Audrey opened the door to the drawling room and found Mrs Poo sitting on the settee rummaging through a box on the table.

"Oh hello Mrs Poo, what have you got there?" Audrey asked sitting next to her.

"It's just some things of bedrich's when he was a boy. I kept a lot of things but this box is just Christmas things."

She delved into the box again and pulled out a piece of paper "Look this is a letter Bedrich wrote to Farther Christmas."

Mrs Poo handed the letter to Audrey "Here my dear my eyes are not what they used to be would you read it to me"

Audrey took it and began to read,

Dear Father Christmas,

I don't want any presents this year, instead I would like you to make my mother happy again. Since my papa went away she has been so sad.

I know you cannot give my papa back so if you could please can you do something to cheer mother up.

Also my friend James can't write so I said I'd write to you for him. He's been a really good boy this year and would like a bike.

Thank you and Merry Christmas

Bedrich Polouvicka

"It's a beautiful letter" Audrey said wiping a tear away.

Mrs Poo smiled "He was such a sweet boy always looking out for the other children"

Audrey chuckled "He's still that way now, do you know last week when he picked me up from the riding school he gave all the children chocolate for Christmas"

She looked at the letter in her hand again "He's going to make such a good father."

Mrs Poo's eyebrows shot up and she grabbed Audrey's hand "Audrey, your not are you?"

"Oh no not yet but who knows maybe next year" she smiled shyly.

Mrs Poo patted her hand "Well I shall look forward to knitting something for my first grandchild."

"You know he never complained about us not having a proper Christmas tree even when his friends teased him about making decorations at school and having nowhere to hang them" Mrs Poo told her.

"But you've had a tree since then, I mean the last three years here there were Christmas trees everywhere."

Mrs Poo nodded "Yes of course but he has never had one that was just his, one he decorated, it's always been staff or someone else who did it"

"Oh I didn't know that, you mean Richard has never decorated a Christmas tree" Audrey felt a sadness come over.

Mrs Poo shook her head "You know I still have all the decorations he made at school"

That gave Audrey an idea "Really, you know Mrs poo you've given me an idea. Do you think I could borrow those decorations"

"Of course I have them in this box here"

Later that day Audrey had finished putting her plan into action in Richard's study, smiling at her efforts she went in search of her husband, finding him in the drawing room reading his paper.

"There you are Richard, I have a surprise for you darling" Audrey held Richard's hand as she guided him from the drawing room to stand outside his study.

Stopping outside the door she stood in front of him.

"Now close your eyes and no peeking"

Richard rolled his eyes at her but did as she asked "What are you up to Audrey."

She didn't reply just opened the door then took his hands in hers walking backwards leading him into the room.

"Alright, you can open your eyes now"

When Richard opened his eyes he was met with the sight of a large Christmas tree with no lights and no decorations on it.

He was slightly puzzled "It's a Christmas tree"

"Yes, I know we have lots around the manor but I thought this one could be just for us. A new tradition if you like. We can decorate it together, I thought it would be fun"

"Audrey, darling that's a lovely idea"

She smiled and pulled him over to the box off decorations she had borrowed from Mrs Poo. Looking in the box Richard reached in and removed a small star shaped decoration. He recognised it immediately as a decoration he had made when he was a boy.

Seeing her husbands eyes fill with tears Audrey ran her hand across his shoulders, "Darling are you alright?"

"Audrey where did you get these?"

"Your mother gave them to me"

Richard smiled "She kept them all of this time" he whispered

"Yes, she told me about your Christmases when you were little, how you've never decorated a tree. So I thought this would be something nice for you and maybe in a few years time we can share it with our little ones" Audrey explained

Richard's heart filled with love for his wife "Darling this is one of the nicest things anyone's ever done for me, I love you"

"I love you to darling, now come on let's get this tree decorated.