June 19th, 1927 ~

I think we'll have another easy day here at the hotel. The guests we have are staying on until Sunday, and we continue completely booked, which is good. It makes for a nice settled, comfortable feeling. And it's not always like that. I must admit, there are nights when you collapse in bed and thank God the day is over. When you're in the hotel business, settled and comfortable is how you want your guests to feel.

We're nearly always busy at lunch, and now dinner too, but in between there's the opportunity to put our feet up, or for me to go home for a couple of minutes and have a cuppa with Anna and a giggle with William. That's my favourite part of the day.

We'll be organizing a chess match again after lunch to keep guests entertained as it looks like rain. Yesterday Sarah and Anna bought a few women's magazines for our little library in the reception area for the ladies to enjoy.

I hope the weather is clear tomorrow, Saturday, because under Anna's supervision, Sarah, Caleb and I will be setting up Anna's out-door tea room. It will be in the side garden, separated from the cottage garden by a hedgerow of the most beautiful blue hydrangea bushes. There will only be room for three or four small tables this season and the partons will have to pass through the pub to get to it, but if it goes over well next spring we'll make an entrance in the stone wall that surrounds the garden.

Yesterday we had the pleasure of serving Mr and Mrs Carson! How strange it feels to call Mrs Hughes, Mrs Carson now. It was their first month anniversary as husband and wife and they thought our pub would be the perfect place to celebrate. It was so nice to have them here! It's been sometime now since we last saw each other…well, I think since their wedding really. I saw him at the council meeting, of course, but I meant them as a couple.

While Mrs Carson ran next door to visit Anna, Mr Carson and I had a good chat. We talked mostly about the bother of finding his replacement at the Abbey. It seems no one satisfies him. I think he's not ready to pass the reins just yet. But that means they're not able to move into their cottage as he's required to be on duty twenty-four hours a 're still sleeping in their separate rooms at opposite ends of the servant quarters. I can't see Anna ever settling for such an arrangement and I doubt Mrs Carson will much longer either.

We also discussed the upcoming bazaar and Mr Carson did his fair share of complaining. He's not much pleased about his role. He told me that it was beneath his dignity to dress as a clown and be forced to juggle, and I understand him, I truly do, but…who else has his experience? I mean, he was on the stage once. He danced and sang and juggled and did all sort of clown things. If there's someone to do it, that someone is Mr Carson. I told him I thought he'd be brilliant, and in the end he agreed there was no doubt about that.

William will love his act and I can't wait to see it. Even Mrs Carson said she was looking forward to it!

Hopefully the twins will be born by then and Anna will be able to come too. She told me she would drag herself there if she had to. And knowing my wife, I'm sure she was not joking when she said that.

Young Will has been pestering me to teach him how to fish after Anna regaled him with the story of the time I bested Thomas in a fishing competition. He'll be asking me for boxing lessons next. And really I have no excuse not to take the little man fishing, since the stream runs right at the back of our garden. So when Daisy gets settled into her routine and I have more time to spare, that is exactly what I plan on doing. Maybe we'll even catch enough for a meal.

I think that's it for today. As usual, I'm waiting for my wife and son to arrive for lunch. I wonder what Archie has cooked up for us today?

~ John Bates

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

'Can you put it there, John? Under that shady Elm?' Anna asked him, pointing out a spot of level ground for her rocking chair, while her husband tried to keep his balance as he carried it in his arms.

'Of course, love. That's the perfect place,' he said, now dragging it through the grass, adjusting it to the right angle. Towards the garden, with their hotel in sight.

'Lovely. I think I may take a nap here,' Anna chuckled. 'And I brought the camera! Maybe I'll take some photographs of William as well.'

'That's a good idea, and I think you should take a nap. I know I would if I could,' he smiled before approaching her and kissing her softly on the cheek. 'Need help to sit down?'

'I'm not that useless…not yet, Mr Bates although I may need help getting up!' she said giving him a look.

He picked up a small stone from the ground and placed it in her palm. 'Well, if you can't get up just pelt this stone at the office window and I'll come running,' he smiled. 'And you are never useless, my darling,' he told her, kneeling beside the chair where Anna was now seated and gently rubbing her belly. 'You carry our future within you. In two months they'll be here with us.'

'I can't wait,' she whispered, running her hand through his hair and giving him a loving smile. 'Will you stay with us just for a little bit?'

'Oh yes. I can spare an hour I think. Caleb will call me if I'm needed.' He took the camera from her hands and focused it on her and snapped a shot, then placed it on the ground beside her.

'Daddy! Daddy! Look, I made a garage for my train,' William shouted in excitement.

'Did you now?' John walked over to where his son was playing on the grass. He kneeled besides him and the boy showed him his little train garage made with small rocks and sticks and leaves.

'It's not working,' William complained. 'It needs fixin', That's why it's in the train garage.'

'Oh really?' John said joining his son in his game. 'And is this little fellow the mechanic?' He took a small doll Anna had fashioned for him and made it walk to the train. '

'Yes! The maca…' the boy stammered.

