Finally….I know…and I'm sorry. Lots of time spent with some of the male contingency of this little world, but not without some sweet Chelsie bits at the end (Ooh, I somehow made that sound risqué)- and an unexpected little event here to start us off :)
As it turned out, and very much to Beryl's relief, Andy made no move to propose, instead spending most of Boxing Day with the children, Nathaniel, Barley, and the goats in the back garden and meadow where they created an entire family of snow people, made angels by lying on the ground and sweeping their arms and legs open and closed, and had even indulged in a snowball fight or two; Andy, Poppy, and Pete taking up against Natey and Livy while Daisy stood at the large picture window and described the silliness to a brightly smiling Mary Ann who was cuddled up with Joe and Phyllis and four happy kittens on the sofa.
The children and young people finally deciding to come in and de-thaw in time for dinner, the entire group enjoyed a venison roast complete with a host of vegetables and large yeasty rolls, giving themselves a bit of time before indulging in the spread of sweets, the majority of the group was gathered in the sitting room splitting up into teams for charades when Beryl Patmore's voice carried in from the kitchen.
"Are you alright? Is it your back? Your knee? What is it?"
"Beryl?" Charles called out as he and Joe quickly made their way across the large room, followed close behind by Elsie and Andy as Daisy and Phyllis did their best to keep the Carson children from trailing after them as they heard Charles ask, "Bill, are you alright?"
The doorway soon became jammed as the quartet of onlookers found Bill Mason on bended knee, his hand gently grasping a shocked little cook's as he balanced a small velvet box in the palm of his other hand as he softly answered, "I'm just fine. I only wanted to ask Bee a question."
Instinctually, Charles reached behind him and found Elsie's hand as he stepped back and allowed her to squeeze past Joe and Andy for a better view of what was happening across the room.
"You silly beggar, what on earth has possessed you?" Beryl whimpered as she looked back and forth between the ring and the loving smile on the face of the man before her.
"I'm not one for grand gestures, which I think you know by now, but I hope you also know how much you mean to me and how dearly I hold you in my heart."
Beryl nodded, her voice barely a whisper. "As I hold you in mine."
Elsie tightened her grip on Charles' hand as they watched Bill pull a small solitaire decorated band from the small velvet box.
"Would you do me the honor of becoming my wife, Beryl Patmore?"
Her trembling hand stretched out before him, Bill slipped the band onto her finger just before she cupped his cheeks gently and placed a light kiss on his lips.
"So that's a yes?"
Shaking her head as she lowered herself to the ground in front of him, her arms were soon around him as she let out a weepy, "Yes. Of course, yes."
Hugs, tears, and congratulations shared, the game of charades was soon forgotten as lamps and the wireless were moved to the still empty conservatory where a fire was lit while Elsie and Isobel disappeared into the kitchen to open bottles of the champagne Charles had procured for the following weekend's New Year's Eve, as well as making a pan of hot cocoa for the children.
"How wonderful is this? Did you have any idea?" Isobel asked as she carefully filled mugs with thick cocoa.
Elsie shook her head. "Not a clue. Sneaky devil never showed his hand, and to think, she was worried it was Andy who was going to be on bended knee tonight." She stopped pouring the champagne for a moment as she glanced across the room at her friend. "We've not had the chance to talk about what happened after I left you and Richard last night."
Isobel took a deep breath. "Nothing really happened. I just think I talked him down a bit."
"From still wanting to propose?"
"That, but also from just ending it. He basically gave me an ultimatum, but I think I managed to at least postpone it for a bit."
Elsie opened her mouth to speak, but quickly shut it, turning back to her task.
"You were going to say something. What were you going to say?"
"No. I told Charles I would try not to meddle so much."
"You love your friends, Elsie. That's not meddling and it's definitely not meddling if I ask for your opinion," Isobel countered.
Setting the champagne bottle back on the counter, she waited for a moment as she tried to decide what she wanted to say.
"Go on. Out with it. Both guns."
Taking a deep breath, Elsie let go and did as she had been instructed. "Phyllis is going to need to cut back on her hours at the surgery to devote more time to Mary Ann. She told me so this morning and Violet and I spoke on the phone last week and the funds are there to hire you an assistant to help with the day to day operations of Matthew's House, two if you'd like. Richard is financially comfortable and you are financially comfortable. The trains are not going to stop running between London and Halifax so you could both reduce your work loads and travel to and from London together, ring on your finger or not. It's more than doable if you just decide it is what you want to do."
"Well, don't hold back tell me what you really think."
There was a brief moment of panic on Elsie's part before Isobel suddenly burst into laughter.
"Oh, Isobel! I really thought you were angry with me!"
Crossing the room, she pulled Elsie into a warm hug. "I love you, my sweet, well-intentioned, meddling, funny, beautiful friend."
"I love you, too," Elsie whispered as she tightened her hold on Isobel. "And I just want you to be happy. Both of you."
Pulling back, Isobel nodded. "What you've just said. It's not mad and I will think about it."
"Promise?"
Sensing they were being watched, both turned to find a gently smiling Richard standing in the doorway. "I didn't mean to interrupt. I can come back."
"Perfect timing," Isobel said, releasing Elsie, but giving her hand a squeeze. "My friend and I were about to have words I am quite certain in regards to her trying to carry a tray of champagne glasses."
"Ah," the doctor nodded knowingly. "Then my timing was perfect. As your doctor, Mrs. Carson, I prescribe that you take your lovely self into the conservatory and find your equally lovely husband who is waiting to offer a toast while the lovely Nurse Crawley and I carry in the libations."
