First (Wrong) Impressions: A Modern Pride & Prejudice (30 page)

“Legally, you can’t really do that,” she said. But she didn’t care to work somewhere she wasn’t wanted. She also couldn’t let someone walk all over her.

“I know.” Melissa looked at her hands. “But once you read the changes we’re planning, I think you’ll want to step aside. For one thing, I know you’ll not sign a statement of faith.”

Lizzy raised her eyebrows.

Melissa took a deep breath. “There is a very rich woman who donates heavily to a number of Western Canadian organizations. She’s on the board of directors for a charity in Vancouver that Kelly and I want to partner with.”

“You don’t mean Catherine de Bourgh?”

“You’ve heard of her?”

Lizzy rubbed the bridge of her nose. “We’ve met.”

“Catherine won’t agree to the partnership unless we became a formal Christian organization. The Lighthouse is much more formally Christian, so we’re the hold up. So, we’re going to ask all employees and volunteers to sign a statement of faith to ensure that their beliefs are in line with the tenets of Christianity.”

“You know, I could make a fuss about that.”

“I know, Lizzy, but I’m hoping you won’t. A lot’s happened while you’ve been away.”

“Clearly.”

“Look, I know you can make a big deal about this. You can run us into the ground and it would be your right. So I’m going to bribe you not to do that.”

Lizzy cocked an eyebrow. “I’m pretty sure you weren’t supposed to use that word in this meeting.”

“We’ve known each other too long to bullshit. Here’s the deal, Lizzy. If you resign, we’ll pay the eight weeks severance you’d legally be entitled to if we laid you off. We don’t legally have to payout unused vacation from previous years, but we will. All of it. That’s six month’s salary, Lizzy, plus a lump sum for all of your overtime. We’ll pay it all.”

Lizzy was afraid she’d start crying.

“Between the severance and the payout, that will make up for not getting the EI that you’d have gotten if we laid you off.”

Lizzy’d forgotten about that; she wouldn’t be able to get Employment Insurance if she quit.

“Where are you getting the money to pay me out? I must have hundreds of hours of overtime saved up.”

“Over two thousand, actually. We let you and Luke carry it in case of emergencies. Since you’ve been here so long and you still cover floor shifts when we’re short, your overtime hours are insane.”

“That wasn’t my question. Where are you getting the money?”

Melissa looked down.

“Oh, right. Catherine de Bourgh will make a hefty donation to cover any costs necessary to make the transition easier? Is that it?” Lizzy didn’t hide her bitterness. “This is illegal.”

“Lizzy, please. I have nothing but the highest respect for what you’ve done here. Without fail, you’ve put the needs of this place over your own. If you take us to court, you’ll get your job back, but Lord knows you won’t stay. And the settlement won’t be much more than what we’re offering you. Please, take it. Pay off your student loans. Take that trip to Australia you’ve always wanted. Take some time to relax.”

Lizzy stared at her, unable to speak.

“You really should be working in the secular side and in management or planning. You have the experience.”

Lizzy was staring at her hands. No more donation breakfasts. No more fights. No more pleading for sugar. No more punches in the face. No more suicide attempts. No more karaoke. No more flooded toilets. No more dirty needles. No more being called a whore, bitch, slut.

No more toothless smiles.

No more hugs.

No more being told she’d made a difference.

No more…

Her throat tightened.

“All right,” she said simply.

****

Lizzy sat in her office, looking at the posters, pictures, letters, and cards that surrounded her. What would she do now? How does one live this life and then go out into the normal world? How does one be normal after seeing what she’d seen?

@LizzyB1: How do you say goodbye? It’s been a fabulous ride.

@LizzyB1: My life will forever be changed for having been here.

@anabean: Everything okay @LizzyB1?

@fitXzy: What happened? @LizzyB1?

@Skater_J: @LizzyB1 Call me?

@LizzyB1: @Skater_J @anabean @fitXzy Details later. Not now.

A moment later, her cell phone rang. Luke. She waited for it to go to voice mail and texted him:

Lizzy: Packing up my office. Need some alone time. Chat later.

She did the same for Jane and Mary’s calls. She didn’t have the fortitude to talk.

She turned to the corkboard on the wall near her desk. Christmas cards from now-deceased clients, jewelry, dreamcatchers and suncatchers made at various arts and crafts events, and a homemade card with a note inside written in an unpracticed hand:

Thank-you four every thing you did for me. Your the ferst person to tell me that you cared about me.

