A Modern Day Sense and Sensibility: An Adaptation of Jane Austen's Classic (31 page)

“Me, too,” Ellie agreed.

In many ways, Brandon had been an integral part of Marianne’s recovery, providing her with what she needed most during her recuperation—devotion, support, the presence of loved her ones—and now, tender and consistent care. While Ellie hadn’t yet been given an opportunity to thank Brandon for everything he’d done and was still doing, she wasn’t worried about him going anywhere any time soon.

By the time their plane landed, it was nearly nine in the evening, and Brandon, always putting the patient’s best interest first, wanted to get Marianne home as soon as possible. They had no sooner stepped inside the familiar apartment before Brandon insisted the welcoming party be postponed till morning so that Marianne could rest. Despite knowing it would separate him from Marianne for the remainder of the evening, it was more important to Brandon that the fragile patient get a good night’s sleep.

Brandon was back early the next morning to check on Marianne, and thus began the daily receiving of him at the apartment. Brandon could always be seen at her side. Whether it was spoiling Marianne with this or that, reading to her, or even prompting her to paint once again, his attachment warmed Diane’s heart as she watched on with pleasure. As days stretched into weeks, it brought Diane joy to see Marianne’s heart softening toward Brandon’s kind and gentle manner. She knew that if Marianne ever allowed herself to love again, her daughter would be a very happy and cherished wife.

Margaret was overjoyed by the return of her older sisters and had zillions of things stored up to tell them—like how she’d placed first in the spelling bee and that Mr. Middleton had gotten a new hair cut. Meanwhile, Diane was anxious to show them some of the improvements she’d made to the apartment during their absence.

For starters, Diane surprised them by retrieving all of their old Christmas decorations from storage, and with Margaret’s help, the two had displayed them sprucely throughout the apartment. Everyone felt the festive atmosphere aided Marianne’s continued recovery, for how could one not cheer up when recalling all the wonderful memories which accompanied the majestic holiday of Christmas? It brought to mind delicious hot chocolate, sleigh rides around their old neighborhood, caroling as a family, and their dad reading to them around the fireplace . . . things they would forever cherish.

Then, using some of the earnings from her florist job, Diane purchased new furnishings for the family room along with decorative pictures to hang on their once barren walls—both of which definitely made the apartment feel more like home.

While Diane and Margaret worked to reacquaint Marianne with their new life at home, Ellie dealt with the bittersweet aspect of letting go. In the safe harbor of familiar
surroundings, Ellie cherished her quiet walks in the bright, crisp outdoors as she stitched back together the pieces of her broken heart. Although she ached to confide in someone, Ellie didn’t know how to express her feelings and thus kept them to herself. Every day was a burden trying to disguise her sorrow from the rest of the family. Saving her tears for the secrecy of barren trees and vacant park benches, Ellie would have torn up pictures of Edward if she’d had any. At times, she would find herself sitting on her bed, fingering the handkerchief Edward gave her. She couldn’t decide whether it would be best to mail it back to him or simply destroy it—yet the very thought was unfathomable. This article was her very last link to Edward, and she would forever treasure it.

Despite Ellie’s best efforts, her family was not blind to her depression. They could hardly escape noticing Ellie’s withdrawn behavior, how frequently she preferred to be alone, and how she tried to keep busy all the time—even offering to work extra hours at the hotel. Although they wanted so badly to comfort her, they understood Ellie’s desire to grieve apart.

Diane’s heart was especially full with Ellie’s pain. She wished as a mother there was something more she could do. But what? Contact Edward and call him on the carpet? What good would that do? No, Diane would just have to help ease Ellie’s agony for the time-being with a silent prayer, and then when the right moment arose, encourage her to move on and be open to seeing someone new. She realized, however, with Ellie’s loyal heart, that transition might be a lengthy one. Ellie, while quiet and more reflective than her younger daughters, had just as much heart as Marianne or more. When Ellie loved, she loved deeply and wholly. Her sentiments would not merely dissipate overnight.

As such, Diane invested her energy in trying to distract Ellie while continuing to aid in Marianne’s full recovery. To spark this, she initiated Friday night movie tradition, but wisely shied away from romantic films. Instructing her daughters to take turns in selecting a comedy (which could
include a trilogy or series), they would gather together every Friday night in the family room, cuddle up in blankets, and munch on popcorn. It gave each of them something to look forward to. Brandon, of course, joined faithfully in this new tradition.

One particular Monday evening, Marianne suggested they start watching the first season of
I Love Lucy
the next movie night. Everyone loved the idea, and Diane procured a copy of it from their local library. That Friday night, they gathered together and laughed their way through several episodes while watching Lucy’s hilarious antics. It was then that Brandon took a chance and asked Marianne if he could sit next to her on the couch. She said yes, and although Margaret wedged herself in between them, the stomachs of the two turned somersaults throughout the entire evening.

As the ending credits began to play, Diane made a suggestion. “I’ve been thinking that since we don’t have any plans for tomorrow night, what if we watch a few more episodes and extend our movie night to Saturday just this once?” Everyone voiced their hearty approval except Brandon, leading Diane to think it was because she hadn’t personally invited him. “Brandon,” she began, “you’ll be able to join us, won’t you?”

“As much as I’d love to, I can’t,” Brandon answered to the Dashwoods’ surprise. Marianne, most of all, displayed her concern, and for this Brandon had to hide his delight. “I have to go out of town on business for a few days,” he explained.

