Epilogue - A New Year Fond Farewell - Situationally Theirs

Open hearted and sad, the residents of The Beaufort Estate were gathered together for a meeting. It had become evident that it was time to say good bye to the Storyteller. Martha Haverstock-Digby and her husband James Digby had talked quietly over the Christmas holidays about their futures. On Christmas Eve, they had Samuel Forrester and Elizabeth Saunders to their cottage for supper. The four of them had been working at the Estate for well over 20 years. James and Samuel had actually been raised on the Estate. James Digby took over butler duties when his father retired. Samuel Forrester took over the groundskeeping when his father retired. Martha, the housekeeper and Elizabeth, better known as Cook, came to the Estate at the same time. They had all seen marriages, deaths, children and even a little ghost girl. So on Christmas Eve they agreed that a meeting was needed for them all on the Estate. The pandemic was long over, even if the Covid virus was still hovering about. They were all getting on with their lives, their individual stories quiet but moving forward. 

Included at the meeting was the chauffeur, Giles Thornton and his family; Martha’s daughter and a teacher, Joanie Richardson and her children, Ben and Abby; Brigitte Smithson had been a maid and personal assistant to Emelina. All of this little community had been affected in some way by the pandemic. But as they always had, they rallied around each other.

After the meeting, Digby drew up a letter to the Storyteller, explaining their decision. He had to go to his office and close the door to get his thoughts in order. While he was composing the letter, Cook served tea and coffee, and fresh baking to the tearful group. Martha kept trying to find ways that they could send in their stories as they had the previous Christmas. Samuel was just quiet. Martha’s grandchildren were off in a corner with Gile’s sons not knowing why they had to be there anyway. Joanie sat by her mother and comforted her. 

Digby returned to the long table in the big old kitchen. He read out the letter in a strained voice, clearing his throat several times. “We are all very sad about our decision to end our relationship with the Storyteller. However, each of us has to get on with our lives whether it is retirement, paying attention to our growing children, focusing more on our jobs here, or taking holidays away from the Estate.” He paused. “This may sound ungrateful, but over these last couple of years, making sure our stories are told has become an interruption in our lives. During the pandemic, it was important to tell our stories and how we dealt with coming back together again. We have all become closer because of it and grateful to all those people who have read our stories.” Dez stood and turned to her sister, “I would never have known any of you if that nasty virus hadn’t upended my life.” She wiped her eyes and sat again. Emelina hugged her and said “If I hadn’t been left alone that night, when the radio told us all to isolate, I wouldn’t have had to get out of bed and out of myself to go find you, Dez.” She looked around the table. “You all saved my life by leaving me to myself that night. You are so like a family to me.” Samuel, his face stern, was quiet. He never had liked all this kind of gushy talk. Elizabeth, her back to the group filling the tea pot, wiped a tear from her eye before returning to the table. “Enough going on and on. We will still come to work tomorrow and get ready for the next wedding, right Miss Dez?” 

Tension dissolved as the women started talking about wedding plans. Digby, Samuel and Giles started talking about what the winter would bring. “No snow forecast, Giles? How was the highway in all the rain? Ground’s pretty mushy out here.” 

