Chapter 4: Pancakes

 Such a beautiful morning. Ahhhhh. Eliza gazed at her surroundings as she went for her daily jog. These runs helped clear her mind and provided order for her day. Order is important in life. Order will get you far. Eliza could almost hear her father's voice. He was right and she knew it. The moment she deviated from the plan, her father's plan for her, things well...things went south.

 "Hahahahaha!!" Bob laughed heartily at the tv show. He could do that when he was home alone. He loved the freedom that his schedule allowed him when Eliza wasn't around. He could relax in his pjs all day if he wanted, as long as Eliza wasn't in the house. He could loaf around and watch tv all day if he wanted to. What could he say, he was somewhat of a slob. He wasn't in the best shape and he didn't much care about what other people thought about him. That is, except for Eliza. Her opinion mattered...it mattered a lot.
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 I love this house. Eliza stood outside admiring her and Bob's home. It was a gift from her mother really. There was no way that she or Bob could've afforded the mortgage, that's for sure. Bob didn't want to accept it at first, but there was no way that Eliza would lose out on her inheritance AND not accept this place. No way!
Her parents had a different plan for her, well her father did. Her mother didn't much care what Eliza did with her life as long as she married and had a family. She didn't particularly care who Eliza married. Sure she would've been overjoyed if Eliza had stayed and married one of those stuffy, cheating, no good losers from her hometown. They had money and they had looks, but that's about all they had. Eliza thought back to her youth. She had her pick of wealthy young suitors and she tried to go along with Daddy's plan, but those boys weren't for her. They were male whores, sleeping with whomever whenever they wanted. That was no life for Eliza. She saw her mother endure too much pain hearing accusation after accusation from the rumor mill. No, Eliza wanted a different life and Bob gave her that. He actually paid attention to who she was and what she had to say. Sure he didn't come from money, he wasn't the most attractive, he wasn't the fittest, heck he wasn't even the neatest person. What he was was laid back and easygoing; that way Eliza got her way. Bob rolled with the punches and didn't ask too many questions. Eliza liked that, she liked that a lot.

 Eliza sauntered into the house and got a glass of water before waltzing into the living room. "You look great babe."
Eliza gave her husband a knowing smile. "Thank you love. Isn't it time for Anderson?" Without hesitating, Bob turned to CNN.
Eliza smiled and sipped her water.

Despite their blatant differences Bob and Eliza sometimes found common ground. While he was a laid back slob, for lack of a better term, he was a beast in the bedroom. Eliza could be quite a judgmental prude but she more than made up for it under the sheets. When alone, the two of them could rarely contain themselves.

"Woman, you are so sexy." Bob almost growled at his wife.
"Oh Bobby." Eliza winked."
"Get over here and let me make you sweat again."
"Yes please and thank you." Eliza said easing out of her chair and placing her glass on the table. She hated water stains, but she'd take care of it afterward, her man needed her now.
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While Eliza wasn't the friendliest person, she did consider herself a socialite. That is one trait that is ingrained in her from childhood. Like her mother she quite liked being known in the community.
"My goodness Ananya, I haven't seen you eat so much, well since you were pregnant with Billie." Nancy smirked and raised an eyebrow. "Keep it up and you won't be able to fit all of your....lovely outfits." Nancy's sarcasm wasn't lost on Eliza. She couldn't keep herself from chuckling out loud. Poor Ananya, a very smart and rather sophisticated woman, but she had NO fashion sense.
"Why are you laughing Elizabeth? You're eating just as much." Nancy sneered at the woman.

After clearing the dining room and kitchen, Eliza joined her neighbors in the living room.
"There is no shame in my game ladies. Baako and I would loooooove a house full of children."
"You'd first need a house dear." Eliza couldn't understand why Ananya subjected herself and her family to living in such cramped quarters in the city.
"Baako and I have always lived in apartments. And now that we're in the Arts District, the possibilities for my career to take off are endless."
"You can't be serious Ananya. You could be such a good art curator. And you live right next door to the museum. I just don't understand." Nancy shook her head.

"That's not my dream Nancy. I've always been more of a creator. Spending my days in a stuffy office isn't my idea of the perfect job. No. I'm either going to be on stage or be honored at the museum."

"Ladies, ladies, must we talk about such drab subjects?" Eliza preferred the spotlight be on her.

"I just don't see how if you want a larger family you'll fit them in that 2 bedroom apartment."

"There are larger apartments Nancy. When the time comes we'll move. What's the point of having huge living quarters and no one to fill the space with, isn't that right Ellie?"

Both Ananya and Nancy turned their attention to Eliza. Ugh, she dreaded this subject. Everyone always wanted to know when she and Bob were going to have children. Hell she wasn't sure she even wanted kids.

"I'm sure, I have no clue what you mean Annie."

"She's right ya know. You and Bob have been living here for quite some time...just the two of you. There is that beautiful second room that you use for...what is it you use it for?"

"It's Bob's office and a work out space for me."

"To be honest ladies, Bob and I aren't as young as we used to be. We've been talking and we may use this time to start travelling. We love having our freedom, ya know?"
"Oh my Elizabeth, you're not saying what I think you are. You do want to leave a legacy behind don't you?"
"Well, it's something that Bob and I are still deciding."
"Sweetie...." Ananya stood to her feet as well.

"Really, it's not that serious. Besides as you know better than us Nancy, having children can be quite complicated." Eliza was determined to get these busybodies out of her home. She'd had enough of them for the day.
"What are you trying to say Elizabeth?"
"Just, ya know, we have these ideas of who and what children will be but no matter how much we groom them to be mini versions of ourselves, they oft go astray."
"Hmm, I see how that could be a concern for you. I couldn't imagine having a mini-bob-the-slob tearing up my house."
"Alright, Nancy, time for us to go." Ananya said pushing the woman's purse into her hand and guiding her toward the door. "As usual it's been a pleasure Ellie. Thanks for having us."
"Sure." Eliza stood with her arms folded and brow furrowed.
What a Bitch.