WHO: Gregory & Anabel Marple. WHEN: Just before bed. WHERE: Gregory & Anabel's bedroom. SUMMARY: Gregory brings up a concern he has. Anabel brings up a different one. WARNINGS: None.
He could hear Anabel finishing her evening routine in the bathroom. The bedside light was on, a book propped up as his glasses perched on his nose. He had just reached the end of Me. Trevor Noah’s chapter and there was not going to be enough time between now and when Anabel returned to begin another. Still his fingers lingered on the pages instead of going for his book mark just yet.
“You know, I had an interesting conversation the other day.” He offered towards the glow of the bathroom light.
Anabel tilted her head towards the door, though she knew Gregory couldn’t see her, while she applied her night time moisturizer. “I’ve had a couple of those too,” She mused. “Who did you have this particular conversation with?”
“Eli. At least the specific one I have in mind.” he pushed his glasses back up the bridge of his nose. “Though now that you mention it, I have had a few interesting conversations.”
She turned off the light in the bathroom, then returned to the bedroom. “Eli? I can honestly say that was not what I was expecting. Please, do continue.” She moved to their closet, to place the dress she’d worn today in the hamper.
“I do endeavor to keep your life full of surprises.” Gregory reached for the bookmark finally, now that Anabel had returned to their bedroom. “He’s a young man with a lot weighing on his mind right now. And I can’t help but think his parents did nothing to help with that.”
Anabel raised her eyebrows, still uncertain of the direction of this conversation. “I should think there is a lot weighing on most of the town right now.” She moved to her side of the bed, taking a seat next to her husband. “In this case am I to suppose you’d like the two of us to help him in some way?”
Gregory settled back, setting his book aside as she climbed in beside him. “Yes, well, in addition to those weights.” he sighed. “It’s very much about his future and the direction of it. Honestly he’s a wonderful young man, I wish he was more confident in that.”
She looked over to him, trying to read the face she knew so well. “Do you want us to boost his confidence? Do you think he even values our belief in his confidence enough to do that?”
That was something he was unsure of the answer. “I’m very fond of him. But I’m not sure he does. Or if it would even work.” he frowned slightly. “Honestly sometimes I just wish I could... pop Nate in the jaw for what he did to that boy.”
“Well, you could,” Anabel pointed out. “But he probably knows how to take a punch better than you know how to throw one.”
“I was quite the fighter in college, Belle.” he pointed out with the slightest indignation. “Granted that was within the bounds of boxing and it’s been a few decades but I imagine it might be like riding a bike.”
She chuckled. “Perhaps. But I’m not sure that would actually help Eli. What concerns did he bring to you? I need to know how tangible these problems are and decide if I’m really going to prioritize them when Camila has a huge set of problems of her own right now.”
“The future, where he’s going with Megan. The big questions when murder isn’t involved in the equation.” Gregory motioned out to the air before leaning in closer to his wife, slipping an arm around her. “But you’re right, I’m distracted. There’s far more we should be concerned about with Camila.”
Anabel cupped Gregory’s cheek, before leaning in to him him a short kiss. “Sorry to act as if Eli’s problems don’t matter. I’m sure he does need help in a different manner than our daughter does. And there’s no rule saying we can’t help them both, but,” She paused, thinking of how best to put this. “I think one of the new cops is trying to pin this on Camila.”
Those words had a way to completely changing Gregory’s disposition, the frown taking over as he say up a little straighter despite the kiss. “And which one? Is it one of these new rabble rousers? I will march in and talk to Emilia Wolfe directly!”
“June Rogers.” Anabel pat his shoulder. “I don’t think that would be wise. We don’t yet know the type of cop she is. And that could very well make her focus narrow even further on Camila. I don’t doubt that there are likely some logical reasons they might consider her.”
“Well I suppose.” Gregory grumbled, his shoulders huffing at the idea of some indigent outsider accusing his perfect daughter of any sort of illegal dealings, let alone murder of all things. “She was the main target for Moira’s aggression really, with all her demands and everything. But Camila would never do such a thing.”
Part of the reason she adored Gregory was his loyalty. And it was truly heartwarming to know how connected he was to his daughters when so many people made comments when they were younger about how it was ‘sad’ that Anabel had never been able to give him a son.
Despite this, Anabel didn’t think whether her daughter was guilty or not really mattered in terms of their next step. Either way, she was interested in keeping Camila out of jail. “We need to find her an excellent lawyer.”
That was an excellent point and Gregory was calmed slightly by this, leaning in and pressing a kiss to his brilliant wife’s cheek. Anabel had always been clever, practical, with her mind moving faster than he could even imagine at times. It was intoxicating. “We can make some calls around Seattle.” “Great. Once that is settled we can worry about less pressing matter’s - like Eli’s vision of his future and lack of confidence.” She leaned over to kiss him, on the lips, again. “Perhaps we can even have a date night after meeting with some lawyers.”
He reached out to catch her chin, pulling her in for another kiss. “You know, that almost makes finding lawyers sound enjoyable.”
Anabel smiled. “You can make anything sound enjoyable if you try hard enough.”
“Oh really?” Gregory’s smile lifted up to match. “Care to demonstrate?”