"Very well, if those are the lovely doctor's orders," Elsie replied with a playful pout.
"You heard the man," Isobel scolded as she gave her friend a gentle push. "Now away with you!"
Leaving the couple alone, Elsie paused a few feet outside the door, a warm feeling spreading through her chest as she heard the sound of a kiss.
"If you will lift your glasses, please," Charles' voice filled the large space and all eyes fell on him as Phyllis turned the knob down on the radio. "I don't know if I have ever been in a room that was filled with more love or hope. How lucky we are that our generous and wonderful friends Bill and Beryl found one another and that they bless our lives daily. I know I speak for our little family of friends when I say we wish you all the happiness and joy in the world. To Beryl and Bill."
"To Beryl and Bill," the adults cheerfully responded as they clinked glasses while the children glanced about with bright, curious smiles on their faces.
"Mumma," Livy tugged on her mother's skirt before asking, "What is happening?"
"We're celebrating because Gran Bill and Aunt Bee are going to be married."
The little one began bouncing up and down as she asked, "Like you and Daddy?"
"Yes. Like Daddy and me."
"Will they have a baby like you and Daddy are going to?"
Elsie looked over at the embracing older couple as she stroked her child's head. "Probably not, sweetheart."
"Then why are they getting married?"
"Because just like Daddy and me, they are best friends and they love each other very much and there is no one else they would rather be with than each other."
Livy's eyes lit up and she gave her mother's skirt another tug as she cupped her little hand around her mouth to signal she had a secret to share. "I'm going to marry Natey."
"You are?" Elsie bit her lip to keep her amusement in check.
"Uh-huh, because he is my friend and I love him and I have fun with him."
The conversation was soon joined by a curious Charles. "What are my beauty girls discussing over here?"
Elsie glanced up to see Nathaniel step behind Livy just as she answered her father.
"Mumma said Gran Bill and Auntie Bea are getting married because they love each other and are best friends so I am going to marry Natey because I love him and he is my best friend that isn't Poppy or Pete."
The young man's cheeks and ears turned red as he glanced back and forth between Elsie and Charles, his finger lifted to his lips as he took a few steps back.
"We're glad you are so fond of Natey."
Charles leaned down and scooped his daughter up into his arms as he picked up where his wife left off. "But for right now I think you should just be happy to be his friend. Daddy's not quite ready for you to have a beau."
"But when I'm big…"
Charles made a face, but it slipped into a grin as he answered, "Mmm…we'll see, but right now, you just keep being my sweetheart, okay?"
"Okay, Daddy." She reached up and wrapped her arms around Charles' neck, a silly smile offered as she waved at a still red-faced, but sweetly grinning Nathaniel.
Dancing soon commenced, Livy being blissfully twirled about by her crush while Andy spun Poppy and Daisy dipped and swayed a giggly Pete while their parents watched on, Elsie's back leaning against her husband's chest as he gently rocked her back and forth in his arms while they watched Joe balance a laughing Mary Ann on his feet as they toddled about the floor among a clinging Beryl and Bill and a pensive Richard who held Isobel close, although they refrained from looking at one another as Perry Como sang "No Other Love."
"Mr. William Mason is quite a dark horse."
Elsie let her head roll to the side as she released a happy sigh. "A sweet, wonderful dark horse. I really think she had resigned herself to always being with him," her voice broke and she turned to wrap her arms around her husband as she continued, "but not being his and him really being hers. She has been so patient and understanding about his wife all this time. I really think she hadn't a clue he was considering asking. Did he say anything to you?"
"Not a word." A bright smile filled Charles' face as he looked at the little ginger woman's blissful face. "I don't think I ever seen her happier. Her feet haven't touched the ground since he asked."
Elsie glanced over her shoulder just as Beryl looked her way. The dear friends sharing a warm smile, Elsie mouthed, "I am so happy for you," which was met with, "Thank you, chicken."
The Carsons, Molesleys, Mary Ann, Isobel, Richard, as well as Bill and Beryl, were bundled up early the next morning as Charles, Joe, Isobel and Mary Ann prepared to board the first train to London.
"I'll call you as soon as we arrive," Charles promised Elsie before they shared a brief kiss as the station master announced that the train would be departing in five minutes.
Elsie turned her head to see Mary Ann holding Poppy's hand as a teary Phyllis bent down in front of the friends. "Murray is already working on it, isn't he?" There was urgency in her voice as she looked over at a clearly nervous Joe.
"He is, I promise." Charles tightened his embrace as he bent his head to kiss her once more. "We'll do whatever it takes."
"I'm glad you are going with him."
"Me, too. I don't want to take over, mind, but I want him to feel supported."
"You're a wonderful friend, Charles Carson. I think I'll keep you."
The love evident in her gaze calmed the butterflies in his stomach and with one more kiss shared they parted to join the rest of the group as Livy and Pete gave Isobel and Mary Ann hugs, while Phyllis and Poppy watched on, both of their cheeks streaked with tears.
"I know we are going to be seeing you again very soon, Mary Ann, and I am so happy we got to spend Christmas with you," Elsie managed to choke out before wrapping the little girl in her arms. "You are such a sweet, sweet girl."
"I don't want her to go, Mumma!" Poppy wept as she ran from Phyllis' side, throwing her arms around her friend's waist.
Elsie's ribs complained, but she managed to move to her knees as she stroked her eldest daughter's back. "I know, baby, I know, but Mary Ann is going to be back before you know it. Daddy and Uncle JoMo are going to see to it."
"I don't want to go, either, Penelope Joan, but we have to be brave. Auntie Phylly said if we are brave it won't be so hard to say goodbye."
