Prologue, Chapter 2

Too Much Going On

"What?" Becky asked, stunned. Her face looked like she had just been slapped very hard.

"I said Aaron Phillips and Miss Rowena Parker are getting married! Very soon, in fact!" Phineas said again.

"But—but…" Becky stuttered.

"But what, my dear?" Phineas asked, not understanding why this came as such a surprise. "Mr. Phillips's had his heart on marrying Ms. Parker for years! I thought I told you before."

"I—I don't recall," Becky said, suddenly looking very cool and calm.

"Well, I've told you now," Phineas raised an eyebrow. He walked back into his office, leaving Becky, Aaron and Ezra alone.

"But you can't marry Rowena!" Becky pleaded, grabbing Aaron's arm. "I thought you loved—"

"Oh, Becky," Aaron sighed, "I've loved her since we were young; I just didn't know it yet. Besides, you'll be marrying Mr. Walker, a very fine suitor. I've known him for years and he's always complimented your exquisite features."

Becky blushed. "But…I…"

"It isn't polite for a lady to stutter," Aaron said, making his way to the front door. "Is there something wrong, dear?"

"N-No, nothing's wrong," Becky put on a false smile. "In fact, I'm very happy for you and Rowena."

"Thank you, my dear," Aaron smiled. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I wish to call on Rowena. Good day, Miss Rebecca." The door closed. Becky growled in her throat and scowled.

She sighed. "Why is it always Rowena?" she rhetorically asked the air.

"I could answer that one for you," Ezra turned around, leaning on the ladder. "Because Aaron already explained it to you. You just weren't listening."

"I was listening!" Becky yelled. "I – I just can't believe what I've heard."

"Yes, you can; you just don't want to accept the truth out of them," Ezra protested, still looking down on her.

Becky sighed. "Of course, because it isn't the truth and wasn't ever the truth."

"Becky, Becky, Becky!" Ezra shook his head. "He doesn't love you and has never loved you! You're chasing after something you can't catch!"

"You don't understand! I've always loved him!" Becky cried out.

"For how long? Ever since his family first came back a few years ago?" Ezra yelled. "That's not called love, Becky. You're just being flighty. Besides…I've always, well…" he made his way down the ladder. "I've always, uh…admired you, and I, well…" Ezra was blushing severely as he quickly tried to catch Becky's glance. He was shuffling from one foot to the other, his hands fumbling behind his back. Ezra had wanted to tell Becky this for years now. "Well, Becky, the thing is…"

"Don't worry, Ezra," Becky laughed lightly. "I know what you're trying to say."

"You—you do?" Ezra looked stunned, his throat dry and his eyes wide.

"Yes; of course," Becky had calmed down. "You and I just need separation for now. But don't worry. We can still be acquaintances."

Acquaintances! Why, you little – Ezra thought, grinding his teeth and glaring. "No, Becky! That's not it! What I'm trying to say is – "

"Good afternoon, everyone," said a calm, oily voice as a tall figure walked into the shop. Becky got a chill in her spine. She knew who that was.

"Good afternoon, Mr. Walker," Becky said, turning around and seeing Lucius Walker striding in.

"Please, my dear…" Lucius bent over, taking Becky's hand and kissing it, "Call me Lucius. You will soon enough."

"Of course." Becky was trembling inside. Lucius scared her to death. He, with his black velvet coat and stylish top hat sitting on a head of brown and silver hair tied back by a black ribbon, was just not Becky's type. But if it would make her parents happy, she knew she had to go through with marrying him. "If I may enquire, Mr. – " Lucius gave Becky a stern, snobby look, " – Lucius, I mean, what is the occasion of your arrival in my father's store?"

"Why, to call on you, my dear," Lucius looked down on her. She looked quite short in comparison. "I almost half-expected you to know that."

"Yes; of course!" Becky said awkwardly, trying to lighten the mood.

