Thank you, Guest! Yes, little Ollie is walking! And chickenpox is never fun, child or adult, though they do say it's worse for an adult I believe.
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Rilla once enjoyed travelling, she enjoyed the nights next to Ken at the train rocked in motion. She enjoyed meeting people. Travelling with an infant and young boy, was a new experience when you were going on a thirty-eight-hour trip.
The first hours of the trip were spent wandering the train with Jimmy who had never been on such a train. Let alone out of Maritimes.
"What does Montreal look like? Toronto?" He asked as stopped and looked out every window.
"Montreal is vibrant and loud, while Toronto is a bit more old fashioned, sophisticated," Rilla explained after I moment. "We have a short layover in Montreal. We will arrive at 8 pm, and the train to Toronto will leave at 11 pm. We'll get something to eat and once on the train, you can head to bed. By the time you wake up, we'll be in Toronto." Rilla explained.
"How many hours is the entire trip Mother?" Jimmy asked as he watched the landscape go by.
"About twenty-nine hours to Montreal, the train goes slower at night. Otherwise, it is usually about twenty-six hours," Rilla explained as she hoisted up Oliver so he could look out the window. "Then another seven hours to Toronto from Montreal, with three hours in Montreal, for forty hours in total." Rilla rattled off as the woman near them gave her a look of pity as they made their way through the lounge.
"Do you think they'll like me?" Jimmy asked as she continued on their way.
"Mr. and Mrs. Ford are lovely people," Rilla told him and squeezed his shoulder.
"Da?" Oliver decided to speak up as he looked around for his father.
"Daddy will be back, he just wanted to get the camera," Rilla told him. "You know one day you might want me? And you're going to have to ask for Mama?" Rilla tickled him making him giggle.
"Dada," Oliver said stubbornly.
"Very well," Rilla shook her head as she sat down in one of the empty lounge seats. "We shall wait for him."
"How old?" Rilla looked up to see an older woman sitting across from them. Who had seen them earlier all together as they boarded the train
"He turns one on Monday, his name is Oliver," Rilla told her with a smile as she set Oliver down on his feet. He was rather good at walking, which only made Rilla's day even more exhausting. Someone always had to watch him if he wasn't in his playpen. He would scamper off giggling any time you turned your back on him.
"There is dinner on the train right?" Jimmy asked as he helped keep Oliver occupied on the seat beside him.
"Of course dear," Rilla chuckled. "As well as breakfast, lunch and dinner tomorrow. There is another cafe for off-hours if anyone needs a beverage or snack," Rilla explained.
"Look Ollie, it's your dad!" Jimmy whispered as he pointed to Ken who was making his way down to them.
"Dada!" Oliver shrieked as his little legs wobbled as he stood up on the seat. Jimmy quickly grabbed him before he could tumble or jump off the seat. He had yet to understand the concept of running thankfully, but he made quick work of toddling the distance when Jimmy placed him on the floor.
Ken laughed and scooped up his son. "I was barely gone ten minutes Oliver." Oliver just looked at him and babbled nonsense.
"Let me take him," Rilla offered but Ken shook his head.
"Surely I am not the first Father who has held his child on a train." He said. "Where are we off to next? Observation carriage?" He asked. "Before the sun sets and we are completely in the dark?"
"Please!" Jimmy nodded jumping from his seat. "Can I take photo's Ken?" Ken laughed and handed him the camera.
"This is the train station!" Jimmy exclaimed as they went into union station when they finally reached Toronto. It was full of people and Rilla kept a tight hold on Oliver who munching on an arrowroot cracker. "It's like a castle, no a palace!"
Ken laughed. "Toronto is very big and has some large building. Much like Montreal did."
"But it was nighttime there, I can see everything so much better in the daylight," Jimmy explained as he looked around wanting to rush to every corner of the room.
"Don't run off," Rilla warn him. "I'll make you hold my hand if you do." She suppressed her laugh when he made a face.
"Kenneth! Rilla! You arrived finally, it's been too long," Leslie exclaimed as she pulled everyone in for a hug. "You must be Jimmy, I believe we met briefly last January." She pulled him into a hug as well "You can me grandma if you like." Leslie told him with a large smile. "This is my husband Owen. You can call him grandpa if you wish to of course." She added.
