Ella thought for a moment then replied, “Well, since Tommy is no longer with us, I don’t think he could be offended.And, honestly, I like Bennett much better than Thomas.If you wanted to use it as a middle name, I would be good with it.”
At that moment, Ben jumped up, reacting to a call he vehemently disagreed with.Once that moment passed, he sat back down and picked up the conversion without missing a beat, a skill only a true basketball lover could do.“You know, I think you are right.So if it is okay with you, let’s use Bennett for the middle name.Do you have any name you really want?”
Without missing a beat, Ella replied, “What do you think about the name John?It is my Dabby’s name.”When Ben gave her a look that told her he had no idea who or what a Dabby was, Ella laughed.“Dabby, my grandfather on my mom’s side.You met him at the wedding.”
Nodding, Ben said, “Oh, yeah.I remember now.The tall dude with lots of white hair.”
“Yes,” replied Ella.“You mom told me that her father’s name was also John, even though she never knew him.I think it would be a nice way of honoring both of our families in one name.What do you think?”
Reaching over to give her a quick kiss, Ben said, “I love the name John.One of my best friends from high school was named John.I had forgotten that mom’s dad’s name was John.That is not something she talks about much.I am surprised she told you that.As far as the name goes, if you like John, I am good with it.”
Nodding Ella said, “John Bennett Carrington.I love it.”
“Me too,” replied Ben.“But just one thing.I want him to go by John, not JB or some nickname.I hate when people do that.”
“Agreed,” said Ella.“John Bennett Carrington it is.”
The happy calm that seeing their son on the monitor and deciding on his name only lasted a short time.The coldest days of winter hit them hard that winter with a large snowfall that stalled life in Little Rock and Des Arc as the load that Ben was carrying only continued to heat up.By the first of February, Ben was working twelve- to fifteen-hour days, traveling all over the state working with the advance team, making sure that everything was ready for the next campaign stop.They were trying to do at least one a day.He spent time setting everything up and tearing it all down.He also worked with local party reps to get out signs and set up speaking engagements.
If Ella knew anything about politics or Arkansas, maybe she would have been able to join Ben and work on the campaign as well.But she didn’t, and the few times she brought it up, he said he preferred for her to stay at home and rest.That had made sense when she was first pregnant and waylaid by morning sickness.Now she felt great but was bored out of her mind.Realizing his wife was at wit’s end, he often encouraged her to have lunch with his various friends’ wives or to go shopping.Most of the wives and girlfriends of his friends had careers or children.The few who didn’t seemed to lunch and shop a lot.It reminded her of her time in Aspen.At the time, she was grateful it was only a long weekend and had gotten through it.This had somehow become her life.
Ella’s mother’s words about wasting her potential and becoming a lady who lunched often ran through her mind.It seemed to be a life-fulfilling prophecy.She even suggested getting a job, but Ben’s response was that any job she got would have to be temporary because she would soon need time off to have the baby.
Ben was always kind and loving when they were together, but it was as if he wanted Ella to become another person.For as brilliant as she was, she could not find the words to make Ben understand this was not who she was.
For her part, Ella really tried to be what Ben seemed to want.She did the lunches.She shopped.She attended campaign events as a plus one when asked, even when that meant spending their first Valentine’s Day as a couple at a church banquet in a small town outside of Searcy where she knew no one.
At that particular event, Ella and Ben had not even been able to ride there together.She had to ride with another staffer.Spending almost two hours in the car with a guy she barely knew, making small talk, was murderous for Ella.But she did it because Ben asked her to.She hoped that once she got there they would be able to enjoy some time together, but that did not happen.When Ella arrived, Ben gave her a quick kiss hello, then disappeared to work his magic behind the scenes.
