I feel ridiculous, but am misty eyed as I sit down to write this final two chapters.

I promise there will be trips back to 1950's Halifax. There are anniversaries, birthdays, and other holidays to celebrate with this Elsie, Charles, Barley and babies, but for a little while, I am going to let them live in the Meadow View in my mind in peace and quiet.

I would be remiss in not thanking each and every person who read even a single chapter of this saga. Your time and attention is so incredibly appreciated. As for those who reviewed…I will never be able to convey my gratitude for your kindness, generosity and overwhelming good will to this little voice and her story. My hearts….


Saturday, June 3, 1950

The sun beginning to illuminate the lush green lawn in the garden beyond the French doors of the their bedroom, Charles let out a happy sigh as he looked over his wife's shoulder towards the beautiful day was just dawning.

Reaching back with her hand, Elsie soon found his and gave it a squeeze. "One year ago today it was raining pigs and frogs in Downton."

He leaned forward and kissed her shoulder. "Indeed it was, Mrs. Carson, and by this time of the morning, we were curled up in bed with our two sweet peas."

Elsie rolled over and wrapped her arms around him, her head nestled against his chest. "And today they are crawling and pulling up and talking and smiling and kissing precious one-year olds."

"We have had our first Christmas, first words and now first birthdays," Charles whispered before kissing her head. "…and any day now we will have first steps."

"I really thought Poppy was going to do it last night. She just didn't quite trust herself."

"We'll see what our first born thinks today. It's funny how she was first out and has done everything first. I suppose birth order does have a bearing…"

Elsie sat up suddenly and pressed her hand to Charles' chest. "Shh…listen."

A series of babbles were drifting in from the open door of the nursery, as well as little yips.

Elsie glanced towards Barley's bed to find it empty. "Our children are having a conversation."

Carefully creeping out of bed, Charles wrapped his arms around Elsie's waist and rested his head on her shoulder as they listened from just outside the nursery door.

"Bar!" Poppy clapped her hands. "Woof!"

Barley barked in response.

"No, no, no!" Livy's little voice was annoyed which only drew more yips from the little dog. "No, Bar, no! Ch-ch-ch!"

"No, Baby!" Poppy called out the name with which she had christened her sister over the last month as she shook her head before turning back to the tail wagging pup in the middle of the floor. "Woof! Bar! Woof!"

"Pop! No!" Livy's little strawberry blonde curls bounced as she stomped her feet and shook the bars of the crib.

Elsie was unable to stifle a laugh which instantly garnered her older daughter's attention.

"Mumma! Da!"

"You get bossy britches and I'll get Pop." Elsie took her husband's hand and led him into the nursery where they were greeted by their babies each standing in their respective crib, chubby legs bouncing with excitement as they held onto the barred walls.

"Hallo! Hallo! There are some awfully chatty birthday girls in here." Charles picked up a hopping Barley on his way to Olivia's crib. "You be sweet to Barley and Pop, Missy Prissy. Chum was just wishing you a happy birthday."

"Dog!" Livy reached over and held out an open hand which was quickly licked by a panting Barley.

"Baby!" Poppy called out as she leaned toward her sister and daddy.

Meeting in the middle, Charles and Elsie exchanged grins as Poppy reached out and took Olivia's other hand, bringing it to her mouth for a slobbery kiss.

"Poppy and Barley love their Livy. You're a good big sister, Popsydaisy, so sweet to your baby." Setting Barley on the ground, Charles looked up to find Elsie's eyes moist. "You alright, honey?"

She shook her head and managed a smile. "Tomorrow. In the meadow."

"Are you sure?"

Elsie nodded. "I am."


The sun continued to shine and the girls were treated to a beautiful day as they received birthday visits from Auntie Bee and Gran Bill as he was now called, as well as Daisy and Andy.

"Gran Bill and Andy built it and Daisy helped me paint it…" Beryl explained as Andy and Bill each carried in a large parcel draped under a white sheet, Daisy following close behind with a basket done up in cellophane and a big pink bow. "…and there is a place for all of the pieces."

