Happy Monday! This is another old playground piece. The theme was a meet cute. Since Playgrounds were supposed to be short, I don’t know how this one turned out to be 11 Word document pages, but it is rather long for a single post, so I’m going to post the conclusion next Monday. I hope you enjoy it!
Consequences of a Day in the Park
William
William Darcy sat on a bench in City Park on a warm summer day. He had specifically selected his spot for the large oak limb overhead that provided ample shade as well as the picturesque view it afforded of the lake glimmering in the mid-day sun. The weather was glorious. The sky was a beautiful hue of blue, birds were chirping, and the laughing of children playing filtered through the trees around him from a nearby playground.
For some time now, he had stared without hearing what was around him. His mind had been turning and turning since he sat down. Where had he gone wrong with his life? How had he wound up so alone? His mother had died of cancer when he was fifteen, and his father had died three years ago of a heart attack. They had not deserted him, but his best friend, Charles, would no longer speak to him, and his sister, Gigi—well, now she had abandoned him as well.
“I shouldn’t have said anything,” he said in a mumble. In Bingley’s situation, Darcy had been concerned that the woman had agreed to marry his friend for money, and he had made it no secret that he disapproved. Why had he done that? He had not even met—what was her name? Oh, yes, Jane. He had managed to break them up once, but Bingley eventually got back together with her. That was when he had lost his friend.
As for Gigi, his baby sister, who was 7 years his junior, had gone, eloped to Las Vegas, with none other than George Wickham. He had told her that their father’s godson was using her. Wickham had a gambling problem—and a woman problem to tell the truth. He couldn’t keep it in his pants.
“Why wouldn’t she listen?” Gigi actually had the nerve to tell him that he would be alone for the rest of his life unless he learned to trust people. He sighed. His sister received her trust fund today. He would never hear from Georgiana again.
As he stared at the view in front of him, some movement to one side shook him from his trance, but nothing was there. He stared at the spot for a moment longer, then started when the face of a little girl appeared from behind the trunk of an oak at the edge of the trees.
She was a pretty little thing with brilliant blue eyes and strawberry blonde curls bound in a ponytail. She wore a bright blue dress with a matching bow in her hair. She peered around the tree for a moment before eventually stepping out from her hiding place. She bit her lip while she watched him.
“Bethy!” a woman’s voice called over the breeze. The girl giggled and turned to run into the trees. He turned back toward the lake. It was good that she had gone. He wasn’t in the mood for company anyway.
At a rustling, he turned once again. The little girl now stood closer, then came to stand before him.
“What is your name?”
“William.” He didn’t want company, but his sister always said he came across as rude and intimidating. He would not scare a child if he could help it.
She watched him with her eyebrows drawn down a little in the mirror.
“Bethy!” It was the same lilting voice as before.
“I’ll be right back.” The child ran back into the trees. As her blonde curls disappeared into the trees, he blinked at the stinging of his eyes. Gigi was fair when she was small. How often had his parents brought them here for picnics when she was about that age?
Bethy returned again a few minutes later. This time, she smiled as she neared the bench. In one arm, she held two juice boxes and in her other hand, she clutched two cookies wrapped in a white paper napkin. She set the juice boxes down on the seat next to him and thrust a box of apple juice in his hand. After she climbed onto the bench, she handed him a cookie.
“Why are you so sad?” she asked before taking a bite of her treat.
He gave a bark of a laugh. Where were this child’s parents, or nanny, or even babysitter? Who was supposed to be keeping an eye on her?
“What makes you think I am sad?” He allowed the hand holding the cookie to rest on his thigh.
“At first, I thought you were mad, but then I saw you crying.”
“Bethy?”
A beautiful young woman appeared from the trees. Her hair was a dark chestnut with what appeared to be natural copper-colored highlights and deep brown eyes that were wide and glaring at him.
“Bethy! I told you to stop running off!”
Elizabeth
Elizabeth Bennet hummed as she spread a plaid picnic blanket on the grass. Her niece and goddaughter Bethy had selected the location, and she had to agree that it was a nice place. They were not far from the bank of the lake, and the cluster of trees behind her provided a lovely shade.
As soon as she rubbed out the last wrinkle, she pulled the basket over and looked up. “What the. . .?” Where had her niece gone?
“Bethy!” She called as loud as she could without screaming. Bethy couldn’t be far. She was five after all. Her niece’s giggle filtered through the trees just a moment before she emerged and skipped to the blanket.
She exhaled heavily. “Bethy, you need to stay where I can see you, honey.”
“Okay, Aunt Lizzy.”
The happy smile her niece gave her made her shake her head. She was so like Jane, but that smile was all Charles. He was the most cheerful man ever created, and while Bethy looked like Jane, her outgoing personality was from her father.
She turned to unpack the food onto the blanket, but when Bethy’s small hands didn’t join hers, she looked up. “Where did she go this time?”
“Bethy!” She started toward the trees, but before she could get far, the little girl appeared once again.
Elizabeth bent so she was on eye level with the precocious child. “Bethy! You need to stop running off like that. You scared me.”
“I’m sorry. This time, her niece’s bottom lip pouted a bit.”
Elizabeth took her hand and led her to the blanket where they sat down. She set a peanut butter and jelly sandwich on a napkin in front of Bethy.
“My friend, William, is sad.”
William? That name was new, but her niece was always creating new imaginary friends, so this was likely one she had never mentioned before. Who else would it be?
“Why is he sad?”
“I don’t know,” Bethy said with a shrug.
