Page 58 - Homestead By Ann Newhouse
P. 58

Over the next few months things went well. I had enough work, along with the drive, to be able to save quite a bit, for when Sofie and I decided to leave the Homestead and live together in our own house.
Johanna seemed delighted with her new nursing assistant. They appeared to get on well as I had often seen them eating together in the restaurant and flirting with the local boys.
Josh had a couple of dates with Liz, meeting her every time he did the provision run. He talked about asking her back to the Homestead to meet the family, but I didn’t believe it was a good idea yet. Sofie thought that it was important for Josh to come clean to his father about Liz, but for him to leave Sofie to handle it, as John was more likely to listen to her without flying into a rage. There was a dinner date arranged in a couple of days. It was decided that Josh would invite Liz and tell John she was a student interested in patient aftercare, rather than a waitress in Truth. Mitch’s mother was going to cook the meal and serve all six of us. John, Mitch, Josh, Sofie, myself and the new guest of honour, Liz. She was going to stay over in the new room at the medical hall.
I was prepared for all situations, since Sofie told me she had found out that Liz’s mother’s previous name was ‘Pincher’. I realised then where I’d seen that name. The newspaper cuttings mentioned that a Mrs. Pincher had her baby taken, not long before the big fire on the Texas Ranch. It would be interesting to see if John Tirrell knew who Liz was, and if it mattered to him. Sofie didn’t know the reason I was anxious. I wasn’t so sure why myself, to be able to explain it to her. It would be interesting if Liz was asked, by John, about her family, because of her mother’s previous name being Pincher. It raised some suspicions, which was why I wasn’t fully comfortable for us all to be together. Something didn’t seem quite right. There may have been skeletons lurking in cupboards which could cause problems.
Perhaps I would find out if any of this was linked to my family, as my parents had hardly spoken to me about my childhood. I had often asked why I did not have any brothers or sisters. My mother would get upset and then my father would get angry. I eventually gave up asking questions.
It was the day of the family dinner and I had been given the job of washing down the floors and terraces of the big house, ready for the evening. Josh and Mitch were both on the provision run and Josh was picking up Liz for the return trip, ready for their dinner date. I had not seen Sofie all day as there had been an outbreak of a stomach bug, which was keeping all three nurses busy. John Tirrell had kept to himself, working in his study, which was a godsend as his presence still made me nervous.


































































































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