“Something funny?” he asked.
“No,” she said turning her giggle into a warm smile and zipping up her purse, so grateful that she’d thought to put away her electronic contraband. After reading the manual, she was pretty sure Mr. High–and–Mighty wouldn’t approve of his kids getting a glimpse of the big bad outside world. He already looked displeased and she hadn’t had a chance to do anything yet.
Joe waited until the door closed behind the kids and then pulled out her chair and waited for her to sit before taking a seat himself.
“Have you read my wife’s guidelines?” he asked.
“Yes,” Jamie answered. “Sarah was very thorough.”
“I don’t want to say anything that might offend you, Jamie, but I’m going to need you to change your clothes.”
“Sorry?” Jamie said taken aback. “What’s wrong with what I’m wearing?”
“It’s not that there’s anything wrong with your clothes, exactly,” he said carefully. “It’s just that this week you are acting in the role as my wife. My wife doesn’t wear clothes that show so much of herself.”
“I only came into the lucky role of your wife a half an hour ago.” She’d really wanted to be nice, but this man was starting to irritate her. She wouldn’t accept Jeremy telling her what she could wear; she certainly wouldn’t take it from this pompous stranger.
Joe’s expression closed. “As my wife,” he started, deciding to not address her rudeness yet. “You’re an example to my kids.”
“How is what I’m wearing a bad influence on your children?” She looked down at the clothes she’d chosen so carefully. Comfort while travelling and nice enough to make what she thought would be a good impression. She was going to be on television after all. She didn’t want to look like a frump.
“It isn’t what Sarah would wear,” he said, trying hard to be diplomatic.
“That doesn’t answer the question,” she said standing her ground. She knew she had to follow the rules here and she wanted to, but a simple explanation of what was wrong with her clothes wasn’t too much to ask, was it?
“All right, I’ll answer your question and then I’d like it if you went and got changed.”
“Fine,” Jamie said, feeling as though she’s won at least some small victory.
“Your blouse is not only too revealing at the top but the bottom of it appears to be missing, I can see your stomach. Your skirt is a size too small and way too short and your shoes are too -”
“Sexy?” she challenged with narrowed eyes.
“Trashy,” he said, meeting her challenge. “I don’t want to say things to hurt you Jamie, and I wouldn’t have if you’d just done as you were told. While you are here, you have to dress modestly.”
Jamie did her best to blink back the tears that stung her eyes. She would have loved to bite back with a sharp–tongued retort, but the words just wouldn’t come. Either it was some divine intervention trying to save her from herself or she really did feel chastised by this Neanderthal. Whatever, he’d won this time. She felt dirty and she suddenly wanted to get changed. “Where’s my room?” she managed to choke out.
“I’ll show you,” he said, picking up her suitcases.
*****
Feeling safe behind the closed door of her new room, Jamie sagged onto the bed and covered her face. She wouldn’t cry. This was what she wanted and this was what she was going to do. She blew out a cleansing breath and delved once again into her purse for her equipment.
“He doesn’t like my clothes.
He doesn’t like my shoes.
I don’t think he likes me, which makes him a very judgmental person because I’m really nice. Everyone says so. The children are lovely and I can’t wait to get to know them. Really know them. I doubt that anyone has ever asked them what they like. They live in a house under tyrannical rule and they don’t even know any better because they’re not allowed to mix in the outside world.
That’s how I will stay sane. I will get to know these children’s likes and dislikes so I can give them one week of joy before their lives have to dribble back to mundane servitude. I knew there was a lesson to be learned here and now I know what it is. I can feel it. That’s why I am here. That and to write this article, obviously. Seeing as how Joe is the centre of everyone’s world, I need to know how he ticks.”
She flipped open her suitcase and found a pair of jeans, one of Jeremy’s T–shirts that she brought to sleep in and a pair of sneakers she’d packed in case she got the chance to go for a run.
“Hope this will be dowdy enough for you, ole Joe,” she said, dropping the open suitcase onto the ground.
“For a start, I need to see just how far Joe will go to keep his precious ideals intact. His wife may be a simpering ‘yes’ woman, but I will not be so easily tamed. Get ready, Joe, you may just have met your match. I know I changed my clothes, but I let you win this battle. Let’s see who wins the war.”
Jamie’s written word may have portrayed the bravery she wished she felt, but truly her mind boggled at the thought of what would happen if she did go head to head with Joe. Would he spank her? She shuddered. How exactly would he go about it? Would he sit on a chair and stand her before him, telling her what he wanted changed in his domineering voice? Would he turn her over his knee? Or maybe he would dispense with the lecture and just bend her over a table. It irritated her no end that she was blushing. It would all be worth it in the end when she wrote her expose on the husband that dared to discipline his long-suffering spouse.
*****
“Is it Okay that my hands are showing?” Jamie asked smartly. “Or are these fingers, you know - too naked?” Seriously? She shocked even herself. The plan was to push him, but was that a bit much?
“Your hands are fine,” Joe said with barely concealed impatience. “Your attitude on the other hand....”
“I was joking,” she said. “Really. Surely the little woman is allowed to laugh.”
