[A/N. A lot longer chapter than I'd been planning, but I got sort of
carried away with it all. Enjoy it anyway!]
Philadelphia, February, 1941.
'This place hasn't changed a bit! And to think we're at war and all!' Eliza thought as the taxi came to a stop out the front of the Gracie family home. Not that she really expected it to have changed too much- there was no way Mrs. Gracie would let something like a war get in the way of her life! Edward hurried from the car, and Eliza quickly took the children's hands in hers and followed her husband up the stairs. By the front door was a red sportscar and Eliza had to pull Ben away from admiring it.
It's wonderful to have you back Mr. Edward." The butler said as he opened the door. There were tears in his eyes as he gazed fondly at the man he'd served for much of his life.
"Thank you Maxwell, it's good to be back." Edward said, as he walked inside.
The butler turned to Eliza and the children. "And Mrs. Eliza and my goodness gracious, look at young Ben. How grown up you look, how old are you now?"
"I'm eight now, but Margaret's only six!" Ben told him proudly.
"You ARE grown up." The butler said. "What do you children say you come with me and get something to eat? I bet you're starving."
"Mama?" Ben asked looking to Eliza for answer. Even though he didn't remember this man it was clear he knew who he was.
"That's a very good idea." Eliza said, and she smiled at the butler thankfully as he led the two children off with Margaret asking him whether he'd ever been to England?
"Well I guess we better get up there and see him." Edward said, and he took his wife's hand and they started up the grand staircase. Before they were even halfway though Mrs. Gracie came out onto the landing. In Eliza's eyes she was still the same cold hard woman as she looked down at her, although it seemed in the few years they'd been gone she'd aged a bit.
"Edward, I'm glad you could get back. Your father's been anxiously awaiting your arrival." She said.
"Mother," Edward said, and he hurried up the stairs to embrace her, leaving Eliza to follow slowly. "Mother, tell me- what's wrong with Father? All you said in your letters were that Father was very unwell and I've been worried sick!"
"Cancer." Mrs. Gracie said, emotionlessly. "The Doctor gave him a few months to live, but that was a few months ago."
Edward made a sound, but Eliza wasn't able to interpret it and hurried into the room occupied by the elder Gracies. Eliza reached the top of the stairs and smiled at Mrs. Gracie. "How are you?"
"How am I?" Mrs. Gracie repeated. "My husband's dying, how do you think I am?"
Eliza bit her lip. 'Okay, stupid question Eliza!' She thought.
"My daughter and her husband are currently holidaying in Florida. She claims that having been around her father and sickness for the last few months she needs a holiday. Archibald always did spoil her rotten! However her daughter Jennifer and her husband Robert are here- they've been here often. She's probably been the only bright spot lately. Archibald's been waiting for Edward to come home." Mrs. Gracie explained.
"As soon as we knew he was sick we came home." Eliza protested. "If we had been told earlier we would have come earlier." She wasn't about to let this woman intimidate her anymore. She was almost thirty five, a grown woman who had grown up even more in the nightly horrors inflicted upon her hometown, and there was no way she was going to let Mrs. Gracie speak to her like that!
Mrs. Gracie raised an eyebrow. "Are you blaming me?" She demanded.
Eliza opened her mouth to tell her that she didn't think there was anyone else she really could blame, but before she could Jennifer, Edwards' cousin, and the woman who'd been maid of honor at their wedding eight years earlier came out.
"Eliza!" She said, hurrying over to hug her. "I'm glad you and Edward are here. Uncle Archibald's been asking for you both, and we keep telling him you're on your way."
"As soon as Edward got the first letter from his mother stating that his father was sick we decided to return. Of course we had no idea how serious it was, but I think Edward realised that his father was getting on and he wanted to be back here with him. But we never even guessed- Cancer!" Eliza's eyes begin to tear up.