"Now, if you shall excuse us," Lucius glanced at Ezra, "Miss Rebecca and I shall take a ride in my carriage through the village and into Ravenscroft Park. Good day, Mister…? Oh, never mind. Your name holds no importance to me, anyway." He escorted Becky out the door and down the steps, helping her into his midnight-black carriage with silver-white upholstery. The apprentice had just been kneeling on his elbows at the counter the entire conversation, not really paying attention.

"…What I'm trying to say is, 'Becky…I love you!'" Ezra sighed.

00000

"How was the carriage ride, dear?" Mildred called from the kitchen when she heard the door open and close.

"It was fine, Mother!" Becky called, which was, of course, a total lie. She was leaning against the door, having finally made it back from the afternoon of misery she had just spent with Lucius. She didn't so much as want to look at him again. He was as stuck up as they came around here. Unfortunately, Becky thought about how she would have to marry him one of these days, and her heart nearly broke. And how could she forget about Aaron and Rowena? What did that silly little girl have that Becky didn't?

"I'll just be in my room until supper, Mother!" Becky called as she walked towards her door.

"That's fine!" Mildred called, not having even a clue as to how the afternoon had actually been for her daughter.

"I hate that Rowena!" Becky said bitterly to herself. Rowena wasn't so great. After all, she…she'd…well, there was that one time that she'd – no, that had been Georgia Rowe's fault that the man's hair caught on fire. Becky sighed. Maybe Rowena was the better person for Aaron. She had helped Mildred after an accident she'd had; she'd given Becky the nicest possible criticism on a few of her sewing projects; she'd helped Phineas and Ezra organize the store now and again.

"If Aaron really loves her – truly," Becky thought, "I should be happy for them. I mean, now that I think about it, I haven't really loved Aaron for very long, and he's loved her for such a long time. But none of that really seems to matter now."

Becky just seemed to drift through supper and the evening in an odd and contemplative state that had her parents worried. By the end of the evening, she'd made up her mind that she didn't really love Aaron at all; she'd been flighty and foolish for two years. Well, that wouldn't happen again, she promised herself.

She was still thinking about it that night when she crawled into bed; still reflecting.

She sat straight up after several minutes. "But – Ezra's been so nice and kind to me all this time, putting up with me, and – oh, no! I've made a terrible mistake!"

00000

"Ezra!" Becky cried, running up the street. He just had to be at the store. He just had to be! "Ezra!"

The next morning, she'd begun the long run to the store, dressing quickly in a fading sky-blue dress with cream fringe and a snood to hold her hair in place. She hadn't thought to put on a petticoat, so she had to carry the wide skirts. "Ezra!" she called again. Most people just turned around and stared at her. Occasionally, she'd have to veer to the side of the street to avoid getting run over by a carriage of some kind.

"Ezra!" Becky called again when she ran into the shop. "I'm sorry!"

Ezra was standing up on the ladder, again, putting items away. "Well, if it isn't my favorite little acquaintance. How may I be of service today?" he climbed down the ladder and bowed in a sarcastic manner.

"Oh, don't act like that!" Becky exclaimed; then calmed herself. "I came to tell you that – that I'm sorry. I've been acting stupid for two years and I can't believe I didn't realize how important you are and have been to me."

Ezra just stood there, looking slightly unbelieving.

Becky sighed. "Please don't stand there silently. It makes me feel too awkward."

"All right. I'll tell you what I've been meaning to tell you for a long time, then," Ezra came around the counter and faced her directly, but walked away, taking some supplies and distracting himself with them, restocking a far wall.

"Fine; I'll tell you what else I came to say," Becky folded her arms. "I…I…" she struggled for the right words.

Ezra looked hopefully over his shoulder. "Yes? What is it?"

"I-I'm fond of you, as well, and…" she mumbled a little bit, looking down at her wringing hands. "…And I guess I'm a little bit in love with you."

"Well, this is quite the surprise!" Ezra turned around and walked over to her. "I don't quite know what to say." He was silent for a minute, staring blankly into space. "Wait; yes, I do!" he walked over to her, taking her hands.