“Let’s just get on with dinner,” he said. “It’s your first night here and I’ve been off work today, so I’m happy to help. I thought we could make spaghetti.”
“Spaghetti will be fine,” she said. “Do the kids like that?”
“They like most things,” he said.
They managed to work together fairly peacefully, even chatting once in a while. Jamie did more of the salad than the actual meal. Jeremy was more of the cook at her house. He liked it, she justified to herself as she broke up lettuce leaves and chopped tomatoes. Besides, he always seemed to be home at that time. At least Joe seemed to be able to scare up a nice meal if the delicious aroma was anything to go by and that earned him a few points. It was such a shame though that they were having to partake of a lovely Italian inspired meal without wine. Things seemed to be going a little better, but she was wound as tightly as a drum. A glass of red wine would have been really relaxing. She made a point to make sure to get some for when her week started.
“So you and Sarah don’t ever have a glass of wine or anything?” she asked.
“No.”
“You don’t think it would like, relax you - make you a bit less uptight?”
“What makes you think I’m uptight?” Joe said with what she could have sworn was a hint of a smirk.
“Oh, I don’t know. Maybe the fact that you get all tied up in knots about clothes and shoes.”
“I’m not tied up in knots,” he said, stirring his sauce. “Children learn what they live, that’s all. If I don’t like the influence you’re having on my children, then I’m going to tell you.”
“And if I feel strongly enough to stand my ground?”
“You better to make very sure you’re ready for the outcome if you decide to go there.”
“Hmpfft,” she grumbled. “So that’s a ‘no’ to the wine then.”
Joe chuckled. “Yes, Jamie. That’s a ‘no’ to the wine. It was a ‘no’ before you got here. It was a ‘no’ when you read it in the rules, when you attempted to talk me
into it and it’s still a ‘no’ now.”
“Fine,” she said. “I’ll set the table.”
Jamie started to open drawers to find silverware and plates to set the table.
“No need,” he said. “That’s Hannah’s job.”
She looked at him with dismay, sure that he was joking. “No! You have to be kidding.”
“Why would I be kidding? The kids all have chores. I’m sure my wife explained that.”
“I thought the chores were for punishment,” she said.
“They can be,” he said. “Any extra chores for punishment though are over and above their regular chores.”
“But she’s just a baby!” Jamie was outraged.
“Lower your voice,” he said calmly. “Instead of trying to tell me where we’ve gone wrong, why don’t you relax, observe and judge for yourself after you’ve gotten to see how our family works.”
“All right, but for the record? I think that the whole thing is bogus.”
“Duly noted,” he said, banging the wooden spoon he’d been stirring the sauce with on the edge of the pan noisily. “Another thing for the record? I’m cutting you some slack because this is all new to you, but tomorrow is another day.” He clanged the spoon one more time and then went to the back door to call the kids.
Jamie watched silently as the kids all filed in and ran to the downstairs bathroom to wash their hands without being asked. It almost made her feel uneasy, like she’d been dropped onto the set of that movie where the wives and children were all brainwashed.
“What can I do?” she asked as the kids all ran around like busy bees, fetching jugs of water and glasses.
“Just for tonight you can be our guest. Relax.”
She had to admit to herself – if not to Joe – that Hannah was quite a capable little girl for five. She didn’t even need to be told which side of the plate to put the pieces of silverware.
“Finished Daddy!” she said proudly when her chore was done.
“Aren’t you clever!” Jamie said.
“I’m a big girl,” Hannah said proudly.
“Yes, you are,” Joe agreed, bending to give her plump cheek a kiss.
Within minutes they were all organised and sitting at the dining room table and Josie was saying the blessing. Although it was another new concept to her, Jamie closed her eyes and let the child’s innocent words run through her. It was a precious moment, especially when the little girl asked God to take care of her mom and make her trip a happy one.
Dessert was a happy affair. Sarah had made and decorated a cake with the word welcome on the top and left it in the fridge. The kids were so proud of her handiwork and happy to have a piece of their Mom sharing the table with them. It made Jamie wonder if she would be such a large part of her children’s lives when they were older?
*****
Sarah sat on a stool watching Jeremy cook. It felt odd. “Are you sure I can’t do anything to help you?” she pleaded.
This is how it had been since she got here. She thought it was a little odd that there weren’t any family pictures on the walls. There was a wedding picture and studio photographs of each of the girls, but not one photo of the family all together. She’d been totally shocked when Jeremy walked in, not only with his little girls but with a nanny as well. That moment confirmed what she’d read in Jamie’s diary. Things here were not the same as they were at home. At her house, she didn’t have a minute to spare and while it was tiring and she sometimes wished she could have a break, it was fulfilling. She and Joe took their roles as parents seriously. It was no mean feat to raise children to be strong decent people in a world that fought against that concept on a daily basis.
“No, really,” Jeremy said lightly. “I’m fine. This is what I do.”
“This is going to be hard to get used to,” she said. “I’m the one that normally cooks at home. Are you sure Caroline can manage both girls? Maybe I could help her?”
Jeremy glanced at Sarah with sympathy. He could tell how uneasy she was. How keen she was to do something.
