Weeping Willows

Chapter 18

Lazy Days

                Sunday morning Elizabeth woke to a dreary day.  No clear skies today apparently.  The storm from the night before was not going to be moving out as quickly as the last one.  Stretching she groaned not even having the motivation to leave the warmth of her bed.  In fact, if nature hadn’t left her in fear of turning her bed into a waterbed she would have just rolled over and ignored it.  Groaning she hoisted herself up pushing the covers aside.  The minute the cool air slammed into her warm flesh her bladder decided to seize.  Stumbling in haste to the toilet she didn’t even close the door on the way.  Sitting there shivering with her night shorts hooked around her knees Elizabeth tried to stretch the fabric of the legs down to cover her calves.  Draping her torso over her thighs she rubbed her arms for heat, she made a mental note to call a repair man tomorrow to fix the A.C.  Sighing as her abs deflated with relief, she dropped her head trying to drape her hair like a blanket around her.  Thinking over the day before a sense of dread settled in enforcing her need to just curl back under her covers.

                By the time she was done and back in her room Elizabeth grumbled in annoyance as the now cool sheets draped around her chilled body.  Determined to catch at least another hour or two she slammed her lids shut willing sleep to claim her.  As she lay there slowly warming back up unwanted thoughts kept flitting through her mind.  She tried to clear her head but no matter what, her brain just wouldn’t shut back down.  Thoroughly irritated now she growled into the silence and stared at the ceiling in anger.  She was fully awake for the day and it was all her bladder’s fault to begin with.  Giving up any idea of going back to sleep but refusing to get up she decided to sketch instead.  Fluffing her pillow and propping herself up she reached for her sketchbook and pencil off the nightstand beside her.  She flipped to a clean page and began to aimlessly work the pencil to the paper losing herself in the familiar rhythm.

                Some time later her stomach growled in demand bringing her consciousness back to the moment.  Laying the book onto her legs she rubbed at her aching hand.  Twisting and turning she popped her stiff joints limbering her body back up.  She must have been sitting there working for too long and hadn’t even realized it.  Glancing at the bedside clock she was shocked to see it was almost one in the afternoon.  Elizabeth had been so transfixed with her task that she had skipped both breakfast and lunch all together.  Placing her pad off to the side she slid out finding the room at a more reasonable temperature.  Tossing on her old fluffy robe she left the bedroom to forage for food finding leftover pizza tucked away in her fridge.  Carrying her cold meal back to her room she snuggled down to eat it.  She let out a delighted moan at the first bite and glanced over at her sketch book.

                Elizabeth almost choked as she swallowed staring at her drawing with wide eyes.  She didn’t remember thinking about what she had seen in the water but clearly it had been on her mind.  She mindlessly consumed the pizza as she stared at the intense stranger on the page.  She wondered how he had not only entered the water but also left it without her or Ryan noticing.  Something just didn’t quite feel right about the whole thing as her whole body shook and shivered.  Closing the offending book, she finished eating and decided to find something else to do.  She got up taking the now empty box with her and exited the room determined to forget all about it.

                Around six o’clock that evening Elizabeth stretched out her back feeling accomplished.  The sleeves of her robe were rolled up to her elbows and her mop of red hair was haphazardly thrown on top of her head.  She smiled down at the box on her kitchen table looking at each piece she had baked.  She had been putting the task off since her class but knew it was something that needed to get done before she faced her seniors again.  She had carefully re-wrapped all the sculptures back up taking care to not break the now fragile things.  She placed on the lid and pushed it to the back of the table where it was least likely to get accidentally bumped into. 

                Taking another container back into her room she ransacked her supplies for the paints that she needed.  Placing each one carefully into place she tossed in some old brushes too.  Gathering it up she made her way back out making sure to glare at her sketch book on the way out.  She felt silly for feeling the need to do it but couldn’t help it either.  She placed the small box with the other one smiling to herself.  She was making a list of what else she would need when a knock at her door interrupted her.  Distracted she walked over and opened the door to see Jenny, Jan, and Addison standing on her porch.  All three women looked Elizabeth over as they entered her home.

