From Acceptance to Fulfilment

It had been five years since Bill Claridge had rescued Jon Travelly from his dismal existence in the settlement of Redrock far to the west in cattle country. He was now twenty-three years old and no longer the skinny kid Bill had bought home and hosed down to take the filth of living on the streets of Redrock off him with a protesting wife Milly watching from the kitchen window. Things were different now. Jon was now known as Jon Claridge having been adopted legally and he was a tall strapping young adult with bulging muscles from the hard work Bill, and he engaged in each day, and he had a handsome face not one lined with stress as in his former life.

Their first trip back to Redrock for delivery of orders placed by the cattle station managements was rather interesting. No one had recognized who Jon was now he was cleaned up and wearing quality work clothes and shoes and Bill made no attempt to inform them it was Jon who’d been a mischief maker in his former life there. Jon appreciated that but he refused the offer of free beer bestowed on Bill their benefactor from the East by grateful citizens of these remote settlements. He knew that would disappoint Milly and he was so grateful to her for her care and attention that he’d not engage in practices she didn’t approve of.

Milly had watched his progress with pride and nurtured Jon with the same love she’d have bestowed on any of her own children had she been able to produce them. She continued to expand his interest in educating himself and introduced him to some of the classics which he’d take and read at the end of the day when they were back home in Carterville. Milly quizzed him on what he was reading and drew out of him his thoughts as he read some of these old classics. She encouraged him to express his thoughts in poetic form and would offer suggestions as to how he could improve his work.

He began to see the beauty of nature in all his travels and on returning home would put those impressions into writing shyly sharing his work with his adopted mother Milly. Milly was overjoyed to have someone in the home who appreciated the finer arts of life. She loved Bill with a passion, but Bill was a man of the land and not one of letters so while they had much in common to discuss in a happy marriage to have someone who could appreciate this aspect of her personality was a joy to her. So, though Jon was satisfied with his high school certificate which he’d shown great promise in his results he preferred to continue his educational pursuits under the tutorship of his adopted mother Milly.

At this age most young adults would be looking around for a partner for life and Milly encouraged him to begin to forge relationships with those his age around the town when he and Bill were not travelling. The town had excellent sporting grounds and public equipment to enjoy and regular dances where the young adults got to know each other. Most of the young adults from town knew each other as they’d shared their growing up years together through elementary school and high school. So, they were beginning to establish more personal links that would eventually lead to marriage. Approximately ten percent of the town’s young adults would choose the college experience so had to travel east to the coast to find boarding institutions allowing them to pursue professional careers and practically none would return to Carterville when their college courses were complete.

But there were exceptions. Claire Grant the niece of Milly had finished her college work and returned to Carterville to teach at the local school in lower grades. She was attractive in looks but so absorbed in her teaching interests she refused any attempts by the young men around town to get her attention as she’d rather stay at home and read or listen to music. She’d been the same through her college years and viewed by those who tried to date her as a cold fish. It’s not that she was sedentary with that solitary practice. She started each day with a two-kilometre jog at five am and repeated that in the evening jogging her favourite path by the river before spending time with her family over the evening meal then retiring to her study to correct papers or prepare her teaching plans. Milly’s sister Beatrice Grant was concerned about her daughter’s seeming anti-social behaviour. The rest of her children were very much involved in interacting with the community, so Claire stood out as the exception and Beatrice blamed herself for perhaps not nurturing this child to be culturally involved. Milly had tried to comfort her sister by explaining that personality development was a complicated thing and, in this case, certainly not the fault of her sister. It was just a genetic roll of the dice.

But Milly began to reflect on this. Her sister had a child who preferred to fully concentrate on the things of interest to her so community events involving a lot of raucous laughter and the usual experimental relationship building with the opposite sex at these events and dances did not appeal to her. She felt she could be better off with her books instead of trivial pursuits. She loved sports and walks in the solitude of nature where she reflected on the complexity of life and intellectual pursuits with her fellow teachers when at school. But as her teacher associates were all married there was no way to continue those discussions of an evening.

