Chapter One, Episode 106 - Places to Go - Situationally Theirs

Review, Revision, Edit and Update

Revision - or should it be remodeling - I've increased the wording in most paragraphs. Some of it was in support of dialogue. Others it was to more clearly set the scene.

Written the day before my big move from B.C. to Saskatchewan, I am pleased with the first draft and surprised that there were no typo's.

Places to Go

They all had places to go. At the kitchen table one evening and after the regular staff meeting, they were all having a ‘family’ meal. Dez and Emmie, Digby, Martha, Brigitte and even Giles were helping themselves from dishes with warm potato salad, thick slices of roast beef, Yorkshire pudding and gravy with fresh green beans. Samuel had brought the beans and potatoes in from the garden well before supper. Never comfortable around more than two or three, he seldom came to any of staff meetings. It wasn’t unusual for him to be missing from this meal, despite the comfortable atmosphere. Cook would be saving him, not only roast beef for his sandwich, but a generous slice of apple pie. In fact, dessert was a delicious warm apple pie, served with sharp cheddar cheese, always the star of these dinners.

Anyone walking into the kitchen would wonder why such a big meal in the middle of the week. But this meal was part of a newly established Estate tradition, an accidental happening because of Cook's normal food preparation routine. One evening, after Digby’s monthly staff meeting, they were ready to adjourn and go home,   Cook had a surprise for them all. She always attended the meetings, but often was getting food ready for the next day. 

She could always count on at least one person to hover around her like a pesky fly. Usually it was Giles Thornton, the Estate chauffeur. He always commented on how hungry he'd become followed by a hopeful comment. “Cook - have you made us supper? I don’t have to be home tonight for supper, and I’d sure like a sample whatever it is you’re making.” He often hovered around the cooking area, ‘sampling’ whatever Cook was making. A good natured quarrel would soon occur. “You get yourself away from here, Giles Thornton. You’ll not get another crumb from me.” Giles would always pretend to look offended, wipe his fingers on the edge of Cook’s apron string and step away from the Cook’s wooden spoon. Cook thought about what Giles had said. She didn't see any reason not to just serve supper for anyone that wanted to stay. So, one month, Cook just set up a buffet a few minutes before adjournment. During the many days of pandemic restrictions and isolation, there were no Staff Meeting Suppers, leaving only silence, instead of the laughter and camaraderie that the old house had warmed to. As restrictions were eased, and staff meetings restarted, everyone was ready for the Staff Meeting Suppers to begin again. 

This particular ‘staff meeting’ had only two topics to discuss. The wedding, and what everyone else was going to do while the Butler and the Housekeeper were on their honeymoon. Martha and Digby were going to one of the Gulf Islands. Of course, they kept their actual destination private. Dez was going to a week-long workshop on The Care and Management of Fruit Trees. Brigitte had a four day orientation to the lengthy Lady’s Maid course she had signed up for earlier in the year. Afterwards, she would be spending a few more days at her parents cottage at the lake. Giles was taking his wife Melanie on a very belated honeymoon. Their children would be staying with grandparents for the five days the couple were away. No particular destination, they would start by just driving up island until they decided to stop. And Emmie?

Digby had kept quiet while everyone else was talking excitedly about their plans. He broke his silence with the question that was on everyone's mind. “So are you going to tell us what you have planned, Miss Emmie?” Hesitant to answer, Emmie sat back, calmly listening to the casual banter and jibes. She was so pleased, thinking back to the fragmented and lonely days she had spent before the pandemic. Granted this Covid19 virus had only given tragedy to too many people. For Emmie, it had brought her renewed life and Jeremy. “Well, Dr. Crawford and I have plans. That’s all I can tell you right now. He is still trying to get some time off from the hospital and won’t know for a few more days. You’ll find out, just not today. Cook, can I have another piece of that apple pie - with ice cream?”

Cook recognized a distraction when she heard one and, to help her employer out, she immediately cut a smaller slice of her rapidly disappearing pie. Serving it to Miss Emelina, with ice cream on top, Cook gave up her own plans “Well, I’m not going anywhere. I’ll probably just stay home. There won’t be you hungry folks to cook for so I’ll just be at home with my feet up for a few days.”

In unison, all of them at the table looked at Cook and said “And Samuel? Is he going away?” Cook started picking up the empty serving dishes. “Have no idea what Samuel will be doing. That’s his business.” Cook averted her eyes when she spoke of Samuel. Quite abruptly she said “Is this meeting over yet? I need to put away the leftovers. The lot of you take your plates to the sink, rinse them off and put them in the dishwasher.”

“Meeting adjourned.” All Digby needed was a gavel. 

“Planning is bringing the future into the present 

so that you can do something about it now.”

~ Alan Lakein, author

**Authors note: beginning Friday, July 10, 2020 and for the next several days, my blog posts will be quite short and/or sporadic. I am making an exciting life change that requires my close attention and energy. My ability to write and post my blog will be temporarily impacted. Please bear with me.