Elsie and Charles exchanged curious looks as they moved to the middle of the sitting room floor, depositing Olivia and Penelope in front of the large gift. Andy lifted the covering off of his cargo first, revealing a child-sized wooden replica of a stove painted in white with small black burners, silver knobs and an oven door that opened and closed.

"Oh!" Elsie cried as she clasped her hands in front of her. "It's precious!"

Bill proceeded to pull back the covering from his piece to reveal a small model of a refrigerator and attached double decker cabinets also painted in white with small metal handles.

"You made them a whole kitchen!" Jumping to her feet, Elsie threw her arms around Beryl and then Bill. "Oh, it's perfect, Auntie Bee. Just perfect! Thank you, Gran Bill!"

Daisy removed the bow and wrapping from the basket, grinning broadly as she offered a stockpile of small bowls, plates, and cups, as well as, small food stuffs made of wood, including a sliced loaf of bread, eggs in a crate, a milk bottle, and various fruits and vegetables. "We'll teach these girlies to cook yet!"

"It's wonderful. Thank you. Thank all of you." Charles shook his head and smiled at the host of friends who were now watching Poppy crawl over to the stove and pulling up to explore the doors and knobs while Olivia quickly made her way over to Daisy and began pulling out the contents of the basket one by one.

Her curiosity getting the better of her, Poppy suddenly turned in her sister's direction and without a second thought, stumbled four steps before freezing, wobbling and gently lowering to her bottom.

"Did you see that?" Charles reached out to grab Elsie's skirt.

"I did! Poppy, you big girl! You walked! You walked all by yourself." Grabbing a discarded ear of corn from beside Olivia, Elsie plopped herself down on the floor and held out the toy as Charles moved to lift Poppy back onto her feet.

"Go to Mumma, Pop. Go see what Mumma's got."

A bright smile filling her face, the baby hesitated briefly before suddenly setting off and managing three independent steps as the room burst into a cheer. The wooden corn hugged to her chest, she received kisses on her neck from her elated mother as her father reached over and squeezed her foot.

Looking over the baby's head, Elsie gazed at her beaming husband. "First Christmas, first word, first birthdays and first steps."

As she had with her first word, Livy followed quickly in her sister's literal footsteps, pulling up on Elsie's shoulder before managing a few steps in the direction of her sister who now stood in front of their father, ear of corn tucked under one arm as she reached in the direction of Livy with the other. Plopping down on her bottom, the younger twin was quickly aided back to her feet by her mother before managing the few steps which allowed her to grab onto her sister's hand. Each baby lowering onto their little bum, Poppy joined the others in the room and clapped her hands before leaning over and wrapping her arms around her sister's shoulders and murmuring, "Baby."

"If that doesn't beat all. The big sister taking care of the little sister."

Charles looked over to find his wife fighting back tears and biting her trembling bottom lip in response to Bill's words. Giving her a gentle, knowing smile, he softly answered, "That's what big sisters do."


The group decided to take advantage of the sunshine upon JoMo and Phyllis' arrival by moving the kitchen table out onto the grass near the fence for a picnic of sandwiches, salads and lemonade.

The remnants of the meal having been cleared away and the table returned to the kitchen, Charles noticed that JoMo, Bill, and Andy had suddenly disappeared. Wrapping his arm around Elsie's waist as they watched Daisy and Beryl lead the babies to the fence to see Barley and Peabody, Charles asked, "Did you see where JoMo, Bill and Andy went?"

"Phyllis said Andy and JoMo were going to check something in the barn with Bill before she left to get something out of the car."

Glancing over his shoulder in the direction of the barns, Charles squinted in an effort to make out what Andy and JoMo were carrying in their arms as they headed back towards the cottage. "They're carrying something…"

Elsie joined him in looking. "I can't tell. Something in a blanket…"

"I hope I haven't disappointed you."

Phyllis' soft voice distracted them from the approaching men and as Elsie turned, she let out a gasp. "Oh, Phyllis! It's...ohhh…it's gorgeous!"

