Author's Note: Thank you all so much for coming back and I hope that you like this chapter! :)
'You can help me open it if you want to, Lils,' Grace said after bringing her last present into her lap and looking at her little sister. She then made a small tear in the wrapping paper before putting an arm around Lily and giggling when she began to tear at the paper. It didn't take them long to unwrap the present and, when she saw the tea-set that her mother had bought for her, she gasped softly. The cups, saucers and teapot were white and had daisies dotted over them and it was the most beautiful tea-set she'd ever seen. 'Thank you, mummy!' She beamed when she glanced up at her mother.
'You're very welcome, sweetheart,' Anna reassured her from where she was sat on the sofa with Jack and a cup of tea. 'Now, I think it's time for breakfast. Would the two of you take Lily through to the kitchen and sit her in her highchair while I clean up in here?' Jack and Grace nodded before Jack got up from the sofa, walked over to his little sisters and lifted Lily onto his hip so that he could leave the sitting room with her. 'Gracie?' Anna said before Grace left the room with him. 'Come here for a moment.' She set her teacup down on the table beside the sofa and opened her arms to her.
Once Grace had walked over to her she let her sit in her lap before slipping her arms around her waist and bringing her near. 'I'm so sorry that I couldn't get that doll for you,' She sighed while combing her fingers through her dark hair. 'I wanted to, but it was just too expensive and I was worried that I wouldn't have the money to feed you and Jack if I got it for you. I've decided, though, that when I have enough money I'm going to take you back there and you can get any doll you like.' She watched her daughter's lips curl up into a smile as she stroked her little fingers against her fair hair.
'You don't have to say sorry, mummy,' Grace replied. 'It was just a dolly and it's not your fault. Things are just hard.'
Anna felt her heart swell and she was positive that it was fit to burst with the love that she had for her lovely little girl. 'I know that you don't remember him quite as well as Jack does,' She laid a hand on her cheek and brushed her thumb against her skin. 'But your daddy would be so proud of you if he were here to see what a big girl you've become. You help me so much around the cottage and you're the best big sister in the world to Lily. I don't know what me and your brother and sister would do without you. The three of us love you so much.' She pressed her lips gently to her hairline.
'I love you too,' Grace wrapped both arms around her neck. 'Can we make a cake later?'
'I don't see why not,' Anna nodded before giving her a squeeze. 'What kind of cake should we make?'
'Chocolate!' Grace giggled.
Anna laughed. 'Why am I not surprised?'
The two of them shared a smile before she ran a hand over her daughter's hair.
'How about you go and join Jack and Lily in the kitchen and then I'll come and make your breakfast once I've cleaned up all of this paper?' She suggested before Grace nodded and pressed a kiss to her cheek. Her daughter then rose from her lap and hurried out of the room before she smiled and got up from the sofa to start cleaning the sitting room a little.
In no time at all, she had picked up all of the wrapping paper and put it into the bin near the table on which her sewing machine sat. She then left the room and walked down the hall towards the kitchen, but as soon as she entered the room there was a knock on the front door. 'I won't be a moment,' She told her children before leaving the kitchen again and heading for the door. She had to admit that she was rather surprised to see John standing on her doorstep when she opened it. 'Good morning, Mr. Bates,' She smiled while brushing a curl back beneath her ear. 'What brings you here?'
'I…' He cleared his throat before bringing a present out from behind his back. 'I have a surprise for Grace.'
She looked at the wrapped box, knowing full well what was inside it, before looking into his eyes again and letting out a gentle sigh. 'That had better not be what I think it is.' She said before crossing her arms and leaning against the door.
'If you think it's the doll that was stood in the toy-shop window then you would be correct.' He informed her.
She smiled. 'You shouldn't have done that. You shouldn't have wasted your money on it.'
'I didn't waste it,' He shook his head. 'I told you the other night that I wanted to help you however I can and last night I remembered what you said about the doll. You were so upset and troubled about not being able to surprise Grace and I thought that I would help you do that. I also remembered how unwell she was when I was here and I thought that this might help to cheer her up a little.' He offered the present to her, but instead of accepting it she shook her head at him.
'You bought it for her, so you should be the one to give it to her,' She told him. 'Come inside.'
She then moved to one side so that he could enter the house before she closed the door behind him and rested her hand on his arm through his coat. 'Thank you so much for this,' She whispered. 'And for everything else that you've done.'
'You're welcome.' He smiled before allowing her to walk down the hall ahead of him.
