The apple...

As they continued to eat and chat, Jenny couldn't help but feel piercing eyes on her every so often. There was no question in Jenny's mind as to who the eyes belonged to, but this evening was supposed to be about Elizabeth and Nick and she for one didn't plan on ruining it by changing the focus to her and the bride to be's mother. So she pretended that it was nothing and treated her mother like air and her whispers as nothing more than the sound of the wind. She would deal with the matter another day, if it was even something worth dealing with.

The person who was looking at Jenny was of course Elizabeth's mother. It seemed that she did not know how to cut her losses as she continued to shoot daggers in Jenny's direction. When she thought Jenny wasn't looking she mumbled words like "Count yourself lucky that Jason came to your aid. He is much too good for you." And talking about Jenny to what could only be herself like Jenny wasn't even there. "Who knows how she got the position of Jason's fiance, but she most certainly doesn't deserve it. She does not know how to fill the role she has been given. Behaving like she is back at that hick town where she came from. What they see in her is a mystery to me. How could Susan and Stephen ever think that 'that' is better than my darling daughter."

Though Elizabeth's mother was happy with Nick as a son in law, she was a sore loser and couldn't handle the fact that they had 'lost' a guy like Jason to a girl like Jenny. Not knowing or realizing how much Jenny had done for Elizabeth and how much she meant to her. It was this thinking, this upbringing that had messed Elizabeth up at the beginning. Feeling like she deserved to be with Jason and that no one else was good enough for him but her. Even when deep down she knew he didn't look at her in that way. This showed that the apple didn't fall far from the tree. In fact it was poisoned by it. Luckily she had cut herself off before she was ruined for good and had a good person by her side who was allowing her true self to come through, a kinder self.

When the dinner was finished and the dance floor was reopened, the girls didn't start dancing right away as Julia wanted to go to the ladies room first. When she said that Sophia and Jenny noticed that they too needed to visit the 'powder room' and joined her. When they entered the bathroom, Julia asked, "What did you do to upset Elizabeth's mother so much. She has been glaring at you from the moment we sat down. Not to mention that whole altercation between you guys over the appetizers." Jenny shrugged her shoulders. "Who knows. I have only seen her a few times in passing. This is the first time I have actually talked to her mother. If you can count me apologizing for something so insignificant as 'talking'. But for now I don't want to ruin the fun by paying her behavior any mind. After the party I will figure out if I want to address the issue or ignore it all together. Unless you girls know what it's about?"

Suddenly the bathroom door reopened and Elizabeth stepped inside. "They might not know, but I think I do." Elizabeth grabbed Jenny's hands and said, "I'm so sorry for what happened over dinner Jen. I am so embarrassed that she did that. I hope you are not upset with me or too angry with my mother. It seems that even during my engagement party with another person, she can still get herself worked up over Jason." She said as she clearly felt a bit embarrassed by her mother's actions. Jenny shook her head with a smile and squeezed the hand that was holding hers as she said "It's alright. I don't really mind. At least not for now, but I am curious as to what has made her so upset with me. It couldn't have been just a few appetizers."

"No it isn't. Just like me, in what now seems a previous life, she too was convinced that I would be the future Mrs. Westwood. From the moment I was accepted into the same school as Jason, she has pushed me to do whatever I can to get a connection with him. Once I did, she kept telling met that whatever and whoever came between now and the point that me being his fiance was a reality, was nothing more than a distraction or a hurdle that I needed to overcome. That that something, that someone would leave sooner or later. When it became clear that you would not be leaving and I was moving on, she saw those dreams crumble and had to find a way to accept the new reality. Apparently her way of doing that was blaming you. Just like someone you know and now dearly love had done." She said as she gave Jenny a wink. Then Elizabeth sighed deeply, "She cannot even let my engagement go by peacefully" "Well hopefully she will let it go by the time we meet again or at the very least your wedding. Before we get an objection by your own mother. Unless you plan on skipping that line all together." Jenny said with a chuckle. With that all four girls started laughing. Having cleared the air somewhat, they all went out to go back to the dance floor and enjoy the remainder of the party!