Sarah, the little ghost girl, had been at the meeting, sitting atop the cupboards. She had rather liked her story being told. She often felt lonely, but now that so many of these people were kind to her, she wasn’t worried. And she loved it when Cook made cookies, even if she couldn’t eat them or smell them. She remembered them. She sighed and floated across the ceiling and up the stairs to hide in the book shelf.

~~~~~

“Great is the art of beginning, but greater is the art of ending.”

~ Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Chapter Two, Episode 165 - Christmas Sleepovers - Situationally Theirs

The sad look on Rusty’s face made her feel almost guilty. But Annabelle knew that he would be going to Ben’s for a Christmas sleep over. He was just trying to find out where she was going. He’d find out pretty soon. Her dad called from the front door. “Come on, you two. I’ve got the car out. Have you both got your overnight back packs? Annabelle, Abby’s grandma is expecting you girls for supper.” Rusty’s face went from sad to confused!

“Coming dad!” She grinned at Rusty. “Abby and I are going to her grandma’s. So. There.” Rusty bent over laughing. “I knew that. Dad told me. He’s picking up Ben when he picks up Abby. Fooled you!!” Now it was Annabelle’s turn to have a sad look on her face. “Well, we’ll have more fun. And tomorrow morning Abby’s Auntie Cook will let us decorate her Christmas cookies.”

Abby was younger than Annabelle, but they had become good friends at school. Abby talked about bees and Annabelle talked about baking. Baking and bees led them to Auntie Cook on a cookie baking day. Elizabeth set the girls to work rolling out the dough and making bee shaped cookies. After that they were BFFs. 

Ben and Rusty were not in the same class at school, Ben a couple years older than Rusty. Rusty thought Ben was stuck up. Ben thought Rusty was, well, just weird. One day, Ben saw Rusty being bullied by two of the bigger guys in their class and backed him up. Ben had had his own problem with bullies and hated to see it happen to anyone else. By himself, Rusty was an easy target. With Ben having his back, the two bullies decided that they’d just wind up with bloody noses and took off. The two boys were friends after that. Not BFFs right away, but over a school year, they found they liked the same classes, Rusty played guitar, so did Ben and they both liked hamburgers. To an adult that wouldn't seem like a good basis for a friendship, but for young boys, it was enough.

~~~~~

Two nights. “When was the last time you and I had the house to ourselves for two nights in a row Madge?” The couple had slept all one night, slept in the next morning, spent the afternoon lazing in their pyjamas, went out dining and dancing the next night. “I thought that we wouldn’t know how to romance anymore, Grant. It was beautiful. Thank you.” Grant had surprised Madge with the dining and dancing in a restaurant usually out of their reach. Her only clue was that he insisted that they dress up. Their weekend over, Grant had picked up the kids and brought them home.

“Don’t talk over each other. Annabelle, you go first. What was the most fun with Abby?……..and make it short.” Grant always had to slow his daughter down. She tried to get every detail in all in one breath. “When I got there, her grandma had supper all ready, but needed the Christmas decorations on the table, so Abby and I got out the Christmas candles and the Christmas napkins, after supper, we got our pyjamas on, we watched Elf.” She took a deep breath. “We opened the presents that her Grandpa James had bought, we each got an Elf on the Shelf. Abby’s is dressed in green and mine is dressed in red, the next day we went over to the big kitchen at the Estate, it’s gorgeous and huge, Abby’s Auntie Cook had the cookies and icing and sparkles out…….”

Grant held up his hand. His daughter could tell them more later.  He had doubted that she could put the brakes on. “So you had a good time! Wonderful, honey. Let’s let Rusty talk now.” He hoped he sounded more patient than he felt. “Go ahead, Rusty.” Silence. “Not much to tell, Dad. We had a good time. Ben has all kinds of video games. His mom had hamburgers for us to eat. We didn’t have to go to bed until midnight both nights. We talked about the football game our school team is playing next week. Mainly, just guy talk.” 

~~~~~

“What a great way to start the Christmas season, Grant.” Their twins had been sleeping for a couple of hours. Grant and Madge were settling into bed. “Yes, my darling, it was, and we need to find a way to have our own weekends more often.”

“For in every adult there dwells the child that was, and 

in every child there lies the adult that will be.”

~ John Connolly, The Book of Lost Things

*Authors Note: Chapter One and Chapter Two of Situationally Theirs have 165 episodes each. Tonight’s post is the final episode of Chapter Two. I am suspending this story for the month of December while I determine whether to proceed with future Chapters. Thank you to everyone who has been following the characters of the Beaufort Estate.

Chapter Two, Episode 164 - More than Just Friends - Situationally Theirs

Samuel and Elizabeth had been out to a movie. There was an old movie house in a neighbouring village that played the classics each weekend. Complete with hand cranked buttered popcorn, worn velvet seats and cartoon shorts. Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall had entertained them. When the lights went down and the reels started, they felt like teenagers again. As the credits rolled, they pointed out their favourite actors ~ not just the stars, but the bit players. When the lights came up and it was time to go, real life began again. With a difference. Their hearts were lighter. These evenings together and away from the Estate were their own. They had no kitchen, no garden, just the two of them enjoying each other’s company. 

As they drove home they took the scenic ocean route. The night hid the foliage and flowers, but the stars were bright. If it was a moonlit night, its bright light traced a path across the water. They would park at an overlook to the water. On a clear night, they walked hand in hand on a familiar path. Listened to distant foghorns. Pointed out the Big Dipper, Orion, the North Star. 

On this night, they were in the park when the snow started. Big, soft flakes that disappeared in the black water, clung to the fencing, brightened the night. Elizabeth shivered. “Time to get home and get warm, Samuel. Tea and coffee cake?” 

“Suppose we should. Don’t want to be on these roads if this snow keeps up. Sure is pretty though.” He opened her door for her, brushed the snow off the windshield and climbed in for the drive back to the Estate. “It’ll be gone by morning, don’t you think? It’s not cold enough to stay much into the morning.”

