Jump to new as of February 10, 2003
3:00 AM
I wake up and I can't go back to sleep, so I go in to check on my kids. My 2-year-old twins William, and Lizzy are both sleeping. As I look at them tears begin to form in my eyes as I think how much they both look like Will. And I think back to that night:
"Liz? Its Will, do you think you can come over?"
"Sure, I'll be right there."
"I'm so glad you're here, sorry to bother you," he answered the door with puffy eyes.
"Honey are you okay?"
"Carol dumped me."
'I knew I always hated her, how could she have hurt my best friend and the love of my life?' "Sweetie I am so sorry, let me make you a cup of tea or something."
"Okay, can I have a hug?"
"Of course," I reached for a hug only to have his lips press against mine in a deep kiss. Not bothering to fight it I kissed back, and one thing lead to another.
"Ms. Bennet?"
"Yes Dr. Gardiner?"
"The test results are in and you are indeed pregnant."
The next morning (present)
"Jane thanks so much for watching the kids for just a little while I got to work." I said as I dropped the twins off at my best friend Jane Bingley's house.
"You should know its not a problem, I love them to bits!!! You want me to bring them by for lunch?"
"That would be nice, some of the regulars have been asking about them. Say bring them at 12:30 ish"
"Sounds great to me"
"Be good for Auntie Jane while Mommy goes to work and she's going to bring you to come eat lunch with Mommy!" I said receiving a sticky kiss from each of them. "And you are to both be very good at the restaurant, okay?"
"Okay Mama," said William flashing me his big smile.
"Lizzy is that understood?" She just bobbed her curly brown head up and down. "See you guys soon!" I turned and walked out the door to my restaurant about half a block or so away from the apartment complex. My restaurant is only open for lunch and early dinner, so it leaves me time in the morning and evening to spend with the twins. The restaurant opens at noon, but I get there about 10:30AM to set up, with Jane's husband Charles Bingley. As I open the door to the restaurant I cast a forlorn glance at our sign hanging in the window. "Cook Wanted." We don't necessarily need a cook, but its just Charles, and me working, cooking, waiting tables, etc. By the time Charles and I have the necessary arrangements for lunch in order it is noon and I unlock the front door. This gives me 30 minutes until Jane shows up with my children. I head to the back to make sure everything is in order to be prepared when I hear the all to familiar clinking of the bell as the front door opens. I turn to go back to the dinning room to greet the customer.
"Hello?" a voice calls.
"Hello how may I help you...William?"
"Liz?"
"Uh...umm...h-h-how are you?" I manage to stammer out.
"I umm...fine, how are you?"
"Fine. Is there anything I can help you with?"
"I umm...saw the sign in the window and came to apply for a position."
"A position?" trying to keep the shock out of my voice.
"Yes, well you see after Dad died I had to run the company, but it got boring very fast. So I gave my job to Richard, and returned to culinary school, since it was what I wanted to do."
"And you want a job here?"
"Well I'm applying to several places, but this is the first one I saw."
"Liz? Who are you talking to?" said Charles coming through the kitchen wiping his hands with a dishtowel. "Will!!! How are you man? It's been a while."
"Charlie, too long if you ask me. How's life?"
"Well, I married Jane."
"Congratulations man."
"Thank you, and we're living in the apartment building right over there, just above Liz and the..."
"Charlie," I said interrupting him before he could blurt out about the kids, "could you please go check in the back to make sure everything is prepared for lunch today?"
"Sure," he said giving me a puzzled look, "see you around Will."
"See you around. So whom am I to speak to about applying for a position?"
"The owner."
"And who is the owner?"
"You're looking at her."
"This is your restaurant?"
"Isn't that what I just said?"
"Well, yes, but I knew you always wanted to own a restaurant and that you loved to cook. So how come you need another cook?"
"Well we're short handed, its Charlie, and me, and sometimes Jane, although she works full time during the summer with us."
"Ah, I see." An awkward pause formed between the two of us. "So can I fill out an application?"
"Certainly let me get it from my office, I'll be just a minute." I practically ran out of the dining room. Why did it have to be him? As if coming in here wasn't bad enough he has to ask for a job that we've been advertising about for 2 months, with no inquires. I picked up the phone and dialed Jane's number, I had to get a hold of her before she came and brought the kids.
"Hi you've reached the Bingley's, sorry we've missed your call, but if you leave your name and number we'll be happy to call you back as soon as we can. *Beep*"
"Jane, its Liz, please, please, please pick up!!! Okay I guess that you've left I'll see you soon." The one day I specifically request Jane to bring the kids!!! I walked out with the application in hand only to find Will, standing next to Jane, and the kids.
"My cupcakes how are you? Did you meet this nice gentleman?"
"Uh-huh, we have same name Mommy," William said rather excitedly pointing at Will to discover someone shared his name.
"Yes he does, but you must call him Mr. Darcy."
"No, no I insist, it makes me feel old."
"Well I guess its okay then. Here is your application and a pen, and when you are finished we can set up a time for an interview. If that is convenient for you."
"Perfectly, if you don't mind I'll just sit here at this table and fill it out."
"That's fine. Now William, and Lizzy, I want both of you to go into the kitchen and see if there is anything you can help Uncle Charlie with, okay?"
"Okay Mommy," they said giving me a hug before running into the kitchen.
"Liz, can we talk?" Jane asked me pulling me into the hallway. "What is he doing here?"