"You look like Ken?" Jimmy said looking up the tall man.
Owen chuckled. "One would generally say Ken looks like me, but I understand completely what you meant." He held out of his hand to the young boy. "I hear it's your first time in a large city?"
"It is sir," Jimmy nodded shaking the older man's hand. "Is every building like this?"
"Not quite, but we do have our very own castle," Owen told him with a grin. "No princesses a lass though," he added on as Jimmy's eyes lit up.
"Oh, Owen look at him!" Leslie gushed as tried to get a peek at Oliver. Who was being rather shy with all the people bustling around them? He nestled into Rilla when Owen came around, but his large grey eyes stared at the older man over his mother's shoulder. As if he saw the similarities of his father in his grandfather.
"Shall we head to the car?" Leslie asked. "Retrieve your trunks and bags? I am sure everyone is hungry?"
"I'm starving," Jimmy spoke up.
"You are not starving," Rilla shook her head. "You are hungry, there is a vast difference."
"Doesn't feel like it," Jimmy said under his breath and in the corner of his eye he saw Ken give him a look of don't talk back.
"We'll get you something to eat when we arrive home," Leslie told him sympathetically. Soon they were piling into the Model T, a larger one that even Ken drove on the Island. Something the excited Jimmy as well.
"Do you want to sit up front? You'll see more?" Owen offered as he held the door for the ladies who climbed in.
"Can I?" Jimmy looked at Ken and Rilla who both nodded their heads with an amused smile and soon they were on their way once more. Tired from a long trip with a cranky baby who didn't sleep for more than a few hours a night on the train. Rilla and Ken rested against each other. They didn't even care that Owen took the scenic route. Allowing Jimmy to be in awe of the city, and the castle which was Castle Loma which Rilla promised to take him closer to one afternoon.
The house was warm and inviting as they arrived. Persis and her husband Joseph were waiting for them.
"It's been much too long, both of you." Persis hugged her brother and then Rilla. "You must be Jimmy, and my goodness you are tall, or I am shorter than I thought." Persis laughed.
"Mom says I grow like a weed," Jimmy said with a grin.
"My name is Persis and this is my husband Joseph, but you can call him Uncle Joe," Persis told the boy. "We also have a little boy named George he's two and a half. He's having breakfast in the kitchen," she explained as Jimmy's stomach growled.
"Ken will you show him where to wash his hands," Rilla looked at his husband who nodded. "Then you can go get some breakfast," Rilla said to Jimmy.
"Of course," Ken said as he leads Jimmy down the hallways he had grown up in.
"Now let me see this little one," Persis gushed as Rilla took set Oliver down and took off his knitted sweater and hood. A pair of mittens on a string had been already taken off by the little boy.
"These are your Grandparents Ollie and your Auntie Persis and Uncle Joe," Rilla said quietly to him when he burrowed into her. "He's a little shy around new people," Rilla said as she picked him up when he wouldn't let her go.
"He'll warm up eventually," Leslies nodded sympathetically. "It's a whole new place and faces for him. Let's head upstairs shall way? Refresh after a long trip?"
"Please," Rilla agreed with a nod of her head.
"I'll take the bags," Owen told her as he grabbed the smaller bags she had with her.
"And I will go check on George," Persis told her and kissed her cheek. "We can catch up later."
"Of course," Rilla told smiled too Persis.
"We put Jimmy in Ken's old room," Leslie explained as they went up the stairs. "We have you and Ken in the spare room at the back of the house. We weren't sure if you wanted Oliver in the nursery with George, or in your room. We can figure that out depending on what he decides I suppose."
"Jimmy will like that," Rilla smiled. "Ollie will most likely spend a few nights with us."
"Of course, well I will leave you to freshen up, breakfast should be ready at 9:30 for everyone. Is that enough time?" Leslie asked.
"Very much so," Rilla nodded. "Thank you for everything."
"Of course, I am so glad that you are here," Leslies beamed and with a swish of her skirts left the room she had left Rilla at.
"We are both glad to have you here," Owen repeated after his wife. "You are looking extremely well."
"Thank you," Rilla flushed. "It's been a year of learning and ups and downs."