~~~~~

“Hasn’t been much to talk about tonight, Elizabeth. With the two couples off traipsing around the country and Martha and James keeping to themselves, the old place is pretty quiet.”

“I like it quiet. May be strange but, when I hear the news, and all the troubles in the world, quiet is just like I like it. I guess I’m not much of a talker. There was time when all I could do was talk and argue. Have opinions about the state of the world, life in general, whether I was being treated right. Guess that wisdom we heard so much about when we were young, has slowed that talking down.”

Samuel laughed. “You just might have something there, Elizabeth. All the talking that does carry on is just a bunch of going around in circles. The same circles folks have been going around for as long as there’s been life.” He cut himself another big cut of coffee cake, held it up where he could take a good look at it. “But for where I’m sittin’, this cake and the woman that made it, are all I need. There’s just no fight in me anymore. Does that sound like I’ve given up on things?”

Elizabeth’s cheeks felt warm when she heard Samuel’s sideways speech about his feelings for her. She knew some women would be offended, but she had known him for a long time. He did tell a good story, but feelings?

“That’s why I like going to the movies, or read a book. Listen to stories. That makes the troubles of that world all get fixed. When the story’s been told, it’s done. I can think of all the different ways that a story could be told, could end and leave it at that. I can’t fix what’s going on in the rest of the world, but I can take care of where I am.” She knew she was no better at talking about feelings than Samuel was, but had paid attention to the things that he liked. Those things she did take care of.

“Snow followed us here, Elizabeth.” Samuel had gotten up to get his coat on and looked out the window. Heavy wet snow was falling. Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong, two of their favourites, came to their minds at the same time singing “Baby it’s cold outside.”

“Get your coat off, Samuel. No point in you going out in that. You can go in the morning.”

“Be slow to fall into friendship, but when you are in, 

continue firm and constant.”

~ Socrates

Chapter Two, Episode 162 - Ben and Abby - Situationally Theirs

“I don’t have any ideas, mom!” Ben Richardson, Martha’s grandson was poring over the brochures he brought home from the Junior Career Day. “This is dumb. Everyone’s always asking me what I’m going to do when I get out of high school and I don’t start high school til next year, anyway. Then it’s four years. Why do I need to figure this out now?” He pushed then all aside, scraped his chair back from the table. “Is supper ready yet? I’m hungry. Where’s Abby?” 

His mom, Joanie Richardson, at the stove, just smiled. “I didn’t set it up, honey. They have that every year at the school and I suppose it’s just to give all of you some things to think about. No one is telling you to make any decisions now. Just put the brochures away in your desk and if you want to contact any of them you’ll have their phone numbers.”

“I guess I could look them up if they’ve got websites. Like police or the ambulance people.” Joanie grimaced. She was hoping he’d do something safer, but wouldn’t start giving him her own doubts. “Or maybe I’ll be a gardener or a butler. Then I wouldn’t have to leave home ~ I could stay here with you!!”

Laughing out loud, she said “Ben, you would have to leave home and you’d also have to apply for a job here. Just because your grandmother is the housekeeper and does all the hiring doesn’t mean you’d be a shoo in for the job. And Digby would have to approve your application as well.”

