July 4th, 1927 ~

Two of our rooms emptied out this morning. Mr Tripp and Mr. Mooney are traveling businessmen who have stayed with us before. They both said they'd be returning in a month's time. They've become regulars.

Mr. & Mrs. Avery and their two children who have been here for a week today, are leaving on the afternoon train. William has enjoyed playing with the Avery children and they have all relished being entertained by The Amazing Remo, an itinerant magician who's been staying in room five for the past couple of weeks. He is very entertaining, what with his card tricks and top hat, and he's a complete mystery to us. Somewhat of an eccentric. You meet all kinds in the hotel business but that's one of the things I love about it. He said he might stay around for the bazaar. I hope he does. We could use more entertainment on the roster.

So only six of our rooms will be filled by tonight. I know Sarah has been wanting to give them a good cleaning but that's hard to do when lodgers are staying in them. That will make her happy. Young children are not the tidiest of guests.

I just received a message from the village council. An emergency meeting has been called. Apparently one of the acts has canceled on us. I'll mention The Amazing Remo to them.

I see Anna is heading through the garden, her camera in hand. She does love snapping photographs. I'll just kiss her goodbye and be off.

~ John Bates

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John arrived home from the council meeting around four o'clock. He was sweating a little from his walk and in need of a glass of fresh water. As he stood at the kitchen sink he spotted Anna through the window, resting in her chair under a tree.

He thought it wouldn't hurt just to sit down with her for a bit, maybe join her for tea. He took a big swig from his glass of water, and set the kettle on the stove, eager to surprise her. While waiting for it to boil he watched William playing with Jack, throwing a stick and teaching the dog how to retrieve it…it was not working that well.

'Hello, my love.' John made his presence known, coming from behind Anna's chair with a tray in his hands. 'How are you doing this afternoon?' he smiled.

'John! I wasn't expecting you so early.' Anna smiled back at him.

'Oh well, I thought I should join you for a while under this wonderful shade tree.' John looked up at the tree, its shade so cool and fresh. 'Also, I thought it was a good idea if we shared tea together,' he winked. 'I've missed that of late.'

'And you thought very well! What a wonderful surprise. I was just thinking about a good cup of tea,' she said with a smile on her lips.

'I knew you were.'

After he rested the tray on a little table beside her chair, he kissed the crown of her head before dragging another chair close to Anna's.

'What a glorious day…' he declared with a contented sigh, as he sat down stretching his long legs out before him.

'Indeed…I feel so blessed with this little piece of heaven of ours. Look at them,' Anna spoke, motioning toward William and Jack. 'Playing so freely, and these two will be just the same soon enough,' she said.

'Our dreams came true, love, in the best possible of ways, and little did we know that our hotel would be in Downton,' he told her, rubbing her belly. The babies had been so energetic lately, he could even see them moving beneath the fabric of her thin summer dress. 'Let me pour you some tea.'

'I've been thinking…' Anna took a sip of her tea before continuing. 'It would be rather nice if there was a gazebo, right there,' she pointed ahead. 'With beautiful pots of flowers and a table right in the middle.'

'Funny you should mention it, I've been thinking the same!' John chuckled.

'Have you really?! Well, that must mean it's meant to be.' Anna looked over at him with a mischievous expression on her face.

'If you think so…it would look really nice. We could eat there in the shade on that table you imagined.'

'That's exactly why I want a table there.' They both laughed.

'Look!' William shouted. 'Charlie!'

When Anna looked, she saw the cat running from one side to the garden to the other.

'Oh my! Is that him? But I couldn't even see him that well,' she pouted. 'Don't you make fun of a woman in my condition, John Bates!'

'I never would do such thing!' He tried to look surprised at her insinuation, while struggling to suppress his laugh. 'Don't worry, you'll see him properly one day.' John looked at his pocket watch, rising from his chair. 'I must go now. I'll be home for dinner.' He leaned into her and gave her a kiss.

'Now I can forget about that wicked cat with such wonderful news as that.' She smile as she watched him leaving, patting his son's head as he did so.

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If there's something I love about John and me it's that we always seem to have the same ideas. Today after his council meeting he joined me for tea and we talked about building a gazebo in our garden. I mentioned it first, because the idea has been rattling around in my mind and John said that he has been thinking the same! We are indeed two of a kind, well, sometimes.

So, that is happening. Don't know when yet, but I hope soon. Maybe after the twins are born. I know we won't use it too much this summer because once September comes the weather begins to cool down, but it will be there for all the summers yet to come and it will be just wonderful! Just imagine the memories we will make there, all the five of us!

Oh my, the five of us, it's still so strange to talk like that.

Well, I'm waiting for John to come home now. Dinner is in the oven and once again I will be falling asleep in his arms after William's bedtime story. It's such a joy to have him here with us at night. We've missed these moments of family togetherness. Now things are as they should be and as we dreamed of. What a blessing!

~Anna Bates