"Life has a habit of such things," Owen said solemnly. "Hopefully the new year will bring in more cheerful memories than the last."
"One can hope, though the majority of the year was lovely," Rilla made sure to tell him.
"Of course, well you know where everything is, nothing has changed," Owen said clearing his throat.
"Thank you," Rilla smiled as she sat Oliver down on the bed after he left shutting the door. "Let's get you clean?" She asked him. She made quick work of her gown. Opening her trunk that had already been brought up she found her robe and a fresh dress.
She had Oliver undressed and wrapped in a towel when Ken knocked on the door, poking his head through the door.
"Are you taking him in with you?" Ken asked.
"That was the plan, I have a feeling he'll be clingy until he feels safe here," Rilla told him with a nod of her head. "Are you coming with us?" She asked him simply. Had it only been four years ago which she blushed ferociously when Ken had snuck into her bath their trip together, here in this house?
"I'll shower," Ken told her stealing a kiss. "I'll meet you in there," he told her as he undid his belt and pulled off his shirt and strip down to his underwear before grabbing his robe.
Rilla nodded and walked across the hall with Oliver to the bathroom. Filling up the tub with warm water and found a stack of towels waiting for them along with toiletries. The Fords still had old clawfoot tubs and a separate shower area that had been made from glass doors.
She tested the water with her foot, she set down Oliver in it and gave him one the toys that Leslie had left for him before stepping in as well. Ken knocked a moment later and waved at Oliver who pointed at him as he passed. Rilla took a long moment to admire her husband as he stepped into the shower.
"You know you if you take a picture it lasts longer," Ken teased her as he soaped up.
"Your daddy is being very silly," Rilla shook her head and spoke to Oliver as if he was listening.
Within an hour they were washed and dressed, and Rilla had gotten Jimmy quickly washed as well. Soon they were all in the formal dining room having a bite of breakfast and coffee after a long journey.
For the first time, Rilla got a looked around at the Fords. Leslie and Owen hadn't changed, but Persis seemed to be more be beautiful with a slightly fuller figure than before her marriage. Her hair was still golden and cut into a fashionable cut of the time. Her face still has a girlish charm to it and free of cosmetics this early in the morning. While Joseph was tall decently good looking, though one might wonder just who he managed to capture the blonde Toronto socialite. It had been no secret that Persis had a string beaus at one time, yet he won them all out and for the first time Rilla got a hint of his personality. He was smart and had a sense of humour that anyone could be appreciated. They had a good life in Winnipeg and enjoyed looked at each other like they were the only people in the room.
Oliver sat on Rilla's lap still unsure of where he was, and only let his 'family' hold him.
"So what is the plan for this holiday?" Ken asked his mother between a bit of toast.
"I thought we could all take a walk later this afternoon," Leslie told them. "They had to push back the Santa Clause Parade because of a snow storm last two weekends. Which means it happening today, I thought Jimmy would enjoy seeing all the floats?" Leslie said smiling at the boy who was essentially eating his second breakfast of the day.
"Really!" Jimmy chirped loudly. "Yes, please!" He said as he bounced in his seat.
"Then that is settled," Ken chuckled into his coffee. "Jimmy, it will be Rilla's first time as well," he said. "I think you will enjoy it."
"Is this the parade you would speak about growing up?" Rilla asked as she fed small bites of scrambled egg to Oliver.
"One of the most likely," Ken told her. "Let me take him so you can eat," he asked and Rilla nodded and passed him over
"The parade is lovely Rilla," Persis spoke up. "I was thinking sometime this week we can do some Christmas shopping as well? Pick a few last-minute things? Dad is going out hunting for a tree tomorrow, so we can spend Christmas Eve decorating it with the little ones and Jimmy of course."
"Of course tomorrow is Oliver's birthday as well," Owen said with his smile. "Perhaps we should ask him what he wants?" He leaned forward, as he sat next to Ken and held out a small piece of toast to Oliver.
"Go on," Ken encouraged his son.
The younger Ford family rested for the morning. Oliver went down for a nap after breakfast which left Rilla lying in bed with him as he cried every time he tried to leave. More than once his little hand grabbed at her blouse and Rilla would gently tell him it was all gone.
