A month later.
"We'll be off now!"Elisabeth shouts from the door.
"Alright have fun and Elisabeth don't push yourself too much!"Elsie shouts back to the girls, sitting in the sittingroom.
"Bye mama!"Charlotte steps outside, followed by her big sister.
They close the door after them.
"So what are we going to do?"Charlotte asks.
"I don't know. I just wanted to get some fresh air."Elisabeth answers."We could go and see if our friends are playing football at the grassfield."
"Okay."The younger girl shrugs her shouldeds.
"What it is Charlotte? You're very quiet."She asks.
"Nothing. I just feel a bit tired..."She answers.
"Why did you come with me then?"Elisabeth tolds."You can still turn around and get back."
"I'll come with you."Charlotte nods as they continue the walk.
"Alright."Elisabeth states, smiling.
They walk to the town.
"Hello Charlotte, Elisabeth!"Alfred and Jimmy walk to them.
"Hi. What are you doing?"Elisabeth asks.
"We are going to play football with Andrew. Wanna come with us? George and Sybbie were playing at the schoolhouse."Alfred answers.
"I might come with you. What about you Charlotte?"She smiles.
"I'll go with Sybbie and George."Charlotte tolds.
"Come and find me after hour, alright?"Elisabeth says."We have to go for dinner."
"Okay."She runs away to look for her friends.
"Wanna play with us?"Jimmy asks.
"No thanks. I can't do anything too breathtaking cause of my cancer."Elisabeth tolds."I would if I could."
She smiles.
"Sure."Alfred says."You can watch us play then."
"I certainly will."Elisabeth smiles.
They walk to the field, getting Andrew with them on the way.
...
"Kick the ball here!"Jimmy shouts, running after his friends.
"Don't even try that..!"Andrew takes the ball from Alfred.
Elisabeth sits on a rock. She watches the game, enjoying the late summer sun. Her eyes are constantly drawn to the tall, brown haired boy. She likes him. Andrew is very kind and thoughtfull and they're good friends. Elisabeth had met his mother once, at a fair last week. She is also a very sweet person. She feels like Andrew cares about her and that very thought makes her smile.
How would he be if we were together? Could he possible love me? Elisabeth shakes the thoughts away from her mind, startling at the voices coming towards her.
"Who won?"She asks, blushing a little.
"Andrew. Once again."Jimmy says."He is too good for us."
"Practise makes perfect."Andrew smiles and turn his head to her direction.
"Indeed."Elisabeth agrees, a smile blooming on her lips."Well anyway...I should leave now. It's dinner time soon and ma won't be happy if we'll be late."
"Sure thing. See you tomorrow at school!"Alfred and Jimmy leave the field and head home.
Elisabeth and Andrew start to walk along side towards the town centre.
"Aren't you going home?"Elisabeth asks."Your house isn't this way."
"I am, but I need to run down to the post office first."He answers.
"Why is that?"She questiones.
"Mom is supposed to fetch the letters for your father, so I thought I'd give her a hand."Andrew tolds.
"I can come with you. Charlotte will know where to find me if needed."Elisabeth smiles.
"Why not."Andrew agrees.
As they continue their walk, Elisabeth smiles at herself. There is always a little light at the end of the tunnel.
...
Elsie lifts the last dishes in the sink.
"Good night ma, good night pa."Elisabeth walks up the stairs, following her little sister.
"Good night girls."Charles smiles, sitting down at the kitchen table.
"Good night!"Charlotte says from the stairs.
The couple is left alone.
"It's been a long day."Charles sighs.
"Something different from normal?"His wife asks as she washes the plates.
"Not really. Mrs. Parker is doing good job."He says.
"I'm glad to hear that."Elsie smiles."Her son has captured our darling daughter's gazes for the very last month. I'd say well done him."
"What do you mean by that, love?"Charles asks.
"Elisabeth likes him. Without a smallest doubt."Elsie turns to face him.
"I'm sure they're nothing more than friends, Elsie."He gives her a knowing look.
"Did I say anything else?"She smirks before turning back to the dishes.
"No, but I think you meant something completely different from your words."Charles smiles.
"A woman of mystery if ever there was one."His wife let's out a soft chuckle."Makes me feel very..Young, when I say that."
"Aren't you very young?"Charles asks.
"Well not really."Elsie tolds.
Silence fell in the room for a long minute.
"How is everything with the hotel?"He asks, breaking the silence.
"Running smoothly. Even with Wilma in York."Elsie says."It's nice to have things normal once she get's back. I admit it's not nice to do longer hours and fight with the time I want to spend with my family."
"I hope you're not working yourself ill."Charles worries.
"Don't you worry about me, Charles. We've gone through this conversation many times before."Elsie tolds.
"I just don't want you to get ill, Elsie. That's all."He smiles.
"I know you don't want me to, but you know that I have to do all the work needed to keep the hotel running."She explains.
"Mhm."Is the only reply he gives her.
"Why so quiet?"Elsis asks, curiosity in her voice.
"I'm just thinking about things."Charles answers.
"I gather you are."Elsis smiles.
The clock strikes half past ten.
"Shall we head up then? It's very lat-.."Elsie offers.
Her sentence is disturbed as Charles pulls her to sit on his lap, kissing her lips gently.
"Hmm...What did I do to deserve that?"She whispers, so out of breath.
"Just by being you. My wife."Charles kisses her lips again.
"I quite liked the sound of that. Is there possibly more to come?"Elsie rises her eye brows.
"Possibly."He whispers.
Elsie leans to rest her body against his.
"I'm so tired, Charles. I'm worried and so very scared."Her voice is quiet and fragile.
"I know you are. But remember that you're never alone."Charles strokes her hair."You will always have me, love."
"Thank you Charles."Elsie rises to kiss him on the lips.
The kiss is full of love, warmth and promises of the future.
"I promise I will always be there for you and Elisabeth and Charlotte."He promises.
They turn off the lights in the kitchen and diningroom before heading to the stairs. Her hand is safely tucked in his. Elsie glances at him when they walk out of the kitchen. I'm so glad to have him, so glad indeed, she thinks.
They both startle when they hear a knock on the door.
"Who can that be at this time?"Charles wonders.
"I don't know. Let's see."She suggests.
Charles pulls the door open.
"Hello?"He says.
"Mr. Carson am I right?"A man in a suit shows them his card.
"I am. How can I help you?"Charles asks.
"I am Mr. Gowen and I've come here to inform you about a new situation."The man says.
"A...Situation?"Elsie rises her eye brows.
"Yes, ma'am. The english coverment has requested that every town and city will be informed."He tolds.
"But what is this "situation"?"Charles asks.
There is no word said and the tension is filling them. Elsie looks at the man, then Charles.
"We are at war with Germany."Mr. Gowen tolds, breaking the silence, the unwanted tension.