The Other Side of the Coin

Chapter Two

The weekend drug passed so slowly, Sadie felt like she was a snail. Most of the weekend saw her attempting to stay busy, only everything she did only took her a matter of minutes. Her mother stood by and watched with knowing eyes. Sadie hadn’t told her that she had gotten a job, but Meredith was one smart cookie and had the observation skills of a seasoned detective. In another life, she might have pursued such a career. Luckily, or unluckily depending on your point of view, Meredith had met Colonel Jackson L. Braxton and her life had been pampered and leisurely ever since. That didn’t prevent her from being quick on the draw and instrumental in the development of Colonel Braxton’s company.

As such, Meredith watched her children like a hawk and her prey. She always knew when something was up with them if they were hiding something, and when they were about to do something that would have an impact, negative or otherwise, on the family. Sadie’s plan was one such thing and it did not escape her mother’s attention. Still, Sadie did her best to pretend that there was no reason for her clock watching and pretending to be bored, even though she had been running around the mansion and the property like a nervous hen, wringing her hands when she had run out of things to occupy the sluggish time.

When Sunday night finally rolled around, Sadie prepared for the next day, going through her extensive and immaculate wardrobe and wondered what she wouldn’t mind getting dirty. Though she had boasted only wanting to survive on her own that Friday, it was true that she could not survive in her current lifestyle without her father’s money. She felt a pang of guilt and shame at her actions, feeling as if she should be ashamed of herself for only wanting to be a part of the family for the resources she had at her disposal. However, she knew that, even though that was a benefit, she dearly loved her family, she just didn’t want to be married off like some prized show pony.

A knock sounded on her bedroom door. Instinctively, Sadie knew it was her mother. “Come in.” She said, not stepping away from her closet. Pulling out a few shirts and some jeans she laid them out on her bed and stepped back to look at them from another perspective. She was trying to be objective about it. It wasn’t like she couldn’t buy more if she really needed to, besides, she had plenty of clothes, it wasn’t like a few outfits to wear at the feedstore would really diminish her wardrobe.

“What are you doing, darling?” Her mother asked in her soft voice. The tone was what made Sadie pay attention. Her mother had come to confront her. Sweetness dripped from her words which meant that she had come first to seek further information before she would sour.

Cringing inwardly, Sadie looked over her shoulder at her mother, smiling sheepishly. “I am carefully choosing my work outfits so that I only wear what can absolutely be discarded should it get damaged.” She shrugged her shoulder as if it was no big deal and turned back to her closet.

Meredith had moved closer to the bed and sat on the corner. “Work, is it?” Her brown eyes sparkled. Sadie had inherited her mother’s auburn hair, but not her chocolate-colored eyes. She regretted that but refused to dwell on it. Her green eyes were just as nice. It struck her then how truly striking her mother was. She wasn’t a classic beauty, nor was she really pretty, but she had an elegance to her that made other’s take notice. Her features weren’t all that noticeable separately, but together they made the work of art that was her mother.

“Yes, work. I picked up a job at the local feed store.” Sadie said, pulling another outfit from the closet and placing it next to the others. Satisfied, Sadie placed her hands on her hips and nodded.

“What are you doing Sadie? What is going through your mind?” Her mother asked. It wasn’t the sourness that Sadie had expected. She had expected her mother’s hatefulness that only came out when her children were being ungrateful. Only, Sadie wasn’t being ungrateful, and Meredith knew that. Instead, Meredith sounded rather forlorn as if she foresaw something negative and unpleasant in the near future. Meredith took hold of Sadie’s left hand and pulled her closer and bid her sit.

Obeying, Sadie sat and stared at their hands. “I want to be my own woman. I want my own thing to be proud of. I want my Doctorate to mean something. It’s so wasteful for it to just decorate a wall.” A tear escaped her eye as she felt her emotions welling up inside her. She wasn’t normally a crier, not because she didn’t want to cry, she just wasn’t built like that. This was extremely personal and emotional, however, and could come with some major consequences that she didn’t want to face.

Meredith sat silently for a moment, studying her oldest daughter’s face. It was true that expectations were extremely high, however, Meredith had always known that Sadie was not the one meant for the life Jackson had originally planned. She had proven that since the day she was born. Sadie had been independent to a fault, which had often frustrated her parents to a point that they would often give in to her wishes out of sheer exhaustion and some annoyance.

“I can understand that. I was never as independent as you are, but I do understand. I will see what I can do about persuading your father that this is the best thing. I do suggest that you look for a place of your own to live, should I be unsuccessful you will need it.” Meredith patted her daughter’s hand. Sadie grinned at her mother. It wasn’t pretty, what Meredith had said, but it was true.

