A Happy Ending for Emma

Rachel stood in shock thinking of the ramifications of what Emma had said about making a police report and informing her husband. This was a serious accusation, and Emma had it all wrong and this could destroy the orchard and put them all out of work if an inaccurate version reached the police. How would her husband react? He’d naturally want to know why Rachel hadn’t reported this to him. She spluttered it was not that way at all and Emma had been misinformed.

Emma could hold back her mirth no longer and burst out laughing until both Anika and Lenert came to see what was going on anxiously. Emma hugged her friend Rachel who was shaking with fear. Just having some fun Rach. I think the whole story is hilarious and it certainly turned out to my benefit, so I owe you a lifetime debt. Rachel stopped shaking and slapped Emma.

“Between you and your husband I’ll end up with a heart attack. Get back to the research station and don’t frighten me like that again. You’re dangerous.”

Lenert watched wondering what was happening and looked inquiringly at Rachel who laughed.

“Lenert, I retract all the good things I said about Emma. You’re in for a wild ride and I pity you now. But you’re to blame.”

Lenert figured all was well and his favourite people were sharing a joke, so he retreated to his office to get on with the day. Maybe he’d quiz Emma that evening what the joke was if he remembered. He reflected on how his mother was happy with her new daughter in law and pulling out all stops to make her feel welcome. She was now making plans to take her daughter in law to Barossa Valley to proudly show her off to her family there.

Lenert and Emma settled into married life quickly and it was apparent they were deeply in love with each other. Anika also had plans for grandchildren and wondered how to push for that, but her son and his wife seemed to be married to their jobs as well as each other and rebuffed any suggestions from Anika it was time for them to consider children of their own. Lenert was getting good reports about Emma’s progress and Ray was beginning to place small teams under her wing to manage. They respected her for her double Master’s and scholarly analysis of projects they worked on. Ray had sent her to the meetings at CSIRO in Canberra on his behalf to report on work in hand occasionally and sought feedback from his contacts there about her performance. The word he got back from Canberra was they were impressed and thinking of offering her a job in Canberra. This alarmed Ray and he reverted to making those trips and presentations himself again. But the Canberra office continued to show interest in Emma. They would prefer Ray, but he’d constantly refused to go there preferring the rural life and this orchard that carried childhood memories of his grandfather. Beside that he was aware his health was slowly deteriorating, and the time would come when he’d have to withdraw from this job and retire.

He had no desire to go into a retirement home in preparation for those final years in high level care. He preferred to die here and be buried if allowed on that section of the property that once belonged to his childhood days. He confided his concerns to his relative Rachel who he’d always felt comfortable to share things that concerned him. She promised she’d be there for him until the end as he’d been supportive of her as she grew from baby to her mature years and she loved him as an uncle. She determined to seek counsel from Lenert who she knew would keep her confidential information without sharing. He listened and assured her that Ray would be well cared for here and when the time came, he’d have a private accommodation with a nurse to care for his needs. Ray had been the backbone of their research program and protected this property and now it was time to repay this aging man in his sixties now. The disease slowly creeping into his vitals was a cruel slow disease and while he was in transition he’d be honoured and cared for. Lenert was grateful for Ray’s foresight in preparing Emma now Lenert’s precious wife for a role that would be as useful as Ray’s contribution for this whole productive life.

Another year passed before Lenert realized he had to deal with Ray’s deteriorating health as it was becoming apparent to others he worked with in research and they were alarmed that their mentor was not coping as well as before. Lenert and Emma had made their trip to Germany and stayed with her parents who were intrigued with his Australian Prussian dialect but soon found him to be an ideal partner for their daughter and happy at the way Lenert had facilitated her growth professionally. 

She’d visited her old university and informed her old professors of her change of direction professionally and they put her in touch with professors who were teaching in her line of work now. They were intrigued with the research she was engaged in and inquired if she could arrange field trips for some of their own students who may profit from exposure to what was happening in that research in other parts of the world and Lenert reported they may be able to take limited numbers if it was mutually arranged with the CSIRO through inter government contact.

It was now time for Lenert to address Ray’s condition, so he called a meeting consisting of Ray Emma and Rachel. Lenert got to the point of the meeting quickly and Ray turned to his relative Rachel accusingly feeling his confidence had been betrayed but as Lenert outlined the situation as he observed it Ray began to relax realizing it was all about his comfort and appreciation for what he’d done for the orchard and their sponsor. He nodded at Rachel in appreciation and turned to concentrate on what Lenert was planning. Ray was to remain in charge but as his health deteriorated, he was to delegate more authority to Emma and those of seniority, he had confidence in but work as his health permitted. He’d always have a home on this estate and arrangements made for an eventual burial site on the land once owned by his grandfather. When he was no longer able to cope a nurse would be provided to see to his every need as his health became a problem for him to move around. Ray burst into tears as this was outlined to him and he nodded in consent to the plan. He felt his contribution was being appreciated and he was so grateful Rachel had facilitated this plan. He reached over and patted her on her arm in gratitude while Emma stood to embrace this man who’d acted like a father advancing her in knowledge so selflessly to replace him. She’d treat him with love and respect as he deteriorated.

Then two years into marriage Emma suddenly felt sick one morning and headed for the bathroom to throw up. The ever-listening Anika was at her side in an instant recognizing the signs. She was going to achieve her goal to be a grandmother to her son’s children here and she determined to spoil her daughter in law and see she didn’t do anything to counter her grandchild’s development through to birth. Emma too understood the sign and was not sure she welcomed this revelation. But she determined not to let Anika overpower her and she’d continue to do her work. She was German and she’d work hard and not let pregnancy get in the way of that. The power struggle started between the two women and eventually Anika understood this was Emma’s baby and Emma was in charge. Anika retreated from trying to control the pregnancy but did everything she could to signal she loved her daughter in law and would do anything to make her life comfortable.

