Beginning, Previous Section, Section III, Next Section

Chapter 4: "Catch"

PART 1
One of Elizabeth's other passions.

Elizabeth had woke up an hour after she talked to William. She did not get out of bed right away though. Elizabeth lay on her side with the covers up to her waist. She rested her head on her bent arm as she absently pulled at some strands of her hair. She thought about her conversation with William.

". . . I may have interrupted. . . a pleasant dream."

She remembered how her ears and the nape of her neck had burned when he had said that. It was true that she had been having a pleasant dream about him, but she had felt so exposed that he knew. She felt it was too early in their acquaintance to reveal such feelings. Then she had tried to downplay it.

"I would not say it was entirely pleasant." It was partly true. The part about the ladies room had been unpleasant. She stifled a giggle, remembering the part that had been pleasant. Her breath grew unsteady as she remembered how William's hands felt on her face in her dream. She touched her cheek just as William had touched it in her dream. Then she remembered how she almost kissed him. It was only a dream, but the experience left her curious. He's probably a good kisser. She surmised. She laughed out loud at her adolescent thoughts. Then she remembered the last part of their conversation.

"That's not what it sounded like to me."

Elizabeth blushed when she remembered how his voice had had a playful ring to it and she could not help imagining that his eyes would have had the same playfulness. Her heart beat faster at the thought of this. He was certainly reserved, but when he relaxed there was an easiness she liked very much.

Elizabeth got out of bed with a smile on her face and put on her slippers. As she walked out of her room, she stretched out her body along the way to the kitchen where Jane was already having tea and toast. Jane smiled brightly at the sight of her sister in flannel pajama bottoms and a tank top with her hair not yet combed. She admired the way Elizabeth never gave consideration to her appearance in the morning. Elizabeth yawned and covered her mouth with one hand as the other one reached out for the refrigerator door.

"Good-morning, sleepy-head," Jane greeted her sister.

Elizabeth turned around and saw that Jane was already dressed. Elizabeth mumbled a greeting to her sister and went back to examining the contents of their refrigerator, searching for something edible to eat. It was hardly a surprise to see Jane up early and dressed. She almost never showed up for breakfast in her pajamas. She was the type of person that would always be dressed, but would reserve the task of doing her hair and putting on make-up for after breakfast. Their diametric morning habits actually worked out well for them. While one was eating, the other would finish getting ready. It was a pattern they had fallen into when they had both lived at home and one that had carried over to their apartment once they had moved in together.

Elizabeth shut the refrigerator door and went to stand next to her sister. She was not very hungry.

"Would you like some breakfast?" Jane stirred her tea.

"Maybe some juice and toast. I'm actually not very hungry." She reached for a glass and poured herself some juice.

Jane got up and put some bread in the toaster while saying, "You should eat something." She hesitated before she continued, "Aren't you going to see William again?"

Elizabeth smiled. She knew Jane was trying not to be intrusive, but actually Elizabeth did not mind in the least. "Yes, but I don't want to eat too much."

"Oh, do you have plans for lunch?" Jane took the toast and began to butter it.

"No, just catch." Elizabeth took a sip of her juice, but watched for Jane's reaction.

Upon hearing the word catch, Jane suddenly stopped buttering the toast. Elizabeth saw the reaction and smirked silently to herself. Jane could be so predictable sometimes. But then Jane collected herself quickly and tried to calmly say, "Catch? Elizabeth, you are joking." Jane tried to laugh, but it came out more as a nervous laugh.

"No, I am not." Elizabeth put her glass down and continued to observe her sister.

By this time the toast that Jane had been buttering was thoroughly soiled with butter. Elizabeth gently took it from Jane's hands and took a large bite from the corner of the toast.

"Elizabeth, are you sure this is something you want to do on a second date? What if William is put off?" Jane was genuinely concerned.

"Well, then it was not meant to be." Elizabeth answered lightly. Her sister looked at her in amazement. "How can I respect a man who does not enjoy a nice game of catch?" She took her breakfast and ducked out of the kitchen before she could be subjected to Jane's reaction.

Jane understood too well what Elizabeth's notion of a game of catch was and followed after her, "Elizabeth, please be reasonable. Couldn't you have waited at least until maybe your fourth or fifth date?"

Elizabeth was sitting on the couch and Jane took a spot next to her. Elizabeth turned to Jane and said, "Jane, it's for the best. If I began to like him even more, and waited to find out that he couldn't play catch . . . that would be an even bigger disappointment than if I were to find out now." She could not help smiling when she took another sip of juice.

Jane considered what she said. If I began to like him even more. . . Elizabeth's carefully chosen words gave Jane hope. Besides reading, one of Elizabeth's other passions was baseball. She was not a fanatic, but she certainly had an appreciation for the sport. Their father had developed it an early age. Like Elizabeth, in addition to reading, their father also had a fondness for sports, particularly baseball. Their mother could never understood the allure of the game or her husband's interest, but he was able to instill it in at least one of their daughters. Unlike Jane who understood the game, but never took a great liking to it or her younger sister's who did not have the patience to sit through nine innings, Elizabeth was instantly drawn to the game. So, their father's attentions naturally fell on Elizabeth. There were many Sunday afternoons where father and daughter would be seen sitting together on the family couch enjoying a game on the television. And when Elizabeth was old enough to hold a baseball, her father took her out to their backyard to show her how to catch and throw. Although they were able to actually attend only a few games, each experience was savored.

It did not really surprise Jane that Elizabeth was taking William to play catch so soon. It was one of Elizabeth's ways to see if a man was worthy. If she felt unsure, she would suggest a game of catch. Usually most men did not pass this test. They would either fail miserably or they would not take her very seriously. But usually it was not until the third or fourth date that Elizabeth would suggest it. Jane knew that there were only two reasons why Elizabeth was bringing this up so soon: Either she did not like William and wanted to end it as soon as she possibly could (which did not seem to be the case) or she did like William and wanted to be sure now and not be disappointed later.

Elizabeth watched her sister think. She knew that Jane would figure out her motives. Elizabeth was taking William to play catch to determine whether or not this was a relationship worth pursuing. William seemed too good to be true. Playing catch was one of her sure fire ways to filter out the unworthy ones. She had been disappointed numerous times in the past, but it was better to know as soon as possible than to be let down in the long run.

Jane hesitated before she spoke, "Elizabeth, are you sure that this is a fair way to judge? Honestly, what can you tell about a man and the way he plays catch?"

"Jane, how can you ask that? You can tell a lot about a man and the way he plays catch. It's like what father always said, 'Never assume that the other person can play.' If the man can't throw a ball decently that means he's probably never played before and I can't respect someone if that's the case. Or if he can throw decently, but holds back, you probably can't trust him." Jane looked at her sister skeptically.

Elizabeth understood her sister's feelings and remembered something, "Remember Thomas Collins?" A look of recognition instantly flitted across Jane's face.

Elizabeth continued, "He went on and on about how he and his father used to play catch all the time, but when it came down to it, he could hardly throw the ball across to me. Then he said it was not very lady-like to partake in such things and tried to tell me that a lady such as myself should not feel the need to prove anything."

Jane remembered how their mother had tried to set up Thomas and Elizabeth several years back. At the time, Elizabeth had been firmly against the idea, but her mother had refused to let the issue go. Only after her mother's frequent and persistent requests that she at least meet Thomas, did Elizabeth agree to meet him. After they met, Elizabeth suggested a game of catch for their first date. Thomas was befuddled at the unusual request, but wanting to please both her and Mrs. Bennet, he agreed to participate in a game of catch-which proved to be a great disaster.

Thomas Collins was the headmaster of a local parochial school. He had been a teacher prior to his elevation to headmaster. Although no one ever said anything, it was obvious to everyone that he had inherited the position due to his obsequious manner. After all if one were to judge his abilities as a teacher, it was more than likely that Thomas would never have been promoted to the headmaster position. Indeed, the former headmaster believed that Thomas Collins would make an exceptional headmaster not because of his devotion to his students and their interests, but because he believed Thomas Collins to be agreeable and obliging, which were, according the headmaster's opinion, necessary and crucial qualities for an administrator.