While Ella was quietly sitting, listening to people all around her talk, a conversation caught her attention.A heavy-set man next to her was discussing what sounded like a major soil study that was about to begin in the nearby town of Des Arc.From what Ella could hear, the purpose of the study was to develop best practices for soil conservation.Ella knew that Arkansas was a major agricultural state, but she had not yet had any opportunity to learn about the crops or the growing practices.She knew that most farms were corporate entities, but some large family farms still remained.Listening, her interest piqued, Ella could not stop herself from asking, “Are you talking about a soil study?”
The heavy-set man next to her turned and gave her a once over.He seemed to be shocked at her question, but with a kind smile answered, “Why, yes, that is what we are talking about.NRCS is going to be working with us over the next few months collecting data that will help us determine which soil degradation prevention strategy we are using is the most effective.But a pretty little thing like you would not be interested in some old boring soil study.I am sorry, we are probably boring you.Aren’t we?”
Ella could not help but laugh as she responded, “Actually, this is the first conversation all night that has interested me.Just curious, what strategies are you currently using?Crop rotation, reduce tillage, mulching, cover cropping, or cross-slope farming?”
The man let out a hearty laugh.“Well, missy, you sure know a lot about soil conservation.Is your daddy or husband a farmer?I would never have guessed you would know so much about such a boring topic.”Then he stuck out his hand and introduced himself, “Herman Waters.I have a farm here in Des Arc.”Gesturing toward the older lady next to him, he added, “This is my wife, Millie.”Nudging his wife he said, “Millie, say hi to our new friend, who seems to know a lot about farming.”
Millie smiled and said, “Hello.You are Ben Carrington’s new wife?Just graduated from some school in California, right?Why, that makes perfect sense.Bennett told me he had a firecracker of a new daughter-in-law.”
Smiling, Ella responded by saying, “I am Ella, and yes Ben and I got married on Christmas Eve.”
“It is very nice to meet you, Ella.So tell me, how do you know so much about soil conservation?”
It was as if everyone in earshot had stopped talking and was looking at Ella expectantly.Giving them all a shy smile, Ella said, “I majored in Environment and Sustainability at Cal Poly Tech.I have done several soil conservation projects as my concentration of study centered around learning what it takes for wineries to become and maintain a gold-level rating.In Napa, where I am from, there has been a big push to use cutting-edge technology to improve the quality and quantity of the grapes grown with the ultimate goal of being kinder to the environment while still maintaining high levels of yields.”Realizing that everyone was looking at her like she had just grown a second head, Ella lowered her voice and said quietly, “I am sorry.I always get excited when I get to talk about this.I am just the biggest nerd when it comes to the soil and ways to make it more profitable and yet preserve it for the future.”
Herman stared at Ella for a minute more, then let out another bark of laughter.“Little missy, you are the prettiest nerd I have ever met.Now tell me some more about this environment and sustainability degree of yours.”For the rest of the night, Herman and Ella talked about soil conservation, farming, and his upcoming study.
For the first time at one of these events, time flew.Ella did not even miss Ben.When he finally found his way to his seat as the event was ending, Herman stood and shook his hand, “Young man, I am Herman Waters.”
Ben returned the man’s firm handshake and said, “Yes, sir, I know exactly who you are.Thank you for your generous donation to my father’s campaign.We appreciate it more than you will ever know.”
“You are more than welcome.Bennett Carrington is going to be a fantastic governor just as he was a great senator.I am glad all that business from before is behind him.”
Ben did not need Herman to say what he was talking about.Instead of addressing any of that, he said, “I see you have met my lovely wife.I hope she has not talked your ear off about soil conservation.It is her favorite topic.When she gets going, I have to be honest, I have no idea what she is talking about, but she sure does like talking about it.”
“Ain’t that the truth.You picked yourself a good one here,” replied Herman.“That degree at twenty, plus a free ride to Michigan for grad school.You may have outkicked your coverage with this one,” Herman said, gesturing to Ella.
Laughing, Ben reached over and drew Ella into his body, “Don’t I know it, sir.She keeps me on my toes.She is the smartest person I have ever met.Definitely my better half.”Ben added a soft kiss in Ella’s hair.