"I know." Jennifer said, her own eyes damp. "Uncle Archibald is the last person you'd think would get cancer. When the Doctor diagnosed him we asked Aunt Margaret to write to Edward at once to let him know what it was, but she said that you were already on your way, and it made no sense to worry him."
"Well would it have?" Mrs. Gracie demanded, from where she'd been listening to the conversation. "He'd only have worried the whole way here and maybe even made himself as sick as your mother claims to be Jennifer."
"He was worried anyway." Eliza said softly, but Mrs. Gracie either didn't hear or chose to ignore it. Instead she was telling Jennifer how her mother had always claimed she was sick when she wanted to get out of things.
"A likely excuse half the time." Mrs. Gracie said. "But Archibald never scolded her for it. She was his little girl, wasn't she? And now her Father's dying and she's not here because she can't cope? Ha!"
Jennifer bit her lip. "Aunt Margaret, I agree that my mother's actions are not exactly proper, but I don't think there is anything I can do about that." She said.
Mrs. Gracie shrugged and then she turned to Eliza. "Well, what are you just standing there for? Aren't you going to go see him?" She snapped, and Eliza nodded and walked into the room. For a moment she was shocked- the colonel was lying in the bed, and he looked so small in it. Edward was sitting next to him, his head bowed as he spoke, but the colonel interrupted him seeing Eliza.
"My dear!" He called. "Come in my dear."
Eliza hurried to his side, forgetting her momentary shock at seeing the once so strong man so frail. "Mr. Gracie-" She began, but the colonel interrupted her.
"Call me father would you Eliza? Mr. Gracie sounds so formal, and you ARE part of the family!" The colonel ordered.
Eliza smiled through her tears. "Father," She said, sitting on the other side of him and taking the hand Edward didn't hold. "We came as soon as we heard you were sick."
"I know. I knew you would." The colonel said. "Edward's always been a great boy, and you're just as good. I knew the moment I saw you and Edward together how in love you were and I knew you'd be the perfect wife for him."
Eliza laughed a little embarrassed. "Oh I don't know about perfect.." She said.
Edward smiled over at her, but didn't speak.
"Nonsense!" The colonel said. "Perfect! My wife might not agree but if there's anything all my time in the army taught me Eliza it's this: everyone should be equal. Having more money than someone doesn't make you a better soldier nor a better person. I see the happiness and love in my son's eyes and that's all I could ask for."
Eliza simply squeezed his hand, unable to speak.
"The children are downstairs getting something to eat with Maxwell." Edward said. "I must say it was something of a shock to come back to a place with cooks, maids and butlers. In Liverpool we had a cook come in half a day, and a woman who helped with the housework and the children come in every second day."
"That must have been hard on you Edward." Mrs. Gracie said coming into the room. "You're not used to living in such conditions."
"Margaret." The colonel said. "Margaret is it time for my tablets?"
"Almost my love." Mrs. Gracie said. "I don't want to give them to you too early." Eliza was amazed at the tenderness in her words: clearly she loved the colonel very much. For the first time ever since she'd met her Eliza felt some sympathy for her. Seeing her husband dying must be terribly hard for her! A moment later though she didn't feel quite so sorry for her!
The colonel sighed. "They're the only thing to keep me going." He told Eliza and Edward. "Otherwise the pain alone would kill me!"
Mrs. Gracie rearranged some flowers. "So Edward, are you going to be moving back in here or are you planning on getting another place?" She asked.
Edward looked taken aback. "To tell you the truth Mother Eliza and I hadn't even discussed it. We've been too worried about Father to think about things like that!"
Eliza privately knew there would be no discussion on it. There was no way that she could possibly live in the same house as her mother-in-law! And for that matter, surely her mother-in-law wouldn't even want her to?
"Where are my grandchildren?" The colonel asked suddenly looking around.
"I told you Father they're downstairs getting something to eat." Edward said gently.
