First Impressions: A Modern Pride and Prejudice Adaptation

Chapter 14

When Liz had been younger, she always looked forward to the end of the summer season with pleasure. It slowed down towards the end of August, drying up almost completely by mid-September, except for the somewhat rare childless, trendy couples who could afford to take their vacations when everyone else was busy with school. True, it did mean the Bennets had to tighten their belts a little more; without a serious source of income, the winters were often hard, especially when The Longbourn required repairs and renovations. Most of their income did get poured into the inn. But it also meant more time with her father and finally having her parents' undivided attention—at least, as undivided as it could be with four other siblings. It meant time for family visits and going out to dinner, being able to go out on her own without running into a crowd of people who didn't live in Meryton.

But, as she watched Jane pack and she considered the coming year with no school and few remaining friends, she found the end of the season perfectly detestable. Jane could see the glumness on her sister's usually cheerful face, how she seemed to sink into a moody gray cloud when the energy in the house was low.

"I'll miss you," Jane told Liz for the fifteenth time that week.

Liz did her best to smile genuinely. "Me too. But it's no different than going to school, right?"

"Yes..."

Liz shrugged. She sat still, watching Jane pack for several more minutes before she heaved herself off the bed and left the room. She walked slowly down the hallway, tugging on a strand of hair, twisting it around one finger. She could hear her cousins laughing downstairs, the pleasant murmur of voices drifting out of the kitchen.

She walked to the staircase and walked down a couple steps before taking a seat on the edge of one, drawing her knees up to her chest and resting her cheek glumly against one fist. Mary was the one getting on an airplane tomorrow, and Jane was the one getting in a car to drive hundreds of miles away, but she was the one overcome with such a deep sense of melancholy that it made her almost sick to her stomach.

She tried to probe the feeling, questioning its cause. Of course they had scattered before, first Jane, then herself, then Mary heading to college. But it had always been with the implication of nearness or coming back... Now Jane was taking a position that would hopefully lead to a career, and Mary was going to be on a different continent for almost an entire year.

Liz let out a deep sigh—something she had been doing a lot in the last few days—and hugged her knees tighter.

It was hard for her to tell if it was fortunate or unfortunate when she had to set her own feelings aside as they took Mary to the airport. The airport itself was almost two hours away. They left Lydia at home with Emma, Ella, and Eddie, but Mrs. Phillips joined the Bennets and the Gardiners in their two cars.

Over the past few days, Mary had gone from buzzing excitement to becoming quieter and quieter every day. Liz glanced into the backseat; Mary sat almost silently with her hands clasped on her knees. Cat sat against the other window, glancing over at her twin every few minutes, but never saying anything. Liz could feel the tension between them like a physical object, a taut string between them. After watching Cat look over again, Liz turned forward. She hoped the distance might shock Cat into trying to grow closer to Mary, but there was no guarantee it would happen. She had shared her hope with Jane, who, in her usual, overoptimistic attitude, had been quick to second the notion and applaud the idea.

By the time they pulled into the parking structure, Mary had clutched her arms around her torso and hunched forward slightly. Cat attempted to comfort her, awkwardly reaching out to pat her shoulder and back—unfortunately, her tactics were as ineffectual as they had been as she tried to help Jane. Mary pulled herself together on her own before Mr. Bennet even turned off the car.