Draped on the ground a few feet away was a large pieced quilt designed to look like a tree; its trunk brown corduroy on a white background with each of the dozens of leaves suspended from its branches made of various patterns and textures.

Moving to wrap her arms around Phyllis, Elsie pulled her friend tightly to her before they each looked back down at the quilt.

"I used everything you gave me."

Charles looked down in wonder at the quilt. "Is that…are those…" He pointed at various leaves comprised of red and white ticking.

"Your candy cane pajamas, yes." Elsie began to laugh. "And my green coat is there and my violet dress, and the parts of the girls' receiving blankets I had left over after I made Barley's little blanket. She also took apart the quilt that was on your bed when we met and used the top for some of the leaves and reused the backing."

"It's a tree of life. Our life." Charles carefully lowered himself to the ground, studying a series of small lace birds which perched here and there on the branches.

Squeezing Phyllis' hand, Elsie made her way to her husband's side, wrapping an arm around his back as she whispered in his ear, "Violet found in a trunk at the Abbey. It was moth-eaten, but I compared it to the photo and the painting. All the birds are made of the dress your mother was wearing when she was holding you as a baby."

Charles couldn't bring himself to look up as he ran his fingers lightly over a bit of the lace, his back shaking under his wife's arm.

"I am glad you are happy with the quilt. I just hope you don't kill us for the other gifts."

Charles and Elsie both glanced up at Phyllis before turning around to look in the direction at which she was gazing.

The babies were toddling toward their parents over the soft grass, when they suddenly fell onto their bottoms and squealed as JoMo and Andy pulled back their heavy horse blankets to reveal two baby goats.

Elsie quickly climbed to her feet, lifting each of the girls on to either of her hips. "Oh, Pop, Livy! Look at those little baby faces!"

"We thought Barley and Peabody could use some company. They're just weaned." JoMo stepped closer and leaned down so that the little white goat in his arms was close enough for Poppy to reach out and touch.

Squealing as she reached out to pet the soft fur on the goat's head, Poppy jumped and then giggled as the little animal bleated back at her.

"What do you think Miss Livy?" Andy copied JoMo's move and placed the small black goat in his arms within the baby's reach.

"Go." Livy held her hand out and quickly received a lick from the creature.

"What are we going to name these little ones?" Elsie kissed each of her baby's heads before glancing around at the group. "Any ideas?"

"The white one is a girl and the black one is a boy." Andy informed them. "I've been checking on them at the Drewe's farm over the last few months. They called her Pearl and him Pepper."

"Pearl, Pepper and Peabody. They trip off the tongue quite nicely." Charles turned to Elsie, "What do you think?"

She laughed before uttering an expected, "Perfect."

"Our family seems to keep building, Mrs. Carson." Charles moved from where he stood near the quilt to his wife and children.

Elsie turned to look up at him, but a sudden loud bleat from Pepper surprised them all and the moment was lost.


The baby goats happily frolicking in the meadow with Peabody and Barley, the party moved back into the house to sing and eat cake before the girls had to be put down for their naps.

happy birthday, Poppy and Livy,

Happy Birthday to you…

Each of the girls grinned, but simply stared at the lit candle on the individual cake in front of each of them.

Leaning down, Elsie and Charles blew out the candles.

"You've both learned to walk today, I suppose we can't expect you to know how to blow out candles, as well." Charles offered as he gently tickled under Olivia's chin.

Poppy looked up with a gummy grin at her mummy who offered a happy, supportive nod.

"You want a bite? Go on. It's your cake, baby."

Stretching out her ten fat little fingers, she suddenly sunk both of her hands into the thick white frosting, her eyes growing big and her mouth taking the shape of a tiny "o" as she began to kick and giggle.

Looking over at her sister, Livy followed suit, wiping one of her hands down the front of her cake.

Flash bulbs went off as Charles snapped a series of photos of the girls who quickly became coated in thick, white, sticky icing as Daisy and Auntie Bee began slicing pieces for the adults from a separate cake in the kitchen.

Watching Poppy shove her arm in between the top two layers of her cake so that she was coated up to her dimpled elbow, Elsie looked at Charles, "That's your child."

