Mandie and the Midnight Escape
Mandie lifted her hand to shade her eyes from the piercing winter sunlight. The snow had fallen to a depth of several inches in the Shaw mansion's garden, blanketing the walks and bushes and benches with sparking white-ness. She started to brush off a bench with a gloved hand, then thought better of it and turned to go back inside the house. Mandie knocked the snow from her boots at the door and reached to hang up her coat.
"Amanda! There you are!"
Mandie turned to embrace Elizabeth Shaw and laughed lightly. "Yes, mother, here I am! Did you need me for something?"
Elizabeth smiled, "I wondered if you would mind watching Carol while I go out. Of course, if you'd rather not, I can ask Liza to watch both—"
Mandie put out one hand, smiling. "No need, mother, I would love to have Carol to myself for a while. Are she and Carl asleep now?"
"Yes. I left Aunt Lou to watch them for now, but she has other responsibilities. I asked Liza to take care of Carl for the afternoon, after he wakes, but I thought both toddlers would be a little much for her." Elizabeth's brow creased. "Are you sure you want to care for her?"
"Don't worry, mother," Mandie said. "I do want to, and I'll make sure to watch my little sister carefully." Her voice betrayed her fondness for the twins.
"I know, dear, I just—" Elizabeth stopped, unsure whether or not to proceed.
"What is it?" asked Mandie curiously.
"You never wanted to even be around Samuel and—" Elizabeth paused.
A lump rose in Mandie's throat, and she blinked back sudden tears. "I know, Mother. I'm sorry. God had to—to take him away to make me realize how selfish and wicked I'd been, and how much I loved him."
Mandie's mother wrapped her arms around the girl. "I'm sorry, Amanda. I shouldn't have mentioned it. I—of all people—" her voice broke "—know how much we've missed him, and how you've regretted your attitude towards him."
Mandie, nodded her head against her mother's shoulder. "I love Carol and Carl, Mother. Now that I'm home from college, I intend to show them that they have a big sister who really loves them."
A tear fell from Elizabeth's eye and landed, with amazing accuracy, in Mandie's ear. She jerked her head up.
"Oh!" she exclaimed, and they both burst into laughter.
Elizabeth pulled out a handkerchief and wiped her wet eyes, laughing all the while. "When will your friends be arriving, dear?" she asked when the two had mastered their laughter and tears.
"The Woodards are due this afternoon." Mandie replied, and a careful observer might have noticed the slight reddening of her cheeks. "Celia and Robert and the Guyers willing be coming in on the evening train. Everyone else is supposed to arrive tomorrow."
"My dear, you always have large gatherings." her mother laughed and embraced Mandie again, and then gathered her wraps and set off in the buggy towards the main stores of Franklin.
As soon as she was gone, Mandie rushed up the stairs, but slowed her steps as she neared the twins' room. She turned the doorknob and let the door swing softly inwards. Liza sat between the two cradles, rocking them, and humming a lullaby. She grinned when Mandie entered.
"Dat mistah doctuh's son be comin' t'day, ain't he?" She asked in low tones.
Mandie reddened slightly. "Yes, this afternoon. Why do you ask?" she inquired innocently.
Liza gave a low chuckle. "I jist be glad dat dat Miss Pretty Thang from next door ain't around to buzz aftah him, Missy 'Manda."
"Yes, Polly and her mother went to Boston for Christmas. But why should I care if Polly is around?" Mandie insisted. "Celia is coming today, too." she added quickly, not giving Liza a chance to answer.
Just then Carol stirred.
"I'll take her now, Liza, and leave you Carl to watch." Mandie reached down into the cradle and lifted the two-year-old to balance on her hip. She took the still sleepy child to her bedroom, and set her down on the floor to crawl about. Mandie seated herself, and took out the scarf that she was
knitting. Carol crawled over and stood, holding onto the chair for support.
"'Mandie?" she lisped. and reached out a chubby hand to touch the scarf.
Mandie smiled. "That's a scarf for Joe. He's coming today."
The tot broke into a wide smile. Joe was one of her favorite persons. "Doe's tummin'." she said.
The big sister leaned down and kissed the golden, fuzz-covered head. "That's right. Big sister has missed him, you know."
The tot leaned forward to press her red lips against Mandie's cheek. "Cawy love."
Mandie drew the little girl closer, her eyes misting a little. Why was she getting so emotional these days? It meant a lot to her to hear from the tot's own lips that she was an object of affection, but that was no reason to cry.