Batavia Ch. 7
The Jones Family
Life in Batavia didn’t start as Thomas Jones had hoped for. When he followed the Fitzwilliams, he thought he had all the references needed to start his own company. Besides, there was only one merchant in Batavia so there would be plenty of room for another one. But these first days brought nothing but disappointment.
First, Hendrik Koopmans informed Thomas that he had no plans of cooperating with him, nor of sharing his knowledge and connections with him. Second, the Fitzwilliams weren’t as established a family as they used to be, so their reference didn’t open as many doors as Thomas had hoped for. After a week time, he finally managed to buy a piece of land to start his business, but he couldn’t find a good constructor that would do his job for a reasonable price.
Since it was his choice to move to Batavia, he felt guilty towards his wife Mary, who had supported him and followed him without complaining once. She just took care of their home and the decorations, and of his beautiful daughter Sarah. He hoped he would have a boy too soon, although there wasn’t much to inherit yet.
When he came home from another day of trying to contact the right person to draw a plan and construct the necessary building, he really felt depressed and hardly dared to greet his wife. But Mary saw that something was the matter and she greeted him warmly and wanted to know everything about this day.
Sarah was playing quietly with her favorite rabbit, so Mary and Thomas could talk without being disturbed. After telling his wife, Thomas started to feel relieved a bit. Although Mary didn’t receive much education, she was a bright woman who understood a lot about how people reacted and how to turn certain situations to your advantage.
Moreover, she is a perfect mother, being capable of understanding Sarah better than anyone else. She was the one suggesting to give Sarah the rabbit and it had indeed been the perfect gift for the girl. She had adjusted to the move amazingly quick and both Thomas and Mary were very proud of her.
The next day, Mary spent some time with Sarah to teach her to talk. Apparently she is as bright as her mother, because she learns very quickly. By the end of the day, she learned to say “Mummy”, which makes Mary’s heart melt from joy and pride. Mary knows Thomas wants a son badly, to take over his business, but she is as happy as she could be with her precious daughter Sarah.
A few days later, Mary gets the feeling she is pregnant. Although it is a bit quick for her, she is convinced Thomas will be thrilled. She hopes that her next pregnancy will give the heir Thomas wants so much. To makes sure something at least goes his way. She doesn’t dare to think about the birth of another daughter, not before Thomas’ plans have had a serious change to become reality.
Although she doesn’t want to let Thomas know, Mary is worried about his business too. She felt it as her duty to support her husband when he decided to move to Batavia. Since their marriage, Mary has grown very fond of her husband and hates to see him unhappy. Even though she feels he is a bit too serious sometimes.
Recently she got to know one of the other nobleman, Sir Frederik Van Ravenswaaij. He seems to her the exact opposite of Thomas, always being cheerful and making jokes. Mary hasn’t yet admitted to herself that she is really attracted to this Frederik. But she knows it is the right thing to stay away from him and concentrate on her family. He is a married man, she is a married, pregnant woman, so she shouldn’t be thinking about him at all.
Suddenly she realizes she hears Sarah giggle out loud, but also some splatter. She hurries upstairs to find a lot of water in the bathroom. “That’s what you get when you are daydreaming about other people’s men,” Mary thinks by herself and she starts to mop up the spilled water.
When Thomas gets home, Mary tells him about her suspicion she might be pregnant again. And before long, she has proof of it. For the first time since their move to Batavia, Mary sees Thomas’ face smile and glow with happiness. She know she has to chase away any thoughts about Frederik and concentrate on her husband and her love for him.
Mary also tells Sarah, she will have a little brother or sister. Although she can’t grasp it really, it will be her birthday soon. Then she will understand perfectly well what’s going on. Mary wants to avoid that Sarah would feel left out, so she wants to tell it to her daughter anyway.
A few days later is is Sarah’s birthday. Thomas and Mary just have a small party late at night and Sarah seems OK with that. She grows up to be a lovely young lady, inspiring her mother and father with all kinds of hopes and fears.