Glancing over to find Livy wiping a handful of cake and icing all over her face except for her mouth, he countered, "And that's your child."

"I think it is safe to say that they are equal parts of their beautiful mum and handsome father." Violet's voice cut through the cacophony of giggles and laughter as everyone spun around to find the grand lady and Isobel looking on from the entrance of the kitchen.

"Oh my goodness!" Elsie quickly made her way around the table, grabbing Violet's hand. "I thought you were going to the states with Robert and Cora?" She turned and took Isobel's hand in her other, "And I thought you had to meet with the builders at the London."

"I put my foot down and had the meeting moved to Monday."

"And I remembered that America is filled with Americans so I traded in my ship ticket for a train ticket; six and half minutes late, by the way…" She shot a look at Charles before adding, "…but here we are. Now out of my way so I can kiss…" She stopped mid-sentence as she took in the sight of the frosting covered babies grinning up at her. "Oh dear, well…"

Isobel shook her head, "I'm not bothered." Making her way around to the bouncing girls, she kissed each of their sticky, chubby cheeks before plunging her fingers into Poppy's demolished pile of cake and retrieving a large bite which she promptly shoved in her mouth.

Not one to be shown up, Violet handed her cane to Elsie, crossing to Livy to kiss her head before leaning over and delicately retrieving a bite with two of her fingers. Still bent, she was looking up at Isobel when Livy suddenly reached into the pile of cake and pulled out two handfuls which she proceeded to pat against Violet's face and into her intricate coiffure.

Hands flew over mouths as gasps spread like wildfire among the adults.

Gently placing her cake free hand over the baby's to extract it from her hair, Violet slowly straightened up. "Well, my darling namesake, I suppose I should have seen that coming."

"Milady…"

Violet raised her hand to cut off Charles as she turned to look down at the wide eyed child staring up at her. Letting out a loud chuckle, she placed her hands on either side of the baby's messy face and kissed her forehead, cheeks, and chin before turning back to Charles. "Your mother is having a right belly laugh about this up in heaven."

Charles smiled and let out a sigh of relief, squeezing Elsie's hand that had just slid into his own.


The girls having been bathed and allowed to play with their kitchen and new toys until after three, each could barely hold her eyes open as they were given goodbye kisses by their guests. Charles and Violet took to seeing everyone out as Elsie and Isobel made their way into the nursery; Isobel rocking Livy as Elsie lightly bounced Poppy on her shoulder.

"Thank you for coming. I hate that you had to inconvenience anyone."

Isobel shook her head as she whispered, "They were inconveniencing me by insisting on a Saturday meeting. They are being paid good money and a lot of it. They can do a little accommodating."

Elsie nodded with a smile. "Are you happy with the plans?"

"Very. Matthew's House is going to be a Godsend for these families, Elsie. I can't begin to tell you what it will mean to these mothers and dads to have a place to stay when their babies…" She couldn't continue, her voice becoming choked with emotion.

"I'm so glad. If you are happy with it, that's all that matters. You'll let us know if the budget is tight?"

Isobel nodded, "Violet said the same thing. Between the funds from you and Charles and the matching donation from the Crawley family, everything is very well covered."

"Good."

Isobel carefully rose from the rocking chair and placed a deep sleeping Livy into her crib as Elsie did the same with Poppy.

Leading her friend into the bedroom, Elsie motioned for Isobel to join her on the edge of the bed. "I spoke with Geneva. She said the Women's Shelter is progressing well. Have you spoken with her?"

"I have. The foundation will be poured two weeks from today and they think construction should be completed before winter."

"I can't believe it has happened so fast."

Patting her hand, Isobel assured her, "You asked the right woman to spearhead the project. She's not one to be trifled with."

"I learned that when we approached her about buying the farm."

Isobel gave her a puzzled look. "She wanted more than you were offering?"

"No. She didn't want enough. Charles finally had an appraiser break down the costs of what each acre, building, piece of equipment, down to the coils of rope in the barn were worth. He insisted she let us at least pay her for the exact value and she still took ten thousand of what we paid and put it into the women's shelter fund."

