First Impressions: A Modern Pride and Prejudice Adaptation

Chapter 33

The t-shirt had once been white, but time had turned it to a dull cream color. Although there were several holes in the collar and sleeves, she couldn't bear to part with it, or even to downgrade it to pajamas. One of the librarians in charge of the summer reading program had screen printed the shirts herself, based on posters that had been hung up all over the young adult section.

Glancing in the mirror to check that her hair was flat, the ponytail tight, the shirt still made Liz grin a little. Batman, arms crossed, glowering out at the viewer. Text on the bottom read, "Batman always returns his books to the library." Despite the absurdity, it was soft and comfortable, and as close to battle armor as she owned. She brushed her bangs away from her eyes and picked up her purse on the way out of the bedroom.

She paused several times as she made her way down the hallway to take pictures of décor and upholstery patterns, saving the for alter in her phone. If she sent the to her other immediately, she was afraid she might set off another round of unnecessary redecorating. But if she kept the for later, she thought she might be able to sway her mother's taste in a more pleasant direction than the upsettingly glaring colors of her most recent spur. Near the top of the stairs, she took a minute to arrange a throw pillow more neatly on a chair and shift a few dried flowers in a tall vase before taking the picture.

It took a little more effort to turn her feet down the stairs. Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner were waiting for her in the hallway, ready to head out the door. "There you are, Lizzie! I was beginning to think you got lost."

Liz only smiled; her second—well, her primary motive—had been to delay. "I was taking pictures to send to my mother," she offered as excuse.

Neither of them protested, but they didn't look convinced. She followed them without protest out through the double front doors and out onto the wraparound porch. White wicker chairs were scattered at strategic and purposeful odd angles, calling out to those who passed by, luring them in to sit and stay awhile. She trailed her fingers along the white-painted railing as she walked the short steps down to the sidewalk. Along the sides of the building grew three gigantic trees; oaks, she thought, or something similar. Their great branches spread out almost halfway across the street, throwing gray shadows across the asphalt. Gaps in the leaves let through spots of brilliant sunlight to splay across the scene.

They had arrived too late the evening before for her to get a good look at their surroundings, but everything now was bathed in sunny brightness. The houses were neat and spread out on large, manicured lots. They had flower beds and rock paths to the front doors, and picturesque iron streetlamps at the ends of the driveways. They appeared all residential, besides the bed and breakfast they were staying in. One building, kitty-corner to where they stood, seemed older than the others. It was built of some pale stone and seemed boxier than the other houses. The windows were tall with white-painted trim; one of them bowed outward in a bay-style.

"Which direction?" Mr. Gardiner asked, pointing to his left, then his right.

"Where are we going?" Liz asked, her voice soft with apprehension. She could not entirely enjoy the view, as pleasant as it was.

He shrugged, smiled, and then wiggled his eyebrows a little, the way he always did to make her and her sisters laugh when they were small. This time, it only elicited three-quarters of her usual grin. "No idea! I don't think we have any plans for today."

Mrs. Gardiner shook her head. "Dealer's choice," she told him cheerfully.

"Hmm..." he toned slowly, making a show of his decision. Eventually, he pointed to the left.

Not generally one for fidgeting, Liz found herself chewing on her thumbnail while they walked. Every cheerful garden ornament, every bright window, every flower-laden trellis seemed to wear on her. She stared opening at every house they passed.