May 13th, 1927 ~
I am decided! I won't be cutting my hair after all, and for the best possible of reasons – my adorable husband!
Last night, before bed, I sat at my vanity to undo my hair, brush and plait it, as usual, and John walked in, ready for bed and asked me if he could do it instead. Of course it wasn't the first time he's done such thing, but he seemed especially broody and even a bit sad. I told him that would be wonderful. I do so love it when he touches my hair, always have. It's so relaxing. John's hands…well, enough of that, Anna! But if any of my future grandchildren are reading this journal, just know that your grandfather was a man of many talents and he made your granny very happy.
So, John pulled up a chair behind me and slowly took down my hair. As he gently began brushing it I watched him through the mirror and it dawned on me what was happening. The darling man was saying goodbye! He was sad because once I'd cut my hair short he wouldn't be able to do this anymore. I continued watching. He set the brush down, and began to run his fingers through it instead, finally nuzzling his face into it. He looked up at me through the mirror, with an almost embarrassed expression on his face, like he'd been caught out. That's when I turned around, put my hands on his cheeks and told him I wouldn't be cutting my hair – this summer anyway. The look in John's eyes… I guess I'll happily bear the heat.
William had to sleep with us in our bed. His room smelled too much of paint. He slept between the two of us and when I woke up in the middle of night I caught John admiring our little boy. What a beautiful sight! John was running his finger softly along William's rosy cheek and he chuckled when he saw me staring. My husband is such a wonderful, sweet father. I am so very lucky. It's a joy to be a wife and mother with a man like John by our side.
Now, today, we are going to work on the bathroom together. It really won't take much as our new bathtub and sink were installed before we moved in. I've made a tub curtain it's ready to hang, and I bought a new rug in Ripon. I think it will look lovely. Oh, and John has his own sort of vanity. It's just a wide shelf really but we hung a mirror over it and he can shave in front of it and there's a place for his comb and cologne. It's nice to have something just for him.
John just walked by with a wink and a cup of coffee for me. I'll need it. It's going to be another long day.
~ Anna Bates
Oh yes! I was indeed saying goodbye to those beautiful locks of yours, my darling!
Truth to be told, I was sad about it, but I would love Anna's hair all the same if she had cut it short. But I've always admired her long hair, and before we were married I often imagined it loose and slipping between my fingers. It was a secret dream of mine. Then when I got to know it, personally, the texture and smell, I have to confess it became one of my most favourite things on earth. Especially after a long day of work when I have the chance to unpin it myself, letting it fall between my fingers, its fragrance filling all of my senses. Yes, I do love it. And that's why I was bidding it goodbye. But now that I know she won't be cutting it I do feel relieved, I'm not going to lie. I've always fancied long hair just like I know Anna fancies when I don't use pomade on mine, so I've quit using it. But it was her decision to make, I would never tell her she couldn't do it.
We managed to work in the bathroom today but there's still this and that to do. And we also found time for a little gardening in the flower beds Anna planted. She seems to have a green thumb. Her garden will be beautiful! Of course William loved playing in the dirt, and we didn't have the heart to stop him. He was so happy, and with his best friend, Jack's help, had a lot of fun digging holes…those two. With all the dirt he was wearing I'm surprised he didn't stop up the drains when we gave him his bath tonight.
We've felt very confident in leaving the hotel in the capable hands of Sarah and Caleb. They are good, hard working people and we trust them. I do miss receiving guests though. I go over everyday after lunch just to check how things are going. The business is booming and the guests are happy with our service and promise to come back soon. You can't ask for more than that. That's why we're are taking time off to renovate this old cottage. We want it perfect for our growing family, and surely this will be mine and Anna's last address, so we want it to last a lifetime.
Thankfully, I'm not that bad at fixing things so we haven't had to spend too much on labour, just materials and new furniture, of course, since we had nothing of our own when we moved here. If everything goes as we plan, in two or three weeks we can celebrate our new finished home!
Renovating a house is tiring, and with Anna's condition we have to do things slowly because, of course, she wants to help me and do some things herself. But it couldn't be any other way. She's the mistress of the house, after all.
I must stop now. It's dinner time and Anna's calling me. Will write again soon.
~ John Bates.