Review, Revision , Edit and Update
This episode 'Co-conspirators' did not require any revision. I quite enjoyed writing this piece. Relationship development was the crux of this piece of writing. Jeremy is seldom a real part of the story Situationally Theirs, just because he is a working physician and is seldom around. It would be easy to leave out the importance he has in Emelina's life. It would, however, leave a gap to only mention his name without making visible their relationship.
Co-Conspirators
“My last day off, Em! What would you like to do? Play some Scrabble, wash the windows, or I could chase you around the track?” Jeremy rested, well fed and in a bright red track suit was bouncing from dining room to living room and up and down the hallway past the bedrooms. Emelina, just finishing her breakfast, looked at him and grinned. Grinning wasn’t her style but she couldn’t help it. Her husband was a bit off his rocker. “You’re in trouble now. I would leave you in my dust.” The last bite of toast between her teeth, she picked up her breakfast dishes and put them in dumbwaiter. Everything cleared away, she sent it down to the kitchen after ringing the little bell on the shaft. “Ok, let’s go. You’d better work out some of that energy before you start knocking furniture around.” Jeremy was out the door into the sunshine, already headed for the track. Emelina, in a matching red jogging outfit, laced up her tennis shoes, closed the door behind her and set out at a run. She passed him easily and turned back only to wave at him.
Except for his first day off, they had not watched any TV, checked any emails or had any interest in the internet. They often took most of their meals outside. There had been some rain. On those days, they were confined to the front porch, but otherwise they took their meals out to the garden or into the orchard. Emelina still hadn’t found the right time to ask her husband about any kind of ‘something’ that would honour her staff - especially Martha, Digby and Cook. She had not heard from Brigitte, her personal secretary for almost a month now. Some illness with her parents. Giles was seldom around although he stopped in regularly to make sure the estate vehicles were in good shape. Emelina did drive the CRV occasionally but otherwise they sat still.
~~~~~
When they arrived, panting, back at the porch, she thought it was as good a time as any to see what her husband thought of her plans. “I’m going to get the iced tea Cook sent up. Stay right here, I’ll be right back. I’ve got something I want to run by you.” Jeremy followed her into the house despite her directions. “I need a towel and to change my shirt. I’m drenched - I’ll meet you back on the porch.”
On the porch, iced tea in hand, they settled into comfortable wicker porch chairs. Looking out over the back of the estate, they could see Samuel working at the far end of the garden. He never stopped moving. Jeremy broke their silence. “Now what is it you want to run by me? Hope it’s not serious. This weekend has been so wonderful, Em. I really feel like I’m almost ready to get back to work. But first, what is it?” Over the last two days, he had noticed times when his wife had been very thoughtful and quiet. When he asked about it, her only reply was ‘nothing important’. She’d brighten up and change the subject. Resting her glass of tea on the arm of her chair, she said “Well, it’s serious but it’s not heartbreaking.” Looking confused, Jeremy said “What does that mean?” She laughed. “It’s about the staff and what I’d like to do for them. But I want your opinion.” He leaned back in his chair and sighed with relief. “Wow. I thought I had done something wrong! What do you want to do for the staff?’
Choosing her words carefully, she said “I hope this makes sense. All the staff - Samuel, Brigitte, Giles, but especially Digby, Martha and Cook, have taken care of me and this whole old Estate, whether I was horrible to them or nice to them. And I was horrible for a long time after Michael died. My three stalwarts aren’t getting any younger. I don’t even know what kind of pensions are set up. I don’t want to just give them money, or a big party and worst of all give them each a gold watch. I’ve wracked my brain and decided I should decrease their hours, increase their wages and their benefits. I haven’t talked to anyone yet so what do you think?”
Jeremy face softened as he listened to the sketch his wife drew. The passion she felt for ‘her people’ as she so often put it. Setting his tea down, he leaned forward and took her hand. “Em that is so good of you to think of them all! This is serious business and I think you should go forward with it.” Emelina looked relieved but still hesitated. “I should know what to do next but these are things I’d ordinarily take to Digby. Michael left me with so much and I want to share it with them.”
“Who’s your accountant? He’d be the best one to advise you. I’d come with you except that my shifts are so unpredictable. Have you talked with your sister, Dez? Surely she could be a co-conspirator?” He sat back in his chair and took a long drink of cold tea. “ ‘Co-conspirator’ makes it sound like I’m planning something evil!” Em gave him a playful slap, making him spill his tea on himself. “But you’re right, I need to talk with Mr. Winston - but after I talk with Dez and get her take on all of this.” She got up from her chair and planted a big kiss on her husband’s forehead. Arms around her, he pulled her onto his lap. She leaned her head on his shoulder and relaxed against him. “That’s cold!” Sitting suddenly upright, she tried to wipe the cold tea off of her. “Serve’s you right for spilling my tea, Em. Now, enough of this serious talk. Is it lunch time yet? I’m hungry.” He stood up, unceremoniously removing Emelina from his lap. “How can you be hungry after that huge breakfast and no, it’s not lunch time yet. But I’ll bet Cook has sent up a mid morning snack for us. See what I mean - we’re always cared for. Now that you’re part of this household that means Cook will feed you till you almost explode.”
~~~~~
Dez Eliot was on her way out to the Estate. After spending time with her orchardist friend, Matt, her interest in the apple orchard had been renewed. In work clothes, books from an earlier orchard workshop on the front seat of her car, she set out to the country. Any tools she needed were in the shed beside Samuel’s garden. She’d stop in the kitchen first and see if her sister and new brother-in-law were home. Dez hadn’t heard from them since before they eloped. It was time she and Em had a visit.
“Trust your instincts, and make judgements on what
your heart tells you. The heart will not betray you.”
~ David Gemmell, Fall of Kings
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