introduce you to one of them”.
Moving from the foyer in front of the steps that lead upstairs, Jennings guides Will into the living room where the other guests are waiting for them to enter the party.
Will looks at the woman sitting on the couch who looks very familiar. Studying the woman by the window, Will can’t immediately place where he knows her from, but something inside tells him that he has met her before. She looks up and smiles. He remembers.
Jennings grabs his hand and leads Will directly to where Liz is sitting. “Liz, I want to introduce you to a friend of mine that I have known since he was a little boy. His name is Will Fitz. He is Hugh Darcy’s cousin visiting over the summer from Netherfield Park”.
Liz swallows shocked to meet someone who knows Darcy. For a second her thoughts long to make a good impression. She extends her hand “Hi! I’m Liz. It’s nice to meet you”.
Will finds her voice warm and her manner charming. “I’m Will. Is there room for me to sit next to you on the couch? It seems like a large group tonight.”
Liz smiles and moves closer to the edge to make more room for him. Liz studies him for a moment. His features are similar to Darcy’s but she thinks that Darcy is more handsome by comparison. He is friendly and carries himself in a way that is also like Darcy bringing back warmhearted feelings of hospitable comfortableness.
Will begins to chat away about his day, adventures over the summer, and his plans for the next few weeks before the school season begins again as a teacher and coach. Liz contentedly asks questions to gather more information about him and to see how much he has in common with Darcy.
As Will continues to speak, Liz in her innermost thoughts recalls how much she misses talking to Darcy. His mannerisms remind her of Darcy’s warmth and kindness. Even though she enjoys talking to Will there is an ache that remains consistent in her longing to have Darcy sitting beside her rather than him.
After about fifteen minutes, Will takes a breath from his conversation with Liz and looks around the room, “Where is he?”
“Where is who?” asks Liz raising her eyebrows not knowing why suddenly the conversation ended abruptly in order to look for someone who doesn’t appear to exist hoping that it was not because she wasn’t paying attention to what he was saying while lost in her own thoughts.
“He must still be out in the car talking to Caroline. He told me that he would only be a couple of minutes” disgusted states Will “He needs to throw away his phone. He’s on that thing all the time!”
On hearing Caroline’s name, Liz assumes that the person in the car may be Bingley. She calmly thinks to herself “I wish Jane had come. She’ll be so disappointed not to see him. Hopefully he doesn’t have a girlfriend with him. It would hurt her so much” and then jumping way ahead in her expectations and dreading that moment “I don’t want to have to tell her if someone is with him.”
Will looks at her shoulders slumping and the distress that suddenly appears on her face, “Are you all right? You don’t look so well”.
“Yeah, I’m fine. I’m thinking about something that I forgot to do” Liz quickly recovers with the first thing that pops into her head “I’m not sure that I turned off the stove”.
“It’s not that big of deal. You can turn it off when you get home” advisedly remarks Will. He settles back down moving closer to Liz than he was sitting before. He finds Liz attractive and friendly. Liz enjoys his company and finds his half-smile charming. She notices his eyes twinkle when he speaks of things that he is interested in. Will comfortably rests his arm behind Liz on the sofa.
A few minutes later, Darcy walks in while everyone is absorbed in their individual conversations. He notices his cousin in the doorway leaning towards Liz animatedly wrapped in her attention. He feels sudden unexpected pangs of jealousy and anger. He stares at them and says nothing.
Liz intuitively feels focused eyes watching them as they talk and glances up from her polite conversation with Will about the latest football scores. She has not watched a football game in two years and can vaguely recall the names of the NFL teams in her local state. She attempts to keep the conversation going in hopes that Will eventually will speak of his cousin whom she longs to hear about.
As she looks up, Liz can feel all the color drain from her face only to be replaced by inspired heat as she feels her cheeks burn with sensation. Her eyes widen and her mouth feels very dry as her heart races to see the unexpected familiar man standing in front of her.
