Chapter 6 The garden of thorns
Edmund did not know what to do with the person that used to be Jenny hanging over her chair like a damp towel.
"I admit that the basement situation is a bit out of the ordinary. But we just need a pump and a bit of time. That's all." he said.
"That's all." croaked the body that once contained Jennies soul. "After that it will be still damp, and there is still the part from where all that water came from. What's gonna happen to there? Magic?"
"I was thinking more along the lines of technology." Edmund had read a few things about that once he had heard what had happened the other day.
"Sure.We will just technology it all away." said Jenny drunk on resignation. "We just get all those thingies and make the holes or cracks or whatever go away.And then just two shakes of the magic money tree later I get all the pipes and cables and... and... stuff installed and we are golden!"
"Of course it will cost money to get it done. But that was going to happen anyway. And there were always going to appear complications." Edmund said, constantly shifting between a soothing and an encouraging tone. "You yourself loved to tell me about the project managers at your work who loved to plan for every little detail with exception of the unexpected. This is just that. And we knew that things like these would happen."
"Did we? We knew that we had a flooded basement and crumbling foundation?" Jennies tired eyes met Edmund's.
"Well not what exactly. But shit happens. And at least it is front loaded." Edmund said.
"Yaaaay..." said Jenny mustering her last precious reserves of sarcasm. "And I'm sure that nothing else unexpected will happen."
"Of course more will happen. But at least the foundation will be strong. And you build from the ground up not the other way round."
"Just getting that done will cost a time and a lot of money. And you of all people should know that a strong foundation isn't worth anything if there are no more resources left to build on them."
That hit Edmund where it hurt. He had fought his way through academia taking no short cuts, following his conviction becoming a very promising scientist only to be left behind by a world more interested in people who did things quickly and in a certain way. While he enjoyed his transformation into a libertine, jack of all trades who brought people together he had never lost his love for science or his yearning to follow his call.
Jenny had not noticed that he had not said anything in a while lost in her own garden of thorns. With some effort Edmund shook off the encroaching bitterness. He warped himself in his dignity and looked Jenny in the eyes.
"We will dry the foundations, we will repair them. Then we will build your café on top of them. One step at a time. We went through the numbers. There is enough money for the work. And we don't have to wait for the basement to dry out before we can start our work upstairs. You can give Linda the tour tomorrow. If we convince her to come on board we might be able to finance her work over an EU research grant." Edmund said.
"If she wants a sea burial for her project..." Jenny said.
"I think you don't quite understand the concept of hydro electric power Jen."
"Does it convert humidity in electricity?" Jen asked.
Edmund sighed. "I understand you, I really do. This is a horrible situation. Everything that you had planned has turned out to be so much more difficult than you anticipated. But right now you are just being a twat."
"No. I'm being realistic. The project is already derailed. The costs are already sky rocketing. For all this to work we will need other people to join us. Who in their right mind would do that."
"I did." Edmund said trying not to glare at Jenny. "The bank did. The city did."
"Those we tricked." Jenny protested.
"Maybe we did. But our trick was good enough to tempt them. Also your builders. They believe in you."
"Hardly, that Adrian guy was about to around and just leave pretty much the whole time."
"But he didn't." Edmund said fixing his eyes on her. "He didn't. Nor did his friends. Neither did Barbara."
Jenny sat up slowly she tried to meet Edmund's glare.
"They," Edmund continued. "we believe in your vision. And it is a good one. I will not stand back watching you let this pass you by."
"There is still a lack of money trees though." Jenny said.
"True. But there is that possible grant. And this Adrian fellow had mentioned something about a lawyer?"
"He did. The city gave us the building and passed all the responsibility for the maintenance to us. However if they knew about the basement and never told us about it would mean that we could sue the city for damages."
"Hmmm...." Edmund said, resting his on a hand. "As long as we can prove that it was the city who bricked up the basement."
"Who else would have done that? Guerilla bricklayers?"
"If there is no proof. The city can say what ever it wants and just wash its hands off the whole thing. But don't worry. I know a lawyer who can either help us or point us in the right direction. We need to be careful right now."
"OK. You take care of the lawyer. I'll go back to the mill and continue the work there. That thing won't rebuild itself." Jenny said life slowly returning to her.
"Perfect." Edmund said standing up.
"Oh by the way," Jenny said. "what was it that you wanted to talk to me about anyway?"
"Right. I had forgotten about that." Edmund said. "I found us a hipster."
"What are you talking about?"
"You know. The hipster. The cook!"
"Oh right." Jenny laughed. "The cook. And not a minute to early."
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