With a moan he said “I’ll set the table. Where is Abby? It’s her night to set the table. Now she’ll have to wash all the dishes. Why would I have to leave home?”

“Didn’t you know that Samuel has his degree in Agriculture and Digby went away for schooling as well. I don’t know where he went, but right now he’s away at a conference for his profession.”

“Well, I don’t really like school and it’s getting harder. More homework. I never like getting all dirty like Samuel and if I had to go to school that would be really weird.”

Hearing the front door, Ben called out to his sister. “Is that you Abby? You have to wash dishes tonight because I set the table. You weren’t here to do your job.”

“Ben, the older you get the bossier you get. You used to be a really good brother, but you must have bonked your head on something. I don’t care if I do the dishes tonight. You don’t do a good job of it anyway.” She hung her coat up and put her books on the front hall table. “Mom how can you stand him!”

Joanie just smiled at her unruly children. “You two stop bickering. Supper's ready. Abby, wash your hands before you come to the table. How was your piano lesson?  Are you still liking piano? If you and Ben can ever get along you’ll be able to play together. Piano and guitar are beautiful together.”

“I don’t know, mom. If he doesn’t stop being mean to me I don’t know if I want to even talk to him.” She sat down and helped herself to the salad. 

“Is that all you’re going to eat, Abby dear?” Her mother was worried about her daughter. She never seemed to want to eat anything but salads. “Oh all right, mom.” She took a teaspoon of potatoes, a small piece meatloaf. But pushed them aside. Ben, on the other hand, made up for his sister. He loaded his plate with potatoes and meatloaf, and one leaf of lettuce, poured gravy over it all and dug in. “Yes, mom I do like piano. Mr. Reynolds lets me stay after school so Mrs. Olsen can give me my lessons on his gorgeous piano. Do you think we can get a piano here?”

“I don’t know honey. But until we do, you may be able to practice on Miss Emelina’s piano. But only if your grandma is there and Miss Emelina says it’s ok.”

The rest of their meal was silent. Joanie was always amazed when the bickering slowed down when their stomachs were full. Dessert, a staple in the Richardson’s household, was one of Cook’s apple pies. Abby’s diet of raw foods didn’t extend to her Auntie Cook’s pies. “Just a sliver, please mom. I’ll do more exercise tomorrow.” Joanie couldn’t help herself. “Abby you’re only 9 years old! Please be careful with what you’re doing.” 

“I will, mom. I am. I just don’t want to get fat. The girls at school, at least some to them, are always worried about getting ugly.”

Ben had heard enough. He scraped up the last of his pie, put his dishes in the sink and disappeared to his room. “Homework.” 

“Abby, listen to everyone. Not just the popular girls. That’s it, isn’t it? The popular girls aren’t really all that popular to everyone. What I do want you to do is find out what your own body needs to be healthy.” Joanie remembered when Abby had been working with Miss Dez in the summer in the orchard and with the bees. “Remember this summer? The apple trees need certain nutrition, the bees need a different kind of nutrition. We’re no different. You like to study. Study the human body, especially for children. Then make your own decision about what your body needs.”

Abby didn’t look convinced of anything other than the worried look on her mother’s face. “Ok, mom, but until I find out differently, I’ll keep being careful what I eat.” She hugged her mother. “I’m all right, mom.” She cleared the table, washed and put away the supper things. The conversation was over. For that night.

“The good news is that your child has a natural desire to do well. 

Our job as parent is to bring out this quality and cherish it 

until the day your kids leave home, and then some.”