"Oh yes, yes." The colonel said. "Well would you mind letting them come up here? I haven't seen Ben since he was a child, and all I've ever seen of Margaret are photos!"
Mrs. Gracie turned to Eliza. "Why don't you run downstairs and get them like a good girl?"
Gritting her teeth to bite back any sharp retort Eliza went downstairs to collect the children. They'd been eating sandwiches in the kitchen with the cook and butler. Before she took them upstairs though Eliza told them that they must be on their best behavior, as Grandfather was very, very sick. They must not speak loudly, or rudely and use their best manners.
A few minutes later Eliza led the two silent children into the room. Mrs. Gracie was now sitting in the spot vacated by Eliza holding her husband's hand. When they walked in the colonel struggled to sit up.
"Ah, young Ben.. and to think last time I saw you was when you were in diapers." The colonel said with a chuckle which made him cough. "You're a big boy now."
Eliza nudged him slightly and he walked forward. "Hello Grandfather. Hello Grandmother." He said in his best manners.
Edward grinned, but his Grandparents were delighted, and crowed over him.
"And this is Margaret." Eliza said, pushing her forward. Margaret, who was usually anything but shy, seemed tongue-tied all of a sudden.
"Ah, my namesake." Mrs. Gracie said. "Hello Margaret. Aren't you going to come and give your Grandparents a hug?"
Margaret turned to look at Eliza who nodded and then she hurried over to hug them both, before returning to Eliza's side. Mrs. Gracie looked at her strangely and then turned back to Ben. After a few minutes where the colonel talked to Ben, and tried to draw Margaret out of her shell Mrs. Gracie declared it was time for his medication and everyone must leave. Back downstairs Edward asked the butler whether he could show Margaret and Ben their rooms while they were staying there and the children happily went off with Maxwell.
"I don't think he's got very long left Eliza." Edward said with a sigh.
"No," Eliza agreed. "I don't think so either. But the main thing Edward is that you're here now. You're here and you can spend some time with him." She didn't add before it's too late, but Edward knew what she meant, and he nodded soberly.
Philadelphia, February, 1941.
'This place hasn't changed a bit! And to think we're at war and all!' Eliza thought as the taxi came to a stop out the front of the Gracie family home. Not that she really expected it to have changed too much- there was no way Mrs. Gracie would let something like a war get in the way of her life! Edward hurried from the car, and Eliza quickly took the children's hands in hers and followed her husband up the stairs. By the front door was a red sportscar and Eliza had to pull Ben away from admiring it.
It's wonderful to have you back Mr. Edward." The butler said as he opened the door. There were tears in his eyes as he gazed fondly at the man he'd served for much of his life.
"Thank you Maxwell, it's good to be back." Edward said, as he walked inside.
The butler turned to Eliza and the children. "And Mrs. Eliza and my goodness gracious, look at young Ben. How grown up you look, how old are you now?"
"I'm eight now, but Margaret's only six!" Ben told him proudly.
"You ARE grown up." The butler said. "What do you children say you come with me and get something to eat? I bet you're starving."
"Mama?" Ben asked looking to Eliza for answer. Even though he didn't remember this man it was clear he knew who he was.
"That's a very good idea." Eliza said, and she smiled at the butler thankfully as he led the two children off with Margaret asking him whether he'd ever been to England?
"Well I guess we better get up there and see him." Edward said, and he took his wife's hand and they started up the grand staircase. Before they were even halfway though Mrs. Gracie came out onto the landing. In Eliza's eyes she was still the same cold hard woman as she looked down at her, although it seemed in the few years they'd been gone she'd aged a bit.
"Edward, I'm glad you could get back. Your father's been anxiously awaiting your arrival." She said.
"Mother," Edward said, and he hurried up the stairs to embrace her, leaving Eliza to follow slowly. "Mother, tell me- what's wrong with Father? All you said in your letters were that Father was very unwell and I've been worried sick!"