Normally, his occupation would not have been an issue with Elizabeth. In fact, she quite enjoyed the company of fellow educators. However, as soon as Thomas discovered that Elizabeth was a teacher, he dug himself into an inescapable hole by suggesting ways in which Elizabeth could be a better teacher.

It did not take Elizabeth long to figure out that Thomas Collins was someone she could never be with. Thomas tried to impress upon her the importance of responding quickly to the requests of the administration over the needs of her students and insisted that she never oppose or question the actions of an administrator. It was obvious that to Thomas Collins, the most important body of a school was the administration, not the students.

At the time, Elizabeth could not help responding to all his incredible suggestions in a mock-serious tone, "These are suggestions that a person should consider to become a better teacher." However, the tone of Elizabeth's voice was lost on Thomas and he understood her comment to be a compliment. Frustrated by his blindness and his attitude, Elizabeth knew that the only way to get rid of Mr. Collins was to play catch.

Elizabeth continued to look at Jane as she finished her story, "When I met him, I knew that he could not possibly make me happy." She said it with such finality that even Jane could not argue with her.

"I see your point, Elizabeth. But, what if William doesn't pass your test?" Jane looked at her sister earnestly.

Elizabeth's brow furrowed as she bit her lower lip while she searched for an answer. "I've never given any consideration to the idea that he wouldn't pass." She looked at her sister and continued with confidence, "I have a feeling that I won't have to worry about that." She patted Jane on the knee and got up to put her glass in the kitchen.

Jane hoped for William's sake that he would be able to fulfill Elizabeth's expectations. A part of her thought it was silly for Elizabeth to be testing William, but then she also knew that Elizabeth only did it because she wanted to be sure.

Elizabeth returned and sat down next to her sister, giving Jane a reassuring look. Then she asked her, "Do you have any plans for today?"

Jane smiled and was reminded of her date with Charles. "Yes, Charles and I are going out to a movie and dinner later. He's out with his sisters and brother-in-law right now. He's showing them around the city."

Elizabeth cringed inwardly. Although she was still upset with Caroline and her previous evening's comments, she tried not to let it show.

Jane continued, "You and William are welcome to join us if you wish."

Elizabeth had a sneaking suspicion that they would probably would not be so welcomed by someone else and said, "Oh, William and I don't have any plans for the evening."

Jane looked warily at her sister and said, "Well, I hope your date this afternoon will allow for the two of you to go out again later."

Elizabeth laughingly answered, "I have no worries there."

Elizabeth got up to get dressed and Jane said she was going to the market. As Elizabeth walked to her room, she thought about how Jane was worried about all the tests she was putting William through. She did not normally act this way. She usually just went with whatever happened. However, Elizabeth felt that she could not just let things happen in this case. Even though they had only been on one date, Elizabeth knew she was drawn to him. That detail intrigued her as she had never felt this way about any of her male acquaintances in the past.

"If this is a result of only one date, who knows what to expect of more?" She wondered. Elizabeth was eager to find out.

When she reached her room, Elizabeth checked her clock. It was almost eleven. One o'clock seemed so far away. She sighed. Then she laughed at herself when she realized that she was anxious to see him. Elizabeth decided that she would get dressed and do some work before she went out with William.

Chapter 4

PART 2
Always throw honestly.

William waited in his car. It was only a quarter to one and he was already parked on Elizabeth's street. He had not anticipated arriving there so soon. When he arrived and saw how early he was, he decided that he would wait in his car until it got closer to one o'clock. He was anxious to see Elizabeth, but he did not want to appear too anxious.

He looked over to the passenger side seat at the mitt he borrowed from Charles. Charles had been kind enough to drop it off before going out with his sisters and brother-in-law. He laughed quietly as he remembered what Charles had said as he jumped out of his car to drop it off. No, Caroline he cannot accompany us. Caroline, I will only be a minute. Out of courtesy, Charles had invited him to accompany them. Charles after all, had known about his date with Elizabeth, but only asked William to appease his sister Caroline. William was only too happy to decline though he did so with he utmost politeness.

William put the mitt on his left hand to try it on again. The mitt was slightly worn, but its tightness betrayed that it had not been used recently. He could not remember the last time he played catch.

When he was a little boy, he and his father would play frequently. His father always encouraged him to participate in sports and other activities that were not purely academic. By the time he entered into high school, he was an all around athlete. His favorite sport had been football, but he had to give it up because it caused his mother to worry excessively about his welfare.

By his junior year, he had to give up sports completely because his mother became very ill. He tried to be there for her as much as possible, but by the end of his junior year, his mother passed away. Her loss greatly impacted his family. His sister, who was only seven at the time, had an especially hard time dealing with her mother's death. However, it was their father who was most affected by her death. Although his father was a shrewd businessman and was never shaken by whatever challenges lay ahead, it was the love, the support, and strength, and love of William's mother that had always inspired and sustained his father. And though his father managed to continue on with his life even after her death, his efforts did not have the same certainty that they'd once have. At the time, William had felt the loss keenly as well, but as always he felt that he had to be strong for his family.

William shook away the somber feelings that were starting to come over him. He did not want to seem morose when he saw Elizabeth. He checked the time again. It was five minutes until one o'clock. William took the mitt off his hand and proceeded towards Elizabeth's apartment.

For the last twenty-five minutes, Elizabeth had her lesson plan book, lying idly in front of her, but she had not written anything down. As the time drew nearer for William's arrival, she became more distracted. Elizabeth had first tried to grade some essays, but when she read the same sentence five times over in one student's essay, she knew she would never be able to concentrate on grading essays and decided to set it aside. Following that ordeal, she had pulled out her lesson plan book with the belief that lesson planning would be a much easier task than grading an essay. This, of course, turned out not to be the case. She was fully aware of all the work that had to be done, but she could not find the focus or motivation she needed to complete such work. She was eager to see William. She had her mitt already waiting on the counter with a softball inside the glove. As Elizabeth stared over at her mitt and the ball on the counter, she tapped her foot on the floor and her pencil on the table. Elizabeth sighed as she looked at the clock-only five minutes had passed since the last time she checked. She decided to set aside her work completely and walked towards the counter for her glove.

She picked up her mitt and set the ball on the counter. Then she put on her mitt. Her fingers worked their way slowly through the glove, letting them feel the softness of the leather until the glove had contorted to fit her hand. The glove was a little snug; it had been a while since she last used it. Elizabeth checked the stitching as she opened and closed her hand, trying to stretch her glove out. She remembered a time when she had to restitch her glove because it was falling apart. Elizabeth had been sixteen at the time, playing on the girl's softball team--because girls were not allowed on the boys team. The softball was larger and heavier, so it had put more wear on her glove. She traced the stitches with her finger and remembered how upset she had been that her glove was falling apart. When her father had offered to get her a new one, the look in Elizabeth's eyes told him that it had been a mistake to ask.

It was not because it was an old, worn glove that made her upset; she was upset because she had a lot of fond memories attached to that glove. Elizabeth had picked out this very glove when she was only eleven years old. Her father had told her that she was ready to have a mitt of her own, reminding her that it would be her responsibility to take care of it. Although Elizabeth had still been a young child at the time, she was old enough to understand the meaning of her father's gesture. Having four sisters did not allow for many extravagances, so she treasured the mitt as if it were a precious commodity. Other girls received things like tea sets or pretty dolls, but Elizabeth was more than happy with her precious mitt and ball.

Elizabeth could not bear the idea of casting it aside just because it was a little worn. Elizabeth's expression changed as she thought about all the care she had put into restoring her glove. A feeling of pride washed over her. After Mr. Bennet had asked Elizabeth about replacing the glove that one time, her father had never repeated the question. In fact, Elizabeth sometimes suspected that deep down her father was pleased that she had kept it.

The knock on the door startled Elizabeth out of her reverie. She set her glove down on the counter and immediately went to open the door. Elizabeth took a deep breath before reaching for the doorknob.

When she opened it, William stood in the doorway with his backside facing her. She took in his appearance with unabashed appreciation. He was dressed simply in black basketball shorts and a gray t-shirt. His feet sported the latest pair of sneakers. If Elizabeth thought the way his shirt hung nicely along his well-toned torso was particularly becoming, she did a good job of never letting on. When he turned around, he smiled winningly at her and openly took in her image.