“I know it’s hard,” he said. “Tomorrow after you go to work, you’ll probably be glad to not have to do anything.”
“So Caroline takes care of the children every day?” she asked.
“Yes, she’s wonderful.”
“I can see she’s good with Sophie and Poppy, but doesn’t your wife like to do things with the girls?” She was getting concerned. This woman was at her house caring for her children, or not caring for them, which was a real worry.
“Of course she does. She just gets really into her job. One day she wants to trade being a journalist on a small magazine to something much bigger.”
“Oh, okay,” Sarah said. “I don’t think I could leave my kids.”
“The girls are well cared for,” Jeremy said defensively. “In all fairness, you did leave your kids.” When she looked as though someone had slapped her, he visibly sagged.
“I’m sorry. That was a low blow. I didn’t mean to offend you. I guess you just hit a raw nerve.”
“I’m sorry, too,” she said. “I don’t mean to judge. When I first got here, I was a little taken back by how similar our circumstances seemed to be.”
“Until you realised our lives are not the same at all?”
“Yes,” she said with a smile. “In so many ways. Joe doesn’t usually cook. I mean he can cook and he does sometimes on the weekend, but our roles are more traditional.”
“Really? What is that anyway these days?”
“Well, the running of the house is more my domain,” Sarah wanted to just explain, but she couldn’t help but be aware of the fact they were being filmed.
“I guess you have to have some sort of order with four kids,” Jeremy said. “Otherwise things would get crazy.”
“Yes, they would.” she nodded. “I’ve never really been interested in working out of the home since I got married. I like making a home for my family.”
Jeremy smiled. “That’s good. At least you know what you want.”
“Jamie doesn’t know what she wants?”
“She knows she wants a career in journalism and she knows she wants the best for her kids. She does love them and she loves to be with them. It’s just that she’s still figuring out a balance of home and family.”
“I see,” Sarah said. But it sounded like Jamie needed someone to help her find that balance.
*****
“All bathed and ready for dinner,” Caroline said, leading the two little girls into the kitchen.
“Thank you, Caroline,” Jeremy said.
“It was nice to meet you, Caroline,” Sarah said.
“And you, Sarah,” Caroline said. “If there’s nothing else you need, I’ll be off now.”
“Of course,” Jeremy said. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Bye, Caroline,” Sophie called as she clambered up to sit at the table.
“Bye, darling. Bye, Poppy.”
Poppy waved happily as she imitated her sister’s goodbye.
“She is lovely,” Sarah said.
“Yes she is. We’re lucky to have found her.” Jeremy watched Sarah watch the girls. She was busting at the seams to get her hands on them.
“You know, Jamie doesn’t do a lot of the day–to–day household duties but she does play with the girls any chance she gets. You are their mom this week.”
“Yes, I am aren’t I?” Sarah said, her face splitting into a broad smile for the first time.
“Would you girls like to play a game while Daddy’s making dinner?” she asked.
“Yay!” Sophie said with a beaming smile.
“What would you like to play?”
Chapter 4
Jamie blinked open her bleary eyes the next morning when she heard tapping on the door. She’d lain awake for hours, unable to settle her mind enough for sleep. This was so much to take in and she was quite concerned about her first day as a housewife-slash-home schooler – slash- all around Superwoman. That a
nd she was worried that she just might not be able to stay out of trouble with Joe. Who’s idea was this again? Oh yeah. Hers.
“Jamie.”
“I’m coming, Joe,” she said, scrambling out of bed and stubbing her toe on her suitcase.
“Fuck,” she muttered.
“Jamie!” Joe said opening the door to see if she was okay.
“Sorry, sorry,” Jamie said, suddenly feeling wide-awake. “I stubbed my toe.”
“There’s still no need to use that language,” he said. “You’re going to have to curb that tongue or we’re going to have words.”
“Okay. I said I was sorry,” she said. “It hurt, that’s all. It just slipped out.”
“If it wasn’t a habit, it wouldn’t just slip out.”
“I get it. Can we save this morning’s lecture until my eyes are open all the way?”
“Time the children were up and fed. Their lessons start at nine,” Joe said. “And there’s no coffee made.”
“The kids drink coffee?” she asked, blinking while she tried to remember what was in the damn diary.
“No. I do.”
“Oh,” Jamie said. “Of course.” She’d forgotten she was the woman who was supposed to take care of her husband.
“And Jamie? If you unpack your things and put away your suitcase you won’t have anything to bang your toes on,” he said with a smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes. “Sarah cleared you a space for your things in the closet.”
When he’d closed the door to allow her some privacy to change, Jamie flopped down on the bed. “Of course she did,” she whispered. This woman was perfect, and yet Joe was in charge. How did that work?
*****
“The kids start their work at nine and they work through in the order that Sarah has set out until eleven,” Joe explained as he watched her make the coffee.
“Then they have a break?” Jamie asked, wishing he would go somewhere else instead of peering over her shoulder.
“They have a break for an hour and then after lunch, depending on the day, and they finish up with an extracurricular activity. Today is Monday so they will be doing art.”
The Grass Could Be Greener Page 4