“Thank you, mom, I love you!” Sadie wrapped her arms around her mother’s shoulders and squeezed tightly, startling a laugh out of her.

Meredith squeezed back and said, “I love you too, dear.” She soon left the room, thereafter, allowing Sadie to finish her task.

The next morning, Sadie woke up earlier than she had meant to. Excitement had kept her up most of the night and had woken her early. She didn’t mind, of course. She would be just fine, she knew and was looking forward to her first day. She had prepared a portfolio of the necessary paperwork needed to start that day and made sure to grab it now, on her way out of the room. She stopped in the kitchen to snag breakfast from the tired cook who looked as if he hadn’t gotten enough sleep either. He waved her away with a plate and continued to prepare the morning’s feast. Sadie didn’t mind, she was due to have her first day as a feed hand and she couldn’t wait.

Anticipation curled up in her belly, sending tingling waves of electricity through her limbs, making her feel jittery. She wanted to jump up and down and squeal to release some of it, but that would be childish, and she had not been a child for a long time now. Instead, she shook her arms and did some breathing exercises before getting into her car.

The drive to the feedstore felt like it was over 100 miles of land to cross before she finally pulled up in front of the store. She was extremely early, but she didn’t care. That just meant that she would have more time to get settled in. The lights flicked on just as she was getting out of her car. She stepped up to the door just as the young blond man opened it up the flip the sign.

“You again?” He said with a sneer, raking his eyes over her once again in that manner that he had that told her he was not impressed with her at all. Sadie knew she would need to change that if she was going to marry him as she planned.

Sadie squared her shoulders and stared him down haughtily, “Yes, me. I start today as Tilda requested.” He said nothing else, just stepped back and held the door open. That would be the last nice thing he would do for her that day as it would turn out, but Sadie didn’t know that and thought that perhaps he had recognized his awful behavior and had decided to back down a little. Poor Sadie.

“Felix! Did you get that sign turned?” Tilda’s voice came from the back-room area that Sadie assumed was her office. So his name was Felix, she thought, cute.

“Yes, ma’am.” That was all he said. He glared at Sadie and pointed towards the location of Tilda’s voice. “The boss lady is in there. Make sure to stay out of my way.” He stepped away from her before she could respond. His hatefulness really struck a nerve and Sadie’s good mood immediately landed in the dumpster.

Trying to shake it off, she stepped into what was Tilda’s office. “Ms. Tilda, ready and reporting for duty,” Sadie said, thrusting her portfolio in front of her. Tilda looked up from her desk, which was covered with a thin layer of feed dust and papers.

“Miss Braxton, you made it!” Tilda exclaimed with apparent surprise. “I’m impressed. You sure dressed for the occasion too, by this afternoon it’s going to get pretty hot, I hope you’re prepared for that.” Sadie nodded. “Very well then. All of your papers in this here folder?” Sadie nodded again. “Uh-huh. Okay, well, let me get you on with one of the boys and have them show you the ropes.” Tilda stood, cupped her hands around her mouth, and gave a whoop, “Jason! Jason! Come on in here boy! I need your assistance with something!” In the small space they were occupying, Sadie felt as if her ears were going to explode from the force of Tilda’s booming voice.

A young man who looked all of nineteen stumbled into the office. “Yes ma’am, you called?” He had semi-long hair that curled around his head like a helmet. Sadie was experienced enough with farmhands to know that he had hat hair and was certain that somewhere on his person there was a baseball cap he would wear intermittently throughout the day. He was lean and muscled but in a boyish way. She could feel the heat in her face at having to be shown around by her junior by nearly ten years. Had to start somewhere though.

“Jason, this here is Sadie Braxton. Miss Braxton is here to work with us and needs you to show her the ropes. Be good to her now and try to keep her out of Felix’s way. He has taken an instant disliking if you know what I mean.” Tilda turned away then and patted Sadie’s shoulder, “Good luck, kid. I’m sure you’ll do fine.” Tilda cackled a little.

“Well, Sadie, we are gonna start around back,” Jason said taking her arm and leading her out of the office. Sadie suddenly wasn’t so sure this was a good idea. That cackle sure made her think twice about what she was about to get herself into, but she couldn’t give up now. This was just too damn important. So, steeling herself, she allowed Jason to lead her through to the back of the building where they loaded bags of feed in from some trucks and prepared pallets of feed to be loaded onto other trucks. This was shaping up to be a long day.