A Modern Day Sense and Sensibility: An Adaptation of Jane Austen's Classic (21 page)

Today, she and Marianne were beginning a journey of their own. It would be the second trip Ellie ever dreaded, the first being their move to Portland. Instead of hopping on a plane to New York where she was sure to endure two-plus weeks of misery, Ellie wished she was jet-setting to England—the one country her father had promised her before the fateful business trip that took his life. Although hesitant about this current venture, Ellie felt obliged to go, viewing herself as Marianne’s protector as her sister doubtless pursued Willoughby. Ellie so badly wanted to forewarn Marianne not to pin all of her romantic hopes on a happy reunion with Willoughby, but she just couldn’t muster the courage. Marianne was ecstatic about the journey—ecstatic to see Willoughby again.

Ellie truly felt that if Willoughby wanted to see Marianne again, he would surely have done so by now. It showed great desperation on Marianne’s part if her sole purpose in going to New York was to search out Willoughby when he clearly didn’t want to be found. But perhaps there was more to his and Marianne’s “break-up” than met the eye—time would surely tell if Marianne got her way and somehow discovered him in a city filled with approximately 8.3 million people.

While Ellie struggled not only with these thoughts but also with her large carry-on as they boarded the plane, Marianne sat contentedly in the airplane window seat, lost in her own world of hopes and dreams. Ellie, as usual, was too sensible to allow Mrs. Jennings to pay the extra luggage fee and had packed her carry-on to the brim. Now, in hindsight, she wished she’d let the elderly woman pay the few extra dollars. She was having a heck of a time stuffing it into the overhead compartment. Looking about the plane, Ellie hoped some tall and strong good Samaritan might notice her distress and be willing to help. But with no such luck, she had to rely on her remaining willpower and ingenuity to shove the suitcase one last time into the crammed compartment. Thankfully, she was at last successful.

Taking a moment to catch her breath, Ellie observed Charlotte in the row behind as the red-head moved to tap her husband on the shoulder and ask him a question. James was not pleased about the interruption, having already closed his eyes and placed headphones to his ears, and thus ignored Charlotte.

Never easily discouraged, Charlotte made a second attempt, this time trying to rouse James by lifting the headphone from the ear closest to her.

Annoyed, James pulled away and looked at Charlotte as if she were crazy. “What is your problem?” he said, rather forcefully.

Mrs. Jennings, noticing Ellie’s surprise at the disturbing exchange, made an effort to lighten the mood. Leaning over
and with a slight chuckle in her voice, she said, “James is in a bad mood this morning.”

“He’s always in a bad mood,” Charlotte returned with a weak smile. James rolled his eyes. “But I don’t mind,” she quickly added, “he’s just the sort of guy to suit me.” Charlotte laid her head upon James’s shoulder, but James only shrugged her off, forcing her to sit up. Although Charlotte attempted to disguise her hurt, everyone shared her disappointment at the contempt James obviously held for his wife.

Fortunately for Charlotte, Lucy returned at that moment, stealing everyone’s attention as she came toward them with her carry-on.

“There you are, dear!” Mrs. Jennings exclaimed, shifting in her seat to get a better view of James’s cousin. Mrs. Jennings had been inquiring into Lucy’s whereabouts for the last ten minutes at least.

“I had to use the restroom,” Lucy explained the long absence before looking at her seating assignment. “Oh, look!” she patted Ellie on the shoulder, “I have the seat next to you!”

Forcing a smile, Ellie grumbled inwardly. Things just couldn’t get any worse, could they?

“Oh, I am so nervous,” Lucy began as the two took their seats, “Just think if Edward is in New York!”

Nope, Ellie was wrong—things could get worse. Edward—Lucy—New York? The realization threw Ellie for a loop. This was going to be a long flight.

Taking multiple taxis, the party navigated through the downtown New York City traffic until arriving at the front steps of the Palmers’ flat. Charlotte and James’s “weekend getaway” was five stories high in a chic, upscale building overlooking Central Park—the location was incredible.

As the party stepped from the vehicles, a uniformed doorman came outside to greet them.

“Welcome back, Mr. Palmer,” he said, taking charge of their luggage. Noticing the extra guests, the doorman buzzed for back-up and three more men in similar uniforms came out to assist him. Once the luggage was on the move and the taxis fare paid, the first doorman led them inside the building to the elevator, taking them to the fifth floor. Announcing that their bags would be delivered shortly, the doorman accepted James’s tip before leaving. James then proceeded to unlock the door and enter the flat, disappearing into his office as the ladies slowly stepped inside the entry.

“Home sweet home!” Charlotte said from behind them. Putting her purse down, she gestured to the plush surroundings. The apartment was decorated with art from various phases, but mostly deco, and was adorned with large wall-length mirrors, making it a picture perfect example of a modern-themed flat. “Would you girls like to see your rooms?” Charlotte’s eager smile offered a foretaste of the sophistication they were about to find.