'Look who's here, Gracie.' She smiled when the two of them walked into the kitchen.
Grace turned around in her chair before smiling at seeing John. 'Mr. Bates!'
'Hello,' He chuckled. 'I hope you don't mind me coming, but I have a little surprise for you.'
Grace's eyes sparkled with excitement when she saw the present in his hand and when he gave it to her she set it down on the dining table. 'Can I open it now, mummy? Please?' She asked after John had moved to stand beside her mother.
'Of course.' Anna nodded while clasping her hands in front of herself.
Grace then began to open the present and when she realised what it was that John had bought for her, soft tears blurred her vision. For the next couple of seconds, she sat in silence in her chair before pushing her chair back and racing over to John. 'Thank you!' She cried after throwing her arms around his waist in a tight hug and hiding her face in his shirt.
John, quite touched by her gratitude, smiled at her and gave her hair a soothing stroke. 'You're very welcome, Grace.'
'Did you know, mum?' She asked after releasing John from her tight hold.
Anna shook her head. 'No, darling, I didn't have a clue.'
Grace giggled before heading back over to the table and starting to open the box that contained the beautiful doll she'd been longing for. 'Look, Jack! Isn't she just perfect?' She smiled at her big brother while holding the dark-haired doll.
'She is!' He nodded before turning to Lily and giving her the other half of the rusk that he had found for her.
'You haven't met my eldest yet,' Anna looked up at John. 'This is Jack. The girls and I would be lost without him.'
John smiled. 'It's nice to meet you, Jack.'
'It's nice to meet you too, Mr. Bates.' Jack replied before taking a long sip of his orange juice and stroking Lily's hair.
'I should leave so that the four of you can get on with your morning.' John admitted as he looked at Anna after a time.
Anna looked at her children for a moment before turning to him. 'I'll walk you to the door.'
She took a step past him before the two of them left the kitchen and walked back down the hall towards the front door. She then opened the door and let him leave the house before he turned back to her and they looked at one another for a moment. 'Thank you, again, for that. You must let me know if there's anything I can do to return the favour.' She said.
'You could…you could join me for dinner sometime.' He told her before a soft blush rose in her cheeks.
'Like a…a date?' She asked.
He sensed her nervousness. 'It doesn't have to be a date. I know that it hasn't been long since you learned of Edward's death and the last thing I want is to rush you or make you feel uncomfortable. I would, however, like to see you a little more and I think you deserve to have one night to yourself.' Relief flooded his veins when a smile graced her features.
'I'd love to have dinner with you,' She whispered. 'When were you thinking?'
'Well, His Lordship's travelling up to London for the night next Monday and he said he doesn't need me.' He told her.
She thought for a moment. 'I'm not working next Monday as far as I'm aware, so that sounds perfect for me.'
'Shall I call for you at around half-past six?' He asked her. 'We could go to The Red Lion in Kirkbymoorside.'
She nodded. 'I'd like that.'
For the next couple of seconds, she looked at him in silence before her heart started to race in her chest when he took a step closer to her and dipped his head to kiss her on the cheek. She couldn't resist the urge to close her eyes and she let out the breath that she hadn't realised she'd been holding when he lingered for a moment-or-so. He stepped back from her after a time and when her eyes opened the two of them shared a smile. 'I'll see you soon, all right?' He said to her.
'All right,' She agreed. 'Goodbye, Mr. Bates.'
'Goodbye, Anna.' He replied before tipping his hat to her and walking off.
Once she had closed the door behind him she pressed her back up against it and sighed to herself with a nervous smile. Mr. Bates had just asked her out on a date. Yes, he had reassured her that it didn't have to be a date, but it was obvious to her that that had been his intention. She wasn't in the right place to start another relationship yet. Even though it had almost been six months since Edward's death she was still heartbroken and still broke down at times. She also had her children to think about this time around. How would Jack and Grace react if she and Mr. Bates started growing closer?
The last thing she wanted was for one or both of them to think that she no longer missed their father.
That she no longer cared.
She had loved Edward for as long as she could remember and that love was still raging within her as she stood there in the hall. She would never stop loving him, no matter what happened, because he had given her three beautiful children and had made sure that none of them had ever wanted for anything while he had been alive. That didn't mean, though, that she wanted to be alone forever. That wasn't what he had wanted for her either. He had told her that himself before his demise. He'd told her: 'Darling, just in case I don't get through, I want you to know that you're free to love again.'