It was a perfect letter. Just the way it was.

Chapter 39

March 11

Lizzy sat on her bed and stared at the box on her dresser. She’d not gotten the courage yet to unpack everything. The Faith had been her entire adult life. She was adrift in the ocean now. Jane stayed with her all day, checking to make sure Lizzy was holding on. That’s what sisters do.

“Are you going out with Charles tonight?” Lizzy asked.

Jane shrugged. “I told him I’d ask you first.”

“You should go out with him. Ellie’s here. She can check on me to make sure I don’t crack from not having a job.”

“But she’s not your sister.” Jane nudged Lizzy with her shoulder.

“How’s it going with Charles, anyway?”

“Just friends.”

Lizzy rolled her eyes. “I give it another week.”

Jane frowned. “Lizzy, we’re not in love.”

“Sure.”

“No, I’m serious. We just friends. All that’s behind us.”

“Whatever you say.”

“What about you and Darcy? Or should I say, William?”

Lizzy made a face. “
Darcy
is in India the last I heard. I can’t believe what he did for Lydia.”

“I can.”

Lizzy scoffed. “That’s because you believe good things of everyone.”

Lizzy’s cell buzzed and she read the caller ID in disbelief. It was Georgiana.

“Hey, G.”

“Hey, Lizzy. I’m sorry I didn’t call before.”

“No, I understand. You have a lot going on. How’s Dani?”

“Oh, good. She’s been great. Look, that isn’t why I called. I just heard what happened at your work.”

“Oh.” Lizzy deflated. “Word gets around.”

G sighed. “Aunt Catherine went crazy on William and I tonight.”

“Oh, he’s back in the country?” Lizzy cringed at how her voice raised an octave.

“Just got back. I’m so sorry that she called you. Is it true she got you fired?”

“Sort of,” Lizzy said. “They basically bribed me to go away.”

“I’m so embarrassed. Is there anything I can do?”

Lizzy was stunned. “Georgiana, I can never repay you for what you did for Lydia. How could I possibly ask you for anything else? You made the ultimate sacrifice of your privacy to help us. There aren’t words for what I feel.”

“Just promise me we can stay friends, no matter what happens.”

“That’s an easy promise to make. I’d like that.”

“Great. Oh, Dani’s motioning at me. I better run. Let’s try to get together soon, okay?”

“Okay. Good night, G.”

“Night, Lizzy.”

Lizzy ended the call and gazed at her cell phone. “Wow. Georgiana Darcy would like to stay in touch.”

“I’m not surprised, considering everything you’ve said about her. Her brother doesn’t sound all that bad anymore, either.”

“Not now, Jane.”

Jane shrugged. “I think a lot more happened in Calgary than you want to admit, even to yourself.”

Lizzy opened her mouth, but her cell buzzed again. It was Fitzy.

“Hey Lizzy.”

“Wow, hey Fitzy. What’s up?”

“Aunt Catherine.”

“Oh,” Lizzy groaned. “G just called me.”

Fitzy laughed. “That’s because we all just left the restaurant where she told us she’d taken measures to keep you away from us. I’m so sorry, Lizzy.”

“It wasn’t your fault. G apologized, too, but seriously, it’s fine. They gave me a great settlement and it’s fine. I’ll eventually find work, I’m sure.”

“That’s why I’m calling. I won’t offer you a job at Fitz & William—”

“I wouldn’t take it, Fitzy.”

“I know. That’s why I won’t offer you one.” He laughed. “But here’s the thing. The executive assistants have been sharing the workload for the corporation’s charitable work. They’re way too busy to handle it, but we don’t have anyone who can set up a proper non-profit department. Would you be interested in consulting for eight or ten months to help get it off the ground?”

“Wow. Um, thank you, Fitzy, but…”

“This isn’t out of pity. Frankly, I was going to ask you when you were done with your fundraising blitz, but with your sister and all that, it wasn’t appropriate. I have the offer already done up. Like I said, I’ve been planning to offer this for a while.”

“What does William think of it?”

“Who cares?”

“Fitzy.”

“Look, I haven’t said anything to him. He knows I’ve been looking for someone, but that’s the extent of it. It isn’t his department. I handle the money, including giving it away. You’d never see him, if you didn’t want. Forget him for a moment. Pretend he didn’t exist. What would you do?”

Lizzy thought on that for a moment before saying, “Could you email me more details?”

“Of course. Text me your email?”