Biting her lip, Elsie reached over and took Phyllis' hand as they watched the little girls share one last hug.
Watching the weeping group from a few meters away, Richard leaned over and kissed Isobel's cheek. "If you can't make it here next weekend for New Years, I can come to London. I'm not needed here, I've already seen to it and we still need to have our talk."
Already emotional from the scene taking place in front of them, Isobel wiped away a few tears as she turned to look at him. "I'll bring back Mary Ann if they'll let me, but if they don't I'll still have her at my flat. Do come if that's the case. We've seen the New Year in together the last five years and I don't want this one to be any different."
Her words soothed a bit of the worry that still plagued him, as did the sweet kiss they shared. "Please let me know you've made it home safely."
"I will." She gave his hand a squeeze and took a few steps towards the train before abruptly turning to look at him once more, smiling as she admitted, "I know I can be a pain in the ass, but don't give up on me, Richard. I do love you."
"You're not and I haven't and I love you, too." A grin on his face, he turned away and slipped back into the shadows of the passage leading back inside the station.
The train pulled into King's Cross a little after eleven, the concourse bustling with throngs of people back to the business of everyday life after the Christmas holiday.
Sensing Mary Ann's nervousness, Joe quickly scooped her up into his arms as Charles and Isobel cut a path through the crowd so that the foursome could make it out onto the street where they were surprised to see a grinning Robert Crawley standing not far from Davies and the waiting Bentley.
"I heard there were two lovely ladies, as well as a couple of fellows on a mission arriving on the eleven o' five and I thought, hey-ho, why not offer them a lift."
"You are a dear." Isobel handed off two small bags to Davies before leaning up to kiss Robert's cheek.
He returned her peck before turning his attention to JoMo and his precious cargo. "Hello, Miss Mary Ann. I doubt you remember me, but we met at the hospital a few months ago. My name is Robert."
Having been gently lowered to the ground, Mary Ann tilted her head up toward the sound of his voice, smiling as she nodded in his direction. "You are silly Uncle Robert. Penelope Joan and Livy said you are as tall as Mr. Carson."
"I think Charles might have an inch on me, but I can't deny the silliness, and I would very much like it if you wanted to call me Uncle Robert, as Poppy, Livy and Pete do." Leaning down, he whispered into her ear, "Joe and Phyllis love you so much and you make them very happy. He told me so yesterday when we spoke over the phone. I am so glad such a special young lady wants to join their family."
Tightening her grip on Joe's hand, Mary Ann could only nod as her smile widened.
"So we drop these ladies off and then to Murray's office to get this show on the road?"
Exchanging a look of surprise with Joe, Charles asked, "You're free to join us?"
"Wild horses couldn't keep me from making sure this little family grows by one lovely little girl."
Glancing back and forth between his two friends, Joe blinked away grateful tears.
"Come in, come in!"
Mr. Murray ushered the three men into his spacious office, quickly ordering a tray of coffee as they made their way to three plush arm chairs which faced the lawyer's desk.
Joe took a deep breath, an expectant expression on his face as he waited for Murray to settle into his own seat to explain what he had determined in regards to the adoption.
"So, I'll cut to the chase. As we feared, there is a bit of an obstacle in our way regarding Mrs. Molesley's past."
All three of the men's stomachs did flips, Phyllis' brush with the law when she was a teen not news to any of them.
"An obstacle." Robert was the first to speak, his voice calm as he reasoned, "Not a complete detour, though. An obstacle is something that can be overcome."
Murray gave his head a shake in the affirmative as he explained, "Adoption through the normal channels is not possible, however, after a few calls, I was informed that those channels may not even come into play."
The statement seemed a bit of a riddle and it was Joe who spoke up this time. "I'm not sure I follow. What other channels are there?"
Murray shuffled a few pages on his desk before finding the one he sought. "You know the child has a living relative in her maternal grandfather?"
Joe nodded as all three men sat up a little straighter, their curiosity piqued.
"The old gentleman has yet to sign the required documents relinquishing his guardianship of Mary Ann. I understand they have been sent to him, but as of this morning, he has not returned them to the Office of Child Welfare."
"So he could sign over guardianship to Joe and Phyllis without the state even coming into play?" Charles quickly asked before giving Joe a hopeful look.
"He could. I made a call to him shortly after I learned of the situation, but to be honest, he is not exactly what I would call friendly."
Robert scooted to the edge of his seat. "Do you think he would see us? Where does he live? Could we go there today and speak with him?"
"He lives on a farm outside of Hereford. I did ask him if he would be willing to meet with you and he was rather gruff, but I don't think he would turn you away if you did make the trip."
Charles reached over and patted Joe's arm. "We'll go. We can catch the next train out…"
"Train be damned, we'll drive. I'll drive. We'll go now." Robert insisted.
The immediacy of the plan, not to mention his friends' support left Joe feeling a bit overwhelmed, but he managed a nod and a deep exhale of breath as he stood up and offered his hand across the desk to Mr. Murray. "Thank you. Thank you so much."
Murray's grip was warm and firm as he accepted Joe's gratitude. "I took the liberty of drawing up the papers and collecting the forms you will need Mr. Reresby, Michael Reresby is the grandfather's name, what you will need him to sign. You'll need a notary so I also took the liberty of contacting my old colleague Byron Littleton who lives in the area and he has consented to meet you at the farm if you get the old man to agree to sign."
"Wonderful. Murray, you never cease to amaze." Robert announced as he offered his hand.
The older gentleman gave a slight shake of his head. "Mr. Carson made it clear to me on the phone that the child deserves a good home and that Mr. and Mrs. Molesley can give her just that. How could I not do my due diligence in trying to make that happen?"
