Naive about the world outside medicine, Dr. Jeremy Crawford felt helpless. He and Em had both known the lands of the Estate before the pandemic. Before Michael Beaufort, his friend and Em’s husband, had died. It was merely a place to play. He knew nothing about what was involved, even though Michael commiserated with him many times. Jeremy had always been good at making him laugh and take a day - or a week - off. That’s what Michael had called it ‘a day off’. It had been a struggle to get him to take ‘a week off’. His wife and Em had been best of friends and let the two of them be ‘boys’. His wife had died, then the pandemic descended on the world and in the midst of it all he and Em married. They’d been happy with the arrangement til now. She lived mostly on the Estate while he worked his shifts at the hospital, keeping an apartment in Hartley. Things had gotten tense lately. He was tired after the long three years of Covid 19. Long shifts, so many people dying, cases of long Covid and now more cases of Covid as the seasons were changing. Covid infections, RSV plus the usual flu seasons were beginning. He was just tired and needed Em’s calm and love more than ever.
Jeremey was stuck. At work, he was used to thinking on his feet, calling the shots or talking a problem over with a colleague. When he came home, Em would be there for supper, maybe even for a few nights and they would be together. He had spent some time with Matt the night before and come away feeling only a bit better. Should he take Matt up on his invitation to help him out at his orchard? He had some time off, time that he could spend with Em, but he needed to know more about the life Em was consigning herself to. Consigning? He shook his head. “No, she was excited about it. I need to know more.” He checked his cell phone, no messages. He sent her a quick note “Love you, Em. I’m going to be at Matt’s if you need me.” He hesitated over each word, wondering what she’d imagine.
~~~~~
Emelina’s phone buzzed. She and Dez were walking out to inspect their orchard, hoping that Samuel would be there. She kept walking while she checked the message. “It’s from Jeremy. I’ll answer it later.” They kept walking. “Do you really think we can do this, Dez? Neither one of us knows much about gardening let alone taking on the orchard and the bees. You’ve certainly got more knowledge than I do.” Her excitement had died down as she realized the huge responsibility she was taking on. “All I know for sure, Em, is that we can at least try. When I started with the orchard, I thought it would be a piece of cake. And then Samuel told me about blights, worms, moths, weather, not enough water or too much water, birds sampling apples with sharp beaks. I was ready to turn tail and run.” She laughed “I’m even starting to talk like Samuel. He’s never steered me wrong and he’s never done the work for me. With me, but not for me.” Em smiled at her sister. “We did get more apples this year, didn’t we?” Arriving at the orchard they could hear the migrant pickers calling out to each other. Some of the apple varieties were late. When this was done, the pickers would move on to the next orchard - peaches, pears, grapes - whatever was next to be picked. They roamed the Island, most coming from the mainland.
Samuel came out of the shed, wiping his hands on his kerchief. “Mornin’, ladies. What’s this I hear 'bout you goin’ to be workin’ with us, Miss Em? You sure you want to get dirt under your fingernails. Guess that was kind of impolite. Didn’t mean it that way. You’re just always dressed so nice.” Emelina smiled. “Don’t worry about it, Samuel. It’s been a surprise to a lot of people. Guess I’ll have to learn how to take care of my fingernails though. You’re the man who’s worked on the outside of this Estate the longest. Where do I start? I need your knowledge, if you’re willing to share it.” She turned to Dez “I feel like I’m in the first grade all over again!”
Samuel pushed his old battered hat back on his head and looked up at the sky. Dez chuckled “Is that where you get your answers, Samuel?” He looked at the two women, and although he wasn’t sure that they’d get the job done, they seemed pretty serious. Settling his hat back the way he liked it, he looked them both in the eye. “First, get to know what’s in the shed. Know the tools you’re goin’ to need to work with. We need to have a sit down so I can let you know what happens in fall, what we need to done for winter and what needs to be ready for spring.” Dez spoke up “Don’t forget all the books you told me to read. You started me off on that one about Seeds.” Samuel was leading them into the shed. “I wasn’t goin’ to forget. A few folks think that books can’t tell you much about farming, but……” He stopped. “Come up to my place, oh, say this afternoon and I’ll get you started on your homework. Didn’t your sister tell you about her homework?” Em gave Dez a sidelong glance. “No, she didn’t!
“I also didn’t tell you that he said to get to know every tree. And when we got the apiary boxes in he told me the same thing.” Imitating the old gardener she said ‘The trees and the bees need to know whose takin’ care of them.’” Now, Emelina looked confused. “How on earth would that make a difference?” Samuel and Dez shared a knowing look “If trees don’t trust you they won’t grow right. If the bees don’t trust you, you’re goin’ a get stung more than once.” Emelina wasn’t sure that they were serious even though they looked serious. But she’d asked for his help and this was part of it so if she had to be a tree hugger she would.
Samuel’s cell phone rang. “It’s Elizabeth. Says your lunch is ready.” He pocketed it and said “I’ll walk up with you and get my sandwich. We can get to the books after. And we didn’t finish in the shed. But we need to clear off the garden first. I’ve got it started, but we’ve got to get dirt under those fingernails.” He smiled “We’ll get you all fixed up, Miss Em.”
“Study hard what interests you the most in the most
undisciplined, irreverent and original manner possible.”
~ Richard Feynmann
