by Janette Oke
Belinda was about to turn to the stairs when the doorbell rang. She looked about for Windsor, but since he was not nearby, Belinda went to the door herself. Foolishly, she hoped it might be Drew coming to wish her a Merry Christmas Eve. Her heart beat a bit faster as she opened the door.
A tall woman stood there, her coat wrapped tightly about her sturdy body, her hat being held in position against the winter wind.
“Oh, do come in, please,” Belinda quickly invited, wondering what errand the woman had.
She moved inside, shook the snow from her clothing, and turned to Belinda.
“I am not expected,” she apologized, “but if it’s possible I would like to see Miss Davis.”
“I’m Miss Davis,” Belinda responded. “Please come in.”
Belinda cast a look about her. There was really no private place to take a caller. The library and the music room were occupied, and the north parlor was more than occupied. She hesitated and then motioned toward the formal parlor. She believed that it was available . . . at the moment.
The woman just stood and looked at her. “But I was . . . I was told that Miss Davis is the mistress here.”
Belinda looked down at the dusty apron that covered her simple frock. She didn’t look much like the mistress of such a fine manor.
“I’m sorry . . . I’ve been preparing for Christmas,” she explained with a smile. “The boxes I was digging into were dusty.”
She removed the apron and tossed it on the hall table.
“Now . . . Miss . . . Miss . . . ?”
“Tupper,” supplied the woman. “Mrs. Tupper.”
“Mrs. Tupper,” Belinda went on, “how may I help you? Do you have a family member staying with us?”
“Oh no,” the woman quickly replied. “I’ve no connections here.”
Belinda waited.
“But I was told that you need a nurse,” the woman said.
“Yes, we do,” Belinda replied quickly.
“I . . . I am a nurse, miss,” the woman explained. “I . . . I have all of my letters of reference right here,” and she began to fumble in her handbag. “I . . . I must apologize for coming in unannounced . . . and on Christmas Eve. But, you see, it was really my only opportunity. If I don’t get the job I . . . I need to take the train back home tomorrow.”
“Home?” queried Belinda.
“Well . . . it’s not really home . . . anymore. But we used to live in Trellis, my husband and I. He’s . . . he’s gone now. We had him here in the hospital in Boston, but even with the best care we could give him he . . .” She stopped herself a moment, then quickly changed the direction. “So when I heard you needed a nurse, well, I thought I’d inquire. It’s foolish, I know,” she admitted, tears in her eyes, “but I hate to go home . . . alone. I’d like to stay on . . . here in the city . . . to be near his . . . his resting place . . . at least for a while.”
“I understand,” said Belinda, her heart going out to the woman. She moved toward the hallway door.
“Please,” she invited, “take off your coat and join the others in the parlor before the fire. They are just preparing for tea. It being Christmas Eve, Cook has prepared something special.” Belinda smiled warmly and led the way toward the cozy chatter from the north parlor.
Belinda introduced Mrs. Tupper to the residents in the room and saw that she was part of the group before leaving with the references in hand. She settled herself in her room with a cup of tea and carefully read the pages. The woman was well qualified for what was needed at the manor. Belinda smiled to herself. The last detail was in place. She would welcome the widow to the household and inform her that she had the job. We have our nurse. And just in time, too! Tomorrow would be Christmas.
Belinda decided to put the woman in the small bedroom at the end of the hall until she herself could vacate the larger rooms. As soon as Christmas was over, she must lose no time in getting her things sorted and packed.
A new thought sobered Belinda. There’s really no need for me to stay on in Boston now. No need at all.
Twenty-Two
Christmas
Even before Belinda opened her eyes on Christmas morning, she could hear stirring in the house. What is it? she asked herself. Why is everyone up so early? Is something wrong?
Belinda wrapped a warm robe around her and went to investigate.
But the stirring was only the new family members rushing excitedly about. Belinda blinked in astonishment.
“It’s Christmas!” shouted Mrs. Gibbons with glee.