A quick glance at Joe confirmed Charles' suspicion that his friend was on the verge of tears so with a quick clear of his own throat, he too, shook Mr. Murray's hand. "As usual you haven't let us down and for that, I thank you."
"I've put together a map of the area and with a little prodding was able to get a semblance of directions from Mr. Reresby. I have also included Mr. Littleton's phone number. I whole-heartedly hope you need his services."
Having given his eyes a quick wipe with his handkerchief, Joe shook Murray's hand once more, his whispered, "Thank you. Thank you so very much," almost bringing tears to the seasoned jurist's eyes.
Packet of information in hand, there was a spring of hope in Joseph Molesley's gate as he and Charles made their way towards the elevator, Robert waiting until they had exited the office before asking Murray to bill him for any and all costs related to the adoption of Mary Ann.
Poppy barely touched her shepherd's pie which was a clear sign that she was still nursing a broken heart given that it was her favorite meal, a fact that figured greatly into her Auntie Bee's preparation of the dish early in the morning before she set off for the tea room.
"You need to eat at least a little bit, sweetheart."
"My tummy hurts, Mumma."
Elsie gently rested the back of her fingers against the little one's head. "You don't have a fever."
Poppy's little lip jutted out as she rose from the children's table and leaned against her mother's thigh. "I just need a cuddle."
"Okay, baby." Elsie looked down at Livy and Pete who were almost finished with their lunch. "You two are doing a good job. I see almost happy plates. There are Christmas biscuits on the counter that you can reach when you are done, Liv, and after that, please wash your hands and faces in Mumma and Daddy's bathroom and then we can all cuddle on the sofa, alright?"
Smiles and nods received from Livy and Pete, Elsie kept an ear towards the kitchen as she cradled Poppy in her arms, Tip and Hope snuggled up against the little girl as the record player softly hummed with one of Charles' Brahms albums in the background.
"I know it's hard to say goodbye to someone you love, Pop, but you have to think happy thoughts about when Mary Ann will be back and living with Uncle JoMo and Auntie Phylly."
The little girl let her head fall back as she gave her mother a mournful look. "But Auntie Phylly said she might not get to."
"What? When? When did she say that?"
"Last night in the nursery when they thought we were asleep. Auntie Phylly said it would break her heart if they didn't get to have Mary Ann."
Elsie took a deep breath. She couldn't outright lie to her child, but she also didn't want to add to Poppy's already pessimistic outlook. "We have to keep our hopes up, baby. I spoke to Daddy earlier and right now he, and Uncle JoMo, and Uncle Robert are doing everything they possibly can to make sure that Mary Ann comes to live here in Halifax, and I tell you, knowing Daddy and JoMo and Uncle Robert, there is no way they will give up. They will do whatever it takes. I promise, my sweet girl."
A small, hopeful smile on her face, Poppy nestled against her mother's breast as she whispered, "Daddy will do it. I know my Daddy will do it."
"That must be it."
The three men glanced among themselves after the weather-beaten farmhouse came into view. Shingles and shutters were missing in various places, most having been tossed haphazardly to the ground over years of harsh winter and spring storms and in their company were old rusted farm implements which obviously hadn't tilled, toted, or cut in decades.
A rather menacing looking dog soon appeared from the side of the house as Robert turned the Bentley into the drive, the grand vehicle bouncing over ruts and sliding into muddy puddles which were the result of a brief warm spell following a large snowfall the week before.
He had just shifted the car into park when a small, wiry man, not unlike Bill Mason except for the scowl he wore on his unshaven face, appeared from the large front door, his harsh command to his dog to "go out back" easily heard by the occupants of the auto who waited for the mutt to disappear around the side of the house before emerging into the cold wind of the countryside.
"Mr. Reresby, I'm Charles Carson." Doing his best to keep his nerves in check as he divined a warm smile, he led the group towards the less than sturdy looking wooden steps on which their host waited. "And this is Joseph Molesley and Robert Crawley. I just want to say how very grateful we all are that you agreed to meet us today."
"The lawyer said there'd only be two of you." The man obviously had no pretense of gentility, his words gruff and short as he regarded the quality of his guest's finery and the shine on their now slightly muddy shoes. "But you're here so I suppose you'd like to get out of the cold."
"Thank you. Thank you very much." It was Joe who managed to find his voice first as he bravely bounded up the sagging steps and offered his hand to the old farmer as Charles and Robert looked on, each taking a deep breath and sneaking a worried look at the other as they followed behind.
The inside of the house showed almost as much wear as the outside, once vibrant floral wallpaper now hanging loose in places with its pale blue background a dingy green from years of accumulated grime. A long dining table was covered in yellowed stacks of newspaper, dirty mugs, and plates of moldy bread crusts, not to mention a collection of empty whisky bottles and a few glasses which each held a sticky remnants of the spirit. The large room held not only the table, but a sagging sofa, a dusty aga, and an old upright piano which was littered with more stacks of newspaper, unopened mail, and yet another empty whisky bottle, this one on its side so that the ounce or two that had been left unconsumed now stained the highest treble notes on the keyboard.
"I'm not one for company, as you can see, but I could make some coffee or I can spare a drop or two of Scotch if you'd like."
Robert shook his head, answering for the group, "No, no, we don't wouldn't want to trouble you. We'd really just like a few moments of your time to talk about Mary Ann."