Jennings runs up to Darcy “You’re here!” She nestles her nose against his nose as a Maori from New Zealand might do using a ‘hongi’ greeting and gives him a huge hug “You use to love to do that to me as a child . . . but I guess you’re a little too big for that now . . . I’ve been waiting for you to get off that blueberry or lilypad, whatever you want to call it and join the rest of us!”
Darcy warmly smiles and hugs her back “How are you?” She is one of the few people who can hug him without feeling a sense of seeking permission before closing in. Jennings is like a second grandmother to him. “We should definitely see each other more often”.
“You need to visit me at the Silvercrest. It’s been two months since your last visit! I’ll have some brownies or chocolate chips cookies waiting for you on your next visit!” warmly smiles Jennings offering the invitation to a child who is almost like her own after his mother was promoted to glory “I’m a bit of a chocolate fanatic so I’ll have at least one or other on the counter . . .”
“I promise that I’ll come. I’ll put you on my schedule so I make sure that it happens!” responds Darcy knowing that this will probably be one of the highlights of his month. He then looks over to the large recliner where Alice Hammer has propped her feet up for more comfort “Hi Alice Hammer! It’s good to see you too. Thank you for sending me the book last week. It was very good. He is one of my favorite authors and I had not read that particular one yet.”
“I’m glad you liked the book. I’m trying to get up but I can’t seem to find the lever to put my feet down” wiggles Alice Hammer in her seat knocking her feet roughly up and down against the foot rest in an attempt to release the lock “There it goes!” exclaims Alice Hammer as the footrest slams back down into its casing.
She gets up and gives him a big hug as well with a kiss on the cheek leaving a bright pink lipstick stain. Alice Hammer attempts to wipe off the outline of affection but it is a “long lasting” wear brand and it makes a bright pink smudge instead.
Alice Hammer contemplates the leftover mark and starts to lick her thumb but Darcy quickly moves out of the way of incoming assistance “Oh, that’s okay. I can wash it off later. Don’t worry about it!” while he grabs both of her hands, clasping them together, and smiling back at her.
In response Alice Hammer shrugs her shoulders, “At least it is not on your collar. Your girlfriend might ask too many questions” and chuckles to herself at her own joke.
“Not a problem” replies Darcy turning his head slightly to catch Liz’s response to Alice Hammer’s comment who is still sitting next to Will quite engrossed in conversation on the sofa.
The sound of the word “girlfriend” clings to her ears and torments her. Liz tightens her lips, shocked by her own feelings of unusual jealousy. She certainly doesn’t like the idea of Darcy having a girlfriend especially if it is going to be Caroline Bingley.
Darcy’s eyes dance at the thought that Liz might have an opinion about him having a girlfriend. He thinks to himself for a fleeting moment “maybe she does like me too”. Darcy smiles to himself feeling that perhaps this is going to be a better evening than expected.
As Alice Hammer begins to settle into the recliner again, Major Debourgh observes the room “Darcy come sit next to Anne, you can take my place. I need to make sure everything is ready for dinner.”
Darcy takes a seat next to Anne, but Mrs. Debourgh returns within seconds with another chair from the dining room for herself to join the conversation. Darcy looks at Liz and contemplates what he should say next to her. Jennings notices the object of his intent attention and begins to be filled with unrequested matchmaking ideas.
Across the room, Liz catches a few quick glances to see how Darcy is responding to her. He left so abruptly that she wasn’t sure if he even wanted to remember his visit at Longbourne Citadel. She meets him momentarily eye to eye and it feels as if the air in the room has stopped and they are the only ones left to experience the moment.
Watching the interaction, Major Debourgh’s eyes narrow. “Anne, you must tell Darcy about your latest adventure”.
“What adventure?” asks Anne not sure that anything particularly exciting has happened in her life lately.
“Don’t be so coy. Darcy wants to hear about your visit to the eye doctor” encourages Major Debourgh “Remember what he told you?”
“Not exactly” states Anne feeling her mother’s insistence to bring us something that was said quite casually.
“Yes, you know. What he said about your ‘eyes’ . . .” hints Major Debourgh with a special emphasis on the word “eyes” changing her tone by raising it a couple of notes with a question mark on the end.
