The Hum Drum

North Carolina, late 90s

The kids were all at the breakfast table, laughing and cutting up already. The night had been easy on them so far as Rose could tell. Her only issue was keeping her smile going until they were off to the bus stop at the end of their gravel driveway.

“I should use the secret corridors instead of taking this risk, don’t you think?” John whispered as he appeared from the living room on the opposite side of the house. He was still dressed in the clothes he’d been in the day before, more than a five-o'clock shadow on his handsome face. He looked Rose up and down before scratching the back of his head, his shaggy hair needing a good trim. “May I at least go upstairs to get a shower and a change of clothes in my own house?”

The smile was still in place for their children, who were all unaware of what was going on between their parents. She wanted to keep it that way. At least until they could figure it all out for themselves. She looked at him without turning and wondered exactly why things felt different between them.

“I told you that you didn’t have to do that, John. You can stay in the room; I can use the guest room. I don’t go to bed until after the children, and I am awake before they are.”

“It just…” He looked as if he wanted to say more, but then faltered, moving past her up the stairs.

Rose sighed and when she heard a cup hit the table, she sped up to help their youngest boy, Alexander, clean up after spilling some of his drink. He already had tears ready. “Oh, Alex, baby, it’s okay. It didn’t get on you.” She fixed his pretty blonde hair, nothing but soft curls that made all the girls jealous. Pressing a kiss to the top of his head, she let him go so that he could finish up.

“Alright, it’s time to gather your things and tell Ms. Lilly thank you for breakfast before leaving for the bus stop.” Rose had walked their daughter and three sons outside, per usual, to see them off. It was Alex’s first year in school, so he still got excited about it daily. John was overly quiet today. She took a mental note to ask him how his day had gone later. These were things she and her husband used to do together.

When she returned inside, she stopped by the staff room to discuss matters for the day, from what the meals would be to any meetings that they needed to arrange. They supplied the food for the staff, inside and outside. Running a horse ranch and boarding business was no simple matter.

“There will be no need for lunch for me or Mr. Matthews, today. John will be in the city at the office, and I have a luncheon scheduled with Mrs. Weylyn at the estate. Make sure the office is prepared for the three-thirty meeting with the potential customer.” Regardless of what personal issues they may have, she would always attend to their household without fail. Rose knew how important John’s business affairs were to him and considering how hard John had worked to reach his position in her family's company, she wouldn’t do anything to ruin that. Not even with their shared business just beginning.

When her husband returned downstairs freshly showered, shaved, and neatly attired, Rose followed him into the office per his request and stood before the desk while he closed the door to give them privacy. Her gaze moved around the interior of the room. Had he moved things around? She felt like she was trespassing.

“The kids doing okay?” John asked as he opened the second file on his stack to go through this morning.

“They're fine. John Jr. is taking a math test today. Ashley is upset that her friend is moving away during spring break. Mark received an F for failing to turn in his homework. I believe we need to see a counselor about his attention span. And Alex is still nervous about school, but he’s doing okay. The problems have already been handled, though, so no need to worry about those.” She watched what he was doing, and her hands clasped together in front of her as she inhaled softly. “Shouldn’t you be getting ready to leave for the office? This isn’t like you.”

“I have a meeting at the office, but I wanted to handle these contracts for you. Your choice of co-op, feed, and vets this year were all different, so these things have both our names on the contracts…” he drifted off.

Her lips parted slightly and swallowed the lump in her throat. Covering her mouth, she cleared her throat. “Of course… if you think that is best to do right now. If it’s what you want, that is.”

“Rose.” He put the pen down and his hazel eyes drifted upward over her. “I thought…maybe we could go out to lunch after this meeting. I can make some time.”

“Oh?” The surprise was genuine. “I’m sorry, but I’m having brunch with Eva today. But after that? Maybe this afternoon?” It felt like she was arranging an appointment with him. It felt so awkward.

He swallowed and nodded his head. “Of course. Well, I may not have a chance after. Not today. Kennedy Corp is sending me to Austin. I can’t tell them no.” He continued to sign the paperwork and then stack it up in the organized files for her to look over later. He took a deep breath. “I think maybe I’ll work here til the meeting.”

“Perhaps another time, then when work can spare you.” Rose was used to being third in his life these days. First was his work, second was their children, and third was where she came in. It made her heart hurt, but she refused to show it as she turned to walk back towards the door intending to depart.

“Definitely. You sure you can’t…”

“I’ll let Lilly know you’ll be remaining here for the day.” Rose left the office in a bit of a rush. John’s sigh was the last thing she heard. Was it annoying? Frustrating? Angry? She wasn’t sure. Did she care?

Rose didn’t stop moving to even catch her breath until she was down the hall from the office, where she was certain John wouldn’t hear her. Then, the familiar voice of their cook Lily caught her attention.

“Mrs. Rose, how many do we need to cook for today?” Lily asked.

Rose had somehow made it back to the kitchen, and the staff were all there watching her. Brushing her hand over her hair to make sure it was as it should be, Rose gave her staff a warm smile. “That depends on how many the foreman has reported to you this morning. He has reported this morning, hasn’t he?” She never thought it would be so difficult to keep hands on a ranch, but for some reason, keeping a foreman was near to impossible lately.

“No ma’am. The other foreman didn’t work out, so says Mr. Matthews. And three more hands had to move on that weren't replaced. So sounds like there won’t be a huge lunch to make for now. We can wing it. Whatever’s left over, we’ll pack up for the kids’ lunches?”

“Alright then,” Rose could hug Lily, she was thankful the woman didn’t want much from her. Her mind was somewhere else entirely. "I’ll place the ad and see about getting another foreman as soon as possible. Also, while I’ll be leaving, Mr. Matthews will be in the house today, working from his office. Please see that he has breakfast and lunch sent to him while I’m out. If you have any other questions or need anything else, simply reach me by my phone.”

“Yes, ma’am.” Lily watched with concern in her eyes as the lady of the house left the kitchen. Rose knew they weren’t stupid. They all knew things had changed. Some had been around since she was a child, and Rose wasn’t sure if that was better or worse. For they had seen what living with her parents and then some had even worked for her brother and his wife before… well… everything. At least they had proven they wouldn’t gossip outside of the staff houses themselves. They were completely loyal to the Kennedys and now the Matthews family. But that meant they also probably expected something like this to happen - possibly worse.