“Maybe you should ask him.” Bethy seemed to consider this for a moment before prattling away about the new kitten her father had brought home. She had to stifle a laugh at the entire situation. Jane had been less than pleased with Charles’s gift to their daughter, but Bethy was thrilled to bits to have a pet and already attached to the little thing. Jane would never have the wherewithal to rehome it now. Charles had known exactly how to get away with it!
Once her niece had eaten a good enough portion of her sandwich, Elizabeth brought out cookies and more juice boxes, then picked up the trash and put in the basket. As soon as she sat back, she groaned. Bethy was gone again!
Elizabeth jumped to her feet. Where had the mischievous little imp been disappearing to?
“Bethy!” This time, she walked into the trees, and as she rounded the last oak, her niece came into view, sitting on a bench next to a strange man.
“Bethy, I told you to stop running off!” Who was this man and what had been happening with her niece?
“But Aunt Lizzy, you said I should ask my friend why he is sad.”
A sudden realization hit Elizabeth and she paled. “I thought. . .”
William
The young woman paled as soon as she saw the little girl sitting with him.
He held a palm out in a placating manner—at least he hoped it was. “Your niece has been here three times, but this is the first time she has sat down.”
Aunt Lizzy nodded and stared for a moment. “I am so sorry she has disturbed you. She said she had a friend named William who was sad. I just assumed you were one of her imaginary friends. If I’d known, I would have told her to leave you alone.”
“She asked me my name the second time she came around. I didn’t do anything to encourage her. I apologize. . . “
With a sigh, she shook her head. “Please, I don’t expect you to apologize. I can only imagine what happened. Her father will talk to anyone who is around. What is odd is that Bethy normally doesn’t approach strangers.”
The aunt approached and knelt in front of her niece. “Bethy, we need to go back to our blanket.”
The little girl stood and took her aunt’s hand. “But Aunt Lizzy, William is sad. Momma always says when someone is sad, we should try to cheer them up.”
The young woman smiled. “She does say that, doesn’t she?” Aunt Lizzy looked at him while biting her lip. “Would you care to come share dessert with us? I have plenty of chocolate chip cookies, which, personally, are a favorite of mine when I am sad.”
“I would not want to intrude.” Not to mention, but he had come here to be alone.
“It would not be an intrusion. Bethy seems to have already finished her cookie and will be playing on the playground.” Lizzy brushed crumbs from her niece’s dress.
The little girl gave a tiny gasp. “You can talk to Aunt Lizzy while I play! She always makes me laugh when I am sad.”
One side of his lips involuntarily twitched into a small smile.
“Please do not feel that you have to,” the woman said. “If you would rather be alone. . . “
Her eyes and her tone told him that she was in earnest. His sister had said he never trusted anyone. Maybe he needed to begin trusting people. This Lizzy had offered in a show of trust to him. What if he accepted?
He stood. “I believe I spend too much time alone. Miss Bethy, would you do me the honor of escorting me to your picnic.” He delivered the lines in the most stately voice he could, reminding him of the times Gigi would have him play the king in her make-believe games (He could not be the prince after all).
She giggled and took his hand to lead him through the trees to a blanket within view of the playground.
“Thank you, milady.” He bowed over her hand.
She giggled again. “You are silly.” She turned to her aunt. “May I go play?”
Elizabeth
“Of course, squirt,” she said.
She took a seat on the blanket and held out a hand. “It isn’t much, but it’s what I have to offer.
“If you ever wish for me to leave, please feel free to tell me,” he said as he sat. “I won’t be offended.”
Lizzy gazed at him for a few minutes. He appeared as though he was being truthful, but how could she turn this man away? Bethy was correct, he looked awful, as though he had been crying. If her niece saw the same expression, it was no wonder the child was so adamant to cheer him up. He had said that he spent too much time alone. How on earth had this man come to be so lonely?
“I don’t mind having company. Perhaps we should find something we can discuss while she is playing. Do you like to read?”
Lizzy’s question spurned a conversation that would span a couple of hours while her niece played. They discussed various books until the subject of their families was mentioned. Lizzy described (without names, since she didn’t really know him) her family, and William did the same. His parents had both died, and he mentioned a sister who would not speak to him. He truly had no one. How sad.
“You and a friend should have a guy’s night out?” she said. He grimaced. Apparently friends was a sore subject as well. “I’m sorry.”
He picked at the grass beside the blanket. “No, your intentions are good. I have a cousin who is like a brother, but he is in the military and stationed overseas. I am afraid I ruined the relationship I had with my best friend a long time ago.”
“Have you tried apologizing or would he not give you the chance?”
“Oh no, he was always very forgiving. I guess I was too determined that I was right and let matters go on for too long.”
“If he was always forgiving, perhaps it is not too late. Maybe you should try.”
She watched as he nodded, and his brow furrowed. Her cell phone chimed. She had text from Jane. ‘Don’t forget Beth’s nap time.’ She checked the time and gave a sharp inhale.
“Oh my, we need to go. Bethy has her nap, and my sister will be upset if we are late.”
“Thank you for the company,” said William. He attempted to smile, but it was the most pathetic attempt she had ever witnessed.
“I enjoyed our conversation. I hope you call your friend.”
He stalled for a moment and shuffled his feet. “Do you think we could meet for coffee sometime? I enjoyed talking to you.” He was so handsome, and the fidgeting of his hands and the uncertainty in his tone was sweet.
“I don’t see why not,” she said. “Today is Thursday, so perhaps Saturday at nine. We could have coffee and pastries?”
“I would like that.” While the smile he displayed was not wide by any means, she it was larger than the last and more genuine than most that he had appeared to force.
She called Bethy, and once they had packed up their things, they said farewell to William.
I will post the next part next Monday. In the meantime, let me know what you think!
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