~ Marlene Targ Brill, author

Chapter Two, Episode 161 - Making Up - Situationally Theirs

“Em, I’m so sorry.” Jeremy and Emelina had gone out to supper in Hartley. It was their favourite restaurant. “Their” corner was dark and quiet. Whenever they had needed time together and away from their worlds, they went there. It was a habit developed some time before they were married. They hadn’t planned it, but it was neutral ground for hashing out sensitive questions. Like the most recent. Jeremy’s unsavoury behaviour over Emelina’s plans. Emelina’s walking out on him and letting him stew. They both knew how things could have been done differently, but had only talked to others, never to each other. A good thing. Emelina talking to Dez and Jeremy to Matt, had been a start for each of them. They greeted each other like they were on a first tentative date. Jeremy took her coat and gave it to the coat check attendant. They followed the maitré de in silence. Seated in their private corner, they looked intently at their menus. Jeremy closed his and reached for Em’s hand. “Em, I’m so sorry. This has all been my fault. I didn’t want to hear you out. I wanted you to give me all your attention. If you were to get more involved with the workings of the farming part of the Estate, you wouldn’t have time for me. My time away from work is so limited and I am so tired.” He stopped for a breath. Emelina had put her menu down, letting him talk. “Thank you, Jeremy.” She didn’t know what else to say. The waiter arrived to take their orders. She sensed the same tension that she saw at many tables, especially these private corners. “Do you need a few more minutes?” Looking up at her, Emelina smiled. “Yes, thank you.” Alone again, eyes twinkling, face serious she said “You should be sorry.” Then she laughed. “I just can’t stay mad at you. There’s no point Jeremy. I love you, just don’t be that mean ever again ~ you know how fragile I am.” They both laughed, the tension dissolved. They held hands and locked eyes. “You hungry, Em?” 

“Yes, I haven’t eaten for hours.”

“Let’s order so we can get home.”

~~~~~

“Elizabeth, come to the cottage for supper tonight. You’re always feeding everyone else, I’d like to feed you for once. James has been out of town at a business conference for the Association he belongs to. It’s pretty quiet over there and I’d like your company for supper.” Cook wasn’t surprised. Martha had been distracted all day, missing James. She couldn’t have her daughter and grandchildren over; some school function had them occupied. “Sounds good, Martha, dear. I won’t have to cook, or wash dishes. We can gossip to our hearts content. Miss Em and Dr. Jeremy seeing each other again; Miss Dez and Mr. Matt off on some road trip; who knows what else we’ll get up to.” 

“Well, we could play cards. We haven’t done that for a long time. There was a time when the two of us would get all dressed up and go out on the town.”  

“You go ahead and get supper started. Let me tidy up here and I’ll be right over. I’m bringing dessert. I made peach pies today and one of them seems to be just for us.” Elizabeth texted Samuel. “Going to Elizabeth’s for supper tonight so won’t be home for the evening. Come for breakfast in the morning.” She finished tidying the kitchen and, as was her habit, set out what she would need for the morning. She glanced up the stairs. Miss Em seldom informed her about comings or goings, but she didn’t expect her home tonight, so she made sure all the doors were locked and the lights out. 

“They spoke of small things at first, since it was best, 

when reattaching threads, to begin with the easiest knots.”

~ Chris Cleave, Everyone Brave is Forgiven

Chapter Two, Episode 160 - Matt and Dez - IDEAS November Theme - Situationally Theirs

“I didn’t have any idea what your doctor friend wanted me to say.” 

Determined to distance himself from her sister and doctor husband, Matt hoped that he hadn’t made Dez angry.

Eager for them to have a nice day, Dez didn’t mention that Matt really did know Jeremy’s name - he was more than her 'doctor friend'.

Amazed that he was so uncomfortable, she changed the subject.

Sorting through holiday brochures, she handed him one. “What do you think about this cruise, Matt?” She had no opinion about the River Cruise, but wanted to distract him. He took it from her, opening out on the table. “Looks alright, but don’t you want to go to the Caribbean?” 

“Right now, I just want to get off the Island. I miss the wandering I did in my younger years. It feels like I’ve been boxed in too long. I know the pandemic's been over since May, but I still feel trapped.”

“I know what you mean, Dez. Just feels tight. Why don’t we skip the cruises and drive south. We could get down to Mexico, hit a small town, just relax for a couple of weeks. We don’t even have to get that far, we could just drive. What do you think?”

Dez grinned. “That’s more like it! When I picked up these brochures, I wasn’t sure it was something you’d like to do. But I didn’t think of asking you first. A cruise would just keep me boxed in. But, just driving. I like that, Matt.” She twisted the engagement ring on her left hand. Decided to keep quiet about what she was thinking. 