Isobel laughed, "I like her style."

"So do I. I have managed to acquire the loveliest friends. Speaking of, I have something I'd like to share with the very lovely one sitting next to me…"


"How is life in Halifax, my dear boy?" Violet took his arm as they slowly made their way around the side of the house towards the back garden.

"Halifax is lovely and life is wonderful, milady."

"And school?"

Charles sighed, but quickly grinned. "I dread going back, but once it gets going, I know I will enjoy it. For the most part, the boys are clever and well-mannered…"

Violet squeezed his arm, "And they like and respect you because you like and respect them."

"I hope so."

"And your Elsie? How is she? Still making you want to be a better man?"

"A better man, a better husband, a better father…"

"I'm not sure if that is possible."

Charles blushed as he reached over and patted her hand. "I have my moments. How is Robert? We've exchanged a few letters since they left for America in May, but they were brief."

"You know as much as I do. I think they are happy and trying to have a baby."

"I thought that might be the case. I hope they are blessed and soon."

Violet gave a chuckle. "I'm worried he will be disappointed if it isn't a boy."

They stopped at the fence and watched the goats play with Barley.

"Because of the estate?"

"Partly, but mostly because he thinks I will be disappointed if they have a girl."

Charles joined her in looking out into the distance. "And would you be?"

Violet turned her head sharply in his direction. "Don't be silly. I only care that the child is happy and healthy."

"Of course."

She looked towards the trees before continuing. "The world is changing, Charles, and I have discovered that I have resisted that concept long enough. I may not be throwing on slacks and uttering those ridiculous phrases Martha Levinson does, but I am aware that women are every bit the intellectual equals to men and it is high time that parliament and the crown celebrated a little more equality and a little less patriarchy."

Charles looked at her in amazement. "If I repeated what you just said and attributed it to you, no one would believe it."

"Oh, I'm no radical, Charles. I just knew from the time I was twelve that my mother was more intelligent than my father, and I, ultimately, was more intelligent than my husband, but neither of us flaunted this. It wouldn't have been proper. We simply manipulated our husbands in a way that looked like support. Not a simple feat, by the way."

Charles gave a gentle chuckle.

"I envy you and Elsie. You are true partnership. I saw that the day I accompanied her to see Grigg and I saw it the day you went to see Alice. I don't remember the word I being bantered about much by either of you. It was all we. I also see it in how you jointly care for your children and the way you always seem to be touching one another, even when you're not. I don't know if that makes any sense."

Clearing his throat, Charles patted her hand to show that it did.

"We're all puzzles, you know, or at least partial puzzles, and we seek out people who might be the right shapes to fill in the gaps in ourselves. Most of the time we settle for someone that fits well enough, although a small hole may be left or the border not completely finished. You and Elsie fit. You fill and complete one another's puzzle perfectly and I don't know that I have ever met another couple of whom I could say the same." She turned her hand over to clasp his. "And knowing how damaged each of you were before meeting the other, it is quite a miraculous thing that you did."

"We're making tea if either of you are interested."

Neither had heard Elsie approach, but each offered her a warm smile as they turned to find her standing only a few feet behind them.

"I'll help Isobel. You enjoy this last little bit of sunshine together." Violet gave Charles' hand a final squeeze before patting Elsie's arm on her way back to the house.

Waiting until he was sure Violet was out of earshot, Charles grinned at his wife. "How long were you there?"

She ducked under his arm and leaned against the fence, their bodies pressed together as she wrapped her arms around his neck. "We do always seem to be touching."

"I am a moth to your flame, Elsie May." Charles leaned down and kissed her, his arms wrapping around her to the point that she felt entirely enveloped by him. Pulling away to catch her breath, she gently cupped his cheek before whispering, "Wait here."

Watching his wife run back to the house, Violet's words resonated in his mind as he still felt the soft warmth of Elsie's body lingering on his own.

Returning quickly, Elsie smiled brightly as she grabbed his hand. "Come with me."


