Voices Deep Inside (Book 1)

Chapter Eighteen

Chapter Eighteen

New Roles at the Estate

The sun shone brightly for the next few days as changes of a new family emerged. With the new roles for Talia and Geneva, the three of them worked together to clean the library at the Henderson Estate.

The next two days, Geneva and Gerald cleaned Geneva's desk. Gerald wanted to look at every piece of paper and organize it or record it. Geneva was staying on top of the day-to-day estate needs, but she was behind in her paperwork and correspondence.

Nina filled Talia's mornings with dress fittings, and in the afternoon, Talia worked with her parents to organize the papers for the estate.

Lydia and Oxford helped to clean and rearrange the library. Oxford and Gerald moved the larger wooden desk closer to the window for better light. In front of the other window, the men pushed two small writing desks together, so Geneva and Talia could sit across from each other and still have pleasant light to read and write.

Oxford cleaned the lamps, trimmed the wicks, and filled them with lamp oil. He set a clean lamp on each desk. Geneva placed all the stationary from the desk on to her writing table. She divided the different colors of stationary with Talia, and they placed the writing tools on their desk.

Talia helped her father organize the top of his desk. Gerald continued to sort the receipts, telling the women not to interfere with his system, which made the women laugh, looking at the piles scattered everywhere.

Then by three o'clock, Gerald did his rounds to collect inventory numbers. Geneva and Talia worked on their thank-you note to Garrett and Pauline for their hospitality. Geneva worked with Talia on her writing skills.

Talia wrote a simple thank you note to Josie, and Geneva gave her the address to her father's law office. Geneva also showed Talia their mailing address for the envelope.

Geneva had Talia start a list of needs for the next time they went shopping next month. Her mother suggested a book for addresses or possibly a date book for events or maybe a daily journal of activities as a reference point for running a household.

Geneva made lists to check off for the holidays, and she and Talia discussed some entertaining options.

As a family, they ate an early dinner, and Gerald and Geneva talked about Gerald's discoveries today as Talia listened. After the evening meal, Talia felt restless. She excused herself and retrieved her cloak and gloves.

The night air was brisk, but it felt invigorating. She had not been to see Mick for such a long time. She had seen him, but she had not talked to him, just the two of them.

Talia walked down to the barn and looked for Mick before calling out his name. She found him in the back of the stable, next to the dry bedding. He was dusting himself off when he walked out of the area. She became nervous, as she could tell Mick was annoyed at the interruption.

"I want to talk to you," said Talia.

"Why? What do you need now?" asked Mick.

"No, nothing like that. I just wanted to talk."

Then Myrna steps out of the bedding area.

"What are you doing out here?" asked Talia, sharper than she intended.

"Begging your pardon, miss," said Myrna, and she scurries out of the barn.

"Ah, leave her alone. She's a good kid."