She had shaken her head and refused to listen to him back then. She had kissed him and snuggled further into his arms before telling him not to think like that. Then, of course, a single bullet had taken him from her and their children. She had sworn never to fall in love again, despite knowing that she had Edward's blessing to do so, and she'd believed that nothing would change that. Then she had met Mr. Bates. He was so lovely to her and kind to her children and that was one thing she admired about him. There was no doubt in her mind that he would treat her right if something happened.
Nevertheless, she couldn't make a decision at the moment.
It wouldn't be fair on him if she asked him to wait for her to finish grieving before she thought about what she wanted. She would just have to wait and see which road life led them down. In all truthfulness, however, she didn't mind what happened as long as he was a part of her life. She couldn't fathom losing someone as gentle and understanding as him.
She shook her head to bring herself out of her thoughts a little while later and started to walk back down the hall to the kitchen. 'Right then, my lovelies,' She beamed at her children before running a hand over Grace's hair and placing her other hand on her hip. 'It's Grace's turn to decide what's for breakfast this morning. What shall we have, sweetheart?' She watched her little girl think for a moment before giggling when she gasped and tilted her head back to look at her.
'Can we have pancakes?' The eight-year-old asked.
'We can, indeed,' Anna reassured her before leaning down to brush a kiss against her forehead. 'And what about Miss Lily?' She left her eldest daughter's side in order to walk around the table to her baby, lift her out of her highchair and look her in the eye. 'Would you like to have some pancakes for your breakfast?' She crooned with a raise of her brow, her eyes falling closed when her daughter grabbed her face with a squeal and gave her one of her adorable baby kisses. 'I guess so!' She bounced Lily in her arms before allowing her to cuddle up to her and place her head on her shoulder.
She then pressed her lips to her brow before turning back to her eldest children and giving Jack a smile. 'Jack, darling, will you take Lily into the sitting room and put her in her playpen so that she can play with her toys while I make these pancakes?' She asked before a surge of pride coursed through her when he nodded and left the dining table to walk up to her and take Lily from her. 'Thank you,' She kissed his temple before he began to carry his sister out of the kitchen. 'What do you think of your new doll then, Gracie?' She glanced over at her little girl once the two of them were alone.
'I love her, mum, she's perfect!' Grace replied while running her hand over the doll's hair. 'Mr. Bates is so nice!'
'That he is, princess,' Anna agreed while walking over to the refrigerator to find the eggs. 'That he is…'
'Grace,' She said after walking into the sitting room where Jack and Grace were playing cards after putting Lily to bed that night. 'Can I talk to you in the hall for a minute, please?' She watched her children look at each other for a second before Grace set her cards face-down on the rug and pushed herself to her feet so that she could leave the sitting room. 'I've been meaning to give this to you since you woke up this morning,' She said once the two of them were alone and she reached into the pocket of her dress before pulling out a card. 'I just wasn't sure if you would feel ready to read it.'
Grace looked at the card in her mother's hand before accepting it from her and looking at her. 'Is it from daddy?'
'Yes,' Anna replied. 'He wrote it when he came back on leave, but he put it in his nightstand and I found it last night.'
Grace fell quiet for a time as she ran her thumb over her father's neat handwriting on the front of the envelope. Gracie.
'You don't have to read it yet if you don't feel ready, darling,' Anna stepped closer to her little girl before hooking her finger beneath her chin and lifting her gaze to hers. 'If you want to save it for a little while, you can give it to me and I can keep it safe for you. If you do want to read it, though, you can go and sit in your room or in the kitchen and read it in peace.' She ran her hand over Grace's hair before smiling when she slid her arms around her waist and cuddled her.
'I think I'd like to read it in the kitchen, mummy,' Grace whispered. 'But I'll tell you what it says afterwards.'
'All right,' Anna kissed the top of her head. 'I'm just in the sitting room with Jack if you need me.'
Grace nodded before releasing her mother from her hold and sighing as she glanced at the card in her hand once again. She then turned around and walked in the direction of the kitchen and Anna sighed to herself as she watched her enter the room. There was no doubt in her mind that Grace would get emotional about whatever her father had written in the card. Edward had loved her with all his heart and she was certain that he'd made that crystal clear to Grace in his card.
Once she had stood in the hall for a while, Anna entered the sitting room and gave her son a smile before walking over to the sofa and sitting down beside him. 'You found the card that dad wrote for Grace, didn't you, mum?' He inquired.
'How do you know about the card?' She asked him.
He chuckled. 'He asked me to go into town with him so that I could help him to choose the perfect card for her.'