~~~~~

Matt Hamilton had never been one for vacations, or holiday. The life of an orchardist could lend itself to time off, but he and his previous wife never agreed on when or where. His boys always wanted to go to someplace expensive or too far away. He sometimes took them fishing; as they reached their teens, they took up skiing at Whistler. He’d take them and their friends up, and then enjoy the lodge. “Come on, dad. Just try skiing - take a lesson.” They begged and pleaded with him but finally shouldered their skis and trudged off to the slopes. He couldn’t tell them he’d had a serious skiing accident as a young man that had sworn him off of that sport. He worried about this sons.

Meeting Dez had been a surprise. He had sworn off of women after his marriage went so wrong. His wife and sons lived on the mainland now. He’d get then over to the island once a year, but hadn’t seen them in almost 4 years because of the pandemic. He didn’t talk about it with Dez, but she had seen their pictures on the walls of his living room. Their jackets hanging in the closet, ball caps on on the shelf above. Other paraphernalia of teenage boys in odd places around the house; old gym shoes, hoodies, an old baseball mitt. He wondered how they’d all get along. They’d be coming to the island for Christmas. Their mom was going off on a cruise with her partner. She’d called him and said they’d be there for Christmas. Didn’t ask if he would be busy or on the moon, just said “I’m sending the boys to you at Christmas. I’ll send you their itinerary when I get it set up.” Dez was so different from her. But he wouldn’t walk on eggshells with her like he had with his ex. He also knew that Dez wouldn’t put up with it and that he wouldn't have to. She had agreed to marry him, but wasn’t pushing for a date. This vacation might be the right time for it. He’d think on it and maybe talk with her about it. 

“We spend so much time bantering about the words when 

the real open conversations might very well be our actions.”

~ Anna Deavere Smith, 

American actress, playwright and professor

Chapter Two, Episode 159 - Thinking it Over - Situationally Theirs

Thinking it Over

“Martha, did you bring the mail in?” James Digby was home for supper. “Yes, dear. There’s a letter here from Thom. And the hydro bill. Nothing much else except some flyers.” James could hear Martha’s careful setting of the table. The plates had to be just so, the cutlery lined up properly. She had learned her table setting craft for the Estate and insisted it continue in their home. James didn’t mind at all. He preferred precise. “I’ll be right there, supper smells awfully good.” Martha laughed. “Well, it should. It’s a gift from Elizabeth. One of her lamb stews that she had set aside for us - the rest are in the big freezer. All I had to do was heat it up. She sent some scones too so we’ll eat well tonight.”

James barely heard her, he had opened his brother’s letter. Since their visit the previous year, he and Thom had been corresponding regularly. “We may be having company again this winter. Thom and Sonja are planning a trip to the Island to get away from the snows. Says it’s not too bad right now so they don’t know exactly when they want to come.” He folded the letter and put it away. “Now what’s this about Elizabeth’s stew?” His wife was already sitting at the table, patiently waiting for her husband. He kissed the top of her head as he passed. “You didn’t hear me? Doesn’t matter, I’m just glad you’re home.” She served them both a good portion of stew and passed him the basket of warm scones. “Wonderful that they’re coming again this year! Did he have anything else to say?” 

