“Without a doubt.But sometimes, life is more complicated than that.How’s your mother doing, Anthony?”
He hesitated, but eventually went along with her redirection.“She’s lonely.Not that she’d ever say so.But sometimes, she just looks lost.”
“Do you think she’d mind if I pay her a visit today?”
“She’d love to see you.”
When they walked through the door, they were met with an explosion of chaos.Two children, both having tantrums.One, a ten-year-old boy, and the other a girl no older than three, who had no clothes on.
When Mrs.Elmhurst turned around to see Samantha there, she gasped.She had Emma's clothes in one hand, and a book and blanket in the other.Her hair was half out of its pins, and the front of her was covered in both flour and dirt.
“Miss Allister!I’m so sorry.Please forgive me for just a moment.”
Samantha walked straight up to her and held out her hands.“Give me that.”
She took the items and set them down, then placed her hands on the woman’s frazzled shoulders.“Go to your room and take a few moments for yourself.Anthony and I will take care of them.”
She shook her head and started to argue.
“Go.”Samantha pointed to the hallway that led to the back bedrooms, and eventually, she went.
Before the screaming little girl could follow, Samantha picked her up.“Hush now, Emma.It’s alright.I need you to stop crying so you can tell me what’s the matter.Can you do that?”She continued to struggle in her arms and wailed at the top of her lungs.
Samantha looked over at Anthony.“Go and help your brother.With kindness,” she added.“Remember, he’s struggling too.And when you’ve finished with him, fill the bath for your mother, please.”
He nodded.“Yes, miss.”
Samantha sat down on the sofa and wrapped Emma in a blanket before settling her onto her lap.She rocked her until she slowly calmed.
It took at least a half hour before the house was finally quiet, and she’d had to send Mrs.Elmhurst back to her room twice.After filling the bath for his mother, Anthony prepared his siblings some food.Sometimes a little cheese and bread could make everything just a bit better.With her tummy full, Emma was much more amenable to getting dressed in proper clothes.
“Why don’t we all go for a walk and give your mother a bit of quiet time?”
When they were outside, Samantha lifted Emma and placed her on Anthony’s shoulders.“Let’s see your best impression of a horse.”
He was shy at first, but after a few minutes, he trotted about, snorting and whinnying.Emma was overcome with giggles.Samantha had always loved it when her brother had done that for her.
“I want a turn!”John said.
Anthony passed Emma off to his younger brother, and the fun continued.The laughter and sunshine was just as good for her as it was for the children.They were beautiful, just going through an incredibly difficult time.
When they eventually returned home, the sun was low in the sky.Mrs.Elmhurst was dressed and clean, her hair pinned into place, and the whole house tidied.
“I don’t know how to thank you, Miss Allister.”
“There’s no need to thank me.Although, I wouldn't say no to a cup of tea.”
ChapterFourteen
After putting Brennan, Theo, and Stanley to work, Trent went back and put himself to work on his least favorite tasks, budgets and invoices.Ash would be expecting some numbers soon for the repairs that had been completed recently.
He still struggled with this part.If he was honest, his education had not been adequate for this job.He was always meant to be a laborer.But he’d thrown himself into learning it the best he could, and it was getting easier.Although, he still frequently had to refer to his notes.He reached into the drawer to pull them out, but beneath that folder, was another one, labeled The Raven’s Den.It contained all the information Warwick had given him for the robbery.
A picture flashed through his mind of Ash, on the floor, bleeding and scared for his life after being shot.He dropped the folder on top of the desk and ground the heels of his hands against his eyes.He wasn’t sure he’d ever be able to forgive himself for that.God how he wished he could take it all back.
After another hour of staring at the numbers, his guilt was beginning to suffocate him.He got up from the desk and left his office.When he reached the bottom of the stairs, his eyes landed on the portrait of his father, and anger swelled in his chest.No more.Every picture of that monster needed to be taken down.
He wrenched the large frame from the wall, but lost his balance and bumped into a plinth, knocking the bust off the edge.Somehow, Moulton was there, and caught it before it hit the floor, as if he was a magical protector of this place.The man would have been devastated if it had shattered on his watch.
