Third Time Lucky: A Jane Austen Variation by Alicia J. Chumney

Author:Alicia J. Chumney [Chumney, Alicia J.]
Language: eng
Format: azw3
Published: 2022-06-23T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Forty

Leaning forward, Charlotte asked, “What happened next?” A spoon full of chocolate ice cream hovered near her mouth, but she forgot about all the dripping mess as Elizabeth recounted her date with Liam the night before.

If she wasn’t careful, she’d miss her tutoring session with Georgie.

Aunt Mary was shamelessly sitting at the table in the dining area of the mother-in-law suite Elizabeth had turned into a home. If she was shoveling in the ice cream at a faster rate than necessary, neither of the girls blamed her.

If either of Elizabeth’s cousins knew that there was ice cream, they would have been underfoot.

“Yeah, what happened next?” Jane asked from where Elizabeth’s phone was propped up so Jane could see everybody.

Sighing, Elizabeth shook her head. “We left and barely said a word until we got back here. He let me out and walked me to the door.”

“That’s it?” Aunt Mary asked. “I thought you both returned a bit early.”

“He said goodnight and that he would see me tomorrow, which is tonight,” Elizabeth stated.

Jane cleared her throat.

“Yes?”

“At least you wore the red cardigan instead of the cream-colored one. That tomato sauce would have stained.”

They all started laughing. And laughed even harder when Charlotte’s spoonful of melted ice cream landed on the table with an audible splat.

After a moment, Aunt Mary spoke up. “I’m sorry your first date with Liam went so badly.”

“Actually,” Charlotte cleared her throat.

“Actually what?” Elizabeth asked.

“I’ve been thinking about that. Last night wasn’t your first date with Liam. Prom was.”

Everybody went quiet as they considered Charlotte’s point. It wasn’t something they could argue.

“But that was so long ago. I don’t know how I’m going to handle seeing him after last night. It was a disaster from start to finish.”

“Then,” Jane spoke up, “maybe your next date shouldn’t be a traditional dinner and a movie-type of date.”

“I’m not entirely certain I’d feel comfortable going to a movie theater yet.”

“You know what I mean.”

Sighing, “Yeah,” Elizabeth agreed. “I know.”

“Your next date should be a hike or something. Before it gets too cold to go,” Charlotte added.

“That’s assuming there will be another date.”

Aunt Mary grinned. “There will be.” Then, with that cryptic pronouncement, she went back to eating her ice cream. It wasn’t often she got to enjoy it before it became soup. Then, realizing all three girls were staring at her, she asked, “What?”

“How do you know that?” Elizabeth asked.

“I saw the way he was looking at you.”

Smiling, Jane added, “He’s always looked at her like that. She just hasn’t always looked at him the same way.”

“Jane!” Elizabeth hissed.

“What? It’s the truth.”

Elizabeth’s fitness tracker buzzing told the group that she needed to start getting ready to go to Liam and Georgie’s for tutoring.

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