"Cancer." Mrs. Gracie said, emotionlessly. "The Doctor gave him a few months to live, but that was a few months ago."
Edward made a sound, but Eliza wasn't able to interpret it and hurried into the room occupied by the elder Gracies. Eliza reached the top of the stairs and smiled at Mrs. Gracie. "How are you?"
"How am I?" Mrs. Gracie repeated. "My husband's dying, how do you think I am?"
Eliza bit her lip. 'Okay, stupid question Eliza!' She thought.
"My daughter and her husband are currently holidaying in Florida. She claims that having been around her father and sickness for the last few months she needs a holiday. Archibald always did spoil her rotten! However her daughter Jennifer and her husband Robert are here- they've been here often. She's probably been the only bright spot lately. Archibald's been waiting for Edward to come home." Mrs. Gracie explained.
"As soon as we knew he was sick we came home." Eliza protested. "If we had been told earlier we would have come earlier." She wasn't about to let this woman intimidate her anymore. She was almost thirty five, a grown woman who had grown up even more in the nightly horrors inflicted upon her hometown, and there was no way she was going to let Mrs. Gracie speak to her like that!
Mrs. Gracie raised an eyebrow. "Are you blaming me?" She demanded.
Eliza opened her mouth to tell her that she didn't think there was anyone else she really could blame, but before she could Jennifer, Edwards' cousin, and the woman who'd been maid of honor at their wedding eight years earlier came out.
"Eliza!" She said, hurrying over to hug her. "I'm glad you and Edward are here. Uncle Archibald's been asking for you both, and we keep telling him you're on your way."
"As soon as Edward got the first letter from his mother stating that his father was sick we decided to return. Of course we had no idea how serious it was, but I think Edward realised that his father was getting on and he wanted to be back here with him. But we never even guessed- Cancer!" Eliza's eyes begin to tear up.
"I know." Jennifer said, her own eyes damp. "Uncle Archibald is the last person you'd think would get cancer. When the Doctor diagnosed him we asked Aunt Margaret to write to Edward at once to let him know what it was, but she said that you were already on your way, and it made no sense to worry him."
"Well would it have?" Mrs. Gracie demanded, from where she'd been listening to the conversation. "He'd only have worried the whole way here and maybe even made himself as sick as your mother claims to be Jennifer."
"He was worried anyway." Eliza said softly, but Mrs. Gracie either didn't hear or chose to ignore it. Instead she was telling Jennifer how her mother had always claimed she was sick when she wanted to get out of things.
"A likely excuse half the time." Mrs. Gracie said. "But Archibald never scolded her for it. She was his little girl, wasn't she? And now her Father's dying and she's not here because she can't cope? Ha!"
Jennifer bit her lip. "Aunt Margaret, I agree that my mother's actions are not exactly proper, but I don't think there is anything I can do about that." She said.
Mrs. Gracie shrugged and then she turned to Eliza. "Well, what are you just standing there for? Aren't you going to go see him?" She snapped, and Eliza nodded and walked into the room. For a moment she was shocked- the colonel was lying in the bed, and he looked so small in it. Edward was sitting next to him, his head bowed as he spoke, but the colonel interrupted him seeing Eliza.
"My dear!" He called. "Come in my dear."
Eliza hurried to his side, forgetting her momentary shock at seeing the once so strong man so frail. "Mr. Gracie-" She began, but the colonel interrupted her.
"Call me father would you Eliza? Mr. Gracie sounds so formal, and you ARE part of the family!" The colonel ordered.
Eliza smiled through her tears. "Father," She said, sitting on the other side of him and taking the hand Edward didn't hold. "We came as soon as we heard you were sick."
"I know. I knew you would." The colonel said. "Edward's always been a great boy, and you're just as good. I knew the moment I saw you and Edward together how in love you were and I knew you'd be the perfect wife for him."
Eliza laughed a little embarrassed. "Oh I don't know about perfect.." She said.
