Ch. 16f Tomorrow is Another Day

[jp1885]

“No, not very long,” Ivy replies, trying desperately not to blush.

[Philulhu]

”And was it his idea to get married?” Mrs Hebert asked, still looking at Alex. ”He is younger than you, isn’t he?”

[jp1885]

Ivy makes a show of checking that no one else is listening.

“Let’s just say it was convenient for the both of us. We’re very fond of each other though, don’t get me wrong.”

[Philulhu]

Mrs Hebert glanced at Ivy and looked down. ”It was convenient for my husband too. I just wish he’d been honest with me from the start,” she said bitterly. ”I have my girls, but… …” She sniffed and dabbed at her eyes with the corner of her apron.

[jp1885]

Feeling somewhat awkward, Ivy puts what she hopes is a comforting hand on the woman's shoulder.

"You may think me prying, but would you like to talk about it?"

[Bullfrog]

"I remember when I thought I'd end up getting married. I was young, then." Lawrence mentions to the other men, so as to not accidentally and awkwardly eavesdrop on the conversation in the other room.
"Nineteen twenty-nine... Those were the good old days."

[Mr. Handy]

"Being away from my wife reminds me of how much I love her," says William. "When we were in France, I didn't know if I'd ever see her again, but I made sure I survived so that I could."

[Silver Priest]

"You're still young," Alex tells Lawrence. "Never say never."

"What is your wife like? I've not heard you mention her before." He asks William.

[Philulhu]

”Another time, perhaps,” she said, sniffing again. She took a compact from one of the kitchen drawers and critically examined her appearance. ”Oh, look at my eyes!” she exclaimed quietly, gently rubbing underneath them to try to reduce the puffiness.

”I have to keep up appearances for my girls,” she said.

[Bullfrog]

"Almost forgot you had a wife, William. Does she have much to say about these trips?" Lawrence inquires.
"My family's learned to stop asking. I mostly just keep to myself when I'm not doing farm work."

[jp1885]

“Quite so,” says Ivy, suppressing a sigh of frustration at this shilly-shallying. “Your girls are a credit to you.”

“Quite the contretemps at the oil site today,” she continues, hoping her host will appreciate this obvious change of subject.

“Their foreman seems quite the ogre - he must have been livid. Is he a local man?”

[Mr. Handy]

"I met Amelia at Miskatonic University, when we were students there," says William. "We married after we graduated. She's beautiful, but I love her because she's beautiful on the inside. She's very caring, and it would break her heart if she knew what we'd been through. I don't talk about our business with her. She's better off not knowing. Still, she can sense that it's been rough, but she knows not to pry. When I go on these trips, she doesn't ask questions."

[Silver Priest]

Alex was impressed by William's willingness to keep risking himself when he had so much to live for. But he was also concerned.

"Not that we don't appreciate your help, but Lawrence and I are single men. I would hate if something happened to you and we had to explain it to your wife. I hope that this will be our last case-- for all our sakes, but especially yours. And there's no shame if you decide you can no longer continue down this path if things grow too dangerous.."

[Philulhu]

”Oh no, he’s not local,” said Mrs Hebert. ”I’m sure if he were, he wouldn’t get away with acting like he does. If he was local, he wouldn’t be able to look anyone in the eye, the way he talks to people.”

[Mr. Handy]

"Thank you," says William. "I've already decided this would be my last one. I wouldn't have even come on this one, but I owe it to Georgie."

[jp1885]

"He's a deeply unpleasant man alright," Ivy concurs. "I'm surprised no-one has tried to do something to the oil field before. Surely someone has tried to sneak in?"

She leans forward conspiratorially.

"We're writing an article on the damage the oil company is doing to your town, but we can't get into the site for love nor money."

[Philulhu]

”Not that I’m aware,” Mrs Hebert replied. ”It’s a double-edged sword. There isn’t much in the way of work for local people and the worker’s spend money in the store. It has been a disruption, though.”

[Philulhu]

”Well, I must get the girls to do their homework,” said Mrs Hebert. ”So I’ll let you get on. Dinner is at six ‘o’ clock, if I don’t see you beforehand.”

She smiled wanly and went to round up her daughters, whose protests could be heard all the way upstairs…

Ok, who do you want to go and see first?

[Silver Priest]

Alex would like to go pay Nashoba a visit.

[jp1885]

Nashoba's the only lead we have access to, so Ivy will join her 'other half''.