25.

~ "Mamma, it's Christmas!" Rose whispered as Ariadne wanted to roll over and sleep more.

Her look-a-like girl was such an early bird, and this Christmas seemed especially important to her.
"Mamma!" Rose said shaking her awake.
"Rose, it's too early." Ariadne groaned in self pity.
"No, Mamma. Santa was here already! Get up!"

"He was?" Ariadne asked with a little grin.
She and Arthur had waited until Rose had gone to bed before setting out the green tricycle with Steamboat Wille* painted on the fender. It would be a little big for her, but Arthur said Rose would grow into it.

He had bought it just before the move and kept it locked in his bedroom closet. Ariadne had told him it was too much, Arthur insisting it was the present he had always wanted as a boy, so the matter was settled.

Not a grand at the tricycle, but still nice, was a new baby doll and doll cradle for Rose. Her mother still not sure what the child really wanted from Santa that year.

~ After counting the money Eames gave her, Ariadne hid the leather suitcase in the closet. When Arthur had come home, assuring her that no one would investigate him for what happened, she had been so relived, she forgot to even mention the money.

Then, he better judgment said not to mention it at all.

Ariadne had been almost as excited as Rose last night when she and Arthur placed the new tricycle and doll by the tree and slipped back to their separate rooms.

Arthur asking if she wanted to sleep with him; Ariadne ignoring the question as she went to bed with her daughter.

~ "Yes, he was here! Get up!" Rose whined.

Ariadne roused herself awake and pulled on her robe as there was a knock on her door.
"Ariadne? Rose? Santa was here!" Arthur called out from behind the door.

"Rose, wait!" Ariadne called as the little girl bounded off the bed and raced to the door.

Arthur was waiting for them. A large grin on his face as Rose scurried past him to the tree.
"Rose, wait!" her mother called again as she tried to shield herself from Arthur seeing her in her night gown.

She couldn't explain why, but things between them were so strange now. She was suddenly very uncomfortable around him. It wasn't just the money and it's origins she was hiding from him, or the horrible secret of what really happened that night of the party. It was something else.
"Rose, wait for your mother." Arthur called as they reached the living room, but it was too late.
"Mamma!" Rose screamed wildly as she pulled the baby doll out of the doll cradle and held it close. The collection even came with a toy bottle and dippers for her to play mommy better.
"Rose, what do you think?" Ariadne asked as she couldn't contain her excitement at seeing Rose's face.

"She's beautiful, Mamma!" Rose cried happily.

~ It was a very happy Christmas as the little girl was rabidly opening her smaller presents and her cheeks became so pink, her mother worried she would get sick again. She got candy and wooden blocks. Also much needed socks and underthings which made her slightly cranky.

Rose's spirits weren't dampened for long, however. She was quick to put her new baby doll in the basket of the green tricycle, and start to expertly ride around the living room; now cluttered with the debris of Christmas morning.

"Santa left presents for you to." Arthur told her. Nodding at the tree.

Ariadne felt her face prickle into a smile. She hadn't received a Christmas present since she was a child.

There were three of them under the tree with her name on it. Ariadne carefully started to unwrap them. Hating to tear away the lovely paper. It was such a sin to waste the paper.
"Rose, I want you to roll up all this nice wrapping paper and we can use it again next year." she called as Rose clearly wasn't listening. The radio playing happy Christmas tunes as Ariadne pulled out a lovely blue dress and matching bell hat with a white ribbon.
"You needed something pretty for yourself." Arthur told her. "The rest is clothes to. All you have is work dresses."

"Arthur." she sighed.

"You don't like it?" he asked.
"No, I love it." she said and held it up to her body.
"Mamma, your dress is pretty." Rose called out.

"Thank you, Rose." Ariadne told her. "Arthur, I got you something to." she said and found a package with his name on it.
"I don't want you wasting your money on me." he laughed.

"Wait till you see it. Then you can lecture me." she told him.

Arthur unwrapped the bright packaging and scowled at the book.
"American Law 1800-1930, Vol 1?" he said with a scowl.
"I know you might know some of this already, but the door to door salesman said it's the reference book of choice for law students a lawyers. I was saving like you're mom did. I'm going to buy you a book a month till you have the set." she said proudly.

Arthur was stunned as he examined the rich edition. The book filled with legal precedence and case studies.
"Ariadne." he said with a smile.
"Do you like it?" she asked worriedly.
"I love it." he told her.

~ Dinner was wonderful. Cobb and his wife Mal had invited them to join them for Christmas dinner and their home, and Ariadne got the chance to wear her new blue dress and bell hat. The children played after dinner, the women gossiped in the kitchen, and Cobb and Arthur talked shop in the parlor.

~ "No one has heard from Eames in a few days. He's not at his old club." Cobb told him.

"He'll turn up. Bad pennies always do." Arthur said.
"You know, chief keeps asking me about that night. Wanting me to say I didn't know where you went off to after the party." Cobb said.
"What do you say?" Arthur asked.

"I keep telling him you took Rose home with you. Because that's what happened." Cobb said knowingly.

"Good."

"You want to know the rumors about Eames?" Cobb said.
"Hit me." Arthur laughed. Nothing could bring him down today, not even Mr. Eames.
"Word is, he's been bragging about killing Ronnie the Rat and a local drunk who owed him money. It seems he sold his place for cash and beat it the hell out of town. That Fanny girl, remember her? He paid her a visit and left her with about 20 grand. She took off for Florida the next day. Left her whole family behind. Even the little ones." Cobb explained.

Arthur scowled.
"He gave Fanny all that money?" he asked.

"In cash. Probably for services rendered." Cobb laughed.

Arthur nodded. Wondering if Eames had paid Ariadne a visit as well.

* Steamboat Willie. Micky Mouse

I am exhausted after putting up two or more chapters a day for over a week now. I wanted it to be on time for Christmas, but now I'm just worn out. So, I may take a break for a few days.

I hope everyone has a happy and safe Holiday. ~ Leah