Edward smiled over at her, but didn't speak.
"Nonsense!" The colonel said. "Perfect! My wife might not agree but if there's anything all my time in the army taught me Eliza it's this: everyone should be equal. Having more money than someone doesn't make you a better soldier nor a better person. I see the happiness and love in my son's eyes and that's all I could ask for."
Eliza simply squeezed his hand, unable to speak.
"The children are downstairs getting something to eat with Maxwell." Edward said. "I must say it was something of a shock to come back to a place with cooks, maids and butlers. In Liverpool we had a cook come in half a day, and a woman who helped with the housework and the children come in every second day."
"That must have been hard on you Edward." Mrs. Gracie said coming into the room. "You're not used to living in such conditions."
"Margaret." The colonel said. "Margaret is it time for my tablets?"
"Almost my love." Mrs. Gracie said. "I don't want to give them to you too early." Eliza was amazed at the tenderness in her words: clearly she loved the colonel very much. For the first time ever since she'd met her Eliza felt some sympathy for her. Seeing her husband dying must be terribly hard for her! A moment later though she didn't feel quite so sorry for her!
The colonel sighed. "They're the only thing to keep me going." He told Eliza and Edward. "Otherwise the pain alone would kill me!"
Mrs. Gracie rearranged some flowers. "So Edward, are you going to be moving back in here or are you planning on getting another place?" She asked.
Edward looked taken aback. "To tell you the truth Mother Eliza and I hadn't even discussed it. We've been too worried about Father to think about things like that!"
Eliza privately knew there would be no discussion on it. There was no way that she could possibly live in the same house as her mother-in-law! And for that matter, surely her mother-in-law wouldn't even want her to?
"Where are my grandchildren?" The colonel asked suddenly looking around.
"I told you Father they're downstairs getting something to eat." Edward said gently.
"Oh yes, yes." The colonel said. "Well would you mind letting them come up here? I haven't seen Ben since he was a child, and all I've ever seen of Margaret are photos!"
Mrs. Gracie turned to Eliza. "Why don't you run downstairs and get them like a good girl?"
Gritting her teeth to bite back any sharp retort Eliza went downstairs to collect the children. They'd been eating sandwiches in the kitchen with the cook and butler. Before she took them upstairs though Eliza told them that they must be on their best behavior, as Grandfather was very, very sick. They must not speak loudly, or rudely and use their best manners.
A few minutes later Eliza led the two silent children into the room. Mrs. Gracie was now sitting in the spot vacated by Eliza holding her husband's hand. When they walked in the colonel struggled to sit up.
"Ah, young Ben.. and to think last time I saw you was when you were in diapers." The colonel said with a chuckle which made him cough. "You're a big boy now."
Eliza nudged him slightly and he walked forward. "Hello Grandfather. Hello Grandmother." He said in his best manners.
Edward grinned, but his Grandparents were delighted, and crowed over him.
"And this is Margaret." Eliza said, pushing her forward. Margaret, who was usually anything but shy, seemed tongue-tied all of a sudden.
"Ah, my namesake." Mrs. Gracie said. "Hello Margaret. Aren't you going to come and give your Grandparents a hug?"
Margaret turned to look at Eliza who nodded and then she hurried over to hug them both, before returning to Eliza's side. Mrs. Gracie looked at her strangely and then turned back to Ben. After a few minutes where the colonel talked to Ben, and tried to draw Margaret out of her shell Mrs. Gracie declared it was time for his medication and everyone must leave. Back downstairs Edward asked the butler whether he could show Margaret and Ben their rooms while they were staying there and the children happily went off with Maxwell.
"I don't think he's got very long left Eliza." Edward said with a sigh.
"No," Eliza agreed. "I don't think so either. But the main thing Edward is that you're here now. You're here and you can spend some time with him." She didn't add before it's too late, but Edward knew what she meant, and he nodded soberly.