The mention of the little girl's name caused the man's chest to rise for a moment as he paused in the doorway of what obviously served as a study or office of sorts, a large and severely cluttered desk sitting on the far side of the room across from an overstuffed armchair which was clearly the place where he spent the majority of his leisure time, its arms dotted with cigarette burns and stained with what they could only assume was spilled whiskey, and the floor around it dotted with stacks of books and more newspaper.
"Come in. I'm afraid there aren't many chairs, but as you said, you're not staying long."
"Thank you. That's fine. We've been sitting all the way from London," Charles kindly answered as he motioned for Joe to go in first.
"Well, just say what you have to say so you can make your way back."
Joe shot Charles a worried look of his shoulder, but was met with a nod of encouragement before he turned back to the crotchety gentleman. "You don't seem to be the kind of man who minces words, Mr. Reresby, so I'll get right to the point as to why we are here."
"Well, get on with it man." The wooden chair behind the desk creaked loudly in the quiet house as Reresby lowered himself into it, an impatient frown on his face.
Joe struggled to keep his voice in a middle register, his nerves causing it to occasionally shoot up and tremble slightly as he began to explain, "Mr. Carson and his family met Mary Ann when they were visiting the children's ward at The London where they are patrons a few months ago and his eldest daughter Penelope struck up a friendship with her, as did our friend, a retired nurse, who volunteers in the ward. As a matter of fact, Isobel, our friend, is taking care of Mary Ann as we speak."
"You're mincing, Mr. Molesley."
"Sorry, I'm just…sorry. To make a long story short, Isobel brought Mary Ann to the Carson's to spend Christmas and my wife and I were quite taken with her. She's very lovely and so sweet which I know is a tribute to how she was raised and I promise you that my wife and I will do everything in our power to make sure she continues to lead a happy, healthy life filled with both love and a sense of security," he cleared his throat, fighting hard again to battle against his voice slipping up into the next octave as he continued, "if you would agree to sign over guardianship of her to us. She'll want for nothing, I promise you. I teach for a living and Phyllis is a nurse and we aren't without resources to deal with her recovery, and we have a loving and supportive group of friends which I think is evident in Mr. Carson and Mr. Crawley joining me here today. We're good people. I can give you references; professional, financial, character, whatever you'd like, but, in short, we would really like to give Mary Ann the good, stable home she deserves."
Reresby's gaze had drifted from Joe's face to his chest and then down to the surface of his desk as he listened to the younger man speak, and it surprised all three of his guests when he looked up with a tear on his cheek.
"You're asking me to give away the only bit of family I have left. The only piece of my Lucy I have left."
Joe looked over at Charles, unsure how to proceed.
Taking a step towards the desk, Charles kept his voice low as he explained, "I'm sorry, but it was our understanding that you were going to sign Mary Ann over to the state."
Still refusing to look across the desk, the old gentleman's gaze went to the curtain-less window on his right, his eyes unfocused on the dead field which was visible through the dirt-filmed glass. "That's what they want. Not what I want." His voice suddenly acquired a disgruntled edge as he turned back to look at Charles. "The week after the fire, some jumped up little shite wearing a suit and shoes as fancy as your own showed up and started poking around and filling a pad of paper with no telling what kind of nonsense. Told me that given my age and the state of my home, he recommended I do the right thing and sign Mary Ann over so they could find fit parents." The words the right thing and fit were spat out with particular disgust as his expression turned from resignation to defiance and it was his own voice that shot up the octave as he began to yell, "I've lost my own girl, don't you see? I'll not lose her child as well!"
Charles and Robert froze in their places, not daring to look at one another as they watched the man begin to weep, but Joe gently pulled his handkerchief from his pocket and quietly stepped around the desk, offering it to the old farmer.
"I am so terribly sorry for your loss, Mr. Reresby. I can't imagine what a terrible shock it must have been."
"I saw your faces when you came up onto my property and into the house. You think the same thing the government man thought, but I can make things nice for her here. I know it is a bit of a shambles right now because it's been hard since the war, but I can make the farm something again and I can clean the house, do a bit of painting and the like so it looks like it did when my girl was a child. I'm not young, but I'm strong and I'm stubborn and if I say I'll do it, I'll do it." His gaze went to the ceiling and he pointed in the direction of the room above. "Lucy said she loves pink so that's what I'm going to do her room in and I'll get her nice, soft bedding. It will be the loveliest room she's ever seen." He wiped away a few more tears as he turned to Joe and softly explained, "I'll stop with the drink and I'll make things right for her. I can't give her away because she's all I have left of her. She has my Lucy's eyes, you see. That yellow hair comes from her father, but those big blue eyes, those come from my girl."
Charles and Robert both looked at Joe as it became clear the man obviously hadn't seen his granddaughter since the accident, nor had he fully grasped the entirety of her injuries.
"You didn't have the chance to see Mary Ann while she was in hospital, did you?" Charles voice was kind as he asked.
The old man shook his head. "It was hard, such a shock at the time. Lucy and I had been a bit…distant since her mother died when Mary Ann was two, but in the last year we'd started writing. I even had a telephone put in so we could speak to one another more often and she brought Mary Ann out here to see me a few months ago, so when the police called to tell me about the fire, I couldn't believe it. Things were going so well, it just isn't fair. I was getting back my girl and it just isn't…" His words were lost as he pulled the handkerchief against his mouth, tears once again streaming down his face.
"I'm so sorry." Joe placed a comforting hand on Mr. Reresby's shoulder as he glanced back and forth between his friend's faces on the other side of the desk. "I can't imagine. I simply cannot imagine."
Waiting until the older gentleman had regained a semblance of control, it was Robert who stepped closer to the desk to breech the subject of the little girl's condition.
"I am sure you spoke with the doctors at The London during Mary Ann's stay?"
