The Pumpkin Eater's Wife by Tannis Laidlaw

Author:Tannis Laidlaw
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: crime, murder, revenge, thriller and suspense, psychological suspense, retribution, female protagonist, psychological thrillers, crime abuse, international mystery and crime
Publisher: Tannis Laidlaw

Fred met her at the downtown bus terminus. Jeanie climbed into the car, acutely aware of his tension in spite of his bonhomie.

‘Home?’ he asked casually, belying the importance of the question.

‘Home, James,’ she said equally casually. ‘And have I got stuff from this trip for you. So many details, you’ll drown under them.’

‘So, you are finally taking our language school seriously?’

‘Oh, yes. I’m not one to take a two-week holiday of utter luxury and complete pleasure without giving something in return. I may be poor monetarily, but I can work.’

Fred glanced over at Jeanie with a dawning smile. ‘I think I’ve just made a very wise investment,’ he said. ‘Did you use the cards?’

‘Just gave them away like they were worth something,’ Jeanie quipped. ‘Nothing like a business card to make you feel legit.’

While she unpacked, Jeanie gave him the sheaf of papers to read, all numbered and dated but each under the unique letterhead of each hotel’s notepaper. When she had gone over them the night before, even she had been impressed by her thoroughness. Whether any of it would be ultimately useful, was up to Fred.

‘I’m impressed,’ he said simply. ‘This will be a valuable bargaining tool. And it’s not as if anything was secret. You were there very openly as a representative of a potential contractor.’

‘SpeakWell,’ Jeanie said. ‘I must say it’s growing on me. Especially since everyone used it as if we were real.’

‘Which is what we need to do, right away. Legitimize ourselves, I mean.’

‘Which means?’

‘Register us as a company. Make sure the name has not been used before. Set out our business plan. All that sort of stuff. Your job is to figure out what we’ll do with a batch of people like were on your trip.’

Jeanie found the model curricula they had been given at university and realized how geared it was to young people. She set to amending it with a certain amount of relish.

Fred called her to dinner. Hours had passed. And she was hungry.

‘We’re okay about the name. SpeakWell is unique, so I’m in the process of registering it. The sub-title doesn’t have to be registered, but I checked and no one has the New Zealand Institute of Speech and Language, although someone already has the New Zealand Institute of Language. No matter. The SpeakWell will be prominent, with our subtitle for an explanation.’ They were munching their way through a variety of cold meats, hard-boiled eggs and fresh greens.

‘That’s great. I’m quite fond of SpeakWell as a name.’ Jeanie motioned to the serving platter. ‘Good plain food, nice. I’ve had such a variety of super-sophisticated dinners, this tastes great.’

‘Didn’t know whether you’d be hungry, so thought this would fill the bill.’

Jeanie told him about the abundance of morning and afternoon teas, and her resolve to eat just a taster each time. ‘That way, I could still have three good meals a day. But I’ve still put on weight.’

‘Could have fooled me,’ he said gallantly.

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