“Oh. He just made a comment about the color of my eyes” frankly states Anne.
“Really now Anne. He told her that she had beautiful eyes like rich chocolate. She, of course, inherited them from me. We have the exact same color and tint” replies Major Debourgh widening her eyes for more personal examination. In a voice of command Major Debourgh insists, “Anne, take off your glasses and show Darcy your eyes!”
Anne compliantly removes her glasses bending her chin low and raising just her eyes to be noticed.
“Yes, they are quite nice” genuinely replies Darcy looking past Anne over to Liz. He believes that Liz has eyes remind him of the cool ocean.
Major Debourgh notices the deviation of his attention from Anne that has now settled on Liz. Her back stiffens and her posture becomes more correct than ever.
“Darcy, why don’t you tell Anne about your latest musical composition. I’m sure she will want to know all the details, won’t you Anne?” directs Major Debourgh crossing her legs, straightening her skirt, and shuffles to dust off any imaginable pieces of lint. She clasps her hands neatly in front of her.
“What new song are you writing? I love playing your music on my electric piano at home. It only has a two octave range and the g flat doesn’t work, but it does a good job anyway with most tunes” suggests Alice Hammer “I blew the speakers last month because Mr. Woodhouse couldn’t hear me play and had me keep turning up the volume and playing more loudly. He didn’t realize that he had both of his hearing aids turned off. However, I bought a new pair of speakers that plug into the front of the piano. The static is a little noisy but it works out all right”.
“It’s a simple song, more of a chorus really to sing during a prayer time. I used scripture that spoke to me during my devotions for the lyrics. I think that you would like it, Alice Hammer” humbly responds Darcy.
“I’m sure that Anne would find your music fascinating. You must email it to her” suggests Major Debourgh “I’m sure that we can find someone willing to play it for us. But of course you must remember not to share it with anyone until it is published. You wouldn’t want anyone stealing it from you”.
“If you would like me to I’ll send it to you. I’m not concerned about publishing. I would much rather have someone enjoy my music that has an opportunity to encounter it than try to keep it a secret on the slight chance that some income derived from it” earnestly responds Darcy adding information about his own musical collection “I’ve kept many manuscript copies of others over the years that have touched me tremendously that haven’t necessarily been published.”
“I think that is a great idea. The more people become acquainted with you and your music, the more it will be in demand. It will also develop a reputation of its own” offers Liz wishing that Darcy had shared some of his compositions with her.
“Oh. Well, that seems like a silly idea - not very entrepreneurial of you. I have a good eye for business as does Anne as well. I’m sure that she could help you manage your financial income and assets in a more successful way for you” claims Major Debourgh looking over at her daughter and nodding her head in affirmation.
Graciously Collins interrupts the conversation “Major Debourgh is an excellent financial advisor. She has helped Char recover her credit by focusing on paying off one credit card at a time in large payments. Major has also reviewed our bank account at my insistence in order to help us make better choices with our spending and frivolous expense” Collins sensing everyone’s attention on him continues “For example, Char has decided to only buy one nail polish instead of two each time we visit the store and chooses to purchase her off-black hose for her uniform in bulk rather than individually.”
Char incredulously looks at him and rolls her eyes over to Liz.
Liz accurately guesses that Char might be mentioning this to him at a later point that evening when it is just the two of them for a discussion.
“I like listening to all of your music that Alice Hammer plays. I try to sing along with most of them, but Mr. Woodhouse unfortunately reminds me that I’m singing a little flat” states Jennings a little ruffled by the most recent memory “Personally, I think he needs turn down his hearing aids. But I do enjoy singing with the Home League Singers at the Silvercrest.”
“On that note, I need to check on dinner. I’ll be back in a moment” states Major Debourgh standing up with a particular mission on her mind.
Alice Hammer stands up and stretches, shaking her feet out in front of her. “If I sit too long, my body gets very stiff. I’ll never be able to get out of this chair.”