Reresby nodded yes.
"Did they explain to you the extent of her injuries?"
He nodded again. "She had some burns on her face and her eyes were swollen from them, but she's better. She must be or they wouldn't have let her leave hospital." The man looked among the men's faces, his worry evident at what Robert might be trying to imply.
"The burns to her face are better," Joe confirmed, "but even after the swelling went down, Mary Ann's sight is gone. The damage to her eyes is…extensive. She can detect light, but is very sensitive to it and so she wears dark glasses."
"She's…she's blind?" The old man's shoulders slumped, his entire body seeming to deflate in front of them as he considered what he had been told.
"She is, I'm sorry to say, but yes, she is and her eyes, they aren't…they don't look as they used to." Joe's voice was a whisper as tears fell on his own cheeks as he looked down at the broken man.
"We thought they had explained all of this to you. I'm so very, very sorry, Mr. Reresby," Charles quietly offered as he handed his own handkerchief over the desk to Joe. "She's going to need constant care and assistance, you see. We thought…"
"I can't…this is…you need to leave." His words weren't harsh, but it was clear the farmer was beyond the capability of further discussion.
"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry." Joe offered as he gave the man's shoulder a gentle squeeze.
One hand over his face, Mr. Reresby pushed past Joe and disappeared into the back of the house, leaving the three visitors alone and at a loss as to what to do next.
"What do we do?" Joe had to rest his hands against the cluttered desk to hold himself up.
Robert shook his head. "I suppose we have to do as he asked. We go and give him some time to take it all in."
Charles nodded in agreement. "He didn't know, Joe. This is a whole new reality we've just given him."
Allowing himself to sit in the desk chair for a moment, Joe lifted his face to the ceiling, stretching his neck in an effort to fight a sob. "What if he still wants to try to keep her here? She can't…it's not…"
"I know, mate, I know." Charles slipped to the other side of his desk, his hand patting his distraught friend's back when an idea occurred to him. "We can't make the decision for him, but we can leave him the resources to come to the right one."
Filled with curiosity, Joe and Robert watched Charles begin to search about the room.
Driving into Oxford an hour or so later, Charles recommended they stop off at a pub for a bite and to use a pay phone, all three of their stomachs growling from a combination of both hunger and nerves.
"Over there. I'll pop into that call box and you two can get us a table." Charles directed as they neared a red phone box which sat not far from a pub called The Eagle and Child.
"I'll check in with Murray and then Elsie. Do you want me to call Phyllis?"
Joe shook his head as he joined Robert on the path towards the door. "Thanks, but let's wait. I told her I wouldn't call until I know something for sure."
"Of course." Charles smiled supportively knowing that all of Joe's hopes were pinned on the unknown at the moment.
"And your friend in Hereford hasn't heard from him?" The line had a bit of static, but Charles could just make out Murray's voice on the other end.
"No. I checked in with him about half an hour ago and he hadn't received a call. So he didn't know the gravity of her condition?"
"No," Charles confirmed. "He honestly thought he could keep her on his farm and raise her, but you should have seen the place, Mr. Murray. Twenty young, fit men would have a time cleaning up and making that farm livable for a sighted child, much less a child with Mary Ann's disability. He also clearly drinks quite a bit as there were empty liquor bottles strewn about and piles of rubbish everywhere. Don't get me wrong, he obviously loves Mary Ann, of that there is no doubt, but if he does try to retain guardianship of her, I think they would end of taking her away which would be another tragedy for both of them to endure and would mean there would be no chance of Phyllis and Joe being able to take her in."
"I see," the lawyer answered with a sigh. "And how is Mr. Molesley?"
"At a loose end. He's keeping it together, but barely."
"It's a terrible situation and I'm sorry it didn't go as we'd hoped, but please call me whenever you get back to London. Perhaps I'll have heard something by then."
"Thank you, Mr. Murray."
"No need. Have a safe journey."
As the line went dead, Charles returned the receiver to its cradle for a moment before inserting several more coins, but as he lifted his finger to dial his own home number, he paused and began turning the rotary in an effort to reach another party.
"Murray hasn't heard anything." Charles slipped into a chair next to Robert as a disappointed Joe set his mug of coffee on the table.
"No news is good news, chap," Robert offered the weak consolation just as a bar maid appeared with a tray full of plates of sausage and mash. "And Elsie?"
"Sends her love and the children send kisses. She, too, was disappointed, but not without hope."
One corner of Joe's mouth drew up weakly as he nodded and mindlessly pushed bits of potato around on his plate before abruptly standing up. "I'll be back. Just need to get a breath of fresh air."
"I'll come with…"
Stepping from the table, Joe brushed aside Robert's offer. "No, no. Eat up. I'll be alright."
Their own appetites flagging, Charles and Robert watched Joe gather his coat from a peg by the door and step outside.
"If the old man tries to keep her, they'll end up taking her away and then the state will have custody and they'll never allow Joe and Phyllis to adopt her."
Charles nodded. "Exactly what I told Murray."
"What do we do, Charles? I'd offer the old man money, but I don't think it would do any good."
Feeling as helpless as his friend, Charles shook his head. "He just wants his daughter back and his granddaughter to have her sight again. Unfortunately there is no amount of money that can give him those things."
"Can you imagine it? Losing your child?"
Charles looked Robert directly in the eye and nodded, his voice quiet as he answered, "As a matter of fact I can."
The color drained from Robert's face as he considered what he had just said in relation to what the Carson's had just gone through with Grigg and Livy, not to mention the heartbreaking phone call Charles had made telling him of Elsie's miscarriage.