Enough sunlight drifted in through the windows to make lighting the studio unnecessary. Still holding Elsie's leading hand, Charles stopped as he took in the now almost fully white-washed wall that had previously been doused in black, red, and white paint. "When did you paint over it?"

"Last month. Andy helped me."

Wanting to take a closer look, he let go of her hand as he made his way to the far wall. "It's…"

"A butterfly."

He studied the imprints of his wife's hands which had hit the wet red and black paint in such a way that four clearly defied wings met to create a delicate butterfly with beautiful gray and pink markings. Elsie had taken an old frame and painted it black before centering it round the painting. "It's beautiful."

It probably sounds cliché, but it gives me a bit of hope to think that beautiful things can be born of chaos and upheaval, or strife…"

"And perseverance."

Elsie nodded. "Or, who knows? Maybe we are just able to recognize the beauty when the puzzle is completed."

"You were beautiful the day I walked up to the flat to find you sitting in your green coat on the step with Barley. We were quite unfinished puzzles then."

She crossed to him, grasping the front of his shirt as she pressed her head to his chest. "But I couldn't spread my wings back then. You did that. You made me believe that I could."

Charles kissed her ear before whispering, "Did you bring me here to show me the butterfly?"

Elsie shook her head as she leaned back to look up at him. "I brought you here so we could make love."


Her legs loosely encircling his hips, Elsie rested her head on her husband's shoulder, her arms around his neck as they each gasped and shuttered from their shared climax in the cloth draped chair on which Charles sat.

Laughing lightly, he stroked her back with one hand and her hair with his other. "What did you tell Isobel and Violet we were going to do?"

Elsie's voice was husky as she laughed, "Visit the green house."

"We don't have a green house."

"I know. I left poor Isobel to explain it to Violet."

Charles shifted slightly in his chair.

"I'm too heavy."

He quickly wrapped his arms around his wife. "Not at all. I just…it just dawned on me that we didn't use any protection."

"It doesn't matter now."

Charles gently pulled her head back to look at him. "It doesn't? Because of the breastfeeding?"

Elsie grinned and inhaled deeply. "It isn't that. The girls can drink regular milk now and they only nurse from time to time to fall asleep. It's more of a comfort thing. I began having periods when they turned eight months old."

"So you could…"

"I can't if I already am."

Charles cocked his head to the side. "You can't if…" His mouth fell open as he stared at her. "You're…"

"Seven weeks. And I wouldn't have known if I hadn't mentioned being tired and dragged down lately when I took the girls in to see Dr. Clarkson last week. He had me tested for anemia, but as it turns out…"

"Oh my God."

"Which means that unless the girls are some sort of prodigies in the potty training department, we are going to have three babies in nappies come January, God willing we don't have another set of twins." Elsie studied his face. "Say something. I've been silently having a nervous breakdown since I found out. Just give me some sort of reaction, honey."

Taking her face in his hands, he broke into a wide smile as tears fell down his cheeks. "I am happy and tickled and bursting with pride and I love you and I love this new sweet pea and I will help with all the nappies and baths and the colic and the colds and the spit up because we both know it is all worth it for the first Christmases, first words, first birthdays and first steps."

Elsie leaned forward and kissed him deeply, her arms snaking around his neck. "It is. It is all worth it."


Sunday, June 4, 1950

"Give her kisses. Give Mumma lots of kisses."

Elsie opened her eyes to find her babies giggling as they crawled up the length of her body. "Good morning, my wee ones! Bless you! You let Mumma sleep in!" Wrapping the girls in her arms, she kissed their cheeks and little fat necks as she felt her husband climb into the other side of the bed. Turning with a smile, she whispered, "Good morning, Daddy. You were sweet to let me sleep."

"I'm going to do my best to let you sleep in as much as possible before I have to go back to school. Sweet pea one and two here and I have been out to see the goats and have had breakfast and they each have had a bath in the kitchen sink evidence of which you will find when you step onto the sopping wet kitchen rug."

"My goodness! You have had quite a morning with your sweet daddy, haven't you?"