Just as Alice Hammer is about to find her place again, Major Debourgh enters the living room and commands “Alice Hammer don’t sit down!” Alice Hammer freezes mid-air between a fall and balance with a scared expression not wanting to offend Major Debourgh by not obeying her authoritative command. But gravity takes over and Alice Hammer plops down in the plush chair knocking it side to side. Seeing her look of anxious helplessness, Jennings and Will immediately assist in helping Alice Hammer to stand back up on her own two feet to receive Major Debourgh’s instructions for dinner.
Major Debourgh powerfully raises her chin trying to hold back any unnecessary frivolity. She likes to be listened to but even under these conditions she didn’t expect to frighten anyone. Looking towards Darcy in a tone of indignation “It is good to see that everyone has finally arrived. I have place cards where I have asked everyone to sit.”
The guests meander around the elaborate table to find their specific location of assigned conversation. Major Debourgh finds her place at the head of the table. To her right is Liz with Will next to her. On her left is Collins with Jennings sitting next to him. Alice Hammer is scrunched between Will and Char. Across the table Darcy is conveniently placed between Anne and Jennings.
Alice Hammer looks at the table settings once everyone is seated. “I can move so Collins can sit next to his wife. Collins, get up and I’ll trade you places!”
Major Debourgh glares through clenched teeth but politely states “I tried to make a seating chart so that a man was placed between every other woman, but it appears tonight the guest list is somewhat out of balance. Husbands do not sit next to their wives to encourage conversation at the table”.
Confused Alice Hammer looks back at her, “I think husbands and wives would know how to talk to each other. They must have to do it all the time!”
“The conversations need to be stimulated by topics other than household duties and chores. Although some lucky couples learn how to find interesting conversation with each other over the years, most do not” smartly replies Major Deborguh with an air of regal authority on the subject “I want this evening to be entertaining for all of us.”
“My husband and I had plenty of fun and things to talk about over the years. I miss my sweetie” reflects Alice Hammer “I use to be his ‘cuddle-bum’”.
Frowning at the mention of the endearing nickname, Major Debourgh sighs loudly.
After reflecting for a moment Jennings asks, “Do you mean ‘cuddle-bug’?” thinking that something was not quite right in the name which she had heard many times over the years by Fred Hammer to his dear wife.
“Oh yeah that’s right! I remembered it started with a letter ‘b’. Bum was the first thing that came to my head. My age must be catching up with me. ‘Cuddle-bug’ -- that was me!” remembers Alice Hammer with a huge toothy grin leaning her chin in the palm of her hand with her elbow held up by the table as sweet memories flood her thoughts.
Major Debourgh twitches in her dining room chair.
“That’s a cute name. I wonder what nicknames I’ll use one day” jokes Will Fitz trying to keep the conversation light.
“I have plenty of names that I call my dear Char” joins Collins into the conversation. Char’s facial color changes to pale white in fear that he will provide some examples for all of the guests “Tootlepops . . . big foot . . .”.
Char politely interrupts before Collins can continue “I think dear that perhaps you might want to tell everyone what your plans are for the Crestwood corps in the fall instead. It will be more interesting to all of us.”
“Yes, Major Debourgh has been an excellent role model and continual mentor. She is the prime example of supreme leadership in conducting oneself in officership. Her transformational guidance has been extremely beneficial in cultivating creativity and spontaneity within the limitations of my personal experience. Her bounteous generosity in bestowing her copious wisdom and abundant intellect has given me the ultimate opportunity to realize my full and complete potential.”
With a sigh not entirely amused by the zealous flattery, Jennings sarcastically quietly smirks to Darcy sitting beside her, “If he uses too many words over five letters long I have difficulty understanding and keeping up with him. I think he lost me at role model.”
Ignoring any comments from the ‘peanut gallery’, Major Debourgh nods her head with a noble air acknowledging Collins utter devotion to her instructional leadership.
“Darcy is quite the musician. My daughter, Anne, would have been a great composer too had she been given the opportunity to blossom within the ranks of those as gifted and talented as she is” remarks Major Debourgh wiping her mouth crisply with a pale yellow linen napkin.
