Chapter Three.
Gone with the wind.
Well, time passed and Albert graduated with flying colours to return home to take over the running of the farm. In the meantime, Julie graduated with a master’s degree in literature and was currently sitting for her PhD. As it so happened one of the fellow students in her class, also setting for his PhD had a real shine for Julie. The afternoon class had concluded, Harold marched over to Julie and asked, “Would you like to go for coffee?” “Sure, that would be nice.” Harold’s family owned a ship building company in Nova Scotia called Wolfe Ship Building and were very wealthy.
They walked to Harold’s car which was a Porsche and drove to the coffee shop about thirty minutes away parked, entered and sat down. The waitress came, they ordered coffee and a slice of apple pie. Harold had his eye on Julie for the whole semester. Julie opened the conversation, “So, tell me a little bit about yourself.” “My family owns a ship building business, so I’m sure you’re wondering what in heavens name I’m doing in a literature class. I’m just not good with figures or running a business.” “Well, at least you’re not a square peg in a round hole.” “How many people does your company employ?” “Some five hundred people.” “Wow, that’s a lot.” “Well, tell me a little bit about yourself.” asked Harold. “I live in PEI my family owns one of the biggest farms in the Province. We employ about twenty people including office staff.
“As you can imagine, I’m the black sheep of the family, dad wants farmers not intellectuals.” “Well, as my dad says, follow your heart, otherwise you’ll never be happy. Can I ask you something. There’s a book reading and signing in one of the coffee shops next Wednesday, would you be interested?” asked Harold. “Who’s the author?” “It’s Margaret McGinnis.” “O, I love her works, she writes all about the Druids and the Roman invasion. I’d love to go.” cried Julie. “O.K. that’s a date.” Wednesday rolled around and they were both seated and enamored by the afternoon’s proceedings. Julie was beside herself in having met the author whom she admired so much.
At the end of the talk Julie lined up and bought two novels and had them signed with much fanfare. She walked over to Harold, “Here, enjoy.” After that they went for dinner and then back to Julie’s place. When everything was cozy, Harold turned to Julie and asked, “Mom, has invited you for dinner this Saturday evening, would you be interested?” “I’m honored to be asked, of course I’ll go.” “Now there’s dinner, after there’s an evening of chamber music. Mother is the lead violinist and I’m on cello.” “Wow, sounds great, I’ve never heard chamber music before.”
At the end of the evening Harold gave Julie a kiss and left. Then she sat down and almost cried, this was what she had always dreamed of. To marry Albert she would sacrifice everything, including the professorship at Dalhousie and who knows where that would lead.
Harold arrived at Julie’s place on Saturday at twelve o’clock, took her back to his place to listen to “Saturday afternoon form the Met. The opera was “The Puritan by Bellini” Julie was more than impressed by his surroundings. The stereo system was out of this world. After listening for a hour Harold asked, “Are you enjoying it?” “This is the first opera I’ve ever listened to. It’s wonderful.” At four thirty they got dressed and drove to Harold’s place. Julie with fear and apprehension. The drive took about a hour. They drove through a set of wrought iron gates, then a winding pathway to a large mansion.
