June 2017
“Will . . .” Elizabeth complained laughingly, stumbling a bit as Will pulled her into his parents’ living room blindfolded. “Normal people just wrap presents, you know, instead of the birthday girl’s eyes.”
“Ah, but this is a really big present,” Will said. “I’ll give you a hint. It’s not a book.” He smiled as he led his new bride to the center of the room. He’d planned this for so long, and he wanted it to be perfect.
“Ooh, a pony! I’ve always wanted a pony!”
“And I thought my parents’ living room was the perfect stable! Okay, now stop here.” He stepped behind her and untied the blindfold, then quickly stepped to the side so he could see her reaction.
“Surprise!” a chorus of voices shouted as her jaw dropped and she blinked wonderingly at Jane, Charlie, their friends, and Mom and Dad and Ana.
She gazed around the room, taking in the giant “Happy Birthday” banner surrounded by balloons and streamers. She looked bewildered for a moment, then burst into tears. Will froze.
“Oh, honey,” Mom said, stepping up and putting an arm around her.
Will’s chest tightened with disappointment. He’d be so sure that this would be the perfect present for her: her very first birthday party. But did it just remind her of all the ones she’d missed? His heart pounded with anger at her parents’ neglect.
Jane had also stepped forward to comfort her, but just as she was about to reach Lizzy’s side, Lizzy laughed through her tears and waved her off, saying, “I’m not upset, really! I’m just so happy. So very, very happy. Thank you all for coming!” Her voice was quavery but strong.
The tension in the room dissipated instantly, and Will slumped with relief, feeling almost giddy. Jane reached her and gave her a hug and a loud “Happy Birthday, Lizzy!” and then everybody was crowding in to give her their own hugs and greetings.
Will noticed that when Charlotte gave her a hug, she whispered something in her ear. Lizzy looked shocked. She gazed across the room, then gave Charlotte a huge smile.
Puzzled, Will looked across the room, but all he could see was Richard. Richard, who was slowly turning red. When Richard saw Will looking at him, he quickly stood up and walked away to join Charles and Jane. Charlotte walked over to them and slipped her arm through Richard’s.
Will grinned. Oh, this was good. He was going to have a great time yanking Richard’s chain now that Richard had a girlfriend, too. Turnabout was fair play, after all.
After the birthday wishes had died down and people had begun to spread out to get food and return to conversations, Lizzy grabbed Will’s hand and pulled him close.
“This is the best thing anybody has ever done for me,” she whispered. “Thank you. I love you so much.” She touched her forehead to his for a moment and closed her eyes. He could feel her practically vibrating with excitement. His Elizabeth always was happiest when surrounded by the people she loved.
“I adore you,” he said, kissing her lightly. “Happy birthday, love.”
Will wondered how he’d ever be able to top her first birthday party when her birthday rolled around again next year. Maybe a kitten?
Epilogue
Full Circle
May 2019
Will read the final sentence of Babe: The Gallant Pig to the small group of children in in the rec room.
One of the boys in the little group said, “Wow. That was better than I thought it would be.”
Will laughed. “Most books are, you know.” He shared a smile with Lizzy, who sat holding a little girl on her lap on the far side of the couch. They were surrounded by kids who had slowly gathered to hear the story.
He’d spent the last two years visiting whenever he could to read to the children, and he and Lizzy took turns so they could read longer. Of course, the kids most eager to hear the stories were young, from preschool to early elementary, and they had limited attention spans. After one week of losing all his listeners, Will learned to pay attention to their body language to figure out when it was time to stop.
Many of the regulars, though, had begun to sit and listen for longer. The population was constantly changing, so there were always kids who were resistant to listening and who would play loudly nearby. But enough of the kids liked the story that they would shush them. Older kids would sometimes come by and listen for a few minutes, and sometimes even stay.
It was Lizzy’s idea to mix in picture books from time to time. The youngest of the kids only had patience for picture books, but even the elementary-aged kids would still enjoy them if they were good.
Will and Lizzy stood up, gently dislodging their respective lap-sitters onto the couch.
“Will you bring that princess book next week?” the girl from Lizzy’s lap asked.
“Ugh, no princess books,” another one said.
He laughed. “Well, it does have a princess in it. But she’s a kid, like you guys, and lives in a magic castle that likes to play tricks on people. It’s not like a princess movie where she falls in love with a prince.”
The second girl nodded. “That sounds okay, I guess.”
He started towards his crate of books, and the littlest boy ran ahead and patted the crate. “What did you bring this week?” he asked, hopping from foot to foot. “I finished Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel already!”
Will opened the crate, and small hands immediately dived into the crate to pull books out. Books that the kids had finished and were ready to return were shoved haphazardly in among the new ones.
“Ooh, a Pigeon book!”
“Ramona the Pest!”
“Did you bring any Boxcar Children books this time?”
“This one has a dragon!”
“Hey, I saw that one first!”
He laughed and backed out of the way as the kids bickered over the books, then finally all wandered off looking at the ones they’d chosen. He loved their enthusiasm as they dove for the books. Some of the books got returned, though many didn’t. He didn’t mind. He could afford the loss, and he was happy to think that the kids were taking some of their favorites to their new homes, wherever they may be.
