Hilary week 9 - conflict conversations

Note from Hilary - You really need to have read week eight What Ellen hates most' for this to make more sense!'




As Ellen put down the phone her mind was trying to formulate the conversation she would have with Jason on his return from work.


She had to make him think that Carrie's accident was less serious than it was,  or it would ruin the break she had so carefully arranged for them. It had rubbed the enjoyment off the surprise. It was just so unfair that throughout all the subterfuge, she had not once let it slip that they were going to spend a fabulous weekend with Jonathan and his new girlfriend in their apartment in one of the Haussmanian buildings in western Paris. And now darling Carrie had rained on her parade yet again.


She had worked so hard to arrange this trip. Jonathan had finally given in to her pleading and, possibly because he also wanted to show Ellen that he could still gain the attention of an attractive woman after the separation from her which had left him so desolate, he had invited them to stay.


She knew that she and Jonathan would never work because of the man he was.  He had wealth , charm and a good heart. His wealth was not inherited but accrued through the sale of his fantastic sculptures which had, for a while made him the toast of the London art establishment.  Jonathan was far too amenable and far too attractive and although he had worshipped her, she knew that one day, way in the future, when she became less attractive, someone else would make a play for him, and probably succeed.


At five o'clock,Jason opened the front door; his tall, elegant frame reaching  to hang his coat on the equally elegant, but oversized, Edwardian hall stand which took up half the space in the large hallway. Dropping his briefcase to the hall floor, he stepped through the ornately painted kitchen doorway into the large kitchen where Ellen was sitting peeling prawns at the oak table, wearing a green pinafore with 'Talk to the Hand' printed in large red letters on  it.


" How's things?" Jason picked up the kettle and turned to the sink. He always said the same thing as soon as he saw Ellen. Partly this irritated her, but she also liked the sense of continuity and belonging that it evoked. 


" Fine" she responded. " Just a little thing, but nothing to worry about, Carrie's in hospital." 


Jason turned from the sink to face her.


" What do you mean? Why? What's wrong ? "   The questions came at her like sharp, little needles. 


She had to take a deep breath to calm herself before she countered " It's really nothing, Sadie's with her. They think she'll be out in a couple of days".


" Well, what the hell happened? Why is she in hospital? We'd better get up there."


" No. No need, Sadie is with her and she's fine. " Ellen was fighting to keep her voice calm.


"Anyway, after supper let's talk about this weekend, we have a lot........." Ellen was cut short by Jason's insistent voice.  "Fine, but before we talk about it, I really think we should go see Carrie. Just to put your mind at rest El." 


"Sadie is with her!" Ellen almost spat the remark at Jason, then quietly she spoke again. " You know how difficult my relationship can be with Carrie, she would rather have Sadie than me - or you". She gently stroked the sleeve of Jason's shirt and whispered in his ear. " Let's talk about the weekend. You are just going to love what I have done for us". 


As she led him by the hand through to the sitting room where she had laid out the Eurostar tickets, she looked at him and said " I love you, you know that don't you Jason?"


"Of course, but you still haven't told me what is wrong with Carrie." Jason looked perplexed as he spoke. 


" Darling - she just had a little accident. You know how she dramatises everything. Now come over and see what I have for you". As she spoke, she winked at Jason and led him slowly to the couch.


Subtext:


.............The daughter Carrie has begun an affair with Jason, her now ex-school teacher. Ellen does not suspect this but still has a feeling of fear when Jason mentions Carrie's name. She doesn't understand this feeling at all.