Lenert was relieved when the pecking order had been established and the two women declared a truce. He could concentrate on his administrative work instead of worrying about the contest between two strong women he loved. Emma delivered a healthy boy and continued her job with the same excellence as before but made sure she was a mother to the child and not an onlooker as someone else bought up the baby as some rich people practiced. Emma’s mother paid her a visit in the last stages of pregnancy and was present when Emma delivered a grandchild for her parents and mother-in-law to love. Lenert showered gifts on his mother-in-law as she returned to Germany, and she went back with glowing stories of what her daughter had accomplished and a multitude of baby pictures.

Years passed by and Emma recognizing she had to train up someone to head the research centre into the future began to reflect on the talents of those who’d worked in the research centre for a long time and produced some amazing work. Many had left to continue their education and accepted work in academia or other research centres, but some had remained. Emma felt that those who’d stayed with them as a life work had missed out on the breadth that comes from moving around different areas to work gaining extra breadth and experience in the process. She thought of all those who she’d worked with over the years and remembered one who Ray had identified as having top level management potential. It was Wes the one they called prickle head and he was a major contributor and very smart. He was recalled to the CSIRO a year after Emma had joined the team and was now running a smaller research centre that also fed into the CSIRO data base, but it was a much smaller operation. She recalled it was Wes who’d chosen her nickname in German which meant tree blossom, but Emma had pretended the German name meant ugly and had the team apologizing until she confessed, she was just fooling them, and it was a nice name.

She now had two children and realized if they wanted more, she was reaching an age where it would become increasingly difficult and perhaps even life threatening though she was German and felt she was indestructible but better to be alert to possibilities. Ray was no longer attending the research centre and under twenty-four-hour nursing care and not expected to last much longer. He’d lost interest in living and welcomed the inevitable feeling useless now though he received frequent visits from many. She determined to talk it over with Lenert that evening as she wanted to be more available to children as they grew to reach difficult ages to manage.

Lenert agreed to sound out Wes to see if he’d be willing to return to Paradise Fruit Orchards with its advanced laboratories and larger program. Wes did have a family to consider, and they had roots down in the community they served now but it was worth a try. Wes got back to Lenert thanking him for consideration and said they’d have to think about it as a family but his children were now in their teens and either working in the large cities or in boarding school so it would really be a decision for his wife to make as he’d be quite happy to return as a second in command. He shared that with Emma who suggested maybe Wes would be more interested if he was placed in command and she’d assist as she was anxious to spend more time with her growing family, so Lenert sent a correction to his first approach and offered him the in-charge slot.

A week later Wes showed up with his wife Monica and took her for an inspection of the huge complex and she was impressed. Then they went to Stanthorpe to inspect the town and Wes noted there were even more services available than there had been during his time there. They looked at houses to see if there was anything Monica found appealing then returned to Paradise Fruit Orchards to spend time in guest rooms while considering the offer. Monica was impressed with the friendliness of all who worked on the property and wished there was accommodation available. Lenert overheard the conversation and contacted the owners that evening to see how they’d feel about erecting another home there along with the foreman’s home explaining the plan to prepare for Emma’s eventual exit. They thought it was good to be planning and approved the construction of a three-bedroom home if that would bring Wes to decision point.

Lenert put that to Wes and Monica next day and they indicated they’d be interested in Wes returning to oversee research with Emma as his next in charge working part time flexible hours worked out with Wes. Wes indicated he’d be happy to work with Emma in either role, but she insisted he take the leading role, and husband and wife quickly agreed to make the change after giving the research lab they presently served together a year to find a replacement. Emma was delighted with that result and looked forward to Wes coming to take over so she could spend more quality time with the children. The children loved Anika so were happy to be with her when Emma was not available. Lenert got to work getting architect and builder involved and took the plans to council who soon gave their approval for work to commence under the usual stringent conditions.

Wes eventually found a person to replace him from those he’d worked with in the past and by the time the year had elapsed he’d sold his home and arranged a moving van to transfer household belongings to his new location. By the time he arrived approval to occupy had been issued by the council and he was able to move in taking a week to get his furniture in place and attend to some minor changes to meet their needs. Wes moved into the research centre and Emma caught him up to date on all the projects she’d been working on, and informed CSIRO Wes would be representing the orchard with them from that time on unless he asked Emma to do an occasional trip for him. They were sorry to see Emma disconnect as they respected her work.

That evening a happy Emma sat with her husband and children on the lounge and informed Lenert perhaps they could now have that third child he’d wanted, and Lenert looked up and nodded with enthusiasm. He suggested perhaps the children could be put to bed a little earlier tonight and Emma laughed.

“I think that’s a good idea Lenert it will be so nice to have more time to spend with you and the children.

Lenert looked at his wife and smiled.

“I’m the happiest man alive Emma and will be eternally grateful to Rachel for prompting me to find a way to make you my wife even though between the both of us we scared the poor woman so badly.”

Emma laughed and the eldest child chimed in.

“What’s funny Mom?”

“I’m just happy darling that’s why I’m laughing because your daddy makes me happy.”

She then turned to Lenert.

“If I ever hear of you doing that with Rachel again though you both will be hackfleisch.”

The End.

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