A/N: Thank you to all who have taken the time to review this story - those reviews are greatly appreciated. After the idea of the photographs came to me while writing Chap 2, it took a while to figure out how to do it. I hope you like what I finally decided on.
Cora had settled on one of the couches in her upstairs sitting room. It was the room where she and Tom had spent a wonderful day looking through some of her photograph albums and selecting photographs of Sybil from them to make an album for Sybbie. They had spent the day reminiscing and sharing stories of their beloved Sybil. At the end of that day, each felt closer to the other.
After reading Tom's letter, Cora refilled her china tea cup and then eagerly began looking at the photographs Tom had enclosed with his letter.
The first photograph Cora looked at was Sybbie waving from the top of the ship's gangway. As it was late March and still chilly and would certainly be so out on the high seas, she was dressed in her dark wine colored winter coat and matching hat holding the ever present stuffed rabbit in one hand pressed against her chest. Her face beaming with a wide grin, she waved wildly at some unknown sight. Tom's note accompanied the photograph:
Sybbie's face was a sight to behold when she first saw the ship. She had that look of awe and wonderment with her eyes so large and her mouth opened to form a perfect O. Unfortunately I didn't think of trying to capture her first reaction to seeing the ship. But you've seen that look before … the one she has when the Downton Christmas tree is lit for the first time.
Fearless as always, she boldly walked alone up the narrow gangway. She did mind her father and walked, not ran, up the gangway, although there were a few hops along the way!
Looking at the picture made Cora realize how final this move to Boston was. Although it was breaking Cora's heart for Tom and Sybbie to leave Downton, she understood his desire to start a new life away from here. At least when she had made the move to England she was a young woman so her parents had seen her grow up, they had been a constant part of her childhood. She was saddened by the thought that she would mostly see Sybbie growing up only through photographs.
The next photograph was Tom, holding Sybbie in his arms, standing at the railing watching as the ship started moving from its mooring. With Sybbie tightly held in his arms, she was pointing to something on shore.
"Daddy we're moving" Sybbie exclaimed with excitement in her voice. I don't think the camera was able to capture the expression of pure astonishment on her face when the ship's horn blasted and then as the ship started to move. We stayed there at the railing until the port was out of sight. She then wanted to run to front of the ship to be able to see where we were going.
This picture was followed by one of Tom, Mrs. Branson, and Sybbie standing in what Cora knew was called the bridge. There were several men in finely pressed uniforms talking to them and one was pointing to something that Cora had no idea what it was. There was no note on this picture and it was followed by one of Sybbie, being held by one of the uniformed men, holding on to what looked like a big wooden steering wheel.
My brother had suggested I use a map to show Sybbie where we were and where we were going. I was able to find a large map of England, Ireland, the Atlantic Ocean and the northern part of the east coast of the American continent. So in the cabin I showed Sybbie where Downton is, where Dublin is, and pointed out where Boston is. We marked the route we had taken from Downton to Dublin and did the same with the ocean voyage, marking each day how far we'd come on the sea.
When our cabin steward noticed the map he asked me about it and after I explained to him my plan for marking our voyage each day, he talked to the captain who in turn was quite pleased with the idea. In fact he was so pleased that he invited us up to the bridge and explained the workings of the ship to us. As you can see from the second picture, the captain held Sybbie while he let her touch the steering wheel. Of course at luncheon that afternoon she told our steward that she had helped the captain steer the ship.
It was more than Sybbie and my mother were really interested in and they left after a short time. But I, as you know being so interested in such stuff, was thrilled and spend an enjoyable couple of hours talking to the captain and crew working in the bridge about the navigation systems, radio transmissions and such. It was for me the best part of our crossing.
Although I will say my mother was quite impressed to be asked to do such a visit. After that visit, each evening the steward would take our map and return it in the morning with our progress clearly outlined on it.
Next was a photograph of Sybbie and Mrs. Branson sitting at a dining table in one of the ship's opulent dining rooms. Sybbie looked quite the young lady in her blue dress sitting there with perfect posture holding a spoon with what liked soup in a bowl in front of her.
Our first luncheon on the ship. While the food was good by the end of the voyage I was longing for some of Mrs. Patmore's cooking.
Sybbie was quite excited to eat at the table with the adults. Although she was used to this from her week at my mother's house, she had never eaten out in public before. She quite liked being asked what she wanted on her plate and got quite use to this both on the ship and at the hotel we stayed in until our house was ready. The first night in our new house when my mother put Sybbie's plate on the table, Sybbie told her she didn't want the stew but preferred to have chicken. When we told her this wasn't like on the ship and she'd have to eat what her Grandma fixed she asked if she could go back to the ship for her dinner.