Elizabeth was not wearing any make up, her skin was clear, and her eyes retained their brightness from the previous evening. Her hair was piled up on top of her head with some strands escaping naturally, but attractively framing her face. She was wearing a navy blue t-shirt that came down at waist level--William could not help, but notice that it was also a good fit. She was also wearing khaki shorts showing her slightly tanned legs off to their best advantage. She was wearing sneakers too, but William was so enthralled by her upper half that he had not the cares to notice that hers were not the latest pair in fashion.

They stood like this for some time, mesmerized by each other's presence, before Elizabeth spoke up, "Hello."

William caught himself staring and replied, "Hello."

Elizabeth could not help blushing--which he did notice--and asked, "Would you like to come in?" She took a step back and gestured towards inside.

William nodded and walked in. Elizabeth shut the door behind him and said, "I'm just going to get my keys." She left William alone as she headed for her bedroom.

He looked around the apartment. It was not grand, but it gave off a warm feeling. Although the walls were a simple white, they were decorated with paintings and pictures. There were a few framed pictures of replicated art, but the walls were covered mostly with assorted pictures of family and friends. A small balcony that overlooked the street had two hanging baskets of flowers above it. The cream-colored couch dominated most of the sitting area, but it looked very comfortable. In front of it was a modest sized TV and a VCR underneath it. The kitchen was near the entrance where it was sectioned off from the rest of the living area by a breakfast bar. As William glanced over at the dinner table situated by the breakfast bar, he saw some kind of notebook lying open. Curious, he stepped closer to get a better look at it, but Elizabeth entered the room before he could make anything out in the notebook.

"I see you've spotted my lesson plan book." She smiled nervously.

Looking a little guilty for being caught in the act of snooping, William quickly replied, "I hope I'm not taking you away from anything important."

"It's nothing I can't do later on." Elizabeth answered easily. She took her mitt and ball off the counter. "Are you ready?"

William nodded and they walked out.

"Do you want to drive there?" William asked.

"If you don't mind, I'd prefer to walk. The park is only a few blocks away. " She pointed in its direction and William squinted his eyes as he followed her outstretched finger.

William quickly gave his assent, but as they proceeded in the direction of the park, an awkward silence pervaded their stroll like a dark cloud that heavily hung over them. Elizabeth's eyes wandered to the other apartment buildings, trees, and cars on the street. When the scenery did not provide enough distraction, Elizabeth focused her attention on tracing the stitches in her glove as she walked. William's eyes were settled on the ground, but he would occasionally look up to make sure nothing was in his path. Both managed to keep their eyes off of each other. They walked quietly for some time.

They were both wondering what, if anything, had changed since last night. When they had parted the night before, it had seemed like things were going really well. Now that felt like so long ago and they were back to that same sort of awkwardness they had encountered when they first met in the coffee shop last night. They both wanted to say something, but they did not know what to say. History repeated itself as suddenly they started to speak at the same time.

"Please continue," encouraged William.

"I was going to say that you never told me what you do."

"Oh," William hesitated before he continued, "I help run my father's business."

Elizabeth expected him to continue, but he did not. She sighed inwardly and decided that she would have to use the same tactics as last night to dig further and extract information.

"Jane gave me the impression that you are involved in many things." Elizabeth tried not to sound intrusive.

William looked down as they walked. "Yes, that's true. My father allows me to explore many . . . opportunities for the company." He still kept his eyes on the ground.

She was not sure if he was being evasive on purpose or if he did not like talking about his work.

"I'm sorry if this is a private matter for you. I don't mean to be intrusive. I was only curious. You, after all, already know what I do." Elizabeth looked straight ahead.

William looked at Elizabeth. He knew his responses to be automatic. They were the answers he customarily gave when women inquired after his work. He was purposely evasive towards women because he knew that they did not really care about his work. They only wanted to know how wealthy he was. He looked at Elizabeth again and saw that her brow was furrowed. He could tell that she was disappointed with his responses. William already knew that Elizabeth was different from most other women. Perhaps she really was trying to know him better and not just his wallet.

He cleared his throat before he continued, "It's not a private matter. I'm just not accustomed to someone showing a genuine interest in what I do."

Elizabeth turned towards him with her brow smoothed over and maybe even slightly raised with a hint of surprise. Then she said, "Of course, I'm interested in what you do. Why wouldn't I be? Can you imagine what it'd be like to be seeing someone and not having a clue as to what it is they do for a living?" She paused before she added, "If you're involved with the Mafia or you're a spy or something like that, then we'll just have to end this right now. My life is complicated enough as it is," she teased.

He was pleased that she admitted that they were seeing each other. "Yes, of course. I didn't consider that," he laughed. " And I can assure you that what I'm involved in is not as exciting as organized crime or espionage."

They both laughed and the dark cloud that pervaded their stroll earlier slowly dissipated.

William began telling her about his family business. His family business was one that had been established at the turn of the century. After his ancestors from England had settled in New York they started what would become one of the first few publishing companies in America. Running a publishing company was a difficult task because back then only a small percentage of the population could read, William explained. Also, he reminded Elizabeth, printing books back then was a large and expensive undertaking. Therefore, only the rich, who also made up the majority of the literate body, could afford to purchase books. Eventually, though, once the industrial revolution had spread to America, literacy spread amongst the general populace and books became more affordable to even the middle classes with the advent of devices such as the printing press. Once the initial hurdles had been passed, the business prospered and there was no looking back. They had been in business ever since. His family's company was one of the first to print some of the earliest primers for children, William proudly boasted.

Elizabeth's eyes had blinked several times with her mouth partly open . She did not say anything for a moment. It is not everyday that a person discovered they were possibly seeing one of the wealthiest people in the country. William was trying to gauge her reaction, but could not read her expression.

Elizabeth remembered herself and asked, "Which publishing company does your family own?"

William hesitated before he said, "The Darcys of Derbyshire."

Elizabeth looked at William. Her eyebrows creased. The publishing company did not sound familiar to her so she repeated, "The Darcys of Derbyshire?"

William hesitated again before he explained, "Derbyshire is where my family originally comes from in England. Darcy obviously comes from our family name. I'm not surprised that you don't recognize the name, 'The Darcys of Derbyshire.'" He waited a moment for Elizabeth to take this all in before he added, "But, perhaps you've heard of D&D Publishers, the name by which we are more familiarly known."

Elizabeth stopped dead in her tracks. William walked a few steps ahead before he realized that Elizabeth was no longer at his side. He turned around and saw her standing there with her mouth fallen open and her eyes blinking several times.

Elizabeth could not hide her shock as she realized that almost all the books she had at home, and sitting on her book shelf, were published by D&D Publishers. She had never really given it a second thought before. D&D Publishers had always been just a symbol on the front cover of her books. But now, this symbol had a person behind it and that person was standing in front of her.

She tried to collect her self, but was having a difficult time. William walked back to her and asked, "Are you alright?"

Elizabeth took a breath and said unconvincingly, "Yes, of course." She took another breath before she continued with a shaky voice, "If you think that I can be so easily impressed, you're sadly mistaken." She tried to give one of her trademark-arched smiles, but it was obvious she was still strongly affected with surprise.

William noticed that she was trying to be light and unaffected and he liked that she had not become serious about his profession or tried to flatter him now that she knew his exact worth. Trying to encourage Elizabeth and continue in this vein, he returned her comments with one of his own in an equally playful and teasing voice, "I didn't tell you to impress you."

William's reaction proved to be just the thing that Elizabeth needed to finally gather her senses about her. With true graciousness, she continued, "Of course not. I only meant that there are other qualities that can impress me." They were getting nearer to the park.

William was curious, "Oh?"

"Yes, like for example the reason we're here today."

William looked at her to continue.

"Well, what are your feelings towards baseball?" Elizabeth looked directly at William.

He looked at Elizabeth before answering and saw the sparkle in her eyes. She was looking intently at him and William knew that this was a subject that he should approach with care.

William swallowed before replying. "I think that baseball is one of America's treasured past times."

Elizabeth's expression did not change. "That's a very . . . guarded answer."

