A Simple Country Tragedy by Blythe Baker

Author:Blythe Baker [Baker, Blythe]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2019-10-14T05:00:00+00:00

8

I quickly wrote down Mrs. Harriot’s order, which was a stressful endeavor in and of itself, but didn’t linger at home. Sidney’s behavior was enough to completely put me on edge, and there was only one person that I knew I could turn to in a situation like this.

Irene Driscoll.

I hurried through the village, the sun glaring down on the street. Everyone else seemed to be enjoying the beautiful day. Parents sat out in their front gardens while their children chased one another through the grass. Mr. Trent was pushing his mower, keeping his lawn trim and clean. I saw Mrs. Bennet ride by on her bicycle, smiling merrily even as she held her floppy hat atop her head.

I wished I could have stopped and enjoyed their happiness with them. They called out to me as I walked past, some even asking me to join them.

“I’m sorry, but I’m in a hurry,” I said, my hand on my heart. “I would love to, though! Save some lemonade for me!”

The tea house appeared, and I hurried toward it.

When I stepped inside, I was surprised to find it very nearly empty. An elderly couple sat near the back, enjoying some tea cakes, several empty cups scattered around the table.

“Helen,” said a voice off to the side. “What a surprise!”

I looked and saw Nathanial wiping down a table.

“Hello, Nathanial,” I said.

He opened his arms to embrace me. “It’s good to see you.”

“It’s wonderful to see you too,” I said, giving him a warm hug. “You have no idea.”

He released me, stepping back and looking at me. “Is everything all right? You look distressed.”

“Well…is your wife here?” I asked. “There is something that I needed to speak with her about.”

He wiped his hands on a cloth he procured from his apron pocket. “Yes, she is, but she’s laid up in bed with a nasty cold.”

My heart sank. “Oh,” I said. “I was beginning to wonder why I hadn’t heard from her since I got home.”

“Yes, she was worried about that as well,” Nathanial said. He looked down at the tray on the table, stacked high with dirty dishes. “Well, you know, I think she would be happy to see you. It might be just the thing to cheer her up. Why don’t I go up and let her know? Would you mind watching the tables around here while I go speak with her?”

“Of course,” I said. “I’d be happy to.”

He disappeared through the back door near the kitchen, and returned just a few moments later.

“She said you are more than welcome to go up, but she asks that you excuse the state the house is in. I think everything is perfectly fine, but you know how she is. Everything needs to have a certain level of organization.”

I smiled. “That’s not a problem. Thank you for allowing me to see her.”

I headed up to their house, feeling rather strange to be walking upstairs without either Nathanial or Irene, even though I’d been there many, many times now.

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