Chapter
7
The
new year came in quick and Chrissie was soon excited about her upcoming
birthday,
"I'm
nearly 6" she shouted as she ran round the house "only one week to
go"
"Is
she always like this" Martin asked Ellie as they sat in the dining room
"Yes,
well for the last two years she has" Ellie replied as she sipped her tea
"oh is that the time, I've got to get to the shop, Mrs Fleming hasn't been
feeling well lately so I really want to get there"
"Ok
beautiful, want me to walk you down there "
"No
it's ok, but you can pick me up later as it's going to be dark by then"
"Ok,
I'll see you later beautiful" Martin saw Ellie off at the door. Ellie
walked down into the village, it was a cold day with a gentle wind in the air .
When she got to the shop she saw Mrs Fleming taking to a man in a suite,
"Good
afternoon Mrs Fleming" Ellie said as she walked into the shop
"Good
afternoon Ellie, glad you have arrived, this is my solicitor Mr Harrison, Mr
Harrison this is my shop assistant Ellie Pickard" Mrs Fleming introduced
them to each other,
"It's
nice to meet you Mr Harrison"
"You
too Miss Pickard" they both shook hands,
"So
Ellie the reason Mr Harrison is here is that I have decided to hand the shop
over" Mrs Fleming told Ellie
"Oh
my god, why" Ellie asked
"I'm
getting old Ellie and I'm getting to the point where I need to rest"
"Ok
well I hope you are feeling ok and who are you giving the shop too"
"Well
I was hoping you would take it Ellie"
"What,
me, really"
"Of
course you know how to run the shop and how everything is done"
"Of
course I will take over the shop, I'd be honoured" Ellie gave Mrs Fleming
a hug and signed the papers.
Martin
met Ellie outside the shop at closing time. It was dark and colder than this
morning, Martin put his arm around Ellie to keep her warm,
"So
how was your day" he asked as they walked home
"Well
Mrs Fleming signed the shop over to me, I am now a shop owner"
"Ellie
that's wonderful" Martin hugged her and spun her around then kissed her.
When
they arrived home Ellie told everyone else the good news,
"Ellie
that's amazing news" Nicky hugged her daughter then broke out a bottle of
wine to celebrate,
"Mum
where did you get that" Ellie asked
"Me
and your father got a couple of bottles in before the war, when it started we
decided to save them for a special occasion which I think this is don't
you" Nicky said pouring the wine into glasses. They all toasted Ellie and
celebrated together.
After
everyone had gone to bed Ellie wondered into Martins room,
"Martin"
Ellie poked her head round the door
"Hey
beautiful what's up" he sat up and turned on his lamp
"Err
I need to tell you something"
"What
is it" Ellie sat next to Martin
"I
know why Mrs Fleming decides to pass on the shop"
"Why"
"She's
dying"
"What"
"Yeah,
she only has a few months left"
"Oh
Ellie I'm so sorry" Martin gave Ellie a hug as she began to cry
"everything's going to be ok, I promise"
"It's
my birthday" Chrissie ran into her mother's room "Mummy, mummy I'm 6
today"
"I
know sweetheart Happy Birthday" Nicky gave Chrissie a big hug. Chrissie
ran downstairs with Nicky in tow and went in to the dining room,
"Happy
Birthday" Everyone shouted as Chrissie entered the room. On the table laid
breakfast ready to be eaten and Chrissies birthday presents sat in the middle
of the table. Chrissie shrieked with excitement as she walked towards the
table,
"Right
now the birthday girl is here time for breakfast" Ellie said
"No,
no, no presents first, food later" Chrissie said in excitement as she
reached over and grabbed one of her three presents. She ripped the wrapping
apart with one big pull,
"A
new jumper, big and woolly just the way I like it" Chrissie pulled the
jumper over her head and out her arms through the sleeves "who's it
from" she asked
"You
do this every year Chrissie" Ellie said
"Do
what"
"Rip
the wrapping paper off before you read who it's from, see look, it's from me
and Louis" Ellie showed Chrissie the label on the wrapping paper,
"Oh
yeah, thank you Ellie, thank you Louis" Chrissie hugged her brother and
sister, she then reached for another present and tore the paper off,
"Oops
I forgot to read the label" Chrissie laughed
"It's
from us three" Martin said
"Oh
thank you, It's a new dress thank you so much" she hugged them all, she
then opened the last present from her mum
"Peter
Rabbit books yes" she shouted in excitement "thank you mummy"
she gave her mum a big hug.