"Jesus, Charles. I'm sorry. I wasn't thinking. I'm so sorry."
Swallowing hard, he managed a small smile. "Don't fret, Robert. It's alright. Livy's just fine and Elsie and I have each other, so…"
"It was still a stupid thing to say. I am truly sorry."
"No need." Charles again assured him.
"There must be something else we can do. Something we haven't thought of."
"I did make another call between speaking to Murray and Elsie, but I don't know if it will make any difference."
Robert lifted his eyebrows, his curiosity piqued. "Do tell."
The train pulled into the station at Halifax at half past ten and a stream of tired passengers soon emerged onto the platform, but none more tired than those who emerged from a first class car.
The familiar face of Charles Carson appearing above the heads of most of the crowd, a party of three soon rose from a hard wooden bench, sliding and skirting their way among the departing passengers in an effort to reach him.
"The welcome wagon approaches," Charles called over his shoulder as he caught sight of Phyllis who was leading the way like a salmon leaping up stream.
Grasping her hand and offering her a warm grin, he moved out of the way so she could pass him, his smile widening as he caught sight of his own beautiful wife, a sleepy, but happy Poppy holding her hand.
"Daddy!" Poppy called, running towards him, her little arms outstretched as she rushed into his while Elsie mouthed, "She doesn't know."
"Hello, sweet pea." Giving her a kiss, he shifted the four year old to his hip and was reaching out for his wife with his free arm when he heard Poppy gasp, her arms tightening around his neck as she excitedly announced, "You did it, Daddy!" Turning back to her mother, tears began to slip from the little girl's eyes as she cried, "Mumma, I told you my daddy would do it!"
Elsie now pressed to his side, Charles made a small pivot so all three of them could take in the scene of another family embracing.
"So Halifax to London, London to Hereford, Hereford to Oxford, Oxford to London, London back to Oxford, and then Oxford back to London, and now home to Halifax. You've been on a bit of journey today, Mr. Carson." Elsie ran a warm hand over his bare chest as she placed little kisses just below his ear and down his neck, their bodies wrapped around one another in their comfortable bed.
"Mmmm…" he moaned with pleasure, his own hand sliding down under the waist of her pajama bottoms as he gently rubbed her lower back. "But a journey with a result."
"Tell me again how it happened."
Turning his head so he could look at her, he explained, "Before I spoke to you from outside the pub, I called Isobel and gave her the grandfather's phone number. I thought the only thing that might sway the old man our way would be if Mary Ann spoke with him directly."
"So she called…"
"She did," he nodded. "She told him about the hospital and about her convalescence and about meeting Poppy and Isobel bringing her here for Christmas and she told him about how lovely and kind Phyllis and Joe were and how much she loved being here and about you and the books and Barley and the kittens and "The Wizard of Oz" and about Phyllis making her the baby doll clothes and I guess hearing her sound so happy along with the promise Joe had made in his letter…"
Still a bit achy, Elsie grimaced, but pushed herself up so she could look at him. "What letter?"
"It took some doing, but before we left the old man's farm I found a bit of paper and Joe wrote Mr. Reresby a letter that just reiterated how much he and Phyllis care for and love Mary Ann and also promising that if they were to get custody he was welcome to visit and they would certainly bring Mary Ann to see him as often as he'd like. We also left the phone number for Murray's friend Littleton who could explain to him the details of the guardianship paperwork which we left under the letter."
"That was clever of you."
Charles wrinkled his nose. "Not that clever, just kind and honest on Joe's part. They've already planned a visit for next month and Joe is going to arrange a train ticket for Mr. Reresby to come here for Mary Ann's birthday party in April."
"I look forward to meeting him."
He continued to rub her back as she settled back down beside him. "He's a good man. A sad man, but a good man. I'm glad Mary Ann was able to go with us back to Oxford after Littleton contacted Murray saying Reresby was willing to sign the papers if we would drive back and meet them halfway. Bless him, I don't know how he kept from falling apart when he saw her. The look on his face…"
Elsie blinked away a few tears of her own as she reached up to dust a few of Charles' off his cheek.
"He had mentioned her eyes being big and blue like her mother's so I think his heart truly broke when he saw how they'd been changed by the burns."
"Poor, poor man." Elsie whispered as she nestled her head against her husband's chest. "What did he do? What did he say?"
Charles let out a teary sigh, but smiled as he recalled the moment after the old man laid eyes on his granddaughter. "He just opened his arms, and said, "Hello, lovely. I've missed you."
"Oh, thank goodness. Bless him."
"Watching her move about so cautiously, I think he realized there was no way she could ever live on that farm, and then seeing how trusting and comfortable she was with Joe had to give him at least a little peace of mind because he did seem so grateful when they shook hands just before we left. Perhaps knowing Mary Ann is going to be with such good, caring people who are happy to let him be a very active part of her life will allow him to begin to work his way through his grief about losing his daughter. That farm. God, if you'd have seen it; such a sad, awful mess."
Charles' phone call from the pub in which he gave her a description of the filthy farmhouse filled with torn wallpaper, empty liquor bottles, and a yard covered in bits of rusted old farm implements had instantly taken her back to the house in which she had grown up, and her stomach now twisted into the same knots as it had earlier.
"I think I have a pretty good grasp of how terrible it was."
Knowing she was referring to her own childhood, he quickly kissed her before whispering, "I'm sorry. I didn't think. Of course you do."
"Do you think we should offer to help him clean it up? See if Robert could help, too?"
"No."
Charles quick answer surprised her, but watching him reach over to switch off the light on the bedside table, she remained quiet as she waited for him to continue with an explanation.