“Oh really? What instrument do you play?” asks Liz wanting to include Anne in the conversation.
“I . . . I . . . well . . .” sighs Anne before being interrupted by her mother.
“Anne does not play an instrument. I only said that once given the opportunity she would have been quite the accomplished musician” insists Major Debourgh slightly sneering at Liz taking offense where none was intended.
“What do you like to do Anne? Not everyone likes music, but I’m sure that you have many things that you do enjoy instead” inserts Liz not having meant to embarrass Anne but only to encourage friendship with her.
“I don’t know” begins Anne not accustomed to being directly addressed in a crowd in which her mother shares the spotlight.
“She likes many things. She is very talented” projects Major Debourgh.
“I was asking Anne because each of us has things that we enjoy that we might not otherwise share with everyone unless asked” insists Liz trying to persuade Anne to be included in the conversation in order to get to know her better.
Cautiously, Anne looks up and meets her mother’s glaring eyes intently focused on a target as if on the back of Liz’s head.
“What do you like to do Anne?” also asks Alice Hammer offering a hobby of her own “I personally like knitting and singing with my cat, Peaches. Do you know that she knows how to say “I love you” back to me? I usually have to say it first, but she will repeat it to me, but I think she means it”.
Anne tries to stifle a giggle and submits by offering “I like to draw. Sketch, really with pencil. I like to sketch scenic views.”
“I don’t understand why she doesn’t use colors. The world is not black and white. I’ve proposed to buy her oils but she prefers using a regular school pencil” disgruntled adds Major Debourgh.
“You sketch?” politely asks Will “I like to do a bit of drawing myself. I have notebooks full of things that have momentarily inspired me.”
Lightening up with the thought of someone who shares her passion for drawing, “What sort of things do you draw?” courageously asks Anne.
“Last week I drew a trash can in an alley, a bench at the mall, and a bird on a wire” states Will Fitz trying to recall what was in his latest portfolio.
Anne frowns. This isn’t what she expected to hear. “Oh.” She looks down at her full plate of food and moves her fork around a few forgotten vegetables.
“Liz, since you seem to have an interest in exposing everyone else’s hobbies, what do you find to entertain yourself when others are not around to listen to your questions?” states Major Debourgh half-smiling at an attempt at possessing her own humor.
“Well, let’s see” taking in a deep breath Liz continues “I like to read and write some. I sing and play the piano a little . . . ”
“What? A ‘little’?” sharply states Major Debourgh “No one plays the piano a “little”. You either play or you do not.” Taking merciless aim, Major Debourgh continues “You are requesting that we admire you after superficially offering some false humility about your skill level until you perform before us so that you can be admired.”
Collins interjects “I’m sure that Major Debourgh would have been a prodigy in her youth had she had a chance to display one of her magnificent if yet unfulfilled talents” he earnestly continues “Major Debourgh is a quick learner and a master at many things”.
Char gazes at him across the table and takes a sip of lemonade to calculate her thoughts without visually responding.
“I’m not doing any such thing. I play some. In comparison to some individuals at this table, I play a ‘little’” Liz looks directly at Darcy and then over to her best friend, Char. “I am not fishing for compliments only to realistically lower expectations should the opportunity come up to play before any of my friends”.
“I think all of us have rather high expectations of you whether you play well or not” remarks Will trying to deflect Major Debourgh’s previous comments.
Shooting Will a scornful look and then ignoring him, “Well then, Liz, you will play for us after dinner. There are quite a few songbooks in the piano bench that have never been touched” demands Major Debourgh “you might find something you can play a “little” in them.”
Liz looks directly into her eyes and meets her gaze. “I’ll play for you because you ask me too. But I do believe either Darcy or Char would be better choices”.
“Nonsense, you are going to play for us this evening” directs Major Debourgh “Now that that is decided. I think the rest of us can proceed with dinner”.
After dinner has been consumed but not comfortably digested, the table of acquaintances and friends is dismissed into the family room which displays a large untouched shiny grand piano hidden in the shadows of the dark curtains.
