A/N: Hi again. I hope everyone is safe, well, and keeping busy during these strange times. Thank god for fanfic! Here is another snippet, another short scene from that larger fic I've been working on, on and off. It's more dialogue heavy, something I tend to struggle with. As always, all mistakes are my own - let me know what you think. Enjoy!
Acceptance - September 1914
"Charles, you must talk some sense into your son!"
She pounces on him as soon as they close the door to his pantry after everyone has gone up for the evening.
Carson sighs in exasperation. "Why is it, he is my son whenever you're upset with him?"
Elsie ignores her husband's comment, closes her eyes and shakes her head while taking a deep breath to keep herself at bay.
"I did not bring him into this world, work hard to give him what we never had, only to have him throw it all away as he marches out onto a battlefield. I'll not lose another child, Charles Carson, not if I've any say in the matter!"
Carson sighs, hangs his head. He knows and feels for his wife, understands the intense prospect that they could lose their only son to war.
"Elsie, he is no longer a child. He's a grown man, and long past the age where we can order him about."
"So while he still lives under our roof, he can call his own shots and you're just going to stand there and let him enlist?" She stands, arms crossed in front of her, facing her husband squarely. She's looking at him as if to dare him to say yes.
Carson sighs and scrubs a hand across the back of his neck.
"I'll talk to him, love, but you must learn to let him make his own decisions - he and William both." He takes a step toward Elsie, wraps his arms around her. He breathes in her lovely scent of lemon and lavender before kissing her forehead. "He'll always be your wee Jamie no matter how old he is, but we've got to let him go, let him be his own man."
Elsie feels herself soften against her wishes. She hates it when he is right, how he has the ability to take the wind right out of her sails when he has a mind to. She's often thought that is why they work so well together both as the heads of staff and in their home life.
"I suppose I ought to be proud he wants to serve his king and country?"
She feels Carson's chest rumble at her remark. "No one is saying you have to love, but even you can be proud of the fact that he's making his own path in life. I'm not saying I agree with his decision either, but I do understand the eagerness and tenacity of a 22-year-old lad."
It's Elsie's turn to smile. "I'm sure you do, Charlie. I'm sure you do…"
The following morning before breakfast, Carson is in his pantry again, going over the wine ledger for the day. He hears a knock on the door and Jamie pokes his head in. Carson looks up, waves his son in the room. He looks at the boy - young man - but can only see the little lad with unruly hair that he used to be, not the tall, handsome man he's grown into. Wishes he didn't need to have this particular conversation. He sighs.
Jamie stares back at his father, sees he's beginning to look his age. Something he'd never thought possible as he and his sisters were growing up. He sees the years catching up with his father, making him look tired, weary almost.
"Did she tear you a new one too?" Jamie asks, both men knowing who he was referring to.
Carson gives his son a pointed look. "I'll ask you not to take that tone when talking about your mother."
Jamie looked down at his feet. "Yessir."
Carson continues, "You know she is only worried about you, Jamie. She means well. You and I both know you're a grown man - she does too - but you'll always be her "wee one." You all will be, no matter how old you all are." Carson looks at Jamie, waits until he meets his gaze. "That goes for me as well, you know. We love you and want what's best for you, no matter how difficult it is to accept."
"Dad, if she would just wait a bloody second to breathe before going off on me…"Jamie starts, feeling very much as though he was a lad of 13 again.
Carson holds up a hand. "I know...believe me. I know. I've been on the receiving end of your mother's tongue many times. You forget I knew her well before you came along." Father and son share a smile before Carson looks serious again. "Your mama's heart is in the right place. She's just worried for you, the girls, our family. The last thing she wants is to lose you. She's lost two of her children already, Jamie, and losing you would tear her apart all over again."
Jamie is thoughtful for a moment before he speaks. "I understand that dad, and I don't want to hurt Mam, but I don't want to - I can't stay - here while I could do my part, be a part of something bigger than myself. You and Mam have your duties here and that's all well and good. But I have a duty to myself. I know you both mean well, but I'm old enough to make me own decisions and letting go of me might be the best for all of us. Mam told me once that's what Grandad told her. Why can't she see our situations aren't all that different?"
Listening to his son, Carson is thoughtful. Feels pride in his son. He is proud, knowing Jamie is the best of him and Elsie rolled into one, knows in that moment they have done right by him. "Perhaps you should remind her of that."
Jamie rolls his eyes in a fashion reminiscent of his mother. "Not after how our last conversation went."
"She's had some time to cool down. You might find she's in a more agreeable mood today."
"Dad, if that's your way of saying you persuaded her to see reason, I don't want to know the details."
Carson's eyes widen at his son's suggestion.
"Thin ice, my lad, thin ice," he says before they both laugh. "In all seriousness though, I do think you should have another chat with your mother. She's had some time to take in the idea and might even come round to it."
"Right…" Jamie says, still unconvinced. "I'll talk to her though, if it will make her feel better."
Carson nods, places a hand on Jamie's shoulder. "I think it would. You're a good lad - man - with a good heart. You'll make the right choice, whatever you decide."
"Thanks dad."
P.S. Thanks to everyone for all their lovely reviews. Each one is very much appreciated!
