“I brought you some of Mother’s delicious soup. And I pray that you will forgive my terrible behavior. I was very upset when you called on me the other day .”
The two sisters looked at each other and nodded. “Come in, then,” Kitty offered .
Diana carried the pot to the kitchen .
“Your mother makes delicious soup. Thank her for us, will you ?”
“Thank you, Kitty, I shall .”
After placing the soup on the stove, Diana turned to the sisters, folded her hands before her, and asked, “Now, I do have the time to hear your nephew’s letter—if you still wish to read it to me .”
The two sisters looked at each other again and then Abigale said, “Very well. If you are certain it will not be boring to hear news from our moronic nephew .”
Diana shook her heard. “What an idiotic thing to say. You must please forgive me .”
“Very well. If you will come with us we have the letter in the parlor. And I do believe you will be amazed and pleased with some of the surprising things he has to say .”
“I look forward to being surprised,” Diana said with just the slightest amount of irony .
After Diana was seated, Kitty took the letter from the mantelpiece and opening it began to read .
Dearest Aunts Kitty and Abigale ,
I have the most exciting news. We are to get a new roof on the house !
Kitty put the letter down and savored the astounding news once again. “You see,” she said to Diana, “I told you it would be surprising.” Then she continued .
As you might remember from my previous letters, the family has been suffering from numerous leaks for the past few months but we have been unable to pull together the funds for the repairs. But now—wonders of wonders—I received a most welcome bonus from the bank and, of course, my first thought was to tackle the task of repairing the roof. Is that not a blessing in disguise ?...
*
D iana had endured the reading of the long letter with great patience. But it appeared to be worth it, as she left the Goodwin sisters in good spirits and filled with gratitude to her for having let them read the entire letter, including all their side comments of admiration for their beloved nephew. Although, she suspected they might have been punishing her by prolonging the reading as long as possible .
But now she was finally home and back at her desk, and it was time to continue her sample chapter for Sir Cecil .
“Tommy,” the sister asked her brother, “do you think Mother will have the day off on Christmas ?”
“I believe the mill closes on Christmas… at least it did last year .”
“Now that we have given our presents to Grandma we need to find just the perfect gift for Mother—and maybe a Christmas tree. Do you have any ideas?” the sister, Doris, asked .
Tommy thought about that. “Maybe I could find a few days of work at the butcher’s. He once asked if I could help him carry some carcasses into the shop .”
“But Tommy, you are so small, how could you lift a heavy carcass? You might hurt yourself .”
“He might have other tasks. It cannot hurt to ask. Maybe if I work really hard he might give me a chicken instead of paying me .”
“That sounds like a wonderful idea. You do that and I will see if I can find us a tree,” Doris said, suddenly believing they might yet have a real Christmas .
There was a knock at her bedroom door .
“Yes?” She called out .
Father stuck his head in .
“So sorry to disturb you, but you never came by yesterday to read my chapter .”
Diana sighed. “No, and I am sorry, Father. But you might remember I had a rather troubling afternoon, after falling in the river and needing to dry out and clean myself up .”
Father laughed. “Oh, yes. But what sort of Cambridgian are you if you do not know your way around a punt? You put us all to shame .”
“Father, I know you jest. But I am just in the middle of writing something. Could we do this later ?”
“I am afraid I have a lecture this afternoon. If you could just take a quick look at it now, I would be so grateful .”
“Oh, very well. Do you have it with you ?”
“The chapter is in my study. If you would just…” He seemed flustered. “I am sorry to disturb you, I truly am, but I need to get this to the publisher by tomorrow. And I understand you know about publishing deadlines, do you not ?”
“I certainly do .”
She rose from her desk and followed her father down the hallway to his study .
“Have you contacted our solicitors about the loan yet?” she asked as she settled into a chair to read the chapter .
“Oh, am I supposed to do that? I forgot. Might you be able to do that for me, my dear? I have such a lot to do to finish my book. I know you will not mind .”
Diana clinched her teeth but did not explode. “If that will help you, Father, then I shall be happy to help. However, it is getting a little late. We do not want to miss our deadline, and I know you must get some paperwork together to present to the bank when we purchase the new leasehold. And you are the only one who can collect those papers, as the leasehold is in your name .”
“Ah, that is a good point. Remind me a little closer to the deadline, will you, dear ?”
“Very well, but remember, I have my work to do as well, and I need you to be responsible for what you need to give to the solicitors .”
“Oh, my… you are being cross with me. And I quite understand.” George suddenly seemed agitated and began turning in circles at his desk .
Diana went over to him and put one hand on his arm and one on his shoulder. “Father, dear… do not panic. We will sit down together soon and work out all the details step by step .”
George settled. “Oh, my dear, what would I do without you? We shall miss you so very much when you are married and whisked away from us .”
Diana sighed, for she knew her father was aging poorly and was suffering from memory loss and confusion from time to time. She would need to discuss the situation with her mother. Perhaps they would need to hire someone to assist him after she was gone .
“Father, please do not fret yourself. I am still here and shall be for some time yet. Let me just sit and read your chapter so that I may get back to my writing .”
Father kissed her cheek. “Very well, my dear. Make yourself comfortable and I shall leave you in peace .”
*
D iana had read her father’s chapter and given him her thoughts and comments, and now, finally, she was alone again at her desk even though it was late afternoon, and her Christmas story was calling to her once again .
Tommy ran off to see the butcher as he was closing shop .
“Please, sir, might you have some work for me ?”
“And who might you be, young fella?” the butcher asked .
“You asked me to help you unload a wagon not that long ago. And with Christmas coming I want to buy a chicken for my mum’s Christmas dinner. Might you have work for me, please sir? I would be ever so grateful .”
The butcher put his hand to his chin and thought about the request .
“You are bit of a young’un. What could you possibly do that would be of use to me ?”
“I could make deliveries for you .”