"Finally asleep?" Leslie asked in the doorway as she knocked ever so gently.
"For an hour or two," Rilla said quietly. Looking at her Mother-in-law and motioning for her to sit if she wished. "He was fine on the train during the day, even nap time. Something about nighttime he just rejected. It will be an interesting journey home I think," Rilla explained quietly. "I am glad we have come through, it has been too long, life just got so busy with the company and then I was so ill," Rilla sighed.
"It's a long journey I understand," Leslie said as she stretched out on the bed. "He looks so much like Ken," she sighed lovingly as she looked over the little boy.
"He does," Rilla agreed. "Cheeky like him as well," she added with a smile. "I'm sure he'll have the ladies chasing after him one day. Not sure if I'm proud or worried."
"Probably be both," Leslie told her. "Ken was had his playboy moments, and I was worried for a while. Then he went to the island one summer and came back for school and suddenly he seemed less interested in taking ladies out or flirting. I didn't think much about the letters from Ingleside. Then he went away to war, and one day a parcel of letters came back with a note asking to keep them safe for him. R Blythe, I had noted on the first one and I suddenly understood." Leslie recounted that moment all those years ago. "I couldn't believe my boy was in love with a little lady who had enough pluck in her to bring home a baby in a soup tureen. I believe that is what your mother wrote to me. She was very proud of you, they all were."
"It didn't seem that way back then," Rilla told her honestly. "But I suppose it all worked out in the end."
"I'm sure it did," Leslie nodded. "I will let you rest, I'll send someone up to wake you so we can get ready for the parade."
It was after lunch when the entire family had bundled up and braved the cool temperatures to go watch the parade. The streets were already filled families and children all dress up in knitted sweaters, bonnets and mittens.
People were selling warm chestnuts and bags of freshly popped popcorn. Some had thermoses of hot chocolate and tea as they waited in the cold. Still, the energy swirling around the crowds was contagious.
The child ran bounced in their spots nearest the street, ready for the first hint of jingles from the horses. The constabulary always ushered the parade down the roads. Followed by a marching band, the drummers and bagpipes that announced the beginning of the parade. It was a spectacular display of Christmas spirit. Children and adults dressed in costumes passing out candy canes to the audience.
Rilla spent the next hour pointing out all the things to Oliver. Whose little cheeks were rosy from the chilly air, but was content to watch the floats and people walking down the street. Jimmy jumped up and down, gathering as much candy as he could. He would calm down for a few minutes when Ken warned him. Eventually, he resorted to holding the collar of Jimmy's jacket when the young boy was ready to jump into the street from excitement.
"Look there is Santa," Rilla said, she was lost in the excitement. She had seen some parades over the years but nothing was like this. So much holiday cheer that erupted around her as Santa waved from his sleigh. Ken looked over at her smiling brightly amused by his wife's excitement over the parade. It didn't matter that her toes were frozen from the cold stone of the sidewalk.
She was still talking about it when the crawled into a bed that night. Oliver asleep in his bed that was placed in the corner of the room.
"I think you are more memorized by the parade than Jimmy," Ken said kissing her hair with an amused smile on his face.
"He was more excited about the candy than the parade," Rilla told him. "It was magical Ken, truly magical to watch." She finished with a sigh as she snuggled into him. "He's a year tomorrow," she said looking over to the crib.
"It seems hard to believe sometimes isn't it?" Ken asked.
"A year ago, I went to bed thinking that I still had weeks to go," Rilla said quietly. "I thought I wet myself at first, but then I felt it and I wondered just what I did wrong?"
"It all worked out in the end," Ken reassured her.
The next morning Rilla was woken up to the babbling of her son. She nudged with her foot Ken who was closer to the crib than she was in her sleep.
"Dada, dada, dada," Oliver called out to his sleeping parents. "Ma-Ma," he tested out for the first time.
Rilla shot up, as she looked over to see Oliver standing in his crib looking at them.
"Ma-ma-ma-ma," he continued. "Mama!"
"All right, all right," Rilla said swinging her legs over the side of the bed. "Mama is here," she said as she picks him up. She made quick work and changed his diaper before she brought him over to the bed.
"Ken wake up," she shook his shoulder and when he finally opened his eyes groaning and sat up. "Watch," Rilla instructed him. "Ollie, who am I?"