“That is a delicious stew, Martha! Sorry I couldn’t answer you right away.” Buttering a scone and taking a second helping of the stew, he went on. “In my last letter, I told him of the developments Miss Emelina is making. Getting more active in the garden and orchard. ….and the apiary. I let him know my concerns about how she would manage. She’s always been so gentile in her life.” His wife frowned. “Now, James, really. I completely disagree. She’s much stronger than you and Samuel think. And apparently, Dr. Jeremy too.” She got up to make their tea. “You men. Take a look around you. How many women work and have worked on this place….and hard work too. Certainly we’re not outdoors like Samuel. And you’re an insider yourself.” She set the teapot down with a thump. James knew he had crossed a line with his wife. He should know better than to even suggest that any woman was weak. “Here, let me pour the tea and you know I wasn’t demeaning Miss Emelina. I just worry about her.” Her face still a mask, she said “Well you needn’t worry about her. After all she’s a grown woman who finally knows her own mind. That pandemic was horrible for many, many people, but for Miss Em it was a God send.” James started clearing the table. “Thom reminded me of all you women and the work that gets done when the rest of us aren’t looking.” He saw the pie on the counter. Time to change the subject. “Peach pie, Martha!?” He took dessert plates down and cut generous slices of pie. Topped them both with ice cream and took them to the table. “Smile, dear. Let’s have a nice evening.”

~~~~~

“Dez. Can I ask you something?” The two sisters were in the upstairs living room after supper. “Of course you can! What is it?” Emelina had been quiet throughout supper, often staring out the window. “Well, I’m not sure. Have you heard anything from Jeremy? I know it’s only been a couple of days, and he does text me every night to say good night, but……I don’t know. Was I wrong to walk out on him? And why do I get strange looks from people when I tell them I’m going to be involved with the outdoor work? And why are you grinning at me like a cheshire cat?” Dez had been happy that her big sister was taking the situation seriously. There had been a time when she would have wanted…..no expected….. someone else to take care of it. Blamed Digby or Martha or anyone she could find. This sister was the girl she had grown up with, always with her finger in every school activity. Running them, participating in them, getting others interested in participating. “Em, you’re back to who you used to be. No I don’t think you were wrong to walk out on Jeremy. That’s what you would have done when we were growing up. Didn’t take anything from anyone. Even if you did have your nose in the air most of the time.” She hit the mute button on the TV. “The strange looks? I think that’s only because you have been a ‘helpless female’ for a long time. I know you’ve never been helpless, but you’ve never had a problem getting others to do your work for you. You’d been doing that so long, that no one knew you could do anything else.” Emelina leaned her head back on the sofa and laughed. 

Then sat up. “Really. You don’t have to be so mean……but I guess you’re right. Jeremy was being a jerk and had been for too long. And no one ever suspected that I could do anything outside but walk the track.” Dez sat forward. “Remember that first night of the pandemic when you had to come to pick me up?” Em nodded. “Yes! I was terrified at first because I was all alone, but when that police officer called and asked me to come get you I didn’t even think about me. I just knew I had to find the car keys and get to town. Bring you home. Didn’t matter that we’d been mad at each other for years.” Relaxed, she smiled and picked up her phone. “Thanks Dez. It’s time to call Jeremy.” 

 

“We leave something of ourselves behind when we leave a place, 

we stay there, even though we go away. And there are 

things in us that we can find again only by going back there.”

~ Pascal Mercier,  Night Train to Lisbon

Chapter Two, Episode 158 - Newbies - Situationally Theirs

“What are those three talking about? They’d better pay attention to where they’re going. Oh, my goodness they’re going to walk right into the kitchen steps!”

Martha was in the mudroom at the window. She had seen Miss Em, her sister and Samuel coming in from the garden. Miss Em was hanging on his every word. Her sister was nodding, adding a comment or two. Samuel was gesturing in the direction of the orchard. They slowed their walk as they approached the kitchen steps. Martha breathed a sigh of relief. Back into the kitchen she said. “Looks like they’re fine, Elizabeth. Do you think they’ll tell us what that conversation’s about?” 

The back door opened. “You ladies, get on in there. I’ll just clean off my boots. Don’t want Elizabeth to have my hide and refuse me my sandwich.” Dez just laughed. “She wouldn’t refuse you anything, Samuel.” She and Em went into the kitchen. “Hi, you two. What’s for lunch?” Dez loved these two women like they were older sisters. “Just soup and sandwiches, Miss Dez.”

“Before you get your lunch, what were you three talking about so intently?” Martha couldn’t contain herself any longer. James always kept her out of the loop about discussions with Samuel unless it involved her role as housekeeper. Elizabeth was not quite as tight lipped, so she did know that her employer was going to be working with her sister. She had mentioned that they would be working together “outside”, but nothing more. Miss Em spoke up “Samuel has become my teacher about working the land. I’m listening to everything he has to tell me.” She smiled and took a seat at the table. “I’m quite excited about this farming thing. Getting out of the house and away from meetings, possibly even growing our produce for sale.” 

“My goodness, Miss Em. You’re positively glowing. What an adventure!” Martha had known Miss Em for a very long time. Had seen her through her years with Mr. Michael and the very sad time after he passed away. She had been very pleased that she and her sister had found each other. Had done very well during and after the pandemic. But farming? Would she be strong enough? 

“Everyone thinks I’m crazy to learn about farming.” She stopped suddenly “Samuel says I need to listen to the birds, feel the wind and be gentle with the bees. That’s right, Dez?” Her sister, already eating her soup, just nodded and gestured towards Samuel. He smiled in agreement. “We’ll get Miss Em all fixed up and have her knowing the land like the back of her hand”

“Why don’t you three join us for lunch. If we’re going to make a team, we might as well start.” Dez patted the seats beside her. When James came out of his office for his lunch, he saw this little knot of friends and was pleased.