"At least not right now. Joe and Robert and I spoke about it after Mary Ann fell asleep on the way back to London. We should give him time to adjust to this new situation first and then down the road, perhaps he can be convinced to sell it and move closer to Halifax. As I said, he's a good man and he has his pride which we have to respect."
She gave him a kiss over his heart. "You are a very good man, also a very wise man, my darling."
"It try, but I'm fortunate to have a very wise wife who is rubbing off on me."
"Flatterer." She whispered as she gave him a squeeze.
"Come here, my not only wise, but gorgeous wife, and kiss me to sleep, please," Inching himself down, he encouraged her to slide up slightly so their faces could meet.
"Did you talk to Joe about building them a house on our property?"
He slipped his leg between hers, their bodies pressed tightly together as he answered, "On the train home tonight. He was fairly overwhelmed, but said he would talk to Phyllis. He was resistant at first, because he thought it a hand out, but he said he would consider it if we let them pay a proper rent."
"It isn't a hand out," Elsie insisted. "It's for the benefit of many, not just them."
"I know. I explained all of that," Charles promised. "I even pulled out the Poppy card saying how very much I knew it would mean to both she and Mary Ann to be able to see and be with one another every day."
"Between Joe, Phyllis and her, I don't know who was more worried about how today would go. Bless our baby's heart. She had a tummy ache and just wanted to cuddle all day, but I promised her that you and Robert and Joe were going to do your very best to make sure that Mary Ann ended up back here."
"Oh, our little tenderhearted Poppy. I'm so glad we didn't let her down."
Kissing him, she slid her fingers into his thick hair, her hand sliding down the back of his head so her nails could gently scratch his neck as she pulled out of the kiss and whispered, "She said, Daddy will do it. I know my daddy will do it."
"I'm glad you didn't tell me that over the telephone. I don't think I could have handled the pressure. And Beryl and Bill didn't mind staying with Liv and Pete so you could bring her to the station?"
Elsie chuckled. "Not at all. The children were already asleep by the time they got here and I think our little bride and groom-to-be just snogged on our sofa until we got home if their smiling, chapped lips were any indication of their activities while we were gone."
"Good for them." He rubbed her nose with his as he admitted, "I know it was late and cold, but I'm glad you met us at the station. Seeing how happy they were and how happy Poppy was, it was like Christmas came all over again."
"It was lovely and I think we rather deserved two Christmases after the craziness of the last two months."
Considering the highs and lows to which she was referring, he gave her another kiss before recalling a moment from earlier in the day. "Robert and I were talking about how hard it must be for Mr. Reresby to have lost a child and Robert asked if I could imagine it." He felt her tense up in his arms, both of them holding their breaths, their throats tightening as they recalled the horrors from a little over a week before.
"Sometimes I find myself just wanting to wrap all three of them in my arms and not let go." Elsie admitted into the darkness.
"I know. Being a parent can be the most wonderful, yet most terrifying thing can't it?"
She reached down and found his hand, squeezing it. "Luckily the wonderful far outweighs the terrifying."
"Something Joe and Phyllis will soon be discovering for themselves."
Pulling their joined hands up between them, she confessed, "I couldn't be happier for them."
Giving her another kiss, Charles whispered, "Me, too. Now we must get some sleep. Furniture and soft furnishings delivered tomorrow and then Lily and Purley's possessions arrive on Wednesday and then we've a New Year's Eve party to throw Friday night."
"And books to write and babies to make and weddings to attend and houses to build and birthday parties and kitten and toy-toy poo to clean up. It never stops does it?"
"I'm exhausted just thinking about it all."
"But at least we'll be doing it all together."
Charles gave her one last, deep kiss. "No one with whom I'd rather be doing it."
"Risqué."
He gave her bottom a pinch as he whispered, "Goodnight, Mrs. Carson."
They had both just shut their eyes when they heard a strange sound like that of a combination of light knocking and something being dragged along wood coming from the vicinity of the bottom of the bedroom door.
"What is that?" Charles mumbled as he reached over to switch on the light.
Both of their eyes scanning the door from top to floor, they could see no obvious source of the noise.
"I don't see any…" Elsie stopped mid-sentence as there was a light, but detectable tap against the iron foot at the end of her side of the bed. "Did you feel that?"
"I did."
They remained still and after a few moments the same sensation was felt only this time from the foot on Charles' side.
"What in the hell?" Elsie whispered as she pushed back the covers and they both moved to their knees and leaned over the end of the bed just in time to see Wee Daddy toddle out from under the dust ruffle as he headed toward the wing chair on the far side of the room.
"Damn you, Wee Daddy. The minute spring comes you are moving to the back garden and I hope some bird of prey swoops down and eats you up, my annoying little friend." Charles softly growled as he climbed from the bed, only to burst into an expletive as his bare foot landed in a puddle of tortoise pee. "Sonofabitch! I can't go one day without this menace managing to get pee on me."
Turning back to look at his wife, he scowled as he watched her fight to stifle a fit of giggles. "What's so funny?"
Looking at him with tremendous love, she gave her head a little shake as she softly uttered, "Just life, Mr. Carson. Just life."
Bless you kind people who are still hanging in there with me. I know this took an age for me to post and for that I am so very sorry. I am having some health issues that make it very hard to find a comfortable position in which to sit to write. Will do my best to get a new chapter up as soon as I can, but am doing some very happy traveling this coming weekend so it will probably be the next week before I can get New Years and Lily and Purley's move in up.
Thank you for all your kind words, reviews, Tumblr posts, and patience. Am so, so grateful.
XO, Jen