He leaned over and kissed Poppy's nodding head. "Now, my heart, would you like tea or juice with your eggs and birthday cake?"

Elsie smiled at the memory of the scrambled eggs and cake they had shared the morning after their wedding day, following a battle royale over Elsie's pregnancy diet. "Tea, please. And I know. Only one cup."

He gave her a wink, "These two turned out pretty well. I think it would be wise to carry on as we did the first go round."

Elsie let her head fall back. "Do you know it has been twenty-one months since I last had a glass of wine?"

"And you only have twenty one more before you can have your next."

She sighed as she ran a gentle hand over each of the girls' heads. "Worth it."

Nodding, Charles smiled warmly, "Worth it."


The sun was high in the sky as Elsie crossed through the gate into the meadow, Poppy holding her free hand and toddling along next to her as Elsie cradled in her other arm urn wrapped in the tree quilt Phyllis had delivered the day before. Charles closed the gate behind them, Livy bouncing on his shoulders, her little fists sunk into her father's thick. dark hair as he held his large hand against her back while Barley trotted close at his heels.

"We couldn't have asked for prettier weather."

Elsie nodded and smiled. "Bill has the goats penned up?"

"He does. I called just before we left. Are you ready?"

"I'm not sure what I should even do." Elsie looked down at the urn and her stomach tightened.

Charles pulled Olivia from his shoulders and plopped her gently onto the grass. "Let me have the quilt and Poppy. You take your time. We're going to play over here until you are ready to join us."

Elsie relinquished Poppy's hand to Charles and set the urn on the ground before spreading out the quilt. She bent to pick up the vessel, but stopped, turning to look at her husband once more.

"Take your time. Talk, don't talk. Just do what feels right."

The urn in hand, she made her way to the edge of the meadow, moving quite a distance from her family. "I hope this is alright, sweet girl. It's so pretty here. I know you would love it. The birds sing from these trees and we have goats and sweet Barley who love to run and play and lark about."

She turned and looked in the direction of the large elm which was emblazoned with the heart and their initials following Joe Burns' untimely demise at the same spot. "I'll keep you safe at this end of the meadow." She felt her chest tighten and she closed her eyes as a sob threatened to erupt. "I wish I wouldn't have gone out hunting with Joe that day, Becks. I could have been there to protect you from Da so he wouldn't have lost his temper and hurt you so badly. I'm so sorry. I'm so, so sorry." She bent down and placed the urn on the ground in front of her, rocking on her heels as she fought to catch her breath.

"I can't change it, but I so wish I could. I just hope wherever you are, you are happy and safe and that you know how much I love you. I always will, my Becky baby." Pushing herself off the ground, she lifted the urn and wiped her eyes with back of her hand before removing the lid and lifting out a handful of her sister's ashes to sprinkle over the thick green carpet around her.


The urn almost completely empty, she tucked it into a small opening under a raised root before making her way back towards her giggling daughters and smiling husband.

"Mumma!" Both girls cried out her name as they rose onto their soft, pink feet and began wobbling in her direction.

Charles gave her a gentle smile as he noted her red eyes. "Are you alright, sweetheart?"

Leaning down and scooping up the babies, Elsie assured him, "I think a little time spent with my angel girls and my precious husband will be the perfect cure for what ails me."

"Well, your timing couldn't be better. We have sung every song I know and the grasshopper we were chasing made a clean getaway. We need some Mumma."

Lowering the girls onto the quilt, Elsie soon sat herself down across from her husband. "What all did you sing?"

"Bicycle Built For Two, The Wheels on the Bus, Row, Row, Row Your Boat, One Little, Two Little, Three Little Indians, and we did Ring Around the Rosie and This Is the Way the Lady Rides. What else is there?"

Elsie laughed before pulling the babies into her lap. "Daddy didn't sing Mumma's song did he?" Wrapping her arms around the girls' stout tummies, she began to sway as she sang:

Everybody loves a baby that's why I'm in love with you

Pretty babies, pretty babies

Mum and daddy think you're precious

Gorgeous, clever, our sweet two

Pretty babies, pretty babies…