My One And Only

“I’m fine, boys. It’s just the time of the month.”

Pauline smiled, looking at the boys, trying to calm them down.

“Tinsley will know about it too. It’s just nothing we ladies can’t handle. Don’t you young, Ms Rutherford??”

What Pauline asked me, I had no clue about it so I resumed with my no idea face.

“She must have no idea what you are saying, aunty. She must have not started her menstruation yet.”

My eyes rose to octets, listening to him. How did he have no shame at all?? Talking about periods so openly??

“No, Nathaniel. She just did not understand me.”

Pauline remarked, ruffling the boy’s golden hairs. I had no inkling as to why I was still standing with them.

It must be because I had nothing interesting to draw myself in within this place.

“Honey, you finish your tea. I will get the car ready. Look after your aunty, Nathan. ”

Mr Anderson announced, walking out of the balcony, leaving us, Three Musketeers to converse.

“What do you want to be, Tinsley??”

Pauline’s question struck me with no warning. It was a simple question as to the guy, called Nathanial who watched me curiously to what my answer would be.

What I wanted to be??

I had never thought about it once. It never occurred it to me ever. What I wanted and needed, my daddy always bought it for me.

So I had no answer to Pauline’s query.

“What do you like to do, Tinsley??”

Pauline’s next question was easy. I knew what I liked to do.

It was painting… I loved painting. Colours allowed me to express my thoughts that I could never express in my real life.

“So you want to be a painter??”

Nathaniel asked me and I shook my head in a yes and a no… confused.

It never occurred to me that I want to be a painter?? I was to marry Josh and be the ideal wife and heiress when I come of age.

“I’m to be wed to Herrington when I come of age.”

Was my reply, short and simple. Pauline looked at me with pity and Nathaniel had an unexplained expression.

“Do you love this Herrington??”

“I do not.”

That was my quick answer to Nathaniel’s next question. Pauline remained silent watching us converse.

” Then why marry him?? ”

“Because I’m to marry him?”

I had no idea. Why I was marrying him?? It was a question I was to not ponder much about.

“Aunty tell this silly girl to study first before trying to be an illiterate wife.”

Nathaniel narrowed his eyes at me. That was rude!!! I did go to school… homeschooled in the countryside mansion.

“That’s rude, Nathan. Tinsley’s parents do not want her to. It’s not her fault.”

Pauline came to my rescue. I did not get it why she was eyeing me with pity all the time.

“She can join us. Uncle can fund her studies with mine in Harvard.”

Nathaniel proposed. And he was very generous at that time.

“Leave it, Nathan. She is not even allowed to wear jeans and a normal tee like any teenager and to be allowed in Harvard University… we should get going now.”

Pauline’s last remark did hurt. It was true that I had never worn jeans or denim.

All I had ever worn were dresses… costly and rich. What was so wrong with them??

“The day you wear Jeans, it will be your liberation, Tinsley.”

Pauline pat my shoulder and walked away with Nathan who had a sad face on him while leaving.

What was so special about wearing jeans?? I wondered

On my next birthday, Pauline gifted me a pair of denim and I had worn it… it surely did feel liberating.

I could jump up and down without the care of showing. I understood what she meant.

And then she became my favourite person to hang out at parties until one day, Daddy banned me from meeting with her.

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“Is that Tinsley Rutherford??”

Tinsley tilted her head to see who it was calling out her name in the unknown town.

“Pauline???”

Her eyes were shocked to see a woman whom she had not seen or heard of for ages.

Pauline Anderson strode forward, holding a few bags in both her hands. I slipped the money back into my pockets.

“That is you… in jeans and tee.”

She smiled, moving her eyes up and down to look at me. She looked older than before. A fair amount of white hairs falling freely from her loose braided black hair.

She pulled me in for a hug and I embraced her back. It was so refreshing to see such an independent-minded woman I ever came across.

“I heard about your parents… I’m really sorry. Are you alright??”

She asked me, caressing my back. I nodded positively.

“I’m over it. How are you??”

I reverted the question back to her. I could never be over my parent’s death but it was nothing that I had my tears left for.

“I’m fine. I’m here with Daniel to look after our farm. It’s refreshing to be outside the city. ”

She replied, cheerfully.

“What brings you here??”

“I live here now. And came out to shop for groceries. ”

I said, not embarrassed to admit it at all. She was the woman who knew my status and it must seem very poor for her to look at my condition right now.

“I heard about what happened. ”

I looked down, not wanting to have that conversation at the moment. I was happy and wanted to start my day, shopping for the things we needed in a home.

“Are you happy??”

Her question took me off guard. It was not something I was expecting her to ask at all.

I thought of having her judgemental views or maybe mock me for my poor condition.

But then Pauline… she was always so different. I looked up at her and smiled.

“I love him.”

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