He and Lizzy exchanged another smile as he folded up the crate, then she walked to the door of the gym and called, “Kids, time to go!”
Will scooped up tiny pig-tailed Alexis from where she was playing with toddler toys on the floor near the couch. After a minute, the older children, Gabrielle and Caleb, came running in, Caleb carrying his shoes. They heard so many stories at home that they were always more interested in playing sports with the kids at the shelter.
“Caleb, why in the world did you take your shoes off to play basketball?” Lizzy scolded lightly.
Caleb shrugged.
“He forgot he wasn’t at Chick-fil-A.” Gabrielle explained helpfully. She flipped her wild hair like the dramatic six-year-old she was.
Will looked at Lizzy, who blushed. “Uh . . . we may have been going to Chick-fil-A a bit much while you were on your business trip,” she said. “The kids love the play area.”
He crouched down to help Caleb put on his shoes, then lifted him to his shoulders. “Ack, you’re all sweaty,” he said as he felt his foster son’s wet shirt against the back of his neck.
“Can we go to the park?” Gabrielle asked, walking backwards in front of them.
“Please?” Caleb asked, grabbing a fistful of Will’s hair to hold on.
Will raised his eyebrows at Lizzy, and she nodded. He smiled back. He had been too busy the past few months, especially with his recent lengthy business trip, to make it to the park with them, and he missed it.
There was something particularly special about seeing their children play on the same playground and in the same “woods” where they had played as children. They even acted out some of the same books, although it was fun sometimes to see how they played differently.
Lizzy loved to take the kids to the park and watch them play. She said it gave her the best ideas for her stories. “Lizz
y’s Dragons” was still going strong. There were hundreds of stories online now. Will had finally convinced Lizzy to write her favorite stories down and have them illustrated, so she now also had videos of the books being read aloud and modest sales of the printed copies of the books. The videos were popular enough that she had a number of sponsors.
Of course, her favorite audience members were their foster children, soon to be their official children when the adoption went through in a few months. Alexis, who had been a newborn when the siblings first came to them, was still a bit young to follow most of the stories, but Gabrielle and Caleb loved her show and sometimes participated. Gabrielle would do the puppets, and Caleb would sit on her lap while she read the books she’d written.
They drove to the park, Gabrielle and Caleb chattering excitedly about the basketball game they’d played in the gym. When they got to the park, even little Alexis was wriggling to be allowed to run and play with her siblings, so they let the kids loose to play and sat on their old bench to watch.
“Just like old times, isn’t it?” Will said. “I feel like I should bring along a copy of Gulliver’s Travels or something for you to read to me.”
Elizabeth smiled and threaded her fingers through his. They both leaned back on the bench. Will watched as Gabrielle stood behind Alexis to spot her as she climbed up the stairs to the toddler slide.
Will sighed softly, lost in memory. “It was here when you first told me you loved me.”
She gave him a warm smile. “I remember. I didn’t expect you to propose so soon! But I was thrilled you did.” She turned a bit on the bench, bit her lip, and then gave him a weak smile. “I have something else to tell you.”
He swallowed at the expectant look in her eye. “What is it?”
“How do you feel about being a father . . . to four?”
Will took in a quick breath. “Really?”
“Really.”
He leaped off the bench and grabbed Lizzy around the waist, swinging her around. She squealed and then laughed with him.
“Four kids!” he said, releasing her. “This is the best surprise!”
“I was a little nervous what you’d think,” she said. “I know we weren’t really planning on getting pregnant until the adoption went through.”
He gave her a sideways look and snorted. “Because everything else in our lives has happened exactly as planned.” He was glad it hadn’t. So very, very glad.
Lizzy rolled her eyes. “Ha.” She leaned against him, and he put his arm around her.
Their lives, both together and apart, had taken so many twists and turns. When he had been a small boy, he had sometimes thought about what his future might look like. He had been so wrong. Even after he’d met Lizzy, he could never have predicted such a blessed life. Regardless of the broken road it had taken him to get here, he wouldn’t have changed any of it for the world.
“I think,” he said, drawing it out and speaking as seriously as he could, “we’re going to need a bigger car.”
The End
Also by Sarah Courtney, read
Beauty and Mr. Darcy,
A Pride and Prejudice variation
Coming January 2020
Elizabeth Bennet knows that Fitzwilliam Darcy is a beast. At least, that's what George Wickham tells her, and she is inclined to believe him. Why, then, is it so hard not to find him interesting and attractive? Is she just another young lady intrigued by a rogue?
Jane Bennet was in love once and has never quite recovered. When the object of her affections returns to Meryton, she is thrilled, until she realizes that the same problem that has driven away all of her other suitors might drive away the man she truly loves.
Mary Bennet's pedantic pronouncements irritate her sisters and repel the man she longs for. Is there any hope for a happy ending for her?
Kitty and Lydia Bennet's giggles and foolish ways make the matrons of Meryton shake their heads. Without real parental guidance, they long for attention, even if means risking their reputations and hope for the future.
