June Again #4
Yup, I can do that. I had something I wanted to run by you anyway.
22 Jun | From: Brian Trainer | To: Justin Carter
Subject: RE: Beers?
Oh, yeah?
And what would that be, Justin? This better not be about Rosita. She’s fine in your office. After her last escape attempt, she’s proven she’s not trustworthy enough for the shared area.
22 Jun | From: Justin Carter | To: Brian Trainer
Subject: RE: Beers?
It’s not about Rosita.
It’s about Jesy.
22 Jun | From: Brian Trainer | To: Justin Carter
Subject: RE: Beers?
We’re not having a threesome.
22 Jun | From: Justin Carter | To: Brian Trainer
Subject: RE: Beers?
I didn’t know that was up for discussion, but we’ll revisit that later.
No. I wanna come to Meadowcraig with you.
22 Jun | From: Brian Trainer | To: Justin Carter
Subject: RE: Beers?
Okay.
I didn’t expect that; I have to admit. What has prompted this?
22 Jun | From: Justin Carter | To: Brian Trainer
Subject: RE: Beers?
Well, first of all, I have never been out of Detroit, can you believe it?
Secondly, Jesy made Meadowcraig sound so beautiful, I figured why not?
Thirdly, you’re not the only one who misses her.
22 Jun | From: Brian Trainer | To: Justin Carter
Subject: RE: Beers?
Justin, do you have a thing for my girl?
22 Jun | From: Justin Carter | To: Brian Trainer
Subject: RE: Beers?
A little crush, maybe. But nothing substantial. Mostly I just think she’s a good buddy.
More importantly, she’s far too normal for me.
22 Jun | From: Brian Trainer | To: Justin Carter
Subject: RE: Beers?
Right.
And while you’re in Meadowcraig, what is to become of the office?
22 Jun | From: Justin Carter | To: Brian Trainer
Subject: RE: Beers?
I can take a two-week vacation, no?
As long as I have a laptop, I can work from anywhere. You were the one who insisted on an office space.
22 Jun | From: Brian Trainer | To: Justin Carter
Subject: RE: Beers?
In the hopes we can expand, Justin. Remember that part?
22 Jun | From: Justin Carter | To: Brian Trainer
Subject: RE: Beers?
I do.
So, can I come?
22 Jun | From: Brian Trainer | To: Justin Carter
Subject: RE: Beers?
How about we discuss it over beers later? I’ll see you in Spoons around 7, okay?
1 NEW SMS
I miss u so much.
Hadd a few dr!nks wiv Justin and now I cant spell. Whis you wer here – Brian
24 Jun | From: Jesy Mason | To: Justin Carter
Subject: Hey!
You said you’d look after him, Justin? Why is he sending me badly spelled texts in the middle of the day?
24 Jun | From: Justin Carter | To: Jesy Mason
Subject: RE: Hey!
The middle of your day is the middle of our night, and could you type quieter as I have one hell of a headache.
24 Jun | From: Jesy Mason | To: Justin Carter
Subject: RE: Hey!
Well, serves you right!
Seriously, though. Is he okay? Are you okay?
24 Jun | From: Justin Carter | To: Jesy Mason
Subject: RE: Hey!
He’s fine!
He just misses you. Good news, by the way. I’m coming to Meadowcraig. And I will not be answering any further questions.
24 Jun | From: Jesy Mason | To: Justin Carter
Subject: RE: Hey!
?? I have questions, Justin!
24 Jun | From: Jesy Mason | To: Justin Carter
Subject: RE: Hey
Hello??
You have received an instant message from:
brIAN
Brian: I’m either not cut out for drinking any more, or Justin is a fucking maniac.
Jesy: My bet is on both.
Jesy: Feeling a bit tender, are we?
Brian: A bit? Jes, I don’t mean to alarm you, but I’m fairly certain we’ll never have children.
Not only have I drowned all my swimmers in copious amounts of alcohol, Justin, in all of his wisdom, decided to recreate something he’d seen on Friends.
We stuffed my pants full of packing peanuts and then he kicked me full force in the balls to see if it’d hurt.
Brian: Spoiler alert. It did. So, any sperm that survived the alcohol invasion were knocked into extinction by a kick so hard, David Beckham would be proud.
Jesy: I have so much to say and yet…
Jesy: You’ve been thinking about having kids with me?
Brian: Sure. In a couple of years when we’ve had time to enjoy each other, it might be nice to have a rugrat or two.
Jesy: Huh.
Brian: What?
Jesy: Oh, nothing. I’m just rethinking something I said to Isla. But it’s fine.
Jesy: Okay, first of all, never listen to Justin again. Second of all, you’ll make more sperm. Third of all never listen to Justin again.
Brian: Ha! You got it.
Brian: Did he tell you about Meadowcraig?
Jesy: Apparently, he’s coming for a visit?
Brian: He definitely seems keen to.
Brian: I think it’d be a good idea.
Jesy: I think I need to hide Meadowcraig in a protective bubble. I’d hate to think what he’d do to poor Hamish and Callum.
Brian: Who are Hamish and Callum?
Jesy: Our Highland Cows. They live on the farm and bring in some tourist money.
Brian: …
Brian: Maybe we move them to another farm when he visits. I don’t want another bucking Bronco situation.
Jesy: Agreed.
Jesy: So, what’s the plan?
Brian: He comes back with me when my six months is up.
Jesy: Shutting the Detroit office?
Brian: No.
Brian: At least, I don’t think so. I’m going to have to sit down with Darrell and Justin at some point and work out the logistics, because when I come back, I’m coming back to Meadowcraig.
Jesy: Wow.
Jesy: You really are serious about working around me.
Brian: I am.
Jesy: What if you hate it here?
Brian: I grew up in the Lake District. How different can it be?
Jesy: Pretty different.
Jesy: Life is even slower around here.
Brian: I like slow.
Brian: And besides, I can’t hate wherever you are. We can live anywhere.
Jesy: You’re all in again.
Brian: Hm?
Jesy: Nothing.
Jesy: Okay, well, when you know what’s happening, let me know.
Brian: Will do. How’s the book coming along?
Jesy: Good!
Jesy: I’ve got all the research I can get my hands on. Now it’s time to turn it into a book.
Jesy: You know Walking With Dinosaurs?
Brian: Abrupt change of topic.
Jesy: Nope. Just go with me.
Jesy: So, in the show, they’d follow individual dinosaur stories for that emotional angle, right? There’s no saying these individuals existed, or that their story actually happened the way it was told. But you make people care and suddenly history is interesting.
Brian: Ah, I see. So you’re going to give people something to care about.
Jesy: Exactly.
Jesy: There’s no saying who lived here before consensus was a thing. Even our most famous resident might be an amalgamation of three or four separate people.
Brian: But if you tell Meadowcraig’s history through the eyes of the people who might have lived there…
Jesy: Then suddenly history is interesting.
Brian: You clever little genius, you.
Jesy: I wouldn’t go that far.
Jesy: More that I wrote a first draft and bored myself, so came up with a new angle.
Brian: Do you have all your characters?
Jesy: Most of them, yeah. All the way back to when the first people stepped foot on Meadowcraig soil.
Brian: I can’t wait to read it all.
Jesy: I know you can’t.
Jesy: I love you for that.
Brian: …
Brian: That’s the first time you’ve said that.
Jesy: I know.
Brian: Well, don’t you know, I love you, too.
Jesy: Well, how about that.
Note to self.
Get you a man who encourages you to live your dream.
You’ll never doubt yourself again.