Review, Revision, Edit and Update
Re-reading this two or three times, I looked for sentences that felt awkward, ending too abruptly or ran on a bit much. In dialogue, where these issues fit with the character or the scene, I wrote in adjustments that showed the emotion. Still need lots of practice, though.
Keeping A Secret
“I’m sure it’s fine Em. Let’s go see what Cook has on the stove. It certainly smells good, whatever it is.” The newlyweds, Jeremy Crawford and Emelina Beaufort, now Crawford, arrived home just as the sun was setting. Their week-long trip to the mainland had been a romantic one. They had traveled light to keep up the appearance that they were just going up island for a couple of days. Emptying the car’s trunk took only moments. Slinging their back packs over their shoulders, they each gripped a handle of the food basket and walked up the steps to the kitchen door. Opening the back door, Emelina called out “Hello. Cook? Is anyone here? That’s strange….she doesn’t leave the lights on when she goes home. She’s very strict about that. There’s nothing on the stove and it’s been turned off so she must have just put it all away.”
“Maybe Digby’s in his office and that’s why the lights were left on?” Jeremy walked to Digby’s office and tapped lightly on the door. “Digby? Are you in there? - Well, his door is closed so unless he’s busy with something that needs a closed door, he’s not here either. Let’s just get our things upstairs. We can come down and raid the refrigerator. We’ll watch TV - catch up on all the numbers of new cases.”
Emelina’s face clouded over. “Oh, Jeremy why do you want to get right back into hospital and pandemic issues? Can you not just wait? The numbers still be there tomorrow. Let’s just get settled in our bedroom. It is ours now you know. Or did we just have a fling, you’ll go back to town tonight and this elopement was just a dream!” Emelina grinned and ran her fingers through her husband’s hair.
“Oh, all right, Em. But just five minutes?” He bent down and kissed her cheek, at the same time looking at his watch. “That news show I like is on now and I’ll just watch it for a couple of minutes.” Em had already disappeared into their bedroom. He followed her and looked at the room with new eyes. There was no sign of Michael - Emelina’s late husband and Jeremy’s best friend. Silently Jeremy said “Mike, I’ll take care of her.” A tiny bit of guilt passed through his grateful heart. Not just that he’d married his best friend’s wife, but he was letting go of Elaine, his wife deceased as long as Michael Beaufort. He had clung so fiercely to her memory…..”What are you staring at Jeremy?” Emelina emerged from her closet to see her husband standing just inside the bedroom door lost in thought.
“Just saying good-bye and thanks for the memories to our two ghost partners, wherever they may be.” He smiled and tossed his backpack on the bed. “What now, Em?”
“Well, come see the closet. You have space in there now, and I’ve cleared space in the dresser. Put your toiletries away beside mine in the bathroom.” Emelina stopped suddenly and tilted her head towards the bedroom door. “Did you hear someone come in downstairs or am I just hearing things?” Her husband stepped out of the bathroom. “You’re right. Someone has come in.”…….
“Yoo hoo. Miss Emelina? Dr. Jeremy? Are you up there? I saw your car out back.” Relieved to hear Cook's voice, Emelina was already at the head of the stairs to the kitchen.
“We’ll be right down….Jeremy come and let’s see if Cook can tell us what’s been going on over at Digby’s cottage.”
~~~~~
Cook did not seem as welcoming as usual, smiling but rather aloof despite her words of greeting. She felt awkward and didn’t quite know how to keep Martha's secret. “Oh my goodness you two. Don’t you look happy - tired and happy. Miss Dez told us all about what you had planned. Congratulations. It’s so good to see the both of you. I must say that I did get suspicious when you asked me to fill your lunch basket.”
Emelina sensed Cook's unusual awkwardness. “Thank you, but did you just come from Digby’s? We saw Gile’s vehicle, Matt Hamilton’s truck and Samuel’s truck when we drove up, but everyone turned and left before even going in the house. Is everything all right over there?”
Cook busied herself cleaning the already clean counter tops, being careful not to make eye contact. She did not want to let on that the party was supposed to have been for the Crawfords. “We weren’t sure you’d be back today and would have told you to come right over. Martha and James wanted a little party...” she hesitated ....“and Martha was all ready. She hadn’t been feeling well all day, but kept pushing herself. By the time folks were arriving, she was too sick to stand. I took some food over there for the party and left it for James. He was the one to go out and give everyone their apologies.” She felt like she was babbling, grateful when her employer spoke up.
“Well, is she all right? Does Jeremy need to go over and see what he can do?” Emelina was concerned for Martha.
Cook shook her head. “Oh, no. Dr. Simmons came out to the house to see her. He did a Covid test for all three of us - Martha, James and me.” (Deep breath, Elizabeth. I think I'm safe.) “That’s why I’m keeping my distance from you - I need to isolate until I hear from the Doctor about my test. James and Martha will have to stay in as well. Well, here I am prattling on. I’m sure that you’ll want to get settled. Help yourself to anything in the fridge. You two have a good night and I’m so glad you’re home.” Cook left quickly before she could say anything more.
Jeremy spoke up. “That was odd. The Cook that I know is the first one to sit down, want to hear all about trips and see pictures. I suppose she’s worried about Martha and James, and herself. Come on Em, let’s raid the refrigerator and get to the TV.” He saw the stern look on Emelina’s face. “I know, I know - only five minutes….ten….. is fifteen pushing it?”
“Secrets have a way of making themselves felt,
even before you know there’s a secret.”
~ Jean Ferris, Once Upon a Marigold