“They are like children,” Belinda murmured to herself and then smiled indulgently. It was nice to have them so excited about Christmas. She could well imagine that for some of them this would perhaps be the first Christmas Day that had brought pleasure for many years.
Well, there’s little use going back to bed now, Belinda decided, so she pulled back her drapes and looked out upon the new morning, clear and crisp.
The sun had not yet risen, but the wind had quieted during the night, and a blanket of newly fallen snow covered everything. Trees lifted frosty branches like long silver fingers pointing toward the sky.
It will be a pretty morning when the sun comes up, Belinda sighed and caught a glimpse of a silver moon just disappearing on the western horizon.
Christmas Day. I’d hoped to be home for Christmas Day. Belinda’s thoughts turned, as always, to her own family and Christmases past.
We’ll need both big sleighs this morning to get everyone to church. Belinda’s practical side took over. That’ll be so much better than Windsor needing to make two trips.
Potter, of course, did not insist that everyone attend the morning service, but she had given them the opportunity. To Belinda’s delight, all ten residents had decided to participate. Windsor would drive the sleigh he had been driving for many years, and Sid would drive the newly purchased one. Even with the two large sleighs in service, there would be no extra room.
At least we shouldn’t be cold, Belinda smiled to herself. Packed in together as we will be.
Belinda’s presence was not required at the breakfast table. Ella brought a tray to her and she lingered over it, enjoying the fruit and scones that Cook had prepared. It was Belinda’s favorite breakfast, and Cook knew that. Belinda poured another cup of coffee for herself and watched the sun slowly climb into the sky, making the frosted trees glow a satiny pink.
It’s a lovely day even if it’s cold, Belinda observed. I’m going to enjoy the drive to church this morning.
Belinda was looking forward to this trip for more than one reason. Drew was to join her there. Then he would return with her for an afternoon of family games and fun followed by Christmas dinner. It promised to be a good day.
Everyone seemed in the best of spirits as each helped the other into the sleighs. Even the quiet Mr. Lewis could not keep a smile from flickering across his face now and then. Belinda was pleased to see him responding to the spirit of the morning.
Behind Belinda in the lead sleigh came Sid in the second one. Belinda waved to him and received a cheery wave in response.
Sid was settling in well to life at the manor. He had enrolled in classes at nearby Boston University and spent most of his time poring over his books. The rest of the time he cheerfully pitched in with whatever needed doing about the house and grounds. There seemed to be no end of ways Sid found to give assistance. Both Windsor and Thomas told Belinda they enjoyed the help and company of the young man. And Ella tittered and primped every time Sid appeared. Belinda could not fault Ella. Sid was an attractive young man and one with courtesy and understanding. And Belinda felt sure that with his ambition and discipline, Sid would do what he set out to do. He was much like his older brother. Belinda smiled.
The church service was full of worship and praise, and Belinda felt her whole heart and soul respond. Drew had taken his place between Belinda and Mrs. Simpson and clearly enjoyed the service, as well. Pride glowed in the eyes of the older woman as she sat between her two
grown sons. Things had worked out, after all. She looked sincerely thankful as she participated in the Christmas carols.
“How did you all fit?” Drew asked Belinda as they left the church and prepared to climb into the sleighs for the ride home.
“It was quite merry, actually,” Belinda laughed. “Much like the sleigh rides we used to enjoy when I was a schoolgirl back home.”
Drew smiled and offered his arm to help her in. “Well, I do hope that no one tries to shove straw down my neck,” he said wryly.
“Then don’t sit too near Mr. Rudgers,” Belinda warned. “He might try—that is, if he had some straw.”
“Oh, you have a prankster in the crowd?”
“I have a notion he might try just about anything,” Belinda agreed. “Although to this point he’s spent most of his energy teasing poor Miss Mitton.”
“And how does poor Miss Mitton respond?” asked Drew.
