Door 16

Angelina awoke early the next morning after a rather restless sleep. She hadn't been able to push that kiss out of her mind. It had kept replaying itself over and over again.

She yawned when she arose from the bed and pulled the dressing gown over her pyjama. But before she walked towards the door of her room to head to the bathroom the window caught her eyes.

Or rather, what was outside caught her eyes: everything was covered with snow. And the flakes were still falling silently down to the ground. A huge smile found its way to Angelina's face.

She hurried out of her room and to the room of Samuel and Emily. The siblings were still fast asleep when Angelina pulled the curtains apart.

"Hey, wake up you two and take a look out of the window." She said, still smiling broadly.

Emily opened her eyes slowly and yawned. But as soon as she looked out of the window she smiled just as broadly as Angelina. She sat up in the bed and shook Samuel's shoulder.

"Sam, Sam wake up! It has snowed! Everything is white! Sam, wake up, you have to see that!" And she jumped out of the bed and ran towards the window to watch the snowflakes falling onto the already white ground.

"Wow!" She heard her brother's voice behind her as he joined her at the window.

"Can we go?" Samuel asked Angelina and when she nodded he already wanted to run out of the room.

"Hey." Angelina called him back. Samuel stopped at the door and turned around.

"I didn't mean immediately! I meant after you've been in the bathroom and washed yourself and brushed your teeth, after we had breakfast and most important: AFTER you've changed into your cloths. I don't think your pyjama will keep you warm out there."

Samuel nodded and hurried to the bathroom.

After the breakfast the children couldn't be kept inside any longer and Angelina helped them put on their scarves, gloves, caps and jackets before she put all of that on herself.

"Are you going to join us?" She asked Montague when she headed outside with Samuel and Emily.

"Why should I?"

"Because it's the first snow!" Angelina said matter-of-factly.

"So? It's white, it's cold and it's nothing but water! I've never seen anyone reacting on rain the way you do on snow!"

Angelina rolled her eyes at his 'logic'.

"Say Montague, were you born like this or did you become Mr. Scrooge later in your life?"

"Not everyone is into such nonsense as Christmas and 'fun in the snow' Johnson. You go out and play Christmas elf. Have fun, and make sure to clean your boots before you come back in!"

Angelina shook her head as she watched him walking upstairs.

The most annoying thing about this was the odd disappointment she felt as she was building snowmen with Samuel and Emily. It felt as though something was missing when she watched the siblings having so much fun. They laughed together and were obviously happy.

It reminded her of the day they had made the biscuits. 'I shouldn't have believed that it would change him.' Angelina thought and scolded herself for wanting him to change. After all, it wasn't long anymore. Soon the children would have to go back to the orphanage. And they hadn't succeeded in the task they were given.

She wished she could change this. She wished she could find a family for Samuel and Emily. People who would love them. Who would take them as they were. And not try to change them as Miss Robert had obviously done.

That woman had already caused enough damage in their hearts. And Angelina dreaded the day she would have to let the children go back there. She could already see Emily being mute again. See Samuel only watching books longingly instead of reading them. Or telling his sister a story of his own. Stories of far away places, heroes and monsters.

Her heart ached as she watched the two building a forth snowman. 'A snowfamily' as Emily had explained.

She felt the hairs on the back of her neck stand up and turned around. Nothing. She had been sure that someone was watching her. She was just about to turn back around when she saw a movement behind a window on one of the upper floors. And when she turned back around she had to think of a pair of deep green eyes and wished once more she could change everything.