What Now My Love

Chapter 3: What Now My Love

“Yes, we can always find something for a Black sister,” he said.

“I’m not really asking as a member of the family,” she said.

“I understand that,” he said, looking at her.

She was thinking that what she had said wasn’t entirely truthful. She was hoping for consideration as a member of the Black family, but she wanted to work as an ordinary employee, not be part of their insane crusade. But she was here because her daughter needed special care beyond what her husband could afford, and so she was asking a favor from the last person she wanted to ask – the things to which motherhood could drive one.

“I understand you are very methodical and meticulous, Andromeda,” said Tom. “I can use that. I seem to attract the more emotional types.”

Is he making a joke? wondered Andromeda. She didn’t want him to have a sense of humor; she wanted him to be soulless and evil and repelling. It didn’t help that she found him compelling. What kind of curse were the Black sisters under?

“Suppose we start you as a bookkeeper,” he was saying. “The total workload will be four to six hours a day. The positive side is that you can work at home and the hours are flexible. The negative side is that being a mother, housekeeper, and bookkeeper will fill your day. If, after three months, you are doing well, we will entrust you with paying the routine bills from the accounts you are keeping.”

He named a starting salary and the salary after the three month trial period. She gave a small start. If she passed the trial period, she would be making more than her husband.

He noticed her reaction. “We will not be overpaying you,” he said. “You will be earning every penny.”

Many times during the next several months, she came to the same conclusion. She was not being overpaid.

Two months after the interview, Ted Tonks sat down to the evening meal and exclaimed, “Cold cuts again. By the gods, woman, couldn’t you at least heat a stew.”

“You said you were sick and tired of stew, Ted. You threatened to throw the next bowl of it out the window.”

“It would have least been warm,” he said.

“Dora was difficult today,” said Andromeda.

“Did you pay any attention to her?” asked Ted. “Or did you just count money for the dark wizards?”

“Of course, I paid attention to her. How can you say such a thing?”

“Well, the damn dark wizards are more important to you than your family.”

“That’s not true. I took the job because we had to have the money.”

“Right, woman, rub it in my face that I don’t make enough.”

“I didn’t say that,” she said. “You do fine. We need extra, and I was lucky enough to get a job.”

“Doesn’t seem like such a great job to me: a pittance for ignoring your family.”

She knew better than to make him really angry by pointing out that it wasn’t a pittance. She said, “Once I get used to it, it should take less of my time.”

“Well, tell me when you have time to be a wife again. I slave away all day and come home in freezing weather to cold cuts and being criticized,” he said. “I’m going to the pub for something decent. And don’t look at me like that. If you don’t want me to spend money at the pub, then make me feel like I’m welcome in my own home.”

After he had slammed the door on the way out, Andromeda sighed with relief. He had left before upsetting Dora, and she could spend the next several hours completing the day’s bookkeeping in peace. She munched a carrot, nibbled on a cold steak-and-kidney pie, and ate an apple as she did the books. Dora woke, and she read a story to her daughter until she fell asleep again. She eyed the sherry bottle and decided she could allow herself one glass before bedtime since her daughter was asleep and her work was done. The money from the job not only paid for what Dora needed, but provided for small luxuries, such as sherry, that she hadn’t been able to afford early in her marriage. She chuckled to herself as she viewed her new problem. She had to be careful that the stress of her job did not cause her to succumb to her rediscovered luxuries.

By the third month, she had become more efficient, and after the fourth month, she realized she could handle the additional duties as well. She was confident, and she discovered this feeling of competence made her more effective in everything.

“I haven’t been out in ages, Ted,” she said, putting what she thought was a nice dinner on the table.

“I didn’t know dark witches went out,” he said.

She snapped. “That’s not fair. I’ve been working hard; I’ve mastered the job. Now I can have a bit of a life.”

“Well, I admit, this meal is decent enough,” he replied.

“I’m more than just a cook and a housekeeper,” she said.

“Really?” he said.

They spent the rest of the meal in silence. When he finished, he stood and said, “Speaking of a bit of life, I may go look for some.”

She sat in silence, not seeing or hearing anything, as he left.

The next day, she sat in front of her mirror. Close examination revealed that, yes, she, like her sisters, had inherited the Black family face and figure, and the reflection in the mirror was that of a beautiful woman. Was her husband tired of her? Maybe a change would help. She decided to spruce up the house, buy several flattering skirts and blouses, and invest in some revealing lingerie.

Her efforts accomplished nothing.

Even more worrisome were the finances: not the money itself, but her husband’s attitude toward expenditures. The first years of their marriage, the family finances had occupied them both, and she had felt like part of a couple. Now, Ted spent his salary on whatever he pleased and handed her what remained. It was not a financial hardship since she now made enough to keep the family going, but it was a devastating blow to their marriage. She reflected that she had kept her increase in salary a secret from him. She had become so unsure of him that she feared a bad reaction if he learned that she made more than he did. She began practicing economies and saving all she could in a secret account.

One day while doing laundry, she smelled a strange perfume on her husband’s clothes. She did not make it to a chair. She sat on the rug and stared at its pattern for the longest time. Now she knew why she had been squirreling away money as she, the house, and the meals became drab.

A rainy day was coming, and it would be a rainy day alone.