William gave Elizabeth a significant look, but it was not an expression she could read. His mouth opened and closed several times. It bordered on surprise and disbelief. It amused her. She thought, "He probably is not used to having people question his opinions."

William was in fact unprepared for her directness. He purposely gave a neutral comment because he did not know what her true feelings were. Judging from last night, her actions and thoughts were unpredictable. As he looked at her, however, he knew that he had to be honest. Elizabeth was not a person who would accept anything less.

He cleared his throat and said, "I do enjoy the sport, but I have to admit that it's not a particular favorite of mine."

It was Elizabeth's turned to be surprised. Usually when she asked men this question, they responded in one of two ways, they either loved the sport or was bored by it. William, however, was doing neither and admitted that he did not like or dislike it. He was not responding like any other man she had gone out with. This intrigued her.

"Do you have a favorite sport?" Elizabeth asked.

William hesitated before he answered, "Football."

"Football? Really? Do you like to watch football or actually play the game?"

"Both," William chuckled. He enjoyed seeing a stupefied Elizabeth.

"Well, I would've never guessed." She truly was surprised. He certainly looked fit enough to play the sport, but football was such an aggressive sport. William seemed too refined and reserved to be interested in such a game.

"Why is it so hard to believe?"

"Football doesn't seem to fit you." She paused to think for a moment before she continued, "What was your position?"

He was suitably impressed to see that Elizabeth apparently knew enough about football to ask after his former position. He replied quickly, "Quarterback."

"Ah, that would explain it," she said, giving him an arched look while thumbing her chin thoughtfully.

William was mesmerized by Elizabeth's assuredness, "Explain what?"

"Well, the quarterback has to be someone who makes quick decisions, but does not falter under great stress. Also, the quarterback is usually the one that ends up filling the role of the leader and because of this he's prone to taking the responsibility for whenever the team does well or not. Based on what I know of you so far, I would venture to say that the personality of a quarterback is quite befitting of you." Elizabeth explained cheekily.

Elizabeth's explanation proved to be quite a revelation for William. He had never really thought about why he liked being quarterback. Although he had only played for a short time, he did like running the plays and making sure they got carried out. He was impressed, but did not want to show it. He wanted Elizabeth to really prove her theory correct. "How can you be so sure?"

Elizabeth took in his form with her roving eyes and said, "You're obviously not one of those heavy linemen who have to block all those runners from tackling the quarterback." He laughed and that pleased her.

"How long did you play?"

"I played in high school, but not for very long."

Elizabeth shrugged her shoulders from incomprehension. "How come?"

A shadow of pain flitted across William's tanned face as he paused to clear his throat before continuing. "I had to stop because it worried my mother too much."

Elizabeth saw the change in William's demeanor immediately. She thought it was nice that he would oblige his mother in this way, but his pained expression made her wonder if he resented having to give it up. Though she would have liked to ask him, she respected his privacy and did not press him for more, for fear that further questioning would only arouse more sensitive memories.

They had now reached the park and as they stood next to each other, William noticed that Elizabeth had stopped talking. He looked at her and saw that she had on her mitt and was now thoughtfully tracing its palm.

"Is your favorite sport baseball?" He timidly asked.

She looked up at him and gave him a warm small, "I have an appreciation for sports in general, but I have to admit that I have a particular fondness for baseball."

William was curious to know more about this extracurricular interest of Elizabeth's. Nearly all the women he knew did not care for sports or anything that required extraneous activity, unless it involved exercising the wrist by taking out their credit cards from their purses. Women of William's acquaintances generally revealed interests in what were considered to be more acceptable feminine activities.

"An appreciation for sports? A fondness for baseball? Please explain." Elizabeth pleased that he was showing a genuine interest, happily explained. "My appreciation for sports was carefully cultivated by my father. Having a household that was predominantly female-five daughters and a wife- he had to find someone who he could share one of his passions with." Unsure if William was interested in what she was talking about, Elizabeth paused to look at William who was intently looking at her. She took this as a cue to continue.

"Since my mother only tolerated sports and my sisters showed no interest, the attention fell on me because I was the only one who showed, as my father describes it, 'a disposition to appreciate such things.' When I was little, I couldn't really understand what he was saying. All I knew was that it gave me a chance to spend more time with my father and it helped foster a closeness with him that I treasure."

William felt a light breeze brush across his skin. He watched adoringly as it drifted its way towards the nape of Elizabeth's neck and caressed the fallen strands of her hair that had gathered there. Elizabeth took no notice of it though. She had been gently throwing the ball back and forth in her glove while she was speaking. Now the ball was in her mitt and she was too busy looking down and tracing its stitches. All of a sudden, she ran her free hand lightly across the tingling sensation on her neck. William jerked back to attention and Elizabeth continued her tale, "His favorite sport was baseball. He was one of those fans in love with the game. It's hard to describe if you've never been to a real game." She stopped and asked, "Have you ever been to any?"

"A few. I went with my father when I was a child and have even attended some recently."

"Then you understand." Her eyes held a deepness that William remembered seeing last night after he read the Dickinson poem.

He searched her eyes and said, "Understand?"

The deepness in her eyes was replaced by surprise. "I've only attended two games in my life and I was very young at the time, but I remember them clearly."

William was not quite sure what Elizabeth was talking about. Although he had attended several baseball games, he could not remember anything extraordinary about any of them.

"My father took me to both. I had seen several games on television, but nothing prepared me for what I saw when we actually attended one."

She turned to face the open park. There was a man playing Frisbee with his golden retriever. Two ladies chatted gaily as they pushed their young children on the swings There were some other children gliding down a slide with their hands up in the air. Elizabeth giggled as she saw a puppy chase after a boy and try to nip the cuff of his jeans as the boy ran around trying to fly his red kite. For a moment, the sights in front of her distracted her.

Without turning around, she remembered where she was and continued, "I remember how my jaw had fallen in amazement when I first saw the stadium and saw first-hand how impressive the size was. It reminded me of a picture that I had once seen of the Roman Coliseum. No one understands the greatness or the accomplishment of such a thing until that person witnesses it for themselves. I suppose it was mostly because I was young and little, but the size of it left me speechless. When we climbed our way up the ramps to find our seats, I remember feeling anxious about seeing the field. I had this image of what I'd seen on television in my mind. When we finally got to the level our seats were on, I could see in the distance a warm green horizon. As we got closer, and the view expanded, I saw grass that seemed to go on forever. The dirt from the pitcher's mound was a rich brown color, bordering on red. The contrast between the grass and the clear, blue sky was breathtaking."

Elizabeth hugged herself and said, "The game went into the evening and when the sun was gone, the stadium lights came on as if the sun had never left. The clear, blueness of the sky had also disappeared and it was blanketed by darkness, but if you could get beyond the glare of the stadium lights and looked closely enough, you could see that the darkness was actually speckled with stars, shining like white Christmas lights."

Then she turned to William and said, "It's unfortunate the television can't capture all of that. I can't help feeling a little cheated when I watch a game on television." Her eyes still shone bright from the memory.

William was amazed and touched. He had never seen a game in the same way she had. He felt mildly envious that she could take such pleasure in something as simple as attending a baseball game. This caused William to wonder what other simple things she took pleasure in. Elizabeth was being artless and he could not help being drawn to her. He paid her the only compliment he could think of at the moment. "My father would like you."

To Elizabeth, however, he had just paid her the highest compliment possible. She blushed. "Thank you."

Elizabeth tried to read William's expression. His eyes conveyed gentleness. She blushed again when she realized how she had just rambled on. Elizabeth wondered what William was thinking at that moment. When she had tried to explain her fascination with baseball to other men before, they would just smile at her and say something to the affect of "Oh, that's nice," and not give it a second thought. William, on the other hand, seemed to be affected by what she had said, but she could not tell how.

She decided to lighten the mood, "Are you ready?"

One of William's eyebrows rose questioningly.

"For catch?" Elizabeth held out the ball.

"Oh, right."

"I hope you don't mind that we use a softball. In high school, girls didn't play on the baseball team. Now I can't throw a baseball without having it fly away because it's so much lighter." Elizabeth laughed and started to step away from him.

"That's fine. Should we warm up a bit first." He backed away until they stood several feet apart.

"Yes, please."