"He came in and is applying for our job as a cook. I tried to call you and tell you not to bring the kids."
"What are you going to tell him?"
"Nothing, unless he asks," I smoothed my apron and walked into the dining room to see if Will had finished. The room had a couple more customers in it. "Jane could you wait some tables for me while I see how Will is doing?"
"No problem. Good luck."
"Will, are you finished with the application?"
"Yes, now about the interview..." the phone rang.
"Just one second. Hello, Longbourn Café. No you don't need a reservation. Okay buh-bye. Sorry about that, why don't we continue this discussion in my office, please follow me." We walked into my office and took our seats.
"You have beautiful, and charming children. Just like their mother." I blushed.
"Thank you, although I believe that they take after their father."
"Oh are you married?"
"No, but lets not get into this right now. I can do the interview right now if you have the time to."
"Why yes I do, although it looks as if you're a little busy."
"No nothing Jane can't handle. Now since you are applying for a position as a cook, I believe that the more appropriate 'interview' would be to see you in action."
"You mean right now?"
"Yes, we have an extra apron and you can take a look at our menu, pick something to cook, or you could whip up something of your own."
"I believe I will make my own, but I need your help in showing me where everything is."
"Please, follow me." We walked into the kitchen where Lizzy was calmly constructing gingerbread men, not very well I might add, while William and Charlie were throwing little balls of cookie dough at one another.
"Ahem." Lizzy looked up and smiled at me, while Charlie and William both froze with their ammo in their hands and guilty expressions on their faces. "Now I need the three of you to clean up and begin cooking orders while Will, cooks his interview dish. Everything you could possibly need is in these cabinets, I am merely going to sit on the side and watch you and guide you in finding anything if you need it. Begin." Will placed the apron over his head and began to make some kind of cake although I couldn't tell what it was. Within an hour he had completely finished making it, cooled and everything. "So what is it exactly, other than the obvious chocolate cake."
"It is called a Chocolate Truffle Supreme Cake. It mends anything, broken hearts, friendship rifts."
"Will...I"
"Try a bite, it's delicious." I took a bite and was in heaven.
"Will that is absolutely fantastic! You've got the job. You begin promptly tomorrow, that is if you want to. Be here at 10:30 in the morning, we're only open for lunch and dinner."
"Thank you so much!" he said giving me a quick hug. "You don't know what this means to me." Still dazed from his hug I merely nodded and smiled. I heard the kitchen door squeak, and Lizzy toddled in.
"Lizzy would you come in here please?" She toddled over and I scooped her up.
"She's the splitting image of you Liz," Will said, brushing some of the curls of Lizzy's face.
"Will, we need to talk right now, I have something important to tell you.
"What do we need to talk about?"
"Lizzy, honey? Can you go help Auntie Jane with the customers, while Mommy talks with Will?"
"Otay," she said skipping out of the kitchen.
"So what did you want to say?"
"It's about William and Lizzy."
"What about them?"
"Do you remember the night that Carol dumped you?"
"Yes, you came over and...oh my gosh did we...you mean?" I nodded my head. "That explains why you stopped speaking to me and never returned my messages. So are the kids mine?"
"Are you insinuating that I'm the type of girl that sleeps around? If that's what you think Will Darcy then you don't know me as well as you used to." My voice raising, yet I was almost in tears.
"I'm sorry...that's not what I meant. I wasn't sure if you had gotten pregnant that night or not."
"Yes Will they are yours. I'm sorry about blowing up at you, I didn't mean to put words in you mouth."
"Why didn't you tell me? I would have helped you!"
"That's just it. I didn't want to burden you with a child or in this case children. Besides your dad had just died, you had a younger sister to take care of, and your girlfriend had just dumped you. It was just to much for you to handle."
"And yet it wasn't to much for you to handle all by yourself? I know you better than that; you normally crack under pressure like that. So how about you tell me the real reason?"
"Will I don't think I could tell you that quite yet. Besides I didn't go through it alone, Jane and Charlie were there with me."
"Do Jane and Charlie know the kids are mine?"
"Yes, they were the only ones to know I was pregnant and that they were your kids."
"What about the rest of your family?
"No, it would crush my dad, and we both know what my mother's reaction would be. I really hope that this doesn't affect your decision to work here."
"No, of course not. This is all a little overwhelming, I come for a job and I get a job and 2 kids," Will said trying to lighten the mood. "It will take a little getting used to."
"I am not expecting a single thing from you at all, we are just fine financially. The kids don't know that you are their dad and I'd like to keep it that way for a while. For now, just be their friend."
"No problem."
"Now I'd like the two of us to be friends again and start over okay?"
"All right."
"So I guess I'll see you tomorrow then."
"Sure." And with that he walked out the door. I just wasn't ready to tell him the whole reason. I wouldn't be able to handle it.
"How could he have taken that so well? I just gave him a job and then told him he had two kids. He was always so understanding." I buried my face in my apron and began to sob quietly.
"Lizzy, I just need to..." said Jane as she walked in. I quickly wiped my tears and stood up. "Are you okay?"
"Never better hon."
"So what happened? I heard you yelling and then come in to find you crying. Something happened."
"Will is going to be working here and he knows about the twins."
"Oh Lizzy..."
"I told him about them and some of the reasons why I didn't tell him."
"Some? You mean you didn't tell him..."