“You’re going out of town?” Marianne asked with genuine disappointment. Brandon nodded. “We’ll just have to wait and watch it when you get back then,” she delcared. Marianne’s decision was immediately backed by all, and Brandon liked knowing he was important to the family—but most of all to Marianne.

As it was getting late, Brandon said his goodbyes and Marianne offered to escort him to his car. It only took Diane seconds to reach the window after they stepped outside,
eager to see the two alone together. Although Ellie’s intent was to pull her mother away and give them some privacy, her interest was inevitably piqued when she saw the two talking in front of his car.

“I never did tell you what Brandon revealed on the plane flight to Denver, did I?” Diane asked Ellie without averting her eyes from the scene playing outside before them.

Ellie shook her head. What could Brandon have told her mother that she hadn’t already seen reflected in his eyes whenever Marianne was near?

Diane turned to elaborate. “He opened up his whole heart to me, Ellie. Brandon loves her . . . he loves our Marianne—” Overjoyed, Diane wrapped her arms around the blanketed Ellie as they continued to watch the pair. “Ever since the first moment Brandon saw Marianne, he’s been bewitched,” Diane finished, sighing at the romance of it all.

Ellie glanced up wistfully at her mother and Diane snuggled against her. Was there really such a thing as love at first sight? Ellie had to admit she was skeptical. She couldn’t imagine falling in love without really knowing someone. It seemed only possible in the movies, not real life, right?

It was time for Ellie to keep her promise. Having observed Marianne the past couple of months, Ellie knew her sister was ready to hear of Willoughby’s confession. All she had to do now was wait for the right opportunity. It finally arrived when they were both outside raking the leaves which had accumulated over the winter months.

As the leaf pile grew in height, Ellie got the sudden urge to toss a handful of foliage at Marianne. Marianne shrieked with laughter, yet resisted the pull to fight back. Oddly enough, Marianne’s reaction only encouraged Ellie to try again. Throwing some leaves at her sister once more, this time she hit Marianne square in the back of the head. Marianne gasped and turned to look at Ellie wide-eyed before finally throwing down her rake and reciprocating—initiating an epic leaf war.

Peals of laughter prompted Mrs. Jennings to peer out her window, and she chuckled at witnessing the happy scene. She called Mr. Middleton to her side, and the two of them shared a giggle.

“I’m so glad to see the girls being themselves again,” she mused. Mr. Middleton nodded agreeably before returning to his desk.

After twenty minutes of running around like children, Ellie and Marianne, now completely covered in nature, collapsed onto the undone leaf pile. Feeling both warm and
chilly at the same time, the sisters silently reflected for a few moments before Marianne broke the stillness with a poem.

Time to move on
Leaving you in the past
Where you belong

We’ve both changed
I’m not who I used to be
I’m beyond thinking of you
As a need

If this is true then
Why does thinking of you
With someone else
Send me through the roof?

It’s like a part of you
Will forever be with me
Complicating my life
Not setting me free

But one day
Someone will take your empty place
Hold my heart
Like it’s a fragile vase

Then I’ll forget about you
I’ll be so in love
This time, he’ll really
Have been sent from above

Ellie, at first speechless, was touched by her sister’s words. She knew Marianne was into poetry, but didn’t recognize the poem as any she’d ever heard before. “Who wrote that?” she asked softly, glancing over at her sister.

Marianne looked as if she would cry. “I did,” she whispered.

Ellie turned to Marianne and gently took her hand. Taking a deep breath, she looked into her sister’s eyes, “Marianne, I need to tell you something. . .” Marianne gazed back questioningly, and Ellie continued, “. . .and it has to do with Jim.”

Marianne nodded, turning to gaze again into the sky as a tear rolled down her cheek. She was ready to listen. And then Ellie did it. She told Marianne everything. She told of how Willoughby still loved her, how he’d regret his decisions for the rest of his life, and lastly, about how sorry he was for everything. Marianne only listened. It was when the sisters were walking back silently to their front step that she suddenly stopped and turned to Ellie. While waiting for her sister to speak, Ellie observed the glistening tears on Marianne’s soft cheeks and how her eyes glowed with gratitude for the disclosure—both of which prompted her to ask one more question.

“Marianne. . .” Ellie hesitated, “Marianne, would you have wanted to stay with Jim, knowing of his deception and that he’d impregnated another woman? I mean, could you have dealt with his past and the child inevitably being a part of your future?”

Marianne thought for a long moment before answering, “I know it’s possible for a man to change, but . . . I don’t—I don’t think things could ever have been the same between us.” Marianne wiped a tear from her cheek and hugged Ellie for what seemed like an eternity before finally pulling away. “Thank you, Ellie,” she began carefully, as if selecting each word, “What you’ve told me today has given me closure, and the satisfaction of knowing I will always be loved by Jim and remembered as that beautiful young woman from his imagination,” she stopped, wiping another tear from her cheek. “Maybe it was a blessing our break-up happened when it did? If we’d married, reality would have settled in, and—Ellie,
sometimes I wonder if Jim could have been content being poor and in love. Would you tell—” Marianne paused, her voice cracking with emotion, “Would you tell Mom what you’ve told me?”

Ellie nodded. Marianne smiled through her tears before squeezing her sister’s hand and dashing inside to the haven of their room.