Elizabeth threw the ball first. It was an easy throw just to loosen her arm, yet William was surprised to see that she did not throw like a girl. With the same ease, he threw back the ball to Elizabeth.

"Do you play catch often?" He called out. She had thrown the ball back and William caught it easily. He was winding up, getting ready to throw it back.

"Not as often as I'd wish." She caught the ball deep within her mitt and threw it back. "Jane doesn't like to play catch and my father . . ." Her voice trailed off and she threw the ball.

William leapt and caught the ball over his head and threw it back. "Your father?"

She caught the ball, cleared her throat and said, "My father wouldn't have been able to play because of his arthritis, but he passed away a few years ago."

William caught her throw and held it longer than normal. "I'm sorry, Elizabeth. I had no idea."

"It's alright. It was hard when it happened, but I'm fine now." She shrugged and tried to reassure him with a small smile.

He was not fully convinced, but understood that she probably did not want to talk about it. He threw the ball back in a perfect arc.

She caught it low at her waist and rubbed the back of her mitt against her forehead. She was relieved that he had not asked any more questions. Even though she had said she was fine, it was still a very delicate issue for her.

"I think I'm done warming up. Are your ready to throw?" Elizabeth asked.

William hesitated before he spoke, "Um. . . I suppose."

Elizabeth arched her eyebrows as far as they could go, "Are you afraid that I won't be able to handle a throw from a quarterback?"

William looked down and scuffled his feet. "I've never thrown with a. . . a woman before."

Elizabeth could not help being affected by his charm. She could not resist teasing him. "I 'm very honored to be the first. I promise you that I 'll be gentle," she teased.

William laughed and said, "I am not afraid of you." He grinned playfully and said, "I'm not sure how I should throw."

"All that I ask is that you throw honestly."

Although Elizabeth was grinning, William knew that she was being serious too. He nodded his head and they backed even further away from each other. Elizabeth threw the ball. When they were warming up, William had noticed that when Elizabeth threw, she had a good form and followed through with each throw. Now that they were actually throwing, her throws took on a completely different manner. As William caught the speeding bullet, he was startled by both the force and accuracy. He could not help being impressed.

He hesitated and tossed the ball around in his hand before throwing it back. All that I ask is you throw honestly. Her comment resonated in his head. He let out his breath and braced himself. He was worried that she would not be able to handle one of his throws. He was afraid that he might hurt her. All that I ask is you throw honestly. Her words flashed in his head as if they were on a scoreboard . Elizabeth could obviously hold her own. He thought. He relaxed. William breathed in deeply before he threw it back.

Elizabeth noticed that he had hesitated. She hoped that he was not going to hold back. When she saw him throw the ball, she steeled herself for what was to come. It was an accurate throw and when the ball hit her glove, it made a clean, snap into her mitt. The impact of the ball landing in her glove was more than what she had expected. She jumped a little as she caught it, but William did not notice.

Elizabeth was still staring at the ball in her hand when William asked, "Are you alright?"

He was worried that he might have thrown the ball too hard for her, but she had said to throw honestly and he so he had. He felt he could not hold back because she might somehow know if he did. He knew that he could only be honest with Elizabeth. But, he was beginning to worry when he saw that Elizabeth was still looking at the ball and not responding right away.

He was going to say something again when his question was met with silence, but as his lips parted, Elizabeth looked up.

"I'm fine," Elizabeth dazedly replied. "That was a good throw." She threw the ball back and they continued in this vein for some time, throwing the ball back and forth in silence--each absorbed in his and her own thoughts.

Indeed it had been a good throw. Elizabeth's response was actually very calm in comparison to the emotions she was really feeling inside. She was truly shocked. She had not expected his throw to convey so much force. His throw had left a sting on her fingers, but any good throw always did. She could still hear the crisp snap of the ball landing in her mitt echoing in her ears. She could tell that he was becoming more relaxed. Her heart beat faster. One would think that her heart beating faster was a result of all her exertion, but really it was beating faster at the thought that William was becoming more comfortable with her company. She was also pleased to see that he was taking this task seriously and had no intention of stopping. The few men that she had been able to convince to play catch with would only do so to humor her. She knew that if they had their choice, they would have preferred to go out on a real date. But for William, this was a real date.

Elizabeth thought that the way William scrunched his face and bit his lower lip as he focused and concentrated on each throw was especially captivating. A small smile crept across her face as she thought what it would have been like to see him play as a quarterback. She was sure that he had played with the same strength and conviction. She sucked in her breath at the thought of William in a football uniform. She quickly erased the image from her mind, but the smile was left etched on her face. She was pleased and satisfied with how this afternoon had turned out. She only hoped that he did not think her too unusual to suggest this as a second date.

Although William was concentrating on throwing, part of his mind was also focused on the lady in front of him. He was surprised that she actually wanted to play catch for a date. He had been apprehensive at first because he had not known what to expect.

Each of her throws carried an immense amount of power that surprised him. The previous evening had left him with the impression that Elizabeth had great strength, but to actually feel it was another matter. The only women in his life up until now that had conveyed such strength were his Aunt Catherine and his mother. Their strength was apparent by the manner in which they wielded power over their families. His aunt's strength was overpowering at times which was probably why it was met with frequent resistance. His mother, however, was the opposite. Hers was a strength that she used sparingly and only with reason. She was not manipulative, but she had an uncanny ability to have people bend to her will.

Elizabeth's strength was entirely different from that of his aunt and his mother. It was obvious that she was intelligent and self-assured, but they masked her strength. Elizabeth had an unsuspecting strength that only a person who took the time to really know her would see and William was beginning to admire her more for it.

William was momentarily distracted by a smile on Elizabeth's face. He was about to release the ball, but when he saw her smile, it caused him to throw the ball low and off to the side.

Elizabeth ran and stooped low, catching the ball with some effort. William was about to apologize, but Elizabeth spoke up first.

"Was that an attempt to break the monotony of throwing or were you testing my catching skills?"

"I don't think this is boring and I'm sure your catching skills are good, but," his eyes narrowed, "I got distracted." Elizabeth's eyebrows rose as she caught the ball.

Just as she was going to throw the ball back, he said, "Your smile broke my concentration."

Elizabeth had her arm swung back, ready to release the ball, but when William's words registered in her head, it caused her to release the ball too early and it flew wildly over his head. She bit her lip and blushed with embarrassment.

He smiled at her before he turned and said, "Don't worry; I'll get it."

As she walked to narrow the gap between them, Elizabeth thought about what he had said. Your smile broke my concentration. She wondered how she could not feel flattered though it was an honest comment and not a compliment. William was not the type to use flattery to win over a girl. She liked that and she also liked his honesty, but she remembered not to let herself get too carried away. She also had to remind herself that this was only the second date.

William closed the remaining gap between them. He liked the way her cheeks were tinged with a rosy pink and with the way her eyes twinkled even in the daylight. He wanted to believe that it had been his comment that heightened her senses, but his self-doubt quickly attributed it to all the throwing and catching.

William's hair, once brushed meticulously in place, was now ruffled by the activity. He also had a look in his eyes that Elizabeth could not quite read. It reminded her of the shy look she had seen many a middle school boy have when they tried to talk to their crushes in the school's hallways, but she could not reconcile the idea that William would behave like her students. William certainly did not seem like the type who would be shy about things like that. And still, she could not help being charmed by the thought that maybe underneath his cool composure was a shy and nervous boy. She decided to speak up before she was drawn in by his charm.

"Sorry about that." She looked down at her glove.

He was relieved that she had finally said something. William had been unsure how his comment would affect her. "No, it's alright." He continued looking at her, trying to gauge her feelings.

Although Elizabeth was looking down, she could feel his eyes on her and it made her shift around on her feet. Her mouth pulled at the corners, but she did not look up. "I didn't think quarterbacks could get so easily distracted."

He saw her smiling even though she was looking down and not at him and tried to match her playfulness, "That's true," he took a step closer, "but, I've never thrown with a woman before."

