A New Path
Living again inside the comings and goings of the Estate, Elizabeth often heard snippets of passing conversations. This morning, while Miss Em and Brigitte were having breakfast there was only tension. Filling the sink with hot water and soap, she washed up the few dishes from their breakfast. “Elizabeth! Good morning. Have you got tea ready?” Drying her hands on the kitchen towel she kept handy, she went to the cupboard for more mugs. “Good morning, Martha. Tea’s ready - and coffee’s ready for James.”
James took Martha’s light jacket and hung their things in the mudroom off the kitchen. “Thank you, Elizabeth. I’m ready for a second cup of coffee. Any news from your side of the world this morning?” He went to the fancy coffee machine that he hadn’t wanted to purchase. Brigitte had been so good to Miss Em that he finally gave in. She spent more hours with her than she was paid for. After only a week, he couldn’t understand why he had been so stubborn.
“James and I passed Miss Em and Brigitte on our way in, Elizabeth. They looked to be in pretty deep and serious discussion. Do you know what’s going on?” Martha helped herself to croissants and jam still on the table from breakfast. “Come sit down. Work will wait for a bit longer. You look worried, Elizabeth.”
“Oh, not worried, Martha, dear. Just a bit troubled I suppose. You know Miss Em and Brigitte usually talk and laugh about things - whether it’s serious business or what Samuel, or you or I are doing……..Well, this morning, the tension in here was so thick I could almost see it. They hardly said anything to each other over breakfast. Just walked out of here together, Brigitte almost in tears.” She picked up a croissant and thoughtfully broke it in half, taking a bite as she looked toward the back door.
~~~~~
“So who do you want to tell first? Martha? You’ve been renting from her. Are you going to UVic or to UBC on the mainland? If you go to UVic you could keep Martha’s little place and have a nice quiet place to study.” Miss Em had gone through a range of emotions with Brigitte’s news that she would be leaving the Estate. Sadness, fear and a bit of panic that she would be losing her to a different world. Without realizing it, she was flooded with excitement for this new journey. One that she had barely finished before marrying Michael and getting lost in the Beaufort world.
“Slow down, Miss Em. I applied at both places and a couple of others on the mainland. I was accepted at all of them, but decided to stay on the Island. I’m an Island girl and that’s where I want to stay. Especially since all the Covid worries and restrictions. I don’t want to be half way across the country from mom and dad. I’ll talk to Martha about her place. My parents may help me out with the rent. And I can help out around here, if ever it’s needed and I’m not buried in books.”
Walking around the track, they were almost back where they started. “Didn’t we pass James and Martha when we left the house, Miss Em? I was so upset I barely noticed them.”
Miss Em was planning. She would contribute to the rent for Martha’s house. She’d have her eat over at the Manor. On days when Jeremy was working, she could help her study…… “That’s just crazy”
“What? You’re talking to yourself, Miss Em.” Brigitte was so relieved that she’d finally told Miss Em. Now her boss was looking more excited that she felt! She wouldn’t be losing anything.
“I’m sorry, Brigitte. I was just thinking about what an exciting thing you’re doing. Took me back a lot of years. I didn’t finish what I started when I went to University. Oh, I did finish my time there, but Michael and I married and I didn’t pursue a career. I’m so glad that you are on this path now. Anything I can do, please ask. If I ever get too intrusive, you just tell me. Dez is going to be so excited!” Brigitte stifled a laugh, her boss was stumbling over her words!
“I was so worried that you’d be mad at me! You’re not mad at all - just kind of….well…. mad as a Hatter. Now I’m worried that you’ve lost it. To answer your question about who to tell first, let’s get back in the kitchen and tell Martha, James and Cook. They should be just about finished their morning visit. We’ll give them something more to talk about.”
“There was some relief in letting go of those dreams,
of silently accepting their fate and embracing the unknown.”
~ E.C.Colton, Shards of Sky
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