Life Partners (Kerry)

They had nothing to say to each other. It had all been said. The creamy silence was made the richer by the steady purring of the cat on Elsie’s lap. She stroked it gently, absent-mindedly, with her right hand. In her left she held the gnarled hand of her sister. Her attention was not on the view through the window although she noted the cows standing quietly by the shed. Her gaze returned to her sister’s face. Maude was sleeping now, but restlessly. Occasionally her eyes would flick open and search for Elsie. Elsie could feel the tiny squeeze conveying gratitude and love.

The room held many of their treasured possessions. The bookshelf beside the fireplace contained their father’s collection of gardening books, which he had used to establish the rambling garden around the house. The heavy perfume from the dark red roses at Elsie’s elbow cast a sweet ambience in the room. She had arranged them, fresh from the garden that morning. Elsie loved the way you could walk through the French windows onto the gravel outside and be led through the abundance of the garden along the little pathways. The garden was her territory. She had always been father’s helper in the garden and when he died she was naturally the one to take over the care of the garden.

Maude was a cat collector. The mantelpiece was home to her tabby cats, marmalade cats, rollicking kittens, black cats, and white cats. The painting of the two haughty Siamese cats which hung over the fireplace had been done for Maude by her niece as a surprise for her fiftieth birthday. The old ceramic cat on the floor by the door had belonged to their mother. Maude claimed it was the favourite of all her cats.

Elsie couldn’t recall when they had made the decision but she and Maude had become passionate about Jersey cows soon after their father had died. They already had a predominantly Jersey herd, but now they were determined to build up a prize Jersey stud. After the first year they showed their best milker at the local show. They were given encouragement from the judge and started to appreciate the characteristics that were highly prized in the breed. It was the beginning of a lifetime of showing cattle.

The women had continued to milk the cows by hand. Elsie loved the closeness of the warm bodies against her face as she rhythmically stripped the milk from the udders. She never tired of the smoky sweet aroma of the foaming milk in the bucket. There was no hurry.

Sometimes they were asked why they hadn’t married and had families of their own but when your life is already complete there seemed no point. Many of the young men early on had gone to the war anyway and never returned. Elsie and Maude had each other.

Elsie’s attention was drawn back to the present when she heard Maude give her last quiet sigh. It sent a little ripple out into the room stirring the air so slightly. Elsie felt the hand slacken its grip. She reached over for the glass of water and the tablets.

Alternative Title:
In sickness and in health