I was never sure what Sybbie understood regarding the servants at Downton especially when it came to the formality of names. When our steward at luncheon introduced himself as James Holton, Sybbie immediately called him James. When he asked her name she told him it was Miss Sybbie Branson. He later called her Sybbie and she firmly told him her name was Miss Sybbie. I was going to talk to her about this but since it will be some time before we return to Downton and we won't have servants in Boston I decided not to.
Sybbie, holding out both of her arms, running on one of the ship's decks was captured by the next photograph. It appeared to be taken on one of the decks with a sheltered walk way. Tom, at least Cora guessed it was Tom that had taken the photograph, had taken the photograph with Sybbie running away from the camera rather than towards it.
As you know Sybbie has lots of energy and while the liner is quite large there is very little space for a child to use up that energy. At least twice a day we'd walk, or rather I'd walk, and Sybbie would alternate walking, running, and hopping, around one of the decks. We'd do the entire length all the way around the ship although with Sybbie running ahead and then back to me she probably managed to go at least twice the distance I did.
At this time of the year there was often quite a chill in the air so not many of the passengers sat out on the decks or even took advantage to stroll around them. This worked out well for us since our fellow passengers probably wouldn't have enjoyed a four year old running around.
The next photograph was of Sybbie sitting in Tom's lap in the ship's library while he read a story to her.
The ship had a nice small library with a good selection of books although nothing in comparison to the Downton library. When we sat in here reading, I could actually imagine for a few minutes that we were back in the Downton library which was always my favorite room in the house.
The collection of children's books was fairly small but we did find some new ones as well as several of Sybbie's favorites including one that Robert often read to her. She did inform me that she liked the way Donk read the book to her better because of the funny way he would have the characters talk. Apparently Robert does a much better talking monkey, spider and (laughingly) donkey than I do!
It was obvious from the next photograph that Sybbie had seen something exciting in the water as she was standing close to the railing and energetically pointing out towards the ocean. Although her hand was pointing out to sea, she had turned her head towards the camera and Cora knew from the look on Sybbie's face that she was vigorously telling Tom something.
While the camera couldn't capture movement, Cora knew from the way Sybbie was standing that she was doing that hopping up and down on one foot she'd do when she was excited.
Can you believe we actually saw some whales? I couldn't believe how huge they were – they must have been sixty feet long! We were lucky that it was a bright sunny day with relatively calm water so it was easy to see the whales.
Cora smiled as she looked at the photograph of Sybbie tucked into her bed at her new house in Boston. She could tell by the bits of embroidery on the side of the pillowcase that it was one she had done for Tom. It's funny how angelic children look when they're sleeping thought Cora.
As she looked at the photograph and moved her eyes from the adorably sleeping Sybbie, Cora noticed the night stand next to her bed which held the enameled music box Robert had given to Sybbie for Christmas. She would have to show this picture to him since he would be delighted to see the music box in such a prominent spot. Cora had been surprised on Christmas day when Robert had handed the child the somewhat oddly wrapped gift since she had never known Robert to buy or wrap a present for one of his children.
Cora also noticed the framed photograph of her and Robert, with Sybbie in his arms, sitting next to the lamp on the nightstand. The photograph had been taken the morning Tom and Sybbie left Downton.
There was no note written with this photograph, instead there was another photograph of what Cora presumed was Sybbie's bedroom. In this photograph was a child's wooden rocking chair that Cora had never seen before with a knitted afghan hung over the back of it. The chair was next to a small dresser which matched the headboard of Sybbie's bed.
Along with a stack of books, sitting atop the dresser was the wooden carousel that Cora's father had given to a six year old Sybil. Next to the carousel was a large framed photograph of Sybil. Cora felt tears moisten her eyes as she looked at the framed photograph of Sybil and the carousel. While she hoped that Tom would find a new love in Boston, she knew that Tom would never let Sybbie forget who her mother was.
As you can probably guess, these are photographs of Sybbie's bedroom. I wish the photographs were in color so you could see how bright and beautiful her room is. We had a lot of fun in decorating her room. She picked out a pale yellow for the walls and I also painted the ceiling a light blue and added some white clouds, or at least some touches of white paint that I hope look like clouds.
My mother is a wonderful seamtress and she made a bedspread and matching curtains from material that Sybbie picked out. The material is small flowers in various shades of yellow, blue, and red with green vines on a white background. I must say it is quite feminine looking and I was surprised by Sybbie's choice of fabric. Although I have since learned my mother sorta steered her in this direction after seeing Sybbie's first choice of a loud patterned material of bright green and purple.
Sybbie also picked which photographs to display as well as the carousel and the music box. I think she listens to that music box a hundred times a day and especially as the last thing as she goes to bed which I think would really please Robert. My heart breaks every night as I watch her kiss the photograph of Sybil and say "good night Mama" before walking to her bed and proceeding to kiss the photograph of you and Robert.
