A week passes. Their summer break is pulling to it's end and now they are celebrating Charlotte's birthday!
...
They've all woken up early, everyone preparing the small party they're going to hold.
"Where can I put these cookies?"Elisabeth asks her mother.
"I don't know...Make some space on the diningtable and put them there."Elsie washes the dishes, left dirty in the sink from all the baking.
"Alright. Is there anything else I can help with?"She walks back into the kitchen.
"Not right now. Although someone needs to take that cat outside!"The mother points at the cat, sticking it's head out of the cabinet.
"How did you get in there?"Elisabeth laughs as she lifts the cat in her arms and carries it outside.
Elisabeth smiles at her father when she sees him walking down the stairs.
"Someone hasn't been kind I see."Charles smirks.
"Ma was getting tired of the cat's foolinesh once again."Elisabeth says.
He let's out a small chuckle.
"Gladly it's not me who has to sleep outside."He states.
"You both will if you won't give me a hand."Elsie calls for them, making them both rush in the kitchen.
"What can I do to help?"Charles asks innocently.
"Help me with this dress. And Elisabeth go and have a look on your sister, make sure she is getting dresses."The mother tolds, turning her back at her husband to let him button the dress.
Elisabeth leaves the room and heads upstairs.
"Are you excited?"He asks.
"Well it's sad to see my second daughter growing so fast, if you mean that."Elsie answers.
"Charlotte is still young, Elsie. And she will be for a long time."Charles smiles.
"I know, but..I feel old."Elsie sighs."Elisabeth is almost sixteen and Charlotte seven. Ah I wish they were just babies."
"Won't they always be our babies, love."He kisses her forehead.
"Yes. They will, but it's not the same when they're both adults and have their own lives."She whispers."I hope they'll visit us often."
He can realise the sarcasm in her voice.
"Oh yes. We have still couple years to that, gladly."Charles nods.
"Thank heavens we have."Elsie laughs.
"Knock knock!"A woman's voice can be heard from the hallway.
"Ah I wondered when she'd get here."Elsie smiles."In the kitchen Becky!"
"Good morning, lovebirds."Becky greets.
"A new nickname I see."Charles rolls his eyes.
"I'm being just positive."She says."Although I was wondering where I could find our little princess?"
"She's still upstairs. If I remember correctly princesses take their time getting ready."Elsie tolds.
"Quite right."Becky agrees."And where the older princess might be found."
"I would prefer maid instead of princess, auntie."Elisabeth appears to the doorway, smirking.
"Ah there you are!"Her aunt pulls her for a hug."How are you feeling today?"
It had become a habbit of Becky to ask how she were, after the news of her cancer.
"The same as always. I'm feeling rather dashing today."The girl answers.
"What a good thing to hear."Becky smiles.
"Is Charlotte ready?"Elsie asks.
"Yes. She said she'll come down in a moment."Elisabeth tolds.
"Good. Beryl and Bateses and William, Tom and Isobel should be here soon with Sybbie. Ah of course Becky is already here."The mother says, smiling to her family.
"Early bird catches the worm."Becky states.
...
After all their guests have arrived, they let the children go and play while the adults and Elisabeth are sitting in the sittingroom, drinking tea. Many of them haven't been in touch much this summer. The tragedies with the Carsons family have been shown in the whole town. Anna and John have watched after Charlotte and Beryl made their foods in the start. Everyone have been very helpfull, which Elsie and Charles appreacite.
"How old is she now?"Isobel asks, sipping her tea.
"Seven. Way too fast for me."Elsie smiles.
"What about me? I am way too older than Charlotte."Elisabeth chuckles.
Elsie shot her daughter a loving look.
"Can I pour anyone more tea?"Charles asks.
"No thank you. I got enough here."Tom answers.
"I could take some more."Anna smiles, and Charles stands up to pour her the tea."Thank you."
"Are you girls excited that your school is starting soon?"Isobel questiones."I can say that Sybbie is. She's been studying how to do maths which she doesn't have to know yet."
"I am, but I don't know about Charlotte. Although I miss Daisy."Elisabeth tolds, taking a bite of her cookie.
"Ah yes. She left for college, didn't she?"John turns his head to Beryl's direction.
"She did. I made her leave a little earlier, so she don't have to rush with anything when she actually get's there."Beryl says.
"Well that was very sensible."Tom smiles.
The conversation continues, about the children and school and the summer. Elisabeth has been kind and watched over the children for a while.
And now they are going to blow the candles.
"Jump on this chair."Elsie suggests."And wait. I have to find those matchsticks somewhere.."
"Here you go."Charles hands his wife the pack of matchsticks.
"Thank you, Charles."She leans to light the candles on the cake.
"Can I blow them now?"Charlotte jumps on the chair.
"Don't jump on the chair Charlotte."Charles scolds.
"They're such a good family."Isobel says to the woman next to her.
"They are. Glad to be a part of it."Becky smiles.
"Alright, love. Now you can blow the candles."Elsie tolds."Don't blow too hard or the candle tall-.."
When the young girl blows the candles too hard, all the candle tallow flies in the air, right at Tom's shirt.
"Too late."Tom laughs.
"Ops. Sorry Tom."Charlotte bites her lip.
"No harm done."He says.
"Come in the kitchen and I'll help you clean that up."Elsie chuckles.
"Yes thank you."Tom follows her into the kitchen.
"Good blow, love."Beryl pats her arm and makes everyone laugh with her sentence."And well aimed, I must say."
"Congrats darling."Becky smiles.