Elizabeth looked up at him, startled by his emphasis on the word woman. William looked at her lips, twitching nervously, before he looked up at her eyes. Elizabeth tried to change the conversation. She was feeling uncommonly jumpy and was desperate to find a way out the corner she put herself in. "Yes, you said that earlier and I believe I said that I would-"

Before she could continued, William had finished her sentence, "Be gentle." He had taken another step closer until they were standing face to face and he could see that her breathing was unsteady and this time, he knew it was not because of the throwing and catching. He was pleased and looked at her closely.

Elizabeth was affected by his nearness, and by the soft, inviting tone of his voice. His out of context repetition of her earlier spoken words gave them such a different meaning from its original intent that it caused her to feel pressure rising in her chest. The look she had not been able to read before was now unmistakable She recognized gentleness, but saw something else. She was not yet ready to admit what else it was that she saw.

She recovered herself and said in a tone more serious than what she had intended, "Perhaps we should stop." Elizabeth enjoyed being with him, but she had to keep reminding herself this was only the second date.

William stepped back and looked down sheepishly, raising one of his hands to rub the back of his neck. "If that's what you'd like." He realized that he was probably being too serious. William did not want to scare her off, but he also wanted to let her know that he liked her. He had thought that she liked him, but her abrupt change in behavior threw him off. Maybe I'm being too forward? Things were moving quickly between them. He realized that perhaps he needed to keep his feelings in check. He felt conflicted.

Though William's face was looking down and hidden from her sight, she wondered if that was not a slight look of disappointment that she detected on his face. She knew that her comment could have been taken the wrong way and tried to remedy the situation.

"I only meant that perhaps we should stop throwing and catching." He looked up at her and she continued, "I thought we could get some lunch."

"I'd like that."

As they walked side by side out of the park, William asked, "Did you want to go back to your apartment?"

Elizabeth stopped sharply, and turned to face him and said, "No, what for?"

"Well, I thought you'd like to go back and freshen up."

Elizabeth hesitated before she said, "Do you think I need to freshen up?" She tried to sound lighthearted, but she was a little hurt. She did not usually care about such things, but if he thought she needed to freshen up, she had to admit, she would be disappointed.

William looked at Elizabeth. He could see that her brow was creased like it did when she talked about what Caroline had said last night in the ladies room. He could have slapped himself on the forehead when he realized that his comment had been taken the wrong way. He immediately set out to fix the situation.

"No, of course not. It's just. . . well, most women . . . I did not mean to imply . . . your eyes were brightened by . . ."

Stupidly, he went on like this for some time before Elizabeth stepped in to help him. "William, thanks for your thoughtfulness, but I hadn't intended to freshen up since you don't seem to mind my current appearance," she glanced at him and noticed that his ears were turning a nice scarlet red, "If you don't mind, I'd like to have lunch now."

"I forget you're not like most women." It was Elizabeth's turn to blush. He liked that he could affect her that way, but decided that it was probably best to change the subject again.

"Would you like to walk to get lunch?"

Elizabeth, who had since recovered from his earlier compliment, now grinned from ear to ear at him and said, "Of course, the main street isn't very far from here."

So, side-by-side they set off for lunch with their baseball mitts safely tucked underneath their arms.

Chapter 4 (cont.)

Part 3
Life's Simple Pleasures

They walked in silence for a moment. They were both thinking of what had just happened.

Elizabeth was still slightly embarrassed about letting his comment -Your smile broke my concentration- affect her so much. She recalled the image of throwing the ball wildly over William's head when he had made his comment. Elizabeth was at a loss for words. She liked honesty in a man, but his honesty seemed different. It was obvious that William did not share his thoughts or feelings very easily, and when he did, a person could not doubt his sincerity. Although Elizabeth appreciated and enjoyed his candor, it also made her anxious and it intrigued her. Your smile broke my concentration. She reveled over his comment. He was not trying to flatter or impress her. He stated it as a fact which caused her to enjoy the statement even more. Deep down she liked his underhanded compliments. Elizabeth knew that she should not take his comments in such a way because they were not given in that manner, but she could not help it. She smiled inwardly as she thought about how it made her feel.

William had snuck glances at Elizabeth several times. Her hair was looser than before. Short strands caressed her ears and neck. Her eyes were bright and her lips looked as if they were trying to hide a smile. It caused him to smile and he thought how today was turning out to be a good day.

"You seem to be pleasantly preoccupied."

William looked at her. "Yes, I can't remember the last time I spent a Saturday afternoon so. . . agreeably."

Elizabeth's brow furrowed. "Agreeably?" She was a little disappointed. She expected one of his underhanded compliments, but she realized that it was probably best not to travel down that road again. It still did not, however, stop her from being playful.

"Isn't agreeable a word a person would use to describe the weather or a visit with Aunt Bates?" She looked at him with a raised eyebrow.

He could not help laughing. "I suppose."

For all his charm, she could not help feeling a little annoyed with how he always tried to be neutral with everything. She wondered if he ever expressed definite feelings for anything at all.

As they continued walking through the neighborhood, Elizabeth decided to use a different tact. "How do you usually spend your Saturdays?"

He hesitated before he spoke, "Do you really want to know?"

Her eyes flashed as she turned to him. "Yes, of course."

He proceeded to describe a typical Saturday. William usually got up early, according to Elizabeth's standard for a Saturday, and sometimes went running on the beach. When he finished, he freshened himself up before checking matters concerning work. Most times it required a lot of his attention, so a good part of his morning was taken up by it. By the time he was finished with work, it was lunch time. He usually had lunch with Charles. Then they would decide to do something that evening, but lately, since Charles started seeing Jane, they had not gone out as much and when his sisters arrived in town, he saw Charles even less.

"So, what've you been doing since you haven't been going out with Charles as much?"

"Well, I . . . I've caught up with some reading. I . . . I've also. . . made some real progress with work." Elizabeth had a look on her face that he did not quite recognize. "And, I've also picked up a skill." He realized the picture that he was painting of himself was not very flattering. He did not want Elizabeth to feel sorry for him.

"Really?"

He cleared his throat again, "Yes, I 've been able to...well...I...I've been learning how to cook."

Elizabeth laughed, but saw that William's expression was serious. She stopped immediately. "Oh. What've you learned?"

He went on to describe his trials with Chinese cuisine, but it was difficult because it required a lot of preparation. French was left to the professionals, but Italian was something he picked up easily.

Then he added, "I have to admit, pasta is quite simple to make." He said it in such a matter of fact tone that Elizabeth could not help laughing again. Elizabeth's infectious laughter soon had William laughing as well.

"Why is that so funny to you?" William grinned.

"It's not funny." She stole a glance at William before she said, "It's just that I can't imagine a man like you in the kitchen cooking or making pasta for that matter." Elizabeth tried to hide her amusement at the image of a flour covered William in an apron with elbows deep in pasta dough.

William wondered what Elizabeth had meant by a man like you. What does she think of me? William carefully tried to discover Elizabeth's opinion of him. "You may find it amusing, but how many men of your acquaintance can make pasta?"

Elizabeth could not contain her laughter as she said, "None, I have to admit."

"None? Then I seem to have an advantage." William tried to be playful, but he was staring thoughtfully at the scenery.

"When were you at a disadvantage?" Elizabeth countered, but as she realized the implications of what she had said, she felt her face flush.

William observed Elizabeth's flushed complexion and looked at her with a tender smile.

Elizabeth felt so exposed. She decided to change the subject. "Have you moved on to anything else?"

William looked down and hesitated before he said, "Desserts."

They were quiet for a moment. Elizabeth was sure it was a reference to their last date. Elizabeth thought William was serious, but saw a smile threatening to escape his lips. She was surprised by his playfulness. She had witnessed his playfulness before, but it was thrilling for her that this side of him was coming out more. The smile had finally prevailed on William's face. His amusement caused her to grin and soon, they were laughing again.

"It seems like you're quite productive. I'm sorry if I've gotten in the way of your-"

"Don't apologize." He hesitated before he said, "As you can see, I was in much need of something...more agreeable." He looked directly at her.

It was what she wanted, but it took her completely off guard. There could be no doubt that that was one of his underhanded compliments. She felt her ears and the back of her neck burning. "Did he know how charming he was?" She wondered.

They were on the main street and stopped in front of a small but quaint restaurant.

"Is this alright for lunch?" Elizabeth was glad to change the subject.