~~~~~

“You know, Matt, I really don’t think my wife is cut out for farming. She’s been a socialite for far too long. I just can’t see her hands getting all rough from a days work.” Jeremy had finally said it out loud. As long as Emelina was a ‘woman of breeding’ - that’s what his mother would have said - there was no room for the life of a farmer, orchardist or beekeeper. It was all right for his sister-in-law, but not his gentle wife. “If you want my opinion, I don’t have one. My ex didn’t like getting her hands dirty. That was our biggest argument. Never wanted to come out and help with any of the farm. I figure if Dez’s sister wants to try to do the work, why not.”

Jeremy had taken Matt up on his invitation to help him out at the orchard. He had no idea what he could do, but thought that if he could sew people back together and diagnose diseases, he’d be of some use to Matt. Now he was staring at a tractor with no idea what to do. Matt laughed in a burst. “It’s not going to blow up. It’s just a hunk of metal. All I want you to do is move it across the yard to get it out of my way.” Jeremy had been confronted with heart attacks, trauma victims, hysterical children, people dying of COVID 19 …..any thing that came in the ER doors, but this little green tractor was terrifying. “Jeremy it’s just like your car, without the bells and whistles. You turn it on, work the clutch and gas,……….” Matt saw the frozen look of panic on his friend’s face and decided to help. “Here, let me show you. Get up in the seat. The key’s in the ignition - she’s a pretty old girl - get your hands on the steering wheel.” Matt spent most of the morning getting Jeremy acquainted with his equipment. Muttering to himself, he said. “Sorry I got him out here! Wonder how Em’s ever going to manage?” 

“Did you say something, Matt? How’m I doing?” Jeremy was having the time of his life now that he sort of knew what he was doing. “Just talking to myself. Do that all the time, especially when I’m working on my own.”

“Matt, I’m beginning to see the attraction of working out here on your own. In the hospital it’s all call bells and p.a. systems and telephones. Patients and nurses asking for help - lots of times with no answers for them. Out here, it’s just the silence of the trees, the birds and butterflies.”  He had relaxed for the first time in weeks. A different sort of relaxation, he thought. “Like all the noise has been turned off and I just have to drive this tractor. Mow the grass.” He grinned. “And follow Matt around.”

He looked at his watch when he felt his stomach stir. “Let me take you for lunch, Matt. I have been more trouble than a help this morning and want to do something for you.” On his forklift, Matt wanted to keep working, finishing up stacking the empty pallets but he was hungry and an offer of lunch sounded good. If he’d been on his own he would have just kept on working. There wasn’t anything much in his fridge anyway. Parking and turning off the forklift, he jumped down and knocked the dust off his pants. “Let me go in the house to change first.” Only gone minutes, Jeremy had time to look around the yard and see what he could see. New and old equipment, some he had never seen before. For the first time, he had a better understanding of what Em might be looking for. What he might be looking for.

“There is nothing like looking, if you want to find something.”

~ J.R.R.Tolkein, The Hobbit