Cora paused before moving to the next photograph. The description of Sybbie kissing Sybil's photograph and theirs was moving yet also heartbreaking. She was glad Tom was being so descriptive in his writing as she really wanted a feel of their life in Boston.
The next photograph was of Sybbie and Mrs. Branson in the kitchen of their Boston home. Both had on matching aprons which Cora thought Mrs. Branson had probably made. Sybbie, looking very intent on her work, standing on something that enabled her to work comfortably at the table, was stirring what looked like a batter of some sort in a big wooden bowl that sat on the kitchen table. Mrs. Branson was standing next to her, holding a large bowl in which she was also stirring something.
My mother feels one is never too young to help out in the kitchen. Every night when I come home from work, Sybbie runs to greet me at the door and tells me what she has cooked for dinner, although I can often tell by the stains on her apron. While it is nice to have my mother's good Irish cooking, I do miss some of Mrs. Patmore's dishes and have written to her asking for some recipes of my favorites.
As you can see by the matching aprons, my mother has been a ball of fire when it comes to sewing. I bought her a sewing machine which she has quickly mastered. She has made all the curtains as well as the bed spreads plus tablecloths and anything else you can think of. It seems when she isn't sewing she's knitting or crocheting as I think she really does believe idle hands are the devil's workshop. She's teaching Sybbie how to knit and I believe you will soon be getting a sample of her work.
The next photograph was of Sybbie playing with a ball in what Cora assumed was the back garden of their house. She could see quite a few bushes that were beginning to bloom in the background as well as a huge tree that would provide plenty of shade making the yard look rather inviting. But what really drew Cora's attention was that Sybbie was dressed in a shirt and, there was no mistaking it, trousers!
In addition to all the household goods my mother has sewn, she has made a few things for Sybbie's wardrobe including, as I'm sure you noticed, trousers! I haven't let her wear them out in public, they're just for playing in our garden. Although I am reconsidering that since last week at the park, Sybbie and the other children (both boys and girls) were playing a very vigorous game of kick ball and with all the tumbling her knickers (as well as those of the other girls) were often on display! I don't want to discourage her from playing but I'm not comfortable with the whole world being able to see her knickers so I think trousers might be the answer.
This did cause Cora to chuckle. She could imagine Sybbie playing quite vigorously. She was glad it appeared that Sybbie had other children to play with since she was afraid that without George, Sybbie would be lonely.
As if to emphasize this, the next photograph was of Sybbie and a group of eight or nine boys and girls playing with a ball in what must be the park Tom had talked about.
This is Sybbie in the park which is only a five minute walk from our house. On most days, my mother and Sybbie walk to the park. Sybbie has met some of the other neighborhood children there and has invited two of the girls to come to our house to play.
My mother has also met some other women at the park watching the children play. Between those women and the women at the church, she has gained quite a circle of friends. Although she had said she was only coming to Boston to help us get settled, she seems to have settled in herself. I am grateful for her help. I know Sybbie is being well cared for while I am at work and that certainly eases my mind and allows me to concentrate on my new job. And quite frankly, after being away from my family for so many years, I am enjoying having my mother here.
All of the photographs warmed Cora's heart. She was glad that both Sybbie and Tom appeared to be settling into their new life. Her only regret was that that new life was so far away. She would write him back right away and let her know how much she enjoyed not only the photographs but his detailed descriptions.
After looking at the photographs, Cora knew that Sybbie would be raised in a much more relaxed atmosphere that the one at Downton, not only because of the difference in their finances, but that it was just more in line with Tom's background. In many ways, it would be more like the Cora's own childhood.
In her heart, Cora knew it would be the way Sybil would have wanted Sybbie to be raised. She would go to school with other children. She would learn how to do things around the house. How proud Sybil would be of Tom. He was raising a delightful young daughter who was so much like her mother.
The house was so quiet without Sybbie. Even now, over two months since she had left, that silence was deafening. George and Marigold were just so much quieter than Sybbie.
To Cora's surprise Robert had already asked that they visit America in August. In all the years she had been in England, this was the first time Robert had suggested they visit America. Although, after she showed Robert these photographs, she wasn't sure he could wait until August to see his beloved granddaughter in person.
She hoped Tom would find in Boston whatever it was he was searching for. During the time Tom had lived with them at Downton, Cora had come to see the qualities in Tom that had attracted Sybil and drew her love. She was convinced that Tom had loved Sybil with all his heart.
He was still a young man. She hoped he would find love again. But whatever happened, Cora would always consider Tom a part, a vital part, of her family.
A/N: I consider this story to be a companion piece to Robert and His Two Sybils as well as A New Life. Although all are stand alone stories they do interrelate and I hope you will read them if you haven't already.