"Mama, mama, mama," Oliver babbled as he climbed over her until he was onto of their pillows.
"You're just full of surprises aren't you?" Ken yawned as he reached and began to tickle his son.
"Dada!" His laugh pierced through the house.
Soon enough you could hear footsteps of waking children and adults and Rilla decided it was time to get up for the day. When they found themselves dressed for the first part of the day. Jimmy was already having his fill of breakfast at the kitchen table with Persis who giving George a bowl of oatmeal.
"Morning," Persis said brightly. "And of course Happy Birthday Oliver," she said sweetly as Rilla placed him in the empty high chair.
"Yes, Happy Birthday Oliver!" Leslie added snuck a kiss on her grandsons cheek.
"Good morning," Rilla smiled and accepted the cup of coffee that Leslie held out for her. "Thank you," she said as she took a drink. Ken was already dishing up a small bowl of oatmeal for Oliver, adding some cream into it to cool it down.
"There are some bacon and eggs as well," Leslie told Ken. "Your father has been up since dawn writing something," she told her children.
"He mentioned he was writing something lately," Ken acknowledge his mother. "Any idea of what?"
"Not yet," Leslie shook her head as she sat down with her coffee cup. "What are the plans for today?"
"We were planning to take the kids to the toy store," Ken told her, smiling as he saw Jimmy suddenly lookup.
"That does sound like fun," Persis said
"You're more than welcome to join us," Rilla told her sister in law.
"Ma-ma," Oliver dragged it out as he tried reaching for his spoon that she still held.
"Oh all right," Rilla laughed and handed him his spoon. She knew it would be a mess, but seeing him concentrated on feeding himself was more than enough to make her smile.
"Those first words are always so precious," Persis sighed. "And he's already walking, I used to think George would never walk on his own. It was like he knew I was waiting for it, so he stubbornly waited."
"All children are different, and George seems like a normal little boy," Rilla told Persis. "He's been saying Dada for quite a few weeks at this point."
"Of course," Persis agreed as she smoothed over the front of her gown. "I just find it fascinating how children can be so different."
"They can be for sure," Rilla agreed. "I can't believe he's one already. I know it's not his first Christmas, but sometimes it feels like it." Rilla told her.
"Well, last time you were recovering and he was mostly sleeping, so this your first Christmas with him," Persis shook her head correcting her.
"Fair enough," Rilla nodded in agreement. "Our first family Christmas," Rilla said quietly looking down at her breakfast before she smiled tiredly and drank more coffee.
Rilla truly had forgotten how busy Toronto could be. How easy it was to lose sight of someone as Jimmy seemed to dart and from her eyesight.
"Jimmy, don't run off," Rilla warned him for the third time.
"Relax he's fine," Ken whispered in her ear. "He knows better than to go far from us."
"You make it sound so easy?" Rilla shook her head at her husband as she readjusted Oliver on her hip.
"Because it is, do you want me to take him?" Ken asked and when she shook her head he kissed her temple softly. "Oh look train sets!" He exclaimed like one of the many children. "Jims come look at this with me," he called out.
Rilla mostly shook her head at them. "Your daddy and brother make me we find you a stuffed animal?" She asked Oliver, "Maybe find your cousin and Auntie?"
Oliver looked at her as he shoved his thumb into his mouth.
"Of course you do, don't you," Rilla shook her head laughing as she walked over to the display.
In the end, the group made it home in one piece for an early dinner with the children. Oliver clutching onto a teddy bear that he had chosen the display. Jimmy holding a wooden sled with the promise of Ken showing him where to go tobogganing the next day in the afternoon. While George had gotten a pony figurine to play with. Dinner was simple and mostly for the kids and a chance to bring out a homemade cake was brought out with a single candle on it. Rilla and Ken both trying to get keep Oliver from touching the flame. All while trying to show him how to blow it out, and keep his hands out of the cake at the same time.
They all watched as Oliver put his cake covered hands into his mouth. Unsure what this spongy textured thing was on his plate that was dark brown. Like all new food he tested it out slowly, and it generally ended in two ways. On the floor, or all over his face as he tried to feed himself. At the end of it, he had cake all over him. Rilla wasn't sure how much he goes in his mouth but he was happy either way.