“Well,” chuckled Belinda, “at first I don’t think she was too sure just what to do. She would frown and squirm and try to stay out of his way. I think she felt that teasing was below her dignity. But then she started to warm up to it. The fact is, I think she is enjoying it tremendously. I would expect that it has been a while since a gentleman paid her that much attention.”
“Ah, the weaker sex!” said Drew with an exaggerated sigh. “How subtle they are!”
They all managed to squeeze back into the sleighs and then they were off, the horses blowing and snorting, tossing their heads and wanting to run. Mr. Rudgers waved his arm in the air and shouted, “Turn ’em loose, Windsor!” to which Miss Mitton shrieked like a schoolgirl. Belinda gave Drew a quick glance and caught his wink. The whole atmosphere was like one of children out for a romp, with laughter and teasing and a great deal of good-natured banter. Belinda wondered if the sleigh load behind them was having as much fun.
They returned to the manor with rosy cheeks, stamping their feet and looking forward to hot tea.
“That was a wonderful service,” said Mrs. Bailey. “Been a long time since I’ve been to one as good.”
“Wonder where they got that minister,” said the straightforward Mrs. Gibbons. “Wonder what happened in his past to take the smile from his face. He was so serious about everything he said. Miss! Miss!” she called, trying to get Belinda’s attention. “What happened to that there minister?”
Belinda shook her head. “I have no idea if anything happened to him,” she responded.
“Aye?” yelled Mrs. Gibbons. “I didn’t catch that.”
Belinda was unable to answer again. The commotion in the hall was far too great.
Mr. Rudgers was surreptitiously holding one end of Miss Mitton’s scarf, and as she tried to remove it, it refused to be dislodged. Even Mr. Lewis chuckled at the bewildered look on the spinster lady’s face.
The clamor finally subsided and the residents were ushered into the north parlor for afternoon tea. Dinner was to be served at five.
Belinda watched as they settled themselves about the room in little clusters, already having formed friendships. It was nice to see them feeling at home.
“Come with me,” Belinda said to Drew and led the way to the staff room off the kitchen.
“So you’ve been relegated to ‘staff’?” he teased her.
“And I don’t mind one bit,” Belinda responded merrily. “You have no idea the number of times I’ve envied them this coziness. Here they sat chatting and laughing, and I sat all alone in that big dining room wishing I had some good company.”
“And to you, good company is . . . ?” prompted Drew.
“A friend,” answered Belinda. “Any color, size, rank, or station.”
Drew nodded in understanding.
“I’ll get us some tea,” Belinda said. “Just pull up a chair to the fireplace.”
It was a cozy room. The staff spent many hours there. Across one end, just inside the kitchen door, was the big, sprawling table where they ate their meals. At the other end of the room several chairs were grouped around a large stone fireplace. Today a fire burned cheerily. The room, far more than simply a gathering place, was a workroom, as well. Mending was done here. A large mangle iron was pushed up against one wall, and beside it, on the workdays of the week, the clean laundry was folded and sorted on a long, narrow table.
“If walls could talk,” Drew said mostly to himself, looking about him, “I’m sure this room has buzzed from time to time as people have worked together here.”
“That’s an interesting thought,” Belinda commented as she went for a tray of tea and biscuits.
“Cook says that’s all we get,” she laughed when she returned with it. “She’s afraid we will spoil our appetites for her feast at dinner.”
Drew looked over at the prepared table at the other end of the room. “If it tastes as good as that table looks,” he told her, “I would hate to do that.”
“Did I tell you the good news?” Belinda said as she poured the tea. “We have a nurse.”
“Really? How did you find her?”
“Well, actually, she found us,” and Belinda told Drew of the arrival of the woman the night before.
“So everything is about settled, then?”
“That was the last detail to be worked out. I had so hoped to have everything in place by Christmas. And here it is. All set. I can hardly believe it.” Belinda shook her head, tears close to the surface.
Drew was silent for several minutes as he sipped his tea. She felt his eyes upon her and turned to meet his gaze.
