The Spanish Gardener

Of late, British Consul Harrington Brande has been passed up for one promotion after another. It is not his qualifications, but rather his moral character that has been in question, ever since his wife left him. Since, he has smothered his now eleven year old son, Nicholas Brande, who he has refused let see his mother in Scotland. Harrington considers Nicky "delicate", a kind euphemism for weak, but in reality Nicky would not be if Harrington just let his son flourish. Rather than send Nicky away to school as is custom, Harrington has instead decided to home school him at their next posting, the provincial outpost of San Jorge, on the Costa Brava coast of Spain. These actions with regard to Nicky are against the advice of Harrington's friend, Dr. Harvey, who is constantly called to examine Nicky for his delicate nature. Regardless, Nicky has unconditional love for and obedience to his father. At the consular home provided to him in San Jorge, Harrington hires a man to do the gardening of the largely unkempt grounds suggested to him by Carol Burton, the wife of consular official Robert Burton. Said gardener, Jose Santero, a friend of a friend of the Burtons, is a gentle soul. Left largely to his own devices as his father goes about his work, Nicky strikes up a friendship with Jose, who can see that Nicky just wants to be allowed to be a boy and do the things that boys do. Harrington sees this friendship as an immediate threat to his relationship with Nicky and his authority over his son. As that friendship grows stronger, the question becomes how far each of Harrington, Nicky and Jose will go to protect what is right, or what each believes is right, especially with regard to their interrelationships. A factor in the situation is a true wolf in sheep's clothes within their midst.