William had to tear his eyes away from Elizabeth to see what she was talking about. The sign over the restaurant read 'The Lodge.' Two large windows at the entrance were lined with a row of red bricks across the bottom. The walls outside were white washed and a green awning settled above the door. William nodded his assent and they went in.

On the left was a polished bar of a dark, rich wood that went almost to the end of the room. Behind the bar, a mirror extended up to the ceiling and across the wall. It reflected the numerous beer spouts behind the bar. To the right were high tables of the same wood as the bar with bar stools. It was like a pub, but since there was no smoking allowed in the establishment, it was bright and comfortable inside. Each corner of the ceiling above the bar, was flanked with a large, color screen television. One had a baseball game on and the other had on ESPN's Sports Center.

Elizabeth saw a surprise look on William's face. "Do you approve?" She had a playful smile on her lips.

"Yes, of course. I'm just surprised that's all. It doesn't seem like a place a lady would choose."

Elizabeth raised her nose in the air and said, "Yes, I suppose ladies would not choose to come here."

William, alarmed by Elizabeth's remark, tried to fix what he said, but then he observed a smile creeping from the corners of Elizabeth's lips. He let out a small laugh and Elizabeth grinned. They proceeded to walk to a table that was further in the back of the restaurant. There was only one person at the bar and two guys sitting at a table near the bar.

They sat down and set their gloves on an empty chair. "My father and I used to come here after playing catch or to watch a game." Elizabeth's features suddenly became somber. She looked down at her hands that were folded on the table. Elizabeth did not mean to be so serious. At first she thought about taking him somewhere that did not have so much personal history associated with it, but eventually, she could not think of anywhere else but here to bring him.

William quickly perceived the change in Elizabeth's demeanor. Her eyes did not have their usual brightness. Instead there was a slight look of sadness. Her smile had disappeared and there was no longer any trace of the playful manner from before. William, pleased that she brought him to a place that obviously had some significance to her, also sensed that she was still deeply affected by the loss of her father. Unsure of what to say, he did what a man like him could do in his situation.

William reached over to touch her hand. At first it was just to get her attention, but he ended up holding it. Elizabeth looked up immediately when she realized what he had done. What she saw put her at ease and made her heart beat faster. He was looking intently at her, but his eyes were dark and warm. Then he smiled reassuringly. Elizabeth felt his thumb caress her hand. She almost leaned over to him, but a man came to the table.

"Elizabeth, it's so good to see you again." The man was in his late fifties and slightly graying. He was portly, but in a jolly way. He had put two glasses of water in front of them.

William had withdrawn his hand at the presence of the stranger. Elizabeth regrouped herself before she responded.

"Mr. Lucas. It's a pleasure to see you again." She was somewhat relieved that he had interrupted something that she might have regretted later. But, somehow she did not believe that though.

"Please, call me James." He smiled and looked at William.

"Oh, Mr.-I mean James, this is William Darcy." Elizabeth almost said my friend, but she could not bring her self to say it.

"William, this is Mr. James Lucas. He owns this place and has been a close friend of my family since I was a child." They both shook hands.

She continued, "How are Charlotte and Maria?"

Mr. Lucas' eyes brightened at the opportunity to talk about his family. "Charlotte is well. She's just completed her nursing certificate and is looking for an opening. Maria has just applied to several colleges and we are waiting to hear if she's been accepted to any."

Elizabeth was pleased to hear that Charlotte and Maria were doing so well. Elizabeth and Charlotte were close growing up, but it became difficult to maintain the intimacy they shared when Charlotte had gone away to college. They wrote each other from time to time, but it was not like it was before when they were younger.

"How is your family, Elizabeth?" Mr. Lucas looked at her with feeling.

"I think we've gotten over the trying time." She smiled, but William saw it was not one of her usual smiles that he had observed before. "It is difficult at times, but I think we're lucky to have each other."

Mr. Lucas heard her voice falter at the last part. He knew how close she was to her father and it was obvious she still felt the loss. He decided not to press her anymore.

"Well, you and William are very lucky. Since it's not usually busy during the day, I'll make sure the cook takes extra care with your order. Would you like the usual?"

Elizabeth looked at William. He nodded and she gave her assent to Mr. Lucas. Then he walked away to prepare their order.

When Mr. Lucas disappeared behind the kitchen doors, William leaned over and asked, "What's the usual?"

"You'll see." She looked up at one of the televisions behind the bar.

William followed the direction she was looking and saw that she was watching the baseball game.

Without taking her eyes away from the television, she said, "It's opening season this week for baseball."

It amused him that she would know this. He studied her for a moment before he said, "Do you plan on going to any games?"

Elizabeth turned to face him, "I hadn't planned to. I haven't been to a game since..." her voice trailed off and she returned to watching the television.

William was affected by how Elizabeth still felt the loss of her father even though it had been a few years since he had passed away. It made him feel like he should help or protect her in some way. He knew that she could obviously take care of herself, but she seemed so vulnerable at this moment. He looked at her and could tell that she was not really watching the game. He understood where her mood was going and decided to help her.

"My father's favorite sport is baseball also." He watched Elizabeth to gauge her feelings.

Elizabeth looked at William and attempted to smile, but it was given with great effort. William took this as encouragement to continue.

"He never said anything, but I think that he was disappointed that my interests were in football."

Elizabeth continued to listen.

"Did your father have a favorite baseball team?"

There was some hesitation in Elizabeth's response. "The Dodgers." Elizabeth appreciated that William was trying to cheer her up. "What's your father's favorite team?" Her voice was timid.

"Well, it was the Brooklyn Dodgers. Now it's our hometown team, the Phillies."

She was pleased to find out he was from Philadelphia. Then a slight feeling of mischief came over her. "Good. I'm glad he didn't take to liking the Yankees."

A playful smile spread across her face. He felt better that Elizabeth was beginning to return to her usual self. Then he became curious about her statement regarding the Yankees. "What did you mean about my father not liking the Yankees?"

"If you'd said that he liked that team, I couldn't see you anymore."

He laughed. "What does my father's favorite baseball team have to do with us?"

"It's safe to assume that fathers can influence what his child likes or dislikes."

William nodded, but hesitated before he said, "That's true, but it's not always the case."

"Yes, I suppose." Elizabeth stopped and gave William a playful look before she continued, "But if your father had liked theYankees, then there would've been a good possibility that you may have liked them too." She took her cup to take a sip of water.

William's brow furrowed. "How would've that been a problem?"

Elizabeth observed his confusion and leaned over to him and whispered, "We don't like the Yankees." Then she leaned back in her chair.

He was surprised by her admission. He also thought it was charming how she shared this information like it was a secret she was only sharing with him.

"We?"

"My father and I."

"So, if my favorite team had been the Yankees, your father wouldn't have approved of you seeing me?"

"No." Elizabeth paused dramatically, then said, "I would've refused to see you." There was a playful ring in Elizabeth's voice.

"Is your dislike for that team so great that you wouldn't even consider going out with me if I did like them?"

Elizabeth took another sip of water before she said, "Well, I have to maintain some kind of standards."

William could not help laughing, which pleased Elizabeth. The tension from earlier was beginning to fade away.

Elizabeth excused herself to go to the restroom to wash her hands before lunch arrived. William watched her as she walked towards the doorway at the other end of the bar. He was glad that Elizabeth did not seem to be dwelling on the loss of her father. He understood too well where those feelings could take a person. Even though it had been several years since his mother had passed away, he still felt her loss deeply. He understood the pain very well and he wanted to protect Elizabeth from it if he could.

Mr. Lucas came out of the entrance that Elizabeth had entered with a tray with two drinks on it. He walked over to the their table and proceeded to place the drinks next to their waters. After he set both of them down, William gave him an inquiring look.

Mr. Lucas smiled. "It's root beer."

William looked at the cup curiously as he brought his drink closer to him.

Mr. Lucas took this as a signal to continue, "It's Elizabeth' favorite."

William smiled broadly at Mr. Lucas for sharing some insight about Elizabeth.

Mr. Lucas continued, "She had her first taste for root beer when she was ten."

"Really?"

"Yes. She and her father came in here to watch the World Series. She pleaded with her father to let her try some because her father was drinking it." Mr. Lucas appeared as if his mind were somewhere else. William hoped that he would continue.