“Sure. I might need some time to think about this.”

“Take all the time you need. Fanny and the gang can hold the fort.”

They hung up. Lizzy looked at Jane and then back at her phone. A few moments later, Jane asked, “What are you waiting for?”

“Just seeing if it’s going to ring again.”

Chapter 40

March 13

It was Saturday night before Lizzy gave up expecting any message, no matter how cryptic, from William. He’d not called, texted, tweeted, or emailed. Complete radio silence and it was driving her up the wall. She felt like she’d been dumped, without actually having had the relationship.

“Lizzy? How does this look?” Jane asked, holding up a blue sweater and a brown skirt.

“They look nice together, but that skirt’s going to be too big for you, isn’t it?”

“I’ll just safety pin the waist.”

“I can fix it for you, if you want it tonight.”

Jane shook her head. “No, I’ll do it tomorrow. I just wanted to make sure this matched.”

Lizzy smiled. Jane and Charles. Someone was going to have a second chance after all. “Nervous?”

“A little,” she admitted. “Okay, a lot. And excited.”

“I’m glad,” Lizzy said and she meant it.

Jane bundled up her clothes and sat on the edge of the chair. “Will you be okay?”

Lizzy nodded. “I’m just suffering from some regret tonight.”

“Do you want me to say something to Charles? He can talk to Darcy…”

“Lord, no.” She shook her head. “I left Darcy the voice mail. I talked to G. I emailed Danica. I tweeted Fitzy. I’m done being a crazy girlfriend.”

Jane smiled. “You weren’t really his girlfriend.”

“Which makes the stalker non-ex-girlfriend thing even sillier. Nah, I’m done. Do you need me to not be at home tonight for any reason?”

Jane laughed. “I think if that’s going to happen, I’d rather go to his condo.”

“Oh, right, of course.” Lizzy nudged her sister. “If you don’t come home, text me in the morning to let me know you’re okay.”

“Deal,” she said, then added, “Are you positive you’re okay? Charles and I can hang out there, or I can change our plans…”

“Go get ready,” Lizzy instructed, “or you’ll be late.”

Jane side-hugged her sister before rushing off into the bathroom.

Lizzy sipped at her tea and settled down with a book on her tablet. Thirty minutes later, Jane flew out of the house, a flutter of fabric, hair, and perfume; Lizzy didn’t bother to get up.

Ellie and her friends came back around nine. Lizzy went into her bedroom to keep reading, so they could play a board game. They invited her to join in, but Lizzy wasn’t in the mood. She was feeling blue about everything. She’d need to start looking for work soon. For now, PJs, tea, and a good book was all she had the energy for.

Her cell rang and she answered it, not bothering to look at the ID. “Hello?”

A beat passed before, “Hi Lizzy.”

Lizzy’s heart picked up speed and she swallowed. “Hi. Darcy.”

Another awkward pause. “I got your voice mail.”

“Oh.” When it was obvious he wasn’t going to continue, she added, “I wanted to say thank you for everything.”

“You’re welcome. Did you mean what you said, about wanting to see me?”

Lizzy’s nerves fluttered but she tried to sound casual, “Yes.”

“I’m in town actually. Are you free tonight? Or, sometime. We should talk.”

A smile tugged her mouth. “My roommate has people over, but if you’d like, I can come over to where you are.” She realized then that he was probably at a hotel and added, “Or, wherever you’d like.”

“I’m staying at the Hotel MacDonald.”

“Give me an hour to change and walk down there?”

“I’ll come pick you up.”

“No, it’s fine. It’s not far.” She laughed. “I’m used to walking around down here. It’s not a big deal for me.”

He took a deep breath, as if coaching himself not to tell her what to do. “All right, then. Call me when you’re here. I’ll come downstairs to meet you.”

“You can give me your room number.” The words just tumbled out of her. Her cheeks flushed, but she didn’t just want to talk to him alone; she wanted to talk to him in private.

“418. One hour.”

“Or a bit less.”

“Or a bit less,” he repeated. “See you then.”

They hung up.

Lizzy stared at the phone, then down at her PJs. Then, over at her overflowing laundry basket. Did she even have clean underwear?

Chapter 41

Lizzy arrived outside Darcy’s hotel room with ten minutes to spare. She stood outside the door and took deep, steadying breaths. She could do this. No matter what happened, no matter what he said or she would say, she could do this. After all, she’d spent the last few days hoping for this. This was what she wanted.