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It had been another exhausting day of work. The new business partnership meant the Duke now accompanied Susan Glass on her trips to other farms, so that at least made the ordeal less lonely – not that either of them would ever admit to enjoying the company. But there were a few practicalities that they recognised as benefits of the partnership; for example, they could alternate driving.
‘Can’t wait to be home, eat a giant burger and sleep for two days.’
‘C’mon Susie, the weekend will be over by the time you wake up.’ Eddie chuckled, eliciting his companion’s trademark eyeroll. ‘I thought the young drug lady would be heading to The Glassknuckle and then maybe clubbing.’
‘I don’t know who gives you these ideas, I’m getting old.’ The thought seems to make Susan pensive, if not a bit sad. ‘Maybe you’re right. I should be out. We should be out. We need to find a work-life balance and avoid marrying the job.’
‘So, what are you proposing…’
‘I don’t know precisely. Maybe we should go on dates, meet new people, separate our personal life from our professional ventures.’ Susan started to regret being so open, not fully ready to communicate – or even to elaborate – on her true feelings on the matter. She halted her thoughts every time they veered toward trying to define her relationship with the Duke.
‘Are you saying you’re getting tired of spending time with me?’ Edward joked, only slightly pretending to be hurt.
Susie stared at him, annoyed, but Eddie was only able to catch the icy, piercing blue irises for a split second before returning his attention to the road,
‘You know what I mean. Our partnership is going quite well. Unexpectedly, of course. I have no complaints about your performance and results, Captain. And, I must admit, I do enjoy the occasional alcoholic drink at the manor while we cogitate on the matters on hand. But wouldn’t it be nice to have someone you can have fun, go out and relax with? You’re already aware that I’ve not prioritised relationships so far in my adult life, but maybe it’s time I started.’ Susan concluded with a sigh.
It’s not uncommon to start pondering about the future and companionship in your early 30s, and Ms. Glass was not immune to the contradicting desires of having fun and settling down. Had she been honest with herself, she would have realised that the circumstances that followed the old Duke’s passing had stirred in her new emotions and yearnings.
‘I don’t disagree with you.’ Edward conceded, not a stranger to struggles in his private life, either. ‘However, it would take a certain level of commitment and a certain amount of time to start and maintain a romantic relationship. That’s not always easy in our chosen line of work. Not to mention, what would you tell your partner about your job? You can’t just inform anyone about our illegal traffic.’
‘Of course, it would certainly require some effort. Some matters will need to be dealt with when we cross the bridge. But what is the alternative, Captain? Remain single and lonely for the rest of my life?’ By that point, Susan wasn’t even trying to hide the slight break in her voice.
Now stopped at a traffic light, Edward chanced a look at Susan and saw that she really was upset over the matter, definitely more than she was willing to let on. He gently covered her hand with his, before returning it to grip the steering wheel.
‘I apologise. I didn’t want to make it sound like you shouldn’t or can’t do it. You should do what you need and what you think is best. If you feel like dating and looking for a relationship, then that’s what you should do. Actually, I also agree that some romance would be helpful. To take off the edge and whatnot. As corny as it may sound, love and a family are the most important things in life. We would know that.’ The Duke added with a laugh, trying to lift his partner’s mood. The thought of Susie going out with some guy elicited a strange feeling in his stomach, something in between protectiveness and something else that he wasn’t ready to address.
Both Edward and Susan came from strong, present families. Willingly or not, that type of dynamic was instilled in their brains. Family came first and it was the most important, even if frustrating, part of their lives to cherish and protect. Maybe they both dreamed of similar arrangements for the future.
Susan couldn’t help but smile at the pun, the weight pressing on her lungs lifting ever so slightly. ‘I wouldn’t get ahead of myself and think of family just yet. At the same time, I think we deserve some fun. That’s all.’
‘We can do fun. From next week, we’ll start prioritising our personal lives and relationships, and we’ll see how it goes.
The pair listened to the radio for the rest of the drive, each absorbed in thoughts about their previous conversation. Juggling love and criminal endeavours came with a certain degree of difficulty. Coming to terms with the evolving feelings for each other proved even more challenging.