"After much pleading, he finally let her try some and ever since then, she's always ordered it whenever she came in."

William smiled at the picture that Mr. Lucas painted of Elizabeth as a child. He could easily imagine a persistent and precocious Elizabeth convincing her father that she should have some root beer.

William was brought back to the present when Mr. Lucas began to say something, "It's been a long time since she's come in. The last time she was here was with-" Mr. Lucas stopped abruptly, realizing that he may have said too much. "I'm glad to see her doing so well. She looks happy. I hope she comes in more frequently in the future." Then Mr. Lucas told William their lunch would be out soon and he returned to the kitchen.

William had not said much. He was not sure what to say. The implications of Mr. Lucas' words were slowly working their way into his mind. It was William's understanding that Elizabeth had not been to this place since her father passed away. This was the first time she came in since then and she brought him. He was not sure how to feel about this. William knew it was a great compliment that she felt comfortable enough to share this with him. However, William could not help thinking that there was the possibility that her feelings were much deeper than he suspected and if they were, how did that make him feel? He decided that it was too early to think about such things and he would not try to read anymore into this and just deal with the present.

William's thoughts were interrupted when he heard Elizabeth's voice. "I'm sorry. I didn't hear what you said."

"I said, did I miss anything?"

"Mr. Lucas brought us some root beer."

"I hope your refined taste for wine is not offended by my simple taste for root beer."

William was immediately drawn in by her playfulness. "No indeed. I can't remember the last time I had some."

Elizabeth's eyes widened and she said, "That's a great pity."

William chuckled. "How can that be pitied?"

"Root beer is one of life's simple pleasures." Elizabeth stated in a matter of fact tone.

"Oh," William smiled. He remembered earlier how Elizabeth talked about attending a baseball game. She spoke with such earnestness and truth that he had wondered what other prosaic things she took great pleasure in. "Would you care to enlighten me on the other simple pleasures of life?"

Elizabeth thought for a moment. "Well, there's fresh baked bread."

William's eyes narrowed at Elizabeth. "My sister and my cousin Anne would agree with you there."

"Why do you say that?"

"Whenever we're home, they always insist the cook to bake fresh bread with dinner."

"I think that just shows that great minds think alike."

William could not help laughing. "What's another example of life's simple pleasures?"

"Um...hot cocoa."

William nodded in agreement.

"Ah! Daisies."

William laughed.

"No? Hmmm...sliced watermelon, chilled."

William's face scrunched up.

"You don't like watermelon?"

"I'm allergic to it."

"Oh, sorry." Elizabeth thought for a moment. "How about green grapes?"

William smiled. "I like those, but I enjoy pears more."

"Really?" Elizabeth enjoyed discovering such intimate details about William. "Oh! No dishes to wash."

"That is something to be happy about. I didn't realize until recently how many dishes and pans a person can go through when they cook." Elizabeth laughed.

"Any thing else?"

Elizabeth thought for a moment. "A comfortable bed." As soon as she said this, she realized that she may have ventured into dangerous territory.

Intrigued, William asked, "Isn't a comfortable bed a necessity?"

"Yes, I suppose it is a necessity. But there is a difference between what's necessary and what's comfortable."

"What do you mean?"

Elizabeth decided to tread carefully. She could not back out because she brought it up. She hesitated before she continued, "Well, a person can have all the basic things a bed is required to have such as a pillow, blanket, and sheets. These are necessities."

William nodded his head in agreement.

"How this can turn into one of life's simple pleasures depends on the owner of the bed." Elizabeth said this with such certainty that it could not be doubted.

William was not sure where Elizabeth was going with this. At first he thought it was charming how she seemed to derive some type of pleasure out of everyday things. Now the discussion seemed to be turning towards a more alluring subject. William began to wonder if she was doing this purposely, but the color had risen in her cheeks and she was fidgeting with her fingers. He thought he should change the subject to relieve her anxiety, but he enjoyed where the conversation was going.

Instead of changing the topic, William asked, "Can you explain what you mean?" If Elizabeth had been observing William, she would have been aware of the small smile escaping from his lips. But, Elizabeth was looking down at her hands.

Elizabeth started slowly, "Well, it depends on how much attention the owner gives to particular details for their bed." Elizabeth had not dared to look up. While William observed her, his hand covered the smile on his face.

She took his silence as a cue to continue. "I can only speak for myself, but I'm very particular about what type of bed I sleep in." How did I get into this? What does he think of me? She asked herself.

William observed Elizabeth's growing anxiety. The blush in her cheeks had become deeper and she had not looked at William since she started talking about it. He did not like seeing her with so much anxiety, but he wanted her to continue talking. He also could not help enjoying that it was Elizabeth that was having trouble with words and not him.

Elizabeth assumed that he was waiting for her to continue. She inwardly berated herself for getting into such a topic. What confused her more was that William was not responding. She was not sure if he was actually interested in what she was talking about, or if he thought she was flirting, or if she was strange.

She took a breath before she continued. "I like a bed that I can fully stretch out on and not have my feet hang over the edges." She paused for a moment to hear if William was going to say anything, but he did not.

"I also like lots of pillows-not too soft or too firm. A light comforter is nice too." She paused again, but William said nothing.

"But I think it's the type of sheets that can really make a difference in how comfortable a bed can be."

She took in another breath. "I like sheets that are soft against my skin, not satin though, but more like cotton or flannel. Soft, so that when I'm asleep, there's a warm, sheltered like feeling that makes me want to stay in bed rather than getting out to go to work." Elizabeth smiled at this last statement. She heard William clear his throat and she looked up for the first time since she started talking about a comfortable bed being one of life's simple pleasures.

Elizabeth was surprised to see him looking intently at her. She wondered if he had been observing her like this the whole time she had spoke. She was not sure about the look he had in his eyes. There was a gentleness in them, but there was also a deepness that conveyed something else, but she was not sure what. She wondered what he was thinking and feeling.

If Elizabeth was able to read what he was thinking or feeling, she would be surprised indeed. He was good at concealing his feelings when he had to. He encountered many situations whether it was work or of a personal nature where he had to mask his true feelings, so that he would not be exposed to the scrutiny of others around him. But this time it was different. He was exercising every restraint he could summon not to act on his feelings. At first he thought it was charming that she was so artless about her feelings about something as simple as a comfortable bed, but then it changed. Elizabeth was not overtly suggestive in any way. In fact, that was what probably affected him so much. She was merely talking about her own opinions, but somehow it created pictures in his mind that he could not erase. The words skin, soft, and warm left lasting impressions in his mind. Although he had heard everything she had said, these were the words that stayed with him. William was smoldering at the images that Elizabeth's words had created. William's breath became unsteady.

"Is something the matter? Are you upset?"

He took a deep breath and cleared his throat again before he said, "I'm not upset." He hesitated before he said in a low voice, "It's quite the contrary I assure you." Then William picked up his glass and took a hearty sip of water.

When the last part of what William said registered in her mind, a deep blush spread across the nape of Elizabeth's neck and her ears. She did not realize that her words would be taken in such a way. Indeed, she made every effort not to be suggestive or provocative.

William noticed her uneasiness and tried to lighten the mood between them, "That was...enlightening. I'll never look at a bed the same way again."

Elizabeth let out a small laugh, but did not say anything.

Soon afterward, Mr. Lucas brought out their lunch. It was a large cheese pizza. He would have brought it out sooner, but he had observed that they seemed to be deep in conversation and so waited until there was a break. As he set the food down, William excused himself to wash up. Elizabeth's eyes had followed him to the entrance that lead to the restrooms.

She did not realize that she was staring until Mr. Lucas had said something.

"I'm sorry. What did you say, Mr. Lucas?"

"I'm glad to see that you're doing so well."

"Thank you."

"I hope to see you come in more often. You should bring William with you, too."

Elizabeth smiled in response. Were my feelings that obvious? She wondered.

William rejoined Elizabeth, and Mr. Lucas left them. They began eating and as they ate, they stayed on neutral topics such as baseball, pizza, and the Dodgers. Neither one of them brought up anymore of life's simple pleasures again.

Continued in Next Section