In the meantime, she could keep trying. She wasAgnes' daughter after all, which meant a stubbornness and resolvelike no other. While she would try not to cut her nose off to spiteher face, as her mother often did, she could hang tough, at leastfor a while longer. She would give her children a home with twoloving parents for as long as she could. She would make sure herchildren felt loved and that they belonged. They would grow upknowing that she believed in them, and that they could believe inthemselves. She didn't think the household was unpleasant for thekids to live in currently. She hoped she would be able to keep itthat way.
She sent Isabella a quick text, and herneighbor's daughter responded almost immediately that she wasavailable and willing to sit for the kids Saturday night. Elizabethwould have to be home by midnight, but she did not think that wouldbe a problem. Five or six hours of socializing would certainly beenough for Elizabeth. Nancy was delighted when Elizabeth texted herthat she would be attending the soiree. Elizabeth even had arelatively new dress that was quite flattering. Things were comingtogether.
When the day of the party arrived, Elizabethwanted to kick herself. She stood, staring at herself in themirror, clad in only her bra and underwear. What was she thinking?There was no way in hell she could walk in there by herself.Everyone who was anyone in town would probably be there. And whowas she to attend? She must have been delusional to think that shecould drive over to Nancy's behemoth house in the most poshneighborhood, park her dilapidated minivan, and waltz in solo. Shewas an idiot for ever even considering doing this.
Sydney ran into the room, disregarding theclosed door. "What are you doing Mommy?"
Elizabeth sighed. "Trying to get ready to goout. Remember I told you that Isabella is babysitting youtonight?"
"Oh yeah. Are we getting pizza?"
"Sure, I'll leave money so Isabella can orderyou one." Elizabeth slid her dress on over her head and smoothed itdown. She turned to face her daughter. "How does thislook?"
Sydney smiled, an angelic combination with herblue eyes and light brown curls. "Fine." She was just like herfather. Unaware of the blow she had dealt her mother, the cherubcontinued, "Where are you going to?"
"A party at Mrs. Beemer's house."
"I'll bet you're the prettiest one there." Andwith that, Syd meandered out of the room, showing just a littlemore attention than her father seemed capable of.
Elizabeth looked in the mirror. The jerseydress was perfect for Elizabeth. The halter neck showed off hernewly tanned arms, recently toned from all the yoga classes. Thewide waistband showed her narrow mid-section. The white diagonalstripes on black were crisp and classic and Elizabeth had felticonic when in the dressing room. But no matter how good she feltin her dress, no matter how good her make-up or hair looked, shedid not have the chutzpah to do this. And Elizabeth knew it. And italmost killed her. No matter how far she'd come, she hadn't comefar enough to do this. She sat down on her bed, and put her head inher hands, her elbows resting on her knees. Peter was right. Whenwould she stop caring, and have the confidence in herself to walkinto a stupid room alone?
The beeping of her phone stopped Elizabeth'sdownward spiral. A text message from Julia, asking if she was goingto Nancy's. This could be Elizabeth's salvation. If she could gowith Julia and her husband, then her problem would be solved.Elizabeth texted her back that she was going solo since Peter wasaway, and did they want to carpool? With a renewed possibility ofhope, Elizabeth blew out her hair, taking care to straighten it soit hung down sleekly on her back. She accessorized with big redbaubles on her thin wrist, and dangling from her ears. She usedprimer, as well as foundation, and her skin looked youthful andfresh. Red patent-leather open-toed wedges completed the outfit, asElizabeth waited anxiously for her phone to beep again. Elizabethbreathed an audible sigh of relief when Julia finally replied thatshe would pick Elizabeth up at seven. The gods seemed to be smilingon Elizabeth. Everything, for once in her life, was falling intoplace.
CHAPTER ELEVEN: June 16,2012
Elizabeth was not prepared for the extravagancethat was the Beemer's. She knew they had money. She never realizedhow much. "Holy crap," she whispered to Julia, as they were beingescorted to the big tents set up in the back yard. There were whitepaper lanterns festooning the tents, and mason jars filled withwhite hydrangeas and the most enormous pale pink roses Elizabethhad ever seen. There was catering staff in white gloves andstarched shirts with black bow ties passing through with trays ofchilled flutes of champagne and hors d'oeuvres.
Julia returned the sentiment, "Holy crap isright. I had no idea."
Julia's husband, Mitch, chimed in. "How couldyou have no idea? He's third generation owner of Super Shop 'nMore. Did you think they lived in a shack?" He laughed and shookhis head, apparently amused at the deer-in-headlights expressionson Julia and Elizabeth's faces.
Elizabeth whispered, afraid someone wouldoverhear her fawning or see her gawking, "This is nicer than mywedding!"
"Tell me about it. Our reception was at theElks club." Julia straightened up and smoothed her skirt, breakingtheir huddled position. "We have to act classy, or they'll realizewe have no business being here."
"Right, right." Elizabeth squared hershoulders. The night air was still hot and humid. Elizabeth openedup her purse and took out a hair clip, and twisted her hair up. Thecascading pile on the top of her head, in addition to her bluntbangs made Elizabeth feel like Audrey Hepburn, á la Breakfast atTiffany's. It made her feel slightly more elegant. After all, Peteralways preferred her hair up to down. She shook her bracelets backdown on her wrist, and smiled as Mitch snagged two glasses ofchampagne off of a passing
