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COUNTRY LIFE IN BC • SEPTEMBER 2018 Sweet-talkin’ Henderson makes vacation plans When we left off last time,


Deborah and Doug had just finished their first dress rehersal as Daisy Mae and Li’l Abner while Kenneth Henderson was being kept overnight in the hospital for observation after his encounter with the barn roof. Rural Redemption, part 102, continues.


Woodshed


Chronicles by BOB COLLINS


The hospital called to say Kenneth was free to leave just after 10 the next morning. He was in a predictably foul mood when Deborah arrived at 11:30. “What took you so damn


long? I’ve been stuck in this stupid lobby for the last hour.” “Sorry, Captain Kirk. The


transporter on the Enterprise isn’t working so I had to come and get you in the car.” “Spare me the sarcasm,” said Kenneth. “I just want to get out of here.” “That makes two of us,” said


Deborah. In the car, Kenneth suggested they go for lunch at the seaside restaurant they’d been to a few years before. They found a quiet table with a great view of the breakers coming ashore. “I’ve been wanting to have a chance to talk to you,” said Kenneth. Odd, thought Deborah; we live in the same house and you never seem to want to say much there. She looked at him quizzically.


“I don’t like the way things


have gotten between us.” “And just how are things


between us?” asked Deborah. The waitress came to take their drink orders. Kenneth was on the verge of ordering Scotch, but he thought better of it and settled for coffee. “We never have time for


ourselves anymore. I can’t remember the last time we even did this.” “Why do you suppose that


is?” asked Deborah. “I’m not sure. I have a lot of stress from work to deal with,


and you just seem to be off doing your own thing all the time.”


“Really? Why do you suppose I’m off doing my own thing, ALL THE TIME?” “You’ve changed since we


moved here,” said Kenneth. “Well, I really didn’t have much choice, did I? Moving here was all your idea and right from the start it was you that was off doing your own thing, ALL THE TIME.” “I wasn’t off doing my own


thing, for gawd’s sake. I was working.” “Yes, for weeks at a time. What did you expect us to do, hole up in the house like a family of hermits waiting for you to come home so we could sit on the edge of our chairs and listen to you complain about our neighbours? I’ve changed, alright; the problem is you haven’t.” Anger rose in Kenneth Henderson, but he realized he’d have to quell it if there was any hope of selling Deborah on his mother’s plan of a Caribbean vacation. He stared at Deborah and tried to look hurt. He could kill for a glass of Scotch. “You say I haven’t changed.


How is that a problem?” “Are you sure you want to hear this now?” In truth, Kenneth didn’t


want to hear it at all, but he had the contrition card tucked up his sleeve and he desperately wanted to play it. “Absolutely. I can’t fix it if I


don’t know what’s wrong,” he said.


The words nearly choked Kenneth, and they caught Deborah off guard. She regrouped swiftly. “You’re distant, Kenneth –


from me and the kids. You’re self-absorbed, and domineering, and you always seem to be mad about something or someone. And you’re drinking too much. It makes you mean.” “Is that all?” said Kenneth,


forcing himself to smile. “We’ve been married for 18


years, and you say I haven’t changed? When did I become all this?” “You’ve always been this


way, I think.” “You’ve never mentioned it


before.” “I was afraid to. I never


liked confrontation.” “So, are you saying now you don’t mind it?”


Deborah contemplated the question. “Maybe so. I think everyone needs to confront their own reality.”


Kenneth said he supposed she had a point and the reality was that their relationship was suffering,


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and it was probably apparent to his mother and that was why she wanted them to go away together.


He said he was willing to


try to be a better husband and he hoped she would agree to the holiday and it would give them a chance to relax together and reconnect, and surely after 18 years of marriage, he deserved that chance.


Deborah contemplated


him across the table. “We owe it to the kids,” said Kenneth. After several seconds, Deborah nodded. “Alright,” she said. “Thank you,” said Kenneth, as he slid his hand across the table and cupped it over hers. The gesture was awkward for both of them and he quickly slid his hand away. They both turned their eyes toward the sea.


That’s a relief, thought Kenneth. For a minute there It looked like I might have to heave the damned dog into the mix.


He thought about texting Janice Newberry to let her know that he would be away. He wondered if she had ever been to the Caribbean, and he fantasized about what it would be like to be there with her. “We won’t be able to go


until after the play,” said Deborah.


Kenneth nodded. He almost started to tell her he was proud of the way she had taken to the stage, but he realized he might be pushing his luck and there was nothing more to be gained. Deborah thought about


the play, and Li’l Abner, and wondered if he had ever been to the Caribbean. As soon as they got home, Kenneth retreated to his office and pulled the Glenfiddich from his desk drawer. He phoned his mother and told her Deborah had agreed and the holiday was a go and what the play dates were: a Saturday evening and a Sunday matinee. His mother said she planned to arrive on the Friday and would stay with Ashley and Christopher until they were back. She said everything was booked and they were scheduled to leave on the Monday after the play. He reminded her that a deal was a deal. To be continued...


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