"Becky, I've loved you for as long as I can possibly remember. And I just can't bear to see anyone else come into your life and take you away from me!" he said, very timidly, looking her with an almost-sad look in his eye, trying to smile.

"Don't worry," Becky humored him. "I wouldn't marry that pompous man for all the money in the –"

Just at that moment, Lucius walked in. How inopportune this was! thought Becky.

"My dear, what on earth do you think you're doing, hanging around with common folk like him?" he shot a glare at Ezra.

"Excuse me, but Becky and I were just having a little talk!" Ezra exclaimed. "She wasn't trying to offend you!"

"I think I know what I see, boy," Lucius just said coolly, but with bitter hatred. "Come along, my dear. We must get you ready for your wedding."

"What!" Becky shrieked, jumping a little at feeling his cold hand wrap around her waist.

"I told you yesterday on our carriage ride," he scowled a little down at her. "We are to be married in two days' time."

"But – but don't you think that's a little sudden?" Becky exclaimed.

"Nonsense," Lucius waved it away. "Your dress has already arrived from Paris and your bouquet has been specially arranged. Now, come. We must rehearse for the ceremony." He began walking to the door.

Becky looked into Ezra's eyes pleadingly; a look that anyone could tell read, "Help me!"

"Don't worry; I'll try to think of something," Ezra tried smiling, but she looked so sad, that he stopped instantly.

"Thank you," Becky smiled, reaching up and kissing him delicately on his cheek. Ezra touched it as he watched her slowly walk out of the store, turning to face him every few moments.

00000

"Becky!" Ezra whispered loudly a second time.

"I'm up; I'm up! What is it?" Becky whispered back, sitting in bed. She walked over to her window and opened it, even though it was quite chilly outside. Ezra was standing at the top of a ladder leaned against her window. She knelt down.

"What are you doing here? What if my parents catch you? My father could fire you!" Becky whispered.

"It's worth it to be able to see you," Ezra smiled a boyish smile up at her.

"But why are you here? If you don't mind me asking, that is. Don't you remember? I'm getting married tomorrow!" Becky looked at him sadly.

"I know; that's what I came to talk to you about!" he whispered. "Becky, I…I can't just stand on the sidelines and watch you go off and marry a man you don't love!"

"Well, what can I do? I don't want to disappoint my parents," Becky sighed.

"I know, but maybe you could explain to them that you don't love him." Ezra coaxed.

"But the next chance I would have of telling them is tomorrow," Becky looked skeptical.

"You're right; bad idea," Ezra thought for a minute. Then, he decided it was now or never. "Becky, there's something else I really want to tell you before tomorrow."

"Yes? What is it?" she asked, looking like an angel with her flowing curly hair and white nightdress.

"Becky, I – I love you." Ezra took her gently by the shoulders and brought her closer to him, resulting in the first kiss of either young person's life. When he let off, Becky sighed, smiling gently.

"I—I love you, too," she almost giggled aloud then realized where she was and what she was doing. "Oh; please leave! I don't want you getting in any kind of trouble if my parents catch you!"

"All right," Ezra looked crestfallen, but leaned up and kissed her again, just for the heck of it. "I'll really miss you when you're Mrs. Walker." He said when he finally let go.

A tear suddenly fell down Becky's cheek when she realized what was happening. He wiped it away and touched her hair.

"Good-bye," Ezra whispered, beginning to climb back down the ladder. Becky just watched him, sobbing.

"Good-bye!" She waved, watching him go up the dirt road with the ladder. He turned around and gazed at her for what seemed like an eternity, but finally turned around and kept walking.

Still sobbing, Becky climbed back into bed, crying herself to sleep.

A/N: Gone with the Wind fans can start their bashing for this chapter now.

Don't worry, NMBC readers. It will all pick up in the next chapter. ;)

Disclaimer: See first chapter.