'That sounds like him,' Anna laughed. 'He always wanted everything to be just perfect for the pair of you, you know.'
He nodded. 'Can I ask you a question?'
'Of course, angel, you can ask me anything.' She reassured him while putting an arm around his shoulders.
'Do you think you'll find someone else? Do you think you'll get married again?' He asked while cuddling against her.
She brushed her thumb against his arm through his shirt while looking at him. 'I'm not sure, Jack, but even if I do start courting again it won't be for a long time. I hate to say the words, but your dad…set me free…not long before he went back to war. He still loved me and he still wanted me to be his wife, of course, but he said that if he didn't come home from war I could find someone else.' She saw the warm tears that were sparkling in her son's eyes while she held him.
'I'm not sure if I'll ever find someone else or if I'll get married again, sweetheart, but one thing I'm certain of is that – if I do – he will never replace your father. We'll still go and take flowers to the grave and we'll still talk about him and the ridiculous things he used to do,' She gave Jack a squeeze when he laughed. 'If I do find someone else, Jack, I want you and the girls to approve of him. I want him to adore the three of you and I want the three of you to love him back.'
He sighed. 'Do you like Mr. Bates?'
'I like him as a friend, yes, because he's been extremely good to me since we met.' She explained.
'You wouldn't court him though, would you?' He continued.
She fell quiet for a moment before asking: 'Would you disapprove if I did?'
He shrugged. 'It's just that he's…he's so old and he walks with a cane.'
'Jack Miller,' There was a slight warning tone to her voice. 'He isn't too much older than me and he walks with a cane because he was injured during active service. Just because he has an ailment doesn't mean he isn't a decent man and it isn't something that we should look down on him or judge him for. Your father was older than me and if he had gotten injured I doubt you would be talking about him in such a manner,' She watched him nod silently after losing her gaze. 'All I want from him at the moment is friendship, but if things do progress I promise that I'll tell you and your sisters.'
He sighed at that before snuggling into her side and draping one of his arms over her stomach to anchor himself to her. The two of them then sat in silence together for a time before the sound of footsteps out in the hall made Anna turn her head. Grace smiled at her when she walked into the sitting room with her father's card in her hand, but she was able to see the tear-stains on her cheeks. 'Come here, you,' She whispered after she had stopped stroking Jack's face and held her hand out to her. 'I think we have just enough time for a quick cuddle before it's time for us to turn in for the night.'
She then watched her daughter approach the sofa before she sat down in the space beside her and she wrapped her arm around her waist. Once Grace had settled she kissed her on the forehead before turning her head and doing the same to Jack. 'We're going to get through this, you know,' She tightened her hold of them both while settling back against one of the cushions. 'It's just as hard for the two of you as it is for me, I understand that, but I promise that things will start looking up. I think the three of us just need to have a bit more faith and start looking at things in a more positive way.'
She looked into her son's eyes when he tilted his head back on her shoulder. 'We're so proud of you, mum.'
'We are.' Grace seconded that after looking up at her mother.
Anna pulled them both closer to her. 'And I'm just as proud of the pair of you for how mature you've been about this.'
The three of them smiled before drifting into a comfortable silence as they sat together for a couple of minutes longer.
'I think it's time for bed,' Anna admitted when she looked at the clock on the mantelpiece and realised that it was half-past nine. 'Jack has his paper round in the morning and then the two of you have rather a lot of schoolwork to get finished,' She smirked as the two of them groaned in disapproval before she gave them one more squeeze and rose from the sofa with them. 'Lights out when you're in your nightclothes,' She said after looking at Jack. 'No reading tonight.'
Jack pouted a little before nodding and kissing her on the cheek. 'Night, mum.'
'Night, darling,' She replied before he left the sitting room in order to go up to bed and she turned to her little girl with a sigh. It was clear to her that she was still a little emotional about the card. 'Do you want to come and sleep in the big bed with me again? I think another cuddle is something we could both do with, isn't it?' She took her hand in her own.
Once Grace had nodded, she leaned down to brush a kiss against her cheek before the two of them left the sitting room and walked up the stairs to bed.
Author's Note: I apologise for the shorter chapter and for the somewhat abrupt ending, but I wanted to get a chapter up for you all and writer's block set in just as I was reaching this point. I hope that you don't mind though, and I promise that the next chapter will be longer and have a better ending. Thank you all so much for taking the time to read this chapter and I would be so grateful if you would leave a review to let me know what you thought. Thank you for the continued support and I'll see you all soon! :)