Charlotte Lucas has long since given up the idea of finding a husband and having the children she longs for. When an unusual suitor arrives in Meryton, she has one last chance to avoid spinsterhood.
Beauty and Mr. Darcy is a Pride and Prejudice variation in which romance and humor abound! The Bennet sisters' fairy tales intertwine as they each find their very own happy ending, but there is no magic in this retelling. This is a full-length novel of about 125,000 words.
Excerpt from Beauty and Mr. Darcy:
Jane Bennet was cursed with a mother whose vulgar and uncouth behavior would have injured a higher degree of beauty and sweetness than even Jane could claim. Her mother had frightened away all but one of Jane's previous suitors, of whom there had been many. The one suitor who had not been frightened away by Mama had unfortunately come along at the wrong time, when both were too young to pursue the acquaintance. Thus, the lovely Jane was, at the rather ripe age of two-and-twenty, quite without any suitor at all.
It was not merely that, however, that made her quite so anxious about meeting the new tenant of neighboring estate Netherfield Park. Nor was it his rumored wealth of four or five thousand a year, far exceeding the assets of anyone else in the neighborhood. It was, instead, the fact that his name was familiar to her.
Mr. Bingley happened to be the name of the one suitor who had never been frightened away by Mama, merely, she was sure, by virtue of never having met her.
He probably was not the same Mr. Bingley. Surely there were many Mr. Bingleys throughout England. The Mr. Bingley she had known had lived in London, after all. And then there was the Bingley family who imported teas. Surely they were not the same. The Mr. Bingley she had known was a dependent son of a tradesman, still in school, not an independently wealthy gentleman of five thousand a year. Almost certainly not the same Mr. Bingley.
She would not mind seeing her old friend again, though. No other man had ever quite measured up in kindness, intelligence, and humor. And—although she hated to realize herself so shallow—in attractiveness.
Despite it being unlikely to be the same Mr. Bingley who had once written her poetry, she took extra care with her appearance—just in case.
When Jane entered the assembly room, she was in her best possible looks. Despite her repeated cautions to herself, her heart beat rapidly as she scanned the room. He was not here yet. She collected a cup of punch as she crossed the room, glancing repeatedly towards the doors. She jolted when the doors opened again, then sighed as Mr. and Mrs. Long entered with their nieces.
Taking a deep breath, she joined Elizabeth and Charlotte, but she could not follow their conversation. Her attention was too focused on the entrance to the assembly rooms. She took a sip of punch to calm herself.
Then, suddenly, the doors opened and a group of unfamiliar faces entered. The dancers were between sets, so the hush at the new party's entrance seemed amplified.
It was him! Her Mr. Bingley of five years ago. Those years had been good to him, transforming him from youth to man. He was every bit as handsome as she recalled and—from the friendly way she saw him greet Sir William Lucas—just as amiable.
Charlotte was telling Elizabeth about the other members of his party. Miss Caroline she remembered, though she was now Miss Bingley, according to Charlotte's information. The others were strangers so far, but strangers rarely remained so for long to Jane. Mr. Bingley was the same way, she remembered.
Sir William Lucas was leading Mr. Bingley towards her mother to be introduced! Jane moved to join her as she knew her mother would expect. Her heart was once again hammering in her chest as she hoped desperately that he would recognize her. She smiled sweetly in preparation.
“Jane! Jane! Lizzy!” her mother called quite unnecessarily as both approached.
Just as Mr. Bingley stepped forward to greet Mama, her mother reached out and grabbed Jane's hand to yank her to her side. The result was disastrous.
Mr. Bingley st
epped right into Jane. The punch she had been holding went flying, mostly onto the front of her dress.
“Oh!” she cried in horror, seeing the good impression she had hoped to make drown in a splash of punch.
Mr. Bingley was stumbling over his words with apologies and held out his handkerchief. Then his eyes met hers.
“Miss Bennet! It is Miss Bennet, is it not? Why, I entered a room I was sure was full of strangers, but I am very pleased to see someone I know!”
Mama had regained her powers of speech. “Oh, Jane! Your dress! Mr. Bingley!” she said, ignoring the fact that she had not yet been introduced to the man. “I assure you, my Jane is not usually so clumsy! She is ordinarily quite graceful and of course the most beautiful girl in the neighborhood. I do not like to brag of my own daughter, but it is nothing but what anyone in the neighborhood would tell you.”
Jane was getting a sick feeling in her stomach as her mother continued. It did not help that she was also feeling rather cold and sticky from the punch.
“The sweetest, too! I do not know what came over her just now, spilling her punch, but I expect it was nerves—”
“Mother, I will take Jane to the retiring room,” Lizzy said, coming to Jane's rescue. She gave Mr. Bingley a warm and friendly smile, even though she did not address him directly since she had not been formally introduced.
Mr. Bingley bowed to Jane. She curtseyed, then turned to head to the retiring room with tears in her eyes. What must he think of her? And her mother? Would Mama thwart yet another suitor? Was Mr. Bingley even a suitor? He had been . . . once upon a time.
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A Good Name: A Modern Pride and Prejudice Variation Page 30
