Weeping Willows

Lessons in Patience

Chapter 14

The next morning Elizabeth woke just as the sun was rising. Putting on a worn-out sweater and tossing her hair in a messy bun she carried a steaming cup of coffee outside. The screen door slapped closed behind her as she curled up on the top step leaning against the banister to watch. She sipped from her cup while tucking her toes inside the over-sized legs of her fuzzy pajama pants. She had needed to start wearing warmer clothing to bed as the central air unit seemed to over work every night. Elizabeth made a mental note to find someone to come look at it before she caught a cold for the summer. Breathing in the scent of her black drink she watched the colors paint themselves across the sky. It made her feel inspired to create something equally as stunning. She hadn't felt inspiration in quite some time now no matter what she did. Instead it felt as if she was missing a limb being so cut off from her creativity.

'Well she had been particularly inventive yesterday.' She thought to herself chuckling again at the failure that had been her attempt at box removal. And what was that with the three of them yesterday? Were they all heavy hitters and well connected or was it just those three? Heaving a sigh Elizabeth felt entirely inadequate. Any connections she had in life were through her dad who had once been the CEO of one of the largest companies in the state. Technically that made them his connections not hers. Elizabeth sat there nursing her coffee watching the sun make its lazy rise into the sky while she contemplated her lot in life.

She lifted her eyes to watch a car pull into the drive. Addison, Jan, and Jenny all got out wearing their beach gear for the day. The guys weren't far behind traveling in Elliot's over sized truck. When they all got out, they were equally decked out. Elizabeth watched from her perch as they all moved towards her. She lazily sipped her drink as the girls frowned at her. Addison came stomping up to her steps and tapped her foot impatiently.

"You do remember it Saturday don't you?"

"Yes." She drawled in response as the boys quietly snickered.

"Why aren't you ready yet?"

"Because it's Saturday morning at the butt crack of dawn Addison." That got a few hoots of laughter from the peanut gallery. Elizabeth continued to drink her coffee as she watched the tiny pregnant woman become agitated. 'It's sort of like watching animal planet,' she mused to herself waiting for Addison to pounce on her. Luckily Elliot stepped forward taking possession of his little irate wife before she could do anything. Jan came up beside her and sat down stretching her legs out down the front steps.

"You about done with your coffee?" Elizabeth glanced into her mug dismayed to find only a couple of swallows left.

"Unfortunately." Jan nodded patiently waiting for her to drink it down. Just as she took the last drink of her liquid into her mouth Jan struck.

"Cute pants. I didn't know you wore naked babies to bed." Elizabeth choked on the last mouthful spewing the liquid down the steps. She glared at Jan as she hacked her head off. There was a riot of laughter coming from the drive where the rest of them stood well out of rang of the flying liquid.

"They're cupids." She rasped out setting off another round of coughing. Jan nodded her head sagely as if she couldn't see it until Elizabeth had pointed it out. She wondered if she could throw the heavy mug at her but make it look like a complete accident.

"Since you're done now, you need to get yourself ready."

"I thought we weren't heading out until just before lunch?"

"We usually head out early but stay through lunch." Ryan offered helpfully as Clayton drug the hose up to the steps. Both Jan and Elizabeth let out girlish squeals as they just managed to get out of the way of the cold spay of water. He stood there hosing the coffee mess down smiling in delight. Acting for all the world like a helpful friend when really Elizabeth knew it was paybacks for yesterday. Just wait until they got to the springs today. Karma will get a firm helping hand. Jan laughed from beside her. Since her back was turned to the group, her friend was the only one who could see the look on her face.

"He is so screwed later."

"Yes, he is." Elizabeth bit out as she entered the house and stormed to her room.

A half hour later she reemerged freshly shaved and dressed for the day. Jan raised her eyebrow but said nothing. Grabbing her tote, she followed an amused Jan out the door. The minute Addison caught sight of her she gasped in horror. Elizabeth ignored her following Jan to the car opting to sit in the back with Jenny. To her credit Jenny didn't say anything just sat there mute staring at the seat ahead of her. Elliot finally talked Addison down enough for her to huff over to the car. Once she was back behind the wheel, she slammed her door closed breathing hard in aggravation. Jan looked over at her smiling sweetly.

"If you don't calm down, you'll pop that kid out right here and I'm not equipped to deal with that."

"JAN!" Jenny screeched out in horror as if she didn't even want to contemplate Addison going into labor.

"What?  I'm not. Are you?"

"Oh my god." Jenny's face turned beat red at the thought as the young woman started to fall into hysterics. Addison calmed down pulling down her visor to see the occupant behind her in the vanity mirror.

"Breathe Jenny. In and Out." They all chuckled as Jenny shot Addison a glare not finding the humor in her words. With a deep calming breath, she started the car and pulled in behind the guys on the road. Flipping her shades down over her eyes Elizabeth sunk down in her seat settling in for the ride. Jan followed suit letting out a big yawn as she did so. Addison flipped the stereo on singing off key at the top of her lungs to some current bubble gum pop song. Jenny, well the poor thing still hadn't quite settled her nerves from a few minutes ago and was mildly in danger of hyperventilating. Elizabeth wondered if it was too late to catch a ride with the guys.