Ellie’s room was decorated in gold tones, channeling an old English elegance. But best of all, it housed a four poster bed and had a plush window seat—two things Ellie loved most in a bedroom. Marianne’s, on the other hand, was colorful with shades of purple, red and green. Her room encompassed more of a free spirit vibe with its bohemian bed and colorful artwork. Although it suited the Marianne of the past, it didn’t quite seem to match the subdued and quiet Marianne of the present. Nonetheless, both girls were very happy with the rooms the hospitable Charlotte had selected for them.

Later, after some Chinese takeout for dinner, a cozy bed seemed like the most pleasant option for the house guests, tired from the long flight and unpacking. Before heading to her bedroom after brushing her teeth, Ellie decided to check on Marianne. Knocking quietly on her sister’s door, just in case she was already asleep, Ellie waited for a reply.

“Come in,” Marianne answered from within and Ellie opened the door but didn’t step inside.

“I just wanted to say goodnight,” Ellie said, taking in the sight of her sister composing an email on the room’s iMac, not bothering to look up.

“Goodnight,” Marianne finally responded.

Ellie was just about to resign herself to the meaningless goodbye but remembered something she was supposed to impart to her sister. “Oh, I almost forgot,” Ellie began again, “John called, and he and Francil are in New York. Mrs. Jennings is planning a lunch date for all of us to spend some time with them.”

But even this announcement wasn’t able to spur a response from Marianne who simply kept at her task. Shrugging, Ellie closed the door, hoping this present mood of her sister’s wouldn’t be a permanent one. She missed Marianne.

The next few days passed quickly and were filled with sightseeing—the Statue of Liberty, Times Square, a Broadway show—and lots of shopping. Ellie tried to enjoy herself, but apparently the Palmers enjoyed the same society as Edward’s family and she was in constant fear of running into him with Lucy. This kept her continually on guard. That aside, Marianne’s behavior was worrisome. Her earlier enthusiasm about visiting New York City had vanished. She rarely finished a meal and seemed to mope around all day, no matter how much everyone tried to cheer her up. Ellie figured her sister had probably lost ten pounds since the break-up, and the dark circles underneath Marianne’s eyes were becoming more pronounced every day.

Ellie was dreading their planned lunch with John and Francil that coming Saturday, knowing that they would inevitably deem Marianne’s behavior rude, unexplained as it would appear. Afterward, she would be hounded with questions concerning Marianne, none of which she would want to answer. Her only consolation was that the sooner they got it over with, the sooner she could move on.

But now, as Ellie listened to Francil’s one-sided conversation (with the occasional interjection by Mrs. Jennings), she kept an eye on the clock, no longer sure that “getting it over with” was truly the best option.

“I’m so excited!” Francil continued in her uppity tone as the party lunched at an upscale delicatessen. “My brother will be joining us the evening of the Dashwood International Charity Ball!”

At the mention of Francil’s brother, Ellie looked up from her wild salmon and garlic artichoke pasta with surprise. Edward—at the charity ball? She didn’t have to look at Lucy to know her rival shared her thoughts.

Marianne, who had previously been picking at her food, not giving a hoot about one word coming from Francil’s mouth, was suddenly responsive. Looking hopefully at Ellie, she was surprised when her sister averted her eyes. Although Ellie wished to convey her agony to Marianne, she was not only bound by a forced promise, but feared that any response would call the attention of Francil, Lucy, and worst of all Mrs. Jennings, who already liked to tease her about this “somebody” she was pining after.

“You have a brother?” Mrs. Jennings inquired with eager interest.

“Yes, two actually,” Francil answered, taking a sip of her caramel latte.

“Two!” Mrs. Jennings exclaimed, “Even better!” Her gaze fell upon Ellie and then on Lucy, already entertaining ideas to marry each of them off to the Ferrars brothers.

“It was Edward who came and stayed with us before Diane and John’s half-sisters moved out,” Francil explained. “Perhaps they mentioned him to you.”

While Mrs. Jennings got the scoop from Francil, Ellie sensed Lucy’s sharp gaze on her and she blushed. It was obvious Mrs. Jennings had connected the dots and suspected that Ellie’s “somebody” was most likely Edward Ferrars.

Even though Ellie was delighted with the prospect of seeing Edward after all this time, she also dreaded the encounter. Mrs. Jennings now had a name for her crush which meant the teasing would only increase, causing Ellie’s interactions with Lucy to become even more uncomfortable. Then, in an
effort to avoid seeing Edward or discuss him with Marianne, she would no doubt alienate her sister even more. On top of it all, Ellie wasn’t even sure how she felt about him anymore in light of his engagement. Even if he had entertained second thoughts about his relationship with Lucy, Edward should have at least ended it before flirting with the idea of a romance with Ellie, right? Or maybe that hadn’t been his intention at all, and Edward’s friendship was never meant to be anything more than just that, friendship. Could both she and her family have misread his interest in her? Perhaps his seeming affection and preference only stemmed from seeing her as a sister. This final thought was even more depressing than the rest!

The Dashwood International Charity Ball was to be held the following Thursday evening, just four days away—and to Charlotte’s alarm, none of the women, including her mother, had packed any formal attire. Dedicating an entire day to shopping, Charlotte therefore took it upon herself to clothe them at her expense.