The following days were spent doing a mix of things, Ken had taken Jimmy out to go tobogganing. While the Ladies did some light shopping needs to fill up the Christmas stockings with sweets. Going to the butchers for fresh hams and turkeys that had been ordered a month previous for Christmas Eve and Day Dinners.
While Christmas Eve for as long as Ken had known it was spent decorating the Christmas tree with his parents. Something Ingleside did a week in advance as Anne adored Christmas and all the jolliness of the holidays. It didn't matter for Rilla or him in the past years since they never saw much of a point for a tree if they were travelling to some sort of destination
The babies stayed up long enough to hang a few ornaments with the help of their parents before being whisked away to bed. Oliver not objecting to the nursery as long as George was there with him they found out. You could even hear them babble to each other nonsense, that no one understood but yet they seemed to perfectly. Jimmy stayed up until nine before Rilla sent him off to bed. Santa wouldn't come until he was asleep after all. Still, she helps him layout shortbread cookies and a carrot for a reindeer near the newly decorated tree.
Then it was just the adults, the ladies changing into new gowns. Owen had brought out a jug of apple cider that they warmed up put cinnamon sticks into as their neighbours came over for a small get together. Rilla was wearing a deep red gown, while Persis was wearing a new gown of apricot silk and lacy dress, with a teal large bow that covered the expanse of her stomach. Fashion was an odd thing on time, Ken whispered to Rilla. Who weakly smiled back at him. As soon as she saw the dress, she knew. She knew what was coming, and was mentally preparing herself for the words. She noticed how Persis had tried to hide it and is Leslie thought or assumed she would have said something by now. She would have warned Persis of the wound her and Ken still carried. Owen and Ken wouldn't see it. Not yet anyway, but Rilla could for some reason. Maybe it was the way Persis was with George, or how every once in a while she would sigh and rest her hand on her stomach as she watched George run around. She was happy for her sister-in-law how could she not be?
It was after the neighbours left Persis spoke up.
"Before we exchange Christmas Eve gifts," Persis starts. "Joseph and I have something to tell you all."
"You're leaving the land of winter?" Owen asked.
"No, not that," Persis said shaking her head. "We are though expecting another baby in late spring though." She told her father.
Ken is suddenly behind Rilla, grasping her hand. Watching Leslie and Owen hug and congratulate their daughter was pausing to look back at their other family in the room.
Rilla found herself stepping forward, putting on her best smile as she kisses Persis's cheek.
"That's wonderful news," She said to Persis and she was happy for them. It wasn't Persis's fault that it stung that wound that would never fully heal. Ken shook his head and hugged his sister and shook Joseph's hand muttering congratulations.
Quietly Rilla made excuses to check on Oliver trying to escape the room to not ruin the mood of the happy news. She watched Oliver sleep few a minutes and even looked in on Jimmy who was sleeping peacefully while waiting for Santa.
"Why didn't you say anything?" She hears Persis as she comes out of the nursery for the second time. Someone must have told Persis, which only made Rilla feel worse. "I would have—."
"Told them in private and not have your moment?" Rilla finished for her. "You have every right to have that moment and shouldn't lose it because of Ken and me," Rilla shook her head at the thought. "We're always going to wonder, it's always going to linger in our hearts and we know that. We can't expect people to walk on eggshells because of it. I know I can be selfish, but I do try not to be, I know other people are allowed to be happy about their news. Half of my family doesn't even know Persis and I don't want them to know because I want them to think they need to watch what they say around us."
"Still hearing that I'm due a month after what you may have been," Persis said quietly. "Thats like unintentionally rubbing salt into a wound and I don't want you to think or feel that way."
"Then you best take care of yourself," Rilla told her earnestly. "I want a telegram to tell us that he or she has been born to know that both of you are safe and sound."
"I think I can do that," Persis said as Ken came up the stairs. "I'll give you a moment alone," Persis told them before going back downstairs.
"You knew," Ken said after a moment.
"I had a feeling," Rilla nodded her head honestly. "I'm fine, I just needed a moment to remember that I have two boys, that we can try again. I've already gained close to ten pounds." Rilla told him.