Milly then turned her attention to her adopted son. He had no interest in fellowship with the young adults of town drawing pleasure from his discussions with his adopted parents who he loved with a passion. His whole life centred around his family and his work as he felt secure around them. He loved his discussions on literature with Milly who’d taught him all he knew. But he felt comfortable with those in the settlements they visited on business too as he understood their culture and experience and was outgoing with them on their frequent trips.

Perhaps there could be a common bond developed between Claire and Jon. Jon was adopted so there was no blood relationship to consider if they became attracted to each other. Milly wanted grandchildren so perhaps she could work on getting them together to test if sparks could be ignited between them and she’d get grandchildren as a result to pour her love on. She decided to have a little talk with her sister Beatrice to see if she had an interest in pursuing this line of thinking too.

It was not unusual for the Grants to be invited to the Claridge home and Jon was quite familiar with the Grant children who’d remained in Carterville while Claire had been at boarding school completing her college work, she’d commenced studying business at the urging of her father but after a year at it she shed tears in front of her father who was visiting her and asked permission to change to education. He’d reluctantly agreed seeing her distress. He’d hoped Claire would help him with his business interests. So, Claire had been away from Carterville for much longer than originally intended because of this change of direction in her studies and had only been back home for a short time now.

Claire had always liked aunt Milly as she’d stayed with Milly as a child when Beatrice had a long hospital experience and Aunt Milly had talked the language of literature this young girl was interested in. So, on this first family visit with the Claridge family Claire was introduced to Jon who she greeted in a disinterested way. Then Milly produced some of the poetry Jon had written which she’d lovingly squirreled away with her treasures and showed it to Claire while they talked about Claires new appointment at the school.

Claire scanned a few of the poems under the watchful eye of Milly and Beatrice and then returned to study them in depth. Claire then was told Jon loved to express his thoughts in poetry and share these with Milly. Claire turned to give Jon a careful examination as he talked with her brothers. He was very presentable. Beatrice watched her daughter’s reaction and nodded to Milly. Beatrice called out to Jon.

“Jon we’ve been looking at your poetry and it’s very good do you have time to tell us what prompted you to write these poems?”

Jon looked shocked that Milly had shared his work with his adopted aunt and cousin. He turned red with embarrassment considering these well-educated relatives would think his work was unprofessional. But he didn’t want to be disrespectful and reluctantly headed to where they were sitting. Beatrice pulled up another chair and indicated he should sit. He felt his cousins’ eyes boring into him penetrating his thoughts.

“I feel embarrassed Milly showed you my unprofessional work Aunt Beatrice.”

Claire spoke.

“I think it’s very professional Jon and I’d like to discuss these with you as I have an interest in poetry. I often compose poems in my mind as I do my evening walks by the river so would like to understand what motivates your thoughts in these poems. Do you have time, I know you like to be with the guys but perhaps you could let me have a little of your time this afternoon.”

Beatrice and Milly looked at each other and smiled. Milly spoke.

“Beatrice, can you help me in the kitchen to prepare the evening meal for our hungry families.”

 Claire launched into a discussion on the first poem and Jon was suddenly energized. Someone else other than Milly liked his work. For the rest of the afternoon the two of them were inseparable and when the Grants prepared for departure after enjoying the evening meal together Claire asked if Jon would join her on her evening walks by the river when he was not on one of their regular trips so they could discuss their common interest. She said she was desperate to find someone who appreciated the arts outside of her teaching associates who were married so not available in the evenings to do that. Jon eagerly agreed and walked with her to the car on the Grant family departure planning for their next meeting together. That evening as Beatrice and Milly had their sharing time with spouses before taking rest for the night, they revealed to their husbands the plot they’d hatched to make their respective children a little more sociable. Both husbands laughingly told their wives not to interfere and let the children make their own decisions.   

A close bonding developed between Claire Grant and Jon Claridge, and they were inseparable when Jon was home from a trip. But while Beatrice and Milly watched it happen and waited for the happy news the two wanted to spend their life together in marriage nothing happened.

