CHAPTER 2: In Which There is a Celebration
"Open up! I want to see my beautiful nephew!", yelled Lettie as Michael opened the door. Piling down the boxes of plush toys, sweets and assorted cakes from Cessari's on Michael's arms, Lettie started walking towards the staircase.
"Don't wake him yet, let him have his sleep! He's a growing child, for crying out loud!", grunted Michael, whilst precariously trying to balance all the boxes on both arms and trying to block Lettie from going up the staircase.
"Never mind that, it's his first birthday today and I will make sure it's special!," yelled Lettie. "I'm sure Sophie would have wanted it to be so," added Lettie as an afterthought. An uncomfortable silence followed Lettie's words broken by a faint crying from the upstairs room.
"Great, now you've woken the little monster up!", Michael said exasperatedly, turning away from Lettie, who, after making sure no one would notice, wiped a tear off her cheek.
"I'll go and make some breakfast while you go and fetch him.", said Lettie as Michael went upstairs. Lettie walked over to the pantry and fetched a pan and spatula.
"You know, I'm only letting you do this because without you, nobody would be eating properly in this house since we lost Sophie.", said Calcifer grumpily as Lettie placed the pan with bacon and eggs over him.
"Oh hush, Calcifer. We both know you like me just as much as you liked my sister.", Lettie jokingly replied. "How is everything here, Calcifer? If you don't mind my asking.. I mean, how is Howl taking it? Especially today..", asked Lettie quietly.
"Still the same, Lettie. Howl is barely existing, he's not really living, if you know what I mean. If it weren't for Morgan, I don't think he'd be here at all. His work at the palace keeps him occupied during the day but apart from that, nothing seems to bring him joy. I know it sounds horrible, but I don't think even Morgan can fill the hole that Sophie left in his heart.," said Calcifer.
The room was silent apart from the sound of the sizzling bacon and eggs and the giggling and babbling that was slowly getting louder as Michael descended down the stairs carrying Morgan.
"Ata! Ata!", yelled Morgan as soon as he spotted Lettie by the fire. Morgan squirmed in Michael's arms reaching towards Lettie until Michael put him down on the floor. Morgan took several wobbly steps towards Lettie and buried his face in her skirts while giggling delightedly.
"Go ahead, I'll take it from here," Michael said to Lettie as he took the pan from Lettie's hand. Their hands briefly made contact and Michael's face turned a deep shade of red, luckily, Lettie's full attention was now on the little toddler on the floor and Michael's blush remained unnoticed.
"Oh, you look so handsome, my little boy! And so much bigger too! I can't believe you've grown so much since I last saw you two weeks ago!," cooed Lettie as she tickled Morgan. Morgan's peals of laughter was heard all around the house, giving a touch of cheerfulness to everybody. "I have a present for you, love.," Lettie said. As she rummaged through the assorted boxes on the floor, Michael set the food on the table and looked curiously.
"I didn't know what to get you, so I had this made special for you.," Lettie said as she opened a small box and held out a small necklace with a leather band and a small silver locket hanging from it. "It's to remind you that your mother will always be here with you.," Lettie tearfully said as she cradled Morgan on her lap and clasped the necklace on his neck. Morgan looked down on the likeness of Sophie in the locket, smiled, looked up at Lettie saying, "Mama?"
"Yes, that's your Mama, and she loved you very much, Morgan," Lettie replied tearfully.
"Quit making us cry, Lettie, you're going to put me out.," said Calcifer.
"I'm sorry, you're right, Calcifer! We should be celebrating today.", said Lettie while trying to wipe her tears using her sleeve.
"Let's take Morgan around the town after breakfast to celebrate, how does that sound to everyone?", Michael suggested cheerfully. Lettie and Calcifer nodded their approval. Together, the lady, the lad and the baby ate breakfast while the fire zoomed around the room in a blur, much to the baby's delight.
