Friday, September 2, 1910
"Sarah!" yelled Jean Clementine at the top of her lungs.
Sarah flopped with the bedcovers trying to cover her shame. "Yes, ma'am?"
"It is 5:45 am! Will and I should be downstairs right now preparing the donuts for their drop into the fryer. Where are they?"
Sarah's face fell.
"You dunce! Do you have any idea how much money we're going to lose?"
"Jean?" Will Clementine barked as he stood in the doorway.
It suddenly occurred to him that he was in a very uncomfortable position. He averted his eyes from Sarah's bed.
"Jean? Please? She forgot to wake up at 3 am and cut the donuts, that's all."
Sarah was shaking. "Ma'am, you didn't tell me anything about…."
"No excuses!" Jean huffed. She charged towards the door and slammed it shut as she left.
Sarah heard her yelling: "Why are you taking her side? She's worked here less than a day and we're already losing money! What's wrong with her?"
Thirty minutes later, after she showered and changed into a dress, Sarah quietly walked down the steps.
Jean was leaning against the big cutting table in the kitchen glaring at her as she descended.
Will Clementine walked in from the storefront.
"Want some breakfast?" asked Jean in a growling voice.
Sarah nodded.
"You're not getting any."
"Jean? What did I just tell you?" Will looked to Sarah. "I'll some have fruit for you in a minute."
Sarah mumbled, "Thank you, sir."
She walked to the table.
Jean slid her lunch-pale down the table. Sarah caught it before it fell off.
"Turkey sandwich. Enjoy."
Sarah's lip quivered. "I will."
"Jean, go watch the storefront. If any customers come in looking for donuts, well," he sighed. "Tell them we had an unforeseen issue this morning. They'll come back another day. You'll see."
Jean stood there.
"Jean? Jean? Please?"
She angrily pushed the storefront door open.
Will placed a plate and an apple and a knife in front of Sarah.
Sarah sniffed. "Oh, Mr. Clementine I'm so sorry that I…."
"No need to apologize. Let me guess; in all the years you spent the night with Emily you never awoke with her at 3 am and went downstairs to roll, cut and set the donuts?"
They heard the storefront doorbells ring.
Sarah took a bite of apple as she shook her head no. "I promise! I never once heard an alarm go off at 3 am!"
"Bell the cat was Emily's alarm clock. She didn't meow for you because, well, you're not Emily. Our bedroom door was shut, so Bell slept-in. Also, my guess is, Jean didn't tell you about the need to do that anyway, did she?"
Sarah shrugged. "I don't recall her doing that."
"Mistakes happened on both sides. We won't lose our mortgage because of five dozen donuts. Our money makers are cakes and pies."
Sarah nodded. "Emily told me that once."
"Jean is… fiery under normal circumstances and doubly so right now because of her delicate condition. She was this way with Janice, Jimmy, David and Emily too, so, don't take it too personal."
Sarah finished up her apple. "I won't sir."
Will poured her a glass of milk. "I never thought I would hear myself say these words to Sarah Conrad," he snickered to himself. "But, in the future, just try to do what Emily would do."
Sarah giggled. "I shall, Mr. Clementine, I shall."
Jean came through the door. She looked to Sarah.
"Grab a mop. Someone just tracked mud all over the floor."
"I'll take care of Jean. Sarah, why don't you run on to school?"
"Yes, sir. Good day, ma'am."
Sarah left out the back door.
Later that afternoon, Sarah returned to the bakery.
Jean glared at her and held up three fingers. "Five minutes after three? I wanted you here at two!"
"I know ma'am but…."
"You told me you could skip the last two periods of class."
Sarah snapped, "I said I would try. If Mrs. Grayson wants to give a civics exam at 2 then I can't tell her…."
"Ladies?" said Will Clementine as he walked into the storefront. "Please?"
"Jean, let's go. Dr. Westbrook will understand." He took Jean by the elbow and began escorting her towards the door. He said, "Sarah, we'll be at the clinic. You can handle things by yourself here?"
Sarah nodded.
"Good girl."
They hurriedly went out the door.
An hour later, Sarah saw a much friendlier face as Pete Jackson walked through the door.
"What did I miss at school?"
"Nap time."
She rolled her eyes. "It's called Art Appreciation."
"Same thing, bigger words." He walked behind the register and kissed her.
She popped her lips. "Pete we need to talk."
He kissed her again and whispered seductively, "About what?"
They kissed a third time.
Sarah stammered for words. "Um… kangaroos."
"Clementines home?"
Sarah kissed his cheek and whispered, "Long gone."
Pete headed to the door. He twisted the key to lock and moved the sign around which read "Back in 5 minutes."
He turned around to Sarah and beamed a smile. "Sparking break."