 Finally, despite warning from the husbands to leave things to their two children to decide they were made for each other the two women began a campaign to get their children now adults into matrimony mode. Hints went over their heads, and the two women became frustrated when their hoped-for event was no further forward than when they first met but it was obvious they both cared for each other very much and were compatible. Finally, Milly had enough and decided to act. She found a time when Bill was not around, and she could have a heart-to-heart talk with her adopted son. It was now or never.  She found him in Bill’s office working on the accounting records and got straight to the point.     

“Jon isn’t it about time you asked Claire to marry you. You’ve been going out with her for a long time, and she loves being with you. Why are you delaying asking her?”

Jon was shocked at this direct approach.

“Milly, she’d never marry me. Look at my background and besides that she’s my cousin and that’s not appropriate.”

Milly laughed.

“You are a very handsome man Jon, a hard worker who could provide well for any woman and what we have is yours as we’ve adopted you and you are going to be very wealthy one day. We won’t be with you forever as we are beginning to age. Claire is not your blood relation so it would be perfectly legal, and I know you love her, or you wouldn’t spend so much time with her. Betrice wants the both of you to get together. Now get your act together my son and ask Claire to marry you. I want grandchildren to spoil. You are meeting her this afternoon for your regular river walk. Please ask her after she finishes at school.”

Jon stared at her and laughed.

“You’re serious!”

“Never been more serious now go and wait outside the school for her to finish her work and then give me some good news tonight.”

“Bill wants me to finish this work this afternoon Milly.”

Milly closed the accounting record books.

“Now go!”

She reached up on her tip toes and gave him a kiss.

Jon went to the shed and took out the motorcycle Bill had bought for him and headed for the school. He waited patiently for Claire to emerge and asked if he could drop her home. She nodded but inquired why he wasn’t wearing his shorts and jogging shoes. Then before he lost his courage, he blurted it out after getting off the motorcycle.

“Claire I’ve been trying to pluck up courage to ask you this for a long time now.”

“The answer is yes Jon now why don’t we go back to your place so you can change for our evening jog by the river. It has taken you a long time to finally ask me, so I guess I’ll spare you the trauma in advance and tell you I’ve wanted to have you ask me to marry you for a year now. For someone who has the romantic nature of a poet you certainly lack in understanding a woman’s mind Now let’s go tell Milly who I know probably put you up to this and then we’ll tell my parents on the way back as my mom has been plotting along with Aunt Milly all this while. Women understand what other women are up to very well.”

 “I didn’t ask you sooner as I thought it was not right for cousins to marry even though I wanted to.”

“Were not blood related so quick let’s go put Milly out of her misery and tell her the answer is yes.”

There was rejoicing in the Grant and Claridge families when this news was related that evening and Claire no longer happy to be a loaner was planning for a happy future with her intended husband Jon.

Bill provided money to buy their first home and the Grant’s provided money to furnish it to the tastes of the two. Claire was happy to flash her engagement ring in front of her associates at school, and they marvelled at her sudden change from a solitary soul to outgoing. The Grant and Claridge family put on a large reception for the newly married couple with most of the important people and those who’d shared Claire’s early education with her at the reception. Jon became a very affectionate and supportive husband, and they revelled in each other’s company and enjoyed their exploration of literature together. But Jon continued to give strong support to his adoptive parents Bill and Milly, and he took more responsibility for management of the business as Bill aged.

Then one day the son of one of the cattle station owners made Bill and offer. He wanted to move his family to Carterville for their education and as his elder brother would now be inheriting the cattle station he felt the need to have a business of his own and desired to take over Bill’s business with a most generous offer. Bill consulted with his son Jon and recommended they accept the offer. Bill would like to confine his work to the farm now as he was growing older and felt Jon needed to be in business in town so he could be with his family as Claire produced children. Jon could see the wisdom in this suggestion and agreed to the sale of their business. Bill placed most of the proceeds of that sale at the disposal of his son and daughter in law and Jon decided to purchase the department store in town that was now up for sale. It was a successful move, and he loved spending more time with his wife and no longer having to travel.

In time Claire produced those grandchildren the Claridge and Grant family had been hoping for and Milly looked forward to spending her final years pouring her love on this new generation.

Conclusion.

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