“You know, you are really something,” he said quietly. “Who else but you would take this . . . this beautiful inheritance and . . . and share it with a whole houseful of other people? You amaze me, Belinda. You are the most unselfish person I’ve ever met.”
Belinda’s eyes fell before the open admiration in Drew’s.
“Please,” she said in embarrassment, “don’t make a saint of me.”
“I mean it,” he responded softly. “I admire you . . . tremendously.”
“I . . . I’m sure that Aunt Virgie expected me to . . . to use the house . . . not just harbor it,” Belinda explained haltingly.
“But that was because your aunt Virgie knew Belinda Davis,” he insisted.
Belinda shrugged slightly and took another sip of tea.
“That’s what I love about your family,” Drew went on. “That’s the way you all think . . . as though life were . . . were meant to be shared with others. Unselfishness is as . . . as natural as breathing.”
Belinda thought about his words. Perhaps . . . perhaps that was true of her father . . . her mother . . . even Luke. She had seen it often, had taken it for granted.
“That was what convinced me there was really something sound about the Christian faith,” Drew continued. “I saw it lived and breathed in the form of your father.”
Belinda’s eyes were now filled with tears, thinking of her family . . . her parents . . . on Christmas Day. She swallowed and blinked away the tears.
“I have been blessed,” she said softly. “I know that. I remind myself of it often . . . but”—she smiled through her tears—“it’s awfully nice to hear someone else say such kind things about your folks.”
There was a movement at the door, and Ella entered.
“Windsor and Sid are on their way from the stable,” she said. “Shall I bring in their tea, miss?”
Belinda nodded. “And, Ella, let Mrs. Simpson know so she can join us.”
They all gathered about the open fire. The intimacy of the moment was gone for Belinda and Drew, but the chatter and laughter continued. Belinda watched Drew and Sid as they joked back and forth and recognized the joy and pride on the face of their mother. I’m so glad I invited them here, she thought to herself. It has brought Drew so much happiness.
But even as Belinda thought it, she also realized that she had brought to Boston the only reason likely to draw Drew back to their small hometown. His family.
The rest of th
e day was wonderful. Belinda wandered through the house listening to the friendly talk and laughter as residents played checkers or chess and enjoyed the music that wafted from the music room. Mr. Lewis surprised everyone when he drew a violin from a worn case and began to play the familiar Christmas carols along with Miss Mitton. He was a bit rusty, his fingers arthritic, and his notes not as clear as they once must have been, but the audience was appreciative and responded with applause at the end of each piece. Belinda could well imagine that the old man and his violin had both found a home.
And then it was time for Cook’s Christmas dinner—the guests served in the big dining room and the staff in the staff quarters. Belinda was sure the folks who were gathered around the magnificent table in the formal dining room could not have enjoyed the meal any more than the ones in the simple, cozy staff room.
She wondered if there was just a bit of a strain at first as Windsor, Potter, or Cook would look up to see her calmly sitting among them, but the feeling quickly disappeared as the laughter around the table increased. To Belinda’s surprise, she discovered a genuine sense of humor in the dignified Windsor.
After dinner they all gathered together in the main parlor and sang some carols. Miss Mitton was disappointed that she couldn’t accompany them on the piano, but there was no way to bring the instrument into the parlor.
Belinda asked Drew to read the Christmas story, and he did so with such feeling that many in the little congregation had misty eyes.
Sid led the gathering in a short prayer, and then eyes and thoughts turned to the gifts beneath the tree. Belinda was glad she had managed to find a last-minute gift suitable for the new resident nurse. Belinda asked Ella to do the distributing, and Ella shyly asked for Sid’s assistance.
There were hoots and cries of glee around the circle as each present was opened. It’s turned out to be a truly happy party, Belinda told herself with deep happiness. Then it was time for the staff to go wash dishes and do the necessary household chores. The manor residents returned to their fires.