'Mechanic,' John helped him. 'Hello…' He put on his funny voice. 'I'm here to fix the train. It'll be ship shape after I'm done with it.'

The boy laughed and the two continued to play together, without noticing that Anna had fallen asleep watching them. Long minutes later when John looked back at her he stilled all his movements at the sight before him.

'Will, look,' he pointed out.

'Oh!' William squealed. 'Charlie's sleeping on mummy's lap.'

'Charlie?' John asked. 'Is Charlie the cat's name?'

'Yes, daddy. Charlie's my new friend.'

'Well goodness me! Mummy won't believe me when I tell her. Oh wait!' John saw the camera right next to Anna's chair. 'William, Daddy will take a photograph to show mummy. What do you think?'

'Yes!' the boy smiled widely.

The two of them walked ever so slowly towards the chair where Anna was sleeping, and carefully John leaned down and picked the camera while William petted Charlie just the way he knew he loved. The cat purred contentedly without moving from his comfortable, warm position, on Anna's lap, and John prepared himself to take a shot.

'Don't you make any noise, lad…we don't want to wake them up.' But John only had the time to press the button. Once the photograph was taken Anna shifted and Charlie jumped and ran away.

'Oh no! Daddy! Mummy scared Charlie.'

'What?' Anna opened her eyes still to sleepy to understand what was going on.

'Anna! You won't believe it. The cat was just sleeping on your lap while we were playing and guess what? He's Charlie! The cat is William's friend!' John said excitedly, looking more like he was the child himself. 'I managed to take a photograph, I'm not sure if it will turn out well though. You moved and he ran off.'

'Oh my god! You are joking?' Anna said rubbing the sleep from her eyes.

'I am not. Tell Mummy, William!'

'Oh my! I can't believe it. Right under my nose?! The little beggar.' Anna pursed her lips. 'Why didn't you tell mummy that Charlie was a cat?'

'I dunno. You never asked,' the boy replied returning to his train and garage.

'Oh! Like father like son. Do I have to ask every little thing? You never say everything you have to say. I always have to take it by force.' She rolled her eyes.

'Don't worry, darling. You will see Charlie one day. Now, before I go back to the hotel I'll make us some tea. Is that good enough to make you feel better?'

Anna tried to look upset but John knew too well that she was more than glad for his offer. 'I suppose that's alright,' she said and he had to kiss her before going inside.

Meanwhile, Charlie the cat, was watching the family as they drank their tea. A lavender bush his hiding place for now, while he waited for the night to come and for Anna to fill his bowl of milk once again.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

So, I found out today that William's imaginary friend Charlie, is not imaginary at all! In fact, Charlie is the cat! Who would have thought?!

My son, being the very copy of John Bates, didn't tell me a thing because I didn't ask. Come to that?! He didn't bother telling me that he has been seeing the cat and talking to him. And I did ask! I asked him who was he talking to and he said with a friend. I probably should have asked if that friend was a cat or a person or just the fruit of his imagination…that's how things work with those two. Unless you specify they'll leave you with a mystery at hands. Silly beggars.

Well, it happened that today, I took a short nap outside in the garden while John and William were playing together and the cat, or should I say, Charlie, took the opportunity to take his own nap on my lap. And I didn't even notice it! John took a photograph but when I woke up the cat was gone. William said I scared him away but I think Charlie just doesn't want me to see him. I don't know why really…I would be nice to him. I love cats! Oh well, I suppose he'll have to show up for me one day. I just hope that will happen soon. And silly Jack was sleeping in the kitchen all the time. I really think they get on well, because when William is playing outside and chatting Jack is always there too, as calm as ever, which is good because I would hate if he would attack the poor kitty. Our Jackie is such a good boy.

Anyway, apart from that nothing else happened today. It's been quiet and I've been knitting and reading most of the time.

Oh! I almost forgot. Mrs Hughes was here yesterday to see our cottage. I showed her everything and she particularly loved the nursery. She sat with me for tea while Mr Carson was at the pub having a good chat with John. I just realised I called her Mrs Hughes instead of Mrs Carson…it will be strange to start calling her that. So many years of Mrs Hughes this and Mrs Hughes that…but I am so happy for both of them. They do make a sweet couple and they've always been good friends. I think they'll make each other very, very happy. That's all I wish for them.

She also told me that they will live at Downton for the time being. Mr Carson is not ready to retire and neither is she, I don't think. She said for the time being they were still sleeping in separate quarters. It wouldn't be right if they slept together in the Abbey. That would be a problem for me, but they don't seem to mind too much so I won't mention it again. It's quite embarrassing talking about much matters with Mrs Hughes, I mean, Mrs Carson.

That is all for tonight. I'm going to try to wait for John now. William is already sound asleep, as usual, thank God. He has so much fun in the garden during the day he doesn't even fuss around when I tell him it's bedtime. Bless him.

~ Anna Bates