Devotion, Ep. 6
Last epi, we saw our two lovelies doing a little cooking and cleaning for the time being, and just when they’ve started, a couple of neighbors sneak in from the snow.
~~~~
“Oh, I know you!” the young man and I both said together. He seemed to blush a bit but he was pleased.
“‘David!’ My, how you’ve grown from when I babysat you all that evening last summer.”
The young man nodded. He must be about 14 now. “Yes ma’am, and, I mean, we saw you after the funeral but it was dark and that thunderstorm was coming and I had a weird hat on.”
“Oh yes, we did say hello. Oh, poor dear Deborah and Dorisina; I’m so sorry. I haven’t heard from your father since then but it’s good seeing you again, David Collings. Did your mother come back with you for the holidays?”
“No, I came alone. I flew on a plane for the first time alone.”
“Oh. Well, have you ever met my sister, Emma? I know our families have known each other but maybe not as well as we might have.”
“Hello, David,” said Emma. “I’m Emmalee … er, the sister.” She paused. Everyone paused. “My-my, I’m glad you and, um … didn’t come plowing in earlier.”
“Gabriel,” said David. “My dad got him for me last week before Christmas.”
“Ah. And a handsome specimen he seems to be. And I’m sure now you’ll knock next time. Alice and I are planning to do some shopping soon after I put these clothes in the wash. You know, all those after-Christmas sales… So you’ll excuse us if we need to tidy up a bit.”
I glanced at Emma. Yes, some shopping might be fun. But also, Emmy was being Emmy.
“Yes, but in a way you’re right, David, I’ve kept to myself after what happened. Maybe you thought the weeds or … Ah!” Out the window something caught my eye. “I see our man Hulp is shoveling the snow … But for reasons I haven’t yet heard, our housekeeper is — ”
“The staff are away, naturally, for the holidays,” Emma cut in.
“My father is interviewing a new housekeeper today,” said David.
“Is that right?” I said.
“I hope she cooks, too.”
Could they have gotten used to TV dinners or did they go out?
I stooped to pet Gabriel then stood and shook David’s hand, though I probably should have done that first because I had dog slobber on mine. I’m such a grub-girl… Emmy’s word for me.
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But it allowed my sister to end the occasion with her usual actress’s flair: “Aliceita, where are your manners!” as she went to wet a kitchen towel for the boy.
Last epi, we saw our two lovelies doing a little cooking and cleaning for the time being, and just when they’ve started, a couple of neighbors sneak in from the snow.
~~~~
“Oh, I know you!” the young man and I both said together. He seemed to blush a bit but he was pleased.
“‘David!’ My, how you’ve grown from when I babysat you all that evening last summer.”
The young man nodded. He must be about 14 now. “Yes ma’am, and, I mean, we saw you after the funeral but it was dark and that thunderstorm was coming and I had a weird hat on.”
“Oh yes, we did say hello. Oh, poor dear Deborah and Dorisina; I’m so sorry. I haven’t heard from your father since then but it’s good seeing you again, David Collings. Did your mother come back with you for the holidays?”
“No, I came alone. I flew on a plane for the first time alone.”
“Oh. Well, have you ever met my sister, Emma? I know our families have known each other but maybe not as well as we might have.”
“Hello, David,” said Emma. “I’m Emmalee … er, the sister.” She paused. Everyone paused. “My-my, I’m glad you and, um … didn’t come plowing in earlier.”
“Gabriel,” said David. “My dad got him for me last week before Christmas.”
“Ah. And a handsome specimen he seems to be. And I’m sure now you’ll knock next time. Alice and I are planning to do some shopping soon after I put these clothes in the wash. You know, all those after-Christmas sales… So you’ll excuse us if we need to tidy up a bit.”
I glanced at Emma. Yes, some shopping might be fun. But also, Emmy was being Emmy.
“Yes, but in a way you’re right, David, I’ve kept to myself after what happened. Maybe you thought the weeds or … Ah!” Out the window something caught my eye. “I see our man Hulp is shoveling the snow … But for reasons I haven’t yet heard, our housekeeper is — ”
“The staff are away, naturally, for the holidays,” Emma cut in.
“My father is interviewing a new housekeeper today,” said David.
“Is that right?” I said.
“I hope she cooks, too.”
Could they have gotten used to TV dinners or did they go out?
I stooped to pet Gabriel then stood and shook David’s hand, though I probably should have done that first because I had dog slobber on mine. I’m such a grub-girl… Emmy’s word for me.
But it allowed my sister to end the occasion with her usual actress’s flair: “Aliceita, where are your manners!” as she went to wet a kitchen towel for the boy.
