Jessica's Life Journey (4) - Sowing the Seed

I haven't yet told Will about the plan that I have concocted; I want it to be a surprise on his return. 

He is an amiable and malleable guy eager to please me. I'm pretty sure that even if he was lukewarm about the venture he would eventually come round to my way of thinking.

His friends say that I can twist him round my little fingers, which is a polite way of saying that I'm bossy.

Nevertheless, at times, I need a second opinion to be reassured I'm doing the right thing.

In his absence, my first port of call is Uncle Jeremy who's looked after my welfare since childhood. 

I rely on his wisdom and always follow his advice; he will point out any pitfalls in my scheme.

#

It is a lovely sunny day and I decide to walk to his house, a brisk 20-minute stroll.

As I approach the house, I notice the big bedroom's window at the front is, unusually, open with the curtain dancing in the breeze.

A young pretty girl next appears; she hangs a Persian carpet over the balcony rail and starts beating it with a rattan wicker slapper.

“Hey, what's going on? Is it possible that when the cat is away...”, it's my immediate thought knowing that my uncle's wife Lottie is away in Switzerland.

I dismiss this unworthy speculation at once and deeply regret doubting Jeremy's integrity.

The comely maid comes down and lets me in.

“I am the cleaner”, she explains and adds that my uncle has gone to the park while she carried on with her duty and would soon return.

#

“What have I done to deserve this unexpected visit from my favourite girl?”, he asks.

I notice that he has stopped referring to me as 'niece' which reinforces my suspicion, although I have no proof, that in addition to being my putative father, he is also my biological dad.

I will get to the bottom of it someday. In the meantime I briefly describe the enterprise I intend to undertake and he listens intently.

“So is married life a definite no-no? What a shame; I was looking forward to being a granddad.”

Having heard a detailed account of my brainchild, he warms to the idea and offers to bankroll the business venture.

It's tempting since he doesn't want to be involved in the running of the agency.

“I may even have a job for you but it requires William's technical know-how, so it won't be until he comes back. Any idea when that will be?”

“I am waiting for an update. The conflict over there appears to have become bogged down in attrtion”.

Everything seems to be to my uncle'sand my own's satisfaction and once my partner gives his seal of approval we shall be ready to go.

I feel like a gardener who has sown the first seed.

© Luigi Pagano 2022