She shook her head. "No. Not happening. When need to…" he took her by the hand and led her to the bakery.
Ten minutes later, Pete left out the backdoor.
Sarah rearranged her hair and opened up the storefront door.
Sarah hummed a very happy tune.
Jean stormed back into the storefront.
"Oh brother" said Sarah as she rolled her eyes.
Jean slammed a piece of paper on the counter.
Sarah shrugged. "It's a cake order."
"It's a cake order for the Vexton's daughters' wedding coming up. They just happen to catch Will and I coming out of the clinic. They said they tried to bring it to the bakery but the door was locked."
Sarah swallowed. "I was… indisposed." She turned around and walked into the kitchen.
Jean followed. She spoke in a dainty voice: "In other words, you were on the toilet?"
"If you must know, then yes!"
"In our bedroom?"
"Naturally. I wouldn't go upstairs and be far removed from customers."
Jean pulled a chain from her apron with a rounded wooden knob. She dangled it in front of her.
"This is the chain which makes the toilet flush. It broke this morning. Will's over at the hardware store buying a new one. Was your little tryst with Tommy, Pete or Russell?"
Sarah snapped. "I beg your pardon?"
"Don't play stupid with me. Emily called them 'Sparking Breaks.'"
"That is none of your business."
Jean grabbed her wrist and yelled, "That is entirely my business, you tramp!"
Sarah shook. "Ma'am, that hurts."
"And there's five dollars missing from the register! What did you buy with it?"
Sarah shook her head. "I don't know what you're talking about."
Jean slapped her. "Answer me, Emily!"
Sarah cried, "I'm not Emily! I'm Sarah!"
She slapped her again. "You're a thief and a cheap harlot whose goal is to send me to the poor house."
"No, no, Mrs. Clementine don't slap me again."
"Jean!" barked Constable Walsdorf.
Jean slowly lowered her hand.
Sarah was greatly relieved to see Constable Walsdorf standing there.
They heard the doorbells ring. "They didn't have mahogany. I got some fancy stone like design and…."
Will froze.
Sarah was cowering near the sink, rubbing her face.
Jean and Constable Walsdorf were staring at each other. He had his hand on his gun holster.
"Will Clementine, I am very grateful you're here to witness what I am about to say. If your wife ever touches another employee be it Sarah or Cheryl Cobblestone or whoever, she is going to jail. If I have to I'll hire the Westbrookes to sit in the office with me and she'll give birth on the floor but she will not, repeat not be get away with being an abusive brute."
Jean garbled, "Don't threaten me!"
"Jean?" said Will
"Mrs. Clementine this is not a threat."
She pointed. "Get out of my store!"
Julius sighed. "Enough of this! Mrs. Clementine put your hands on the table. You're under arrest for assault and battery."
He took out his handcuffs.
"Wait!" said Sarah. "Julius? Julius please?"
Sarah stepped in front of Jean. "Mrs. Clementine was just a little high-strung. I mouthed off to her like a stupid sixteen-year-old brat and she over reacted."
Julius shook his head. "This isn't the first time."
Sarah said in a soft tone. "But it is the last. Julius, I promise, Mrs. Clementine will never touch me again. She's just a little crazy because of … feminine issues."
Julius made a queasy face.
Will spoke up, "When you finally get married, you'll get the whole picture."
Sarah pleaded, "Julius?"
Julius took off his cap and ran his fingers through his hair. He swished his mouth. "I trust you, Sarah."
He reattached the handcuffs to his belt. "Will, do you have any catering to do this weekend?"
Will shook his head, no.
"Then close up early and take Saturday off."
Jean said, "You can't tell me how to run my business."
"I'm not ordering you as a police officer; I am making a suggestion as a friend. Spend the rest of today in bed. Sleep late tomorrow. I might be naive about the female particulars but I am not an idiot. Putting undo stress on your baby cannot be helpful."
Will nodded. "That's very wise Julius."
"Sarah?" Will pulled out his wallet. "Here's a couple of bucks. Why don’t you go have fun tonight in River City, spend Saturday with your folks and be back Sunday evening?"
He handed her the money.
Sarah whispered, "Thank you, sir."
Will said to Jean. "I took five dollar bills from the register this morning. I didn't know how much your nerve tonic and the toilet chain would cost."
He put a brown paper bag on the table.
Jean collapsed her shoulders.
Sarah kissed her cheek. "It's alright, ma'am, really."
Constable Walsdorf watched the transaction. "Is everyone satisfied?"
Will, Jean and then Sarah nodded.
"Good day to you." He walked out the door.
Jean looked down. "Sarah, I'm sorry I…."
Sarah sprinted out the back door.
Will hugged his wife. "Sssh! It'll be alright, dear. It'll be alright."
