Chapter Three #2
Leila threw her head back and laughed. All Elaina could do was stare at her in confusion.
When Leila settled down, she looked at her friend with amusement, and said, “Do you honestly think that James impressed someone like Tim Grimsson? Oh don’t deceive yourself, Elaina.
You my dear friend are the one who impressed Grimsson.
He was so impressed by you that he gave James the job to help him.
If it weren’t for you, James would be as jobless as he was months ago. ”
“That is not true. I...” Elaina trailed off and she held her head.
“It is what it is. You are so much better than James, my dear. I really wish you would realize it. It still beats me why you chose to be with him. You know, when I got married, I told you that you should hold on a little while longer and that I would get you a rich husband from Willy’s circle of friends, someone who would be able to treat you right, but you chose not to listen to me and hitched your wagon with that bum. ”
Elaina could not take her eyes off her friend as she looked at her in shock, unable to believe what she was hearing.
This could not be true. So this was how her friend felt all along?
Sure, at the start, she had told her that James was not the best man for her but she had thought by now her friend had come to respect her decision.
Never would she have thought that her friend would want to push her into the arms of a man that was not her husband.
“You know, I thought it was over for you when you got together with James and so, I had no choice but to help you out as your friend. I could not leave you to die in poverty. That was why I invited you to the party, so you could meet a potential helper. But you met more! Imagine my joy when Grimsson confided his feelings for you to me after the party. Of course I told him to leave it all to me and take it slowly.”
“You did what?” Elaina gasped. Just when she thought she had heard it all. Now this.
“Well, yes, of course. I am convinced that soon you will see the kind of man that you are married to, that James is nothing but a low life, and then, you will realize how much better you can do. I really have no idea why Grimsson had to approach you. He is just so impatient, you know. I guess it is because he is completely and utterly crazy about you, right?”
“How on earth can you be this way, Leila? I cannot believe you would do this to me!” Elaina exclaimed as she jumped to her feet.
“You have to be realistic, my friend. There is a man who loves you and can actually take care of you. Why do you have to waste your time with James? If it weren’t for him, James would not have a job now, you know this right?”
“I am not going to stay here and have this conversation any further. I am not leaving James, you can tell your dear friend, Grimsson that. He is never going to have me so he can stop deceiving himself.”
She stormed toward the door with Leila fast behind her.
“Oh come on. Would you be realistic, Elaina? He holds James’ job in the palm of his hands. Do you really want to annoy him?”
Elaina spun around. Glaring at her friend, she said, “I would rather James be without a job than have him work for such a horrible person who wants to desire his wife.”
She went to leave but paused in her steps and looked at Leila, “You should realize that I don’t want to have anything to do with you for a long time. Take care of yourself.”
Elaina hurried out of the house, and it was not till she was a good distance away that she finally fell down into a squat and ran an exhausted hand through her hair.
Tears pushed at the back of her eyes, threatening to spill.
All she could do was control her breathing.
She felt sad, disgusted and angry. How dare he think he could buy her?
It was only because of their pitiful state that he actually thought he could have a chance with her.
He thought they would be at his beck and call. That scoundrel!
Taking in deep breaths, she stood up and headed to the spot where she would get a wagon heading in the direction of her home. Elaina was so distracted during the trip that she almost missed her stop.
She let out a relieved sigh when she looked up to see the log cabin she shared with her husband in the distance.
She was utterly exhausted, both physically and mentally.
She also felt betrayed. How could Leila do that?
She shook her head, fighting back the bad thoughts. She would not think about them.
Slowly, she made her way up the dirt road that led home. She had just barely settled down on the bed in the room when she heard the sound of the front door opening. A few moments later, she felt the familiar presence of James.
“Darling, where have you been? I returned earlier than usual and I was so worried.” James hurried to her side.
He placed a hand on her forehead as he said, “Are you sick? Did you go to the midwife? Where have you been, my love?”
“It’s just been a long day. I was on the other side of town.”
“Other side of? Oh… you went to see Leila? You should have told me, my dear. You know that I do not want you stressing yourself. You are still in the second month of our pregnancy, my darling.”
“I know that. It was a trip I had to take, as horrible as it turned out to be,” she added the last bit in a mumble.
“Oh? Did something happen to Leila? Tell me, my dear.”
“Are you enjoying your job, James? Or are you just doing it because it is the only one you got?”
James smiled regretfully, “Darling, we are in a situation where we cannot be picky about the opportunities that comes our way. I am truly grateful for this opportunity. It is hard work, and it can be quite dull, but I am thrilled about the opportunity. We do not have to worry about a lot of things, and I think that is wonderful.”
“I want you to quit,” Elaina said quietly.
James stiffened and he looked at her in shock, “What are you talking about, Elaina? What do you mean by that? We cannot afford to lose this job. Are you doing this because of the few times I came home drunk? You know that I have not done that in weeks. I am keeping my promise to you and...”
“That is not it, James, it’s not that,” Elaina told him softly.
“Then talk to me, Elaina. Let me understand what it is that you see. Let me know what it is you know. With that understanding, I will be informed about the decision we are making. I find it hard to understand why you want me to quit a good job like it but you are a rational person. You have to have a reason and it is that reason I am waiting for. And please do not tell me to just trust you. I trust you, my dear, and I also want you to trust me with the truth. What exactly is going on, my love?”
Elaina took in a deep breath. She exhaled and nodded, “I will tell you the truth but you have to promise that you won’t go crazy, neither will you fight anybody. Promise me, James. I know it won’t be easy but you have to promise me that you won’t make any trouble, James.”
“Why on earth would I make trouble when...” he started saying when she took his hand in hers and squeezed it.
“Promise me, my love.”
He sighed and nodded, “I promise. I will not go wild and hurt anyone. You have my word. Now can you please tell me exactly what is going on.”
Elaina nodded slowly. She took in a deep breath and opened her mouth to speak, filling her husband in on the situation of the past few days. As she went farther in the story, she saw his fists forming and every now and then, she took his hands and caressed them till the fists were unformed.
“I do not want you working with him anymore, James. I don’t trust him and we have no idea what he is capable of. Do we really want to sit back and see what he can do? I do not think so. It will be better for you to leave. I know getting a new job will not be easy but it is a necessary step.”
“We can leave here,” James said softly, “We both have nothing holding us back to this town anymore.”
Elaina nodded, “Yes, let’s leave and never return. Let us leave the troubles behind.”
“I love you, Elaina. Thank you for standing by me,” James stroked her cheek. She smiled softly at him. They hugged and Elaina sighed, feeling much better. They would leave and never look back. It was perfect. They would start their family somewhere faraway from all of this.