                “I must say you should be more careful how you answer the door.  What if it was one of the guys that had been here or worse.”  Elizabeth looked down at her outfit of choice for the day only just realizing she hadn’t gotten dressed.

                “Oh, I don’t know Addison, I don’t think Ryan would have complained much.”  Jan teased her making her blush.  She wished now that she had taken the time earlier to throw on some pants and a bra instead of just wandering around all day in a skimpy camisole and sleep shorts.  Or at the very least that she had tied her robe closed before standing in the doorway displaying her goods.  She really did need to be more cautious before she found herself in a situation that could have been avoided.

                “I’ll keep that in mind.  It would have been completely embarrassing had it been anyone other than you three.”

                “Don’t you own anything sexier than that?  If you’re going to put on a show at least you should make him drool.”

                “Jennifer!”  Addison gasped at her in horror.  Elizabeth would have too if she wasn’t standing there slack jawed in shock.  Jan was laughing hysterically at the look on her face.

                “What? It’s the truth.  How is she supposed to catch a man wearing that?  I’ll admit Ryan can be a little dense, but nothing says take me now then a hot little number.  We’re so going to have to go shopping.”  Elizabeth sputtered trying to form words but unable to grasp the English language.  Jan was doubled over with her face turning beat red by the force of her laughter as Addison turned assessing eyes on Elizabeth’s wardrobe.  This was so not happening right now.

                “Guys I’m not looking for a romantic relationship of any kind right now.  Besides whom says this wouldn’t work.”

                “You look like a haggard housewife who couldn’t be bothered to put in a little effort for her husband.”

                “I hate to say it, but Jenny is right.  I’m married and I don’t think I’ve ever owned anything that hideous before.  I’m not saying you need to seduce anyone at the moment, but a girl should always be prepared.  We are definitely going shopping.”  She turned to Jan who nodded in agreement still laughing too hard to talk.  Elizabeth crossed her arms in annoyance but knew she was going to be drug into it kicking and screaming if need be.  There was no changing Addison’s mind when she looked that determined to do something.  With both her and Jenny against her there was no way she was going to win her way in this one.  She looked to Jan for any last-minute support but found she too was on board with this if for no other reason then the entertainment value the trip would provide.  Growling she gave in.

                “Fine!”  Addison smiled with satisfaction as Jenny did a happy dance with the thought of the future shopping trip.  Jan just shook her head disappointed the fight was over so soon.  Elizabeth glared at them all. 

                “What are you all doing here today?  Did we have plans or something?”

                “We do but it’s a birthday surprise, so you weren’t in the know.”

                “We’re not going out are we?”  Elizabeth groaned not liking the thought of having to leave her house during her self-proclaimed lazy day.

                “Nope it’s a night in and the boys won’t be joining us today either.  We told them it was a girl’s night only, they weren’t invited.”  Jenny stated slashing her hand through the air to show she meant business.  Elizabeth had to giggle at the thought of Jenny laying down the law.  Addison walked over taking Elizabeth’s arm leading her away.

                “My job is to distract you while the other two get all set up.”

                “Okay.”  Elizabeth reluctantly agreed not to sure she wanted to give them carte blanche over her house.  She wasn’t even going to try and argue with Addison when she was on mission.  Glancing behind her at the two plotting women they left in the other room Elizabeth let Addison drag her off.

                About an hour later Jan found them on the second floor where Elizabeth had been showing Addison what she had been doing up there.  The door to the attached second room was wide open.  The room now held rows of folding tables waiting for antiques to be unloaded onto them.  The room across the hall also held tables just not quite as many so there would be somewhere to put the crates to pack the ones Ryan would be hauling out.  Everything was set up and ready to go for when they started to work through all of it.  Addison had offered some advice to make things more efficient for them when the time came.  When Jan found them, they were moving things around getting as ready as possible.

                “We’re all done downstairs now.”

                “Okay let’s go Lizzy.  You’re going to love this.”

                “Do I even get a hint?”

                “We got the idea from the boys.”

                “There’s not stripers down there is there?”

                “Not exactly.”  Were the cryptic words Jan sang out on her way out of the room.

                “Come on Lizzy it won’t be that bad, promise.”  Addison latched onto her arm and pulled her out of the room.  Why did she feel as if she was being led to the gallows?