After
breakfast Chrissie changed into her new dress and showed everyone,
"What
do you think" she said as she spun into the room,
"Very
pretty" everyone said
"Right
we've got to get going" Ellie said to Martin,
"Oh
yes we do"
"Martin,
you're helping down at the shop" Nicky asked
"Yeah
Mrs Fleming is really ill at the moment"
"Of
course, well have fun, no funny business" Nicky laughed
"Oh
mum we know how to be professional" Ellie said putting her coat on "
we'll see you later, don't forget to pick up the cake from the bakery" Ellie
told her mum as she walked out of the door with Martin,
"I
won't" Nicky replied
Ellie
and Martin walked down the road hand in hand,
"Martin,
how did you afford Chrissie's dress" Ellie asked
"The
same way you got her jumper, I used my clothing coupon"
Ellie
smiled at him and they carried on walking,
"I
really hope she remember the cake"
"Thank
you, please take care" Ellie said to her last customer of the day. Ellie
locked the door as Martin was tidying up,
"It's
been a good day hasn't it" Martin said
"Yes
it has" Ellie smiled at him "I'm going to go check on Mrs Fleming
before we leave"
"Ok
beautiful" Martin smiled as Ellie headed up stairs. Martin carried on
tidying up when there was a knock at the door, Mr Brown the baker stood at the
door,
"Good
evening" Mr Brown said as Martin opened the door "I have young Chrissie
birthday cake, I think Mrs Pickard forgot to pick it up"
"Oh
thank you Mr Brown, I'll make sure it gets to them"
"Thank
you" Mr Brown turned and walked back to his bakery, Ellie came back into
the shop
"Who
was that" she asked
"Mr
Brown, your mum forgot to pick up the cake" Martin showed her the cake, Ellie
sighed
"I
don't believe this, she forgot the one thing I asked her to do. Ok let's get
home" Ellie grabbed her coat and walked out the door.
They
both walked through the door and hung up their coats, Ellie walked into the
kitchen and put the cake on the counter in front of her mum who was making a
cup of tea,
"Oh
god Ellie I'm so sorry, I completely forgot" Nicky began,
"You
think, I can't believe you did that, it's Chrissie's birthday"
"Ellie
I know I've said I'm sorry, you know how hard it'd been for me these past few
months"
"Hard
for you, what about us, your children, it's been hard for us too I mean I've
not only been working at the shop but also been trying to keep the farm going
whilst you've been giving full attention to your Vegetable garden and spacing
out every other day, if Martin hadn't been here god knows what would have
happened to the farm"
"Ellie
I know I'm so sorry, I am but.."
"I
know you are trying to cope in your own way but we need you and you're not
helping at all, I gave you one thing to do and you let me down"
"I
know I'm so sorry, I will try harder I promise"
"You
said that at new year, Chrissie wouldn't even have a present from you if it
wasn't for me" Ellie by now had lowered her voice so Chrissie didn't
overhear,
"Ellie
it isn't just words this time, I will try harder I promise"
"Sort
the cake and dinner out, I'm going for a lie down" Ellie left the kitchen
and went up stairs. She lied on her bed and sighed as a tear rolled down her
cheek. She turned her head and looked at a photo of her dad that sat on her
bedside table,
"Oh
dad I wish none of this had happened, I wish you were still here" she said
out loud,
"Ellie"
Jennifer stood in the doorway,
"Jenny
are you ok" Ellie sat up,
"Yes,
I was just wondering if you were" Jennifer asked walking towards the bed,
"I'm
fine, just little tired"
"Is
there anything I can do to help"
"Not
at the moment, I'm going to have a little sleep now"
"Ok
Ellie, I will see you in a bit" Jennifer shut the door on the way out and
headed back downstairs,
"Is
Ellie ok Jenny" Chrissie asked as she entered the living room,
"She's
fine she's just a bit tired" Jennifer walked over to Martin and put her
hand on his shoulder
"Hey
Jenny what's up" Martin asked as he saw her
"I've
been thinking, maybe I could help Ellie down at the shop so you can stay and
help out with the farm" she suggested
"Jenny
are you sure"
"Yes
I heard the argument" Jennifer whispered
"You
know that would be great, I'll talk to Ellie when she wakes up" Martin
hugged his sister, then went to check on Nicky.
"Hey
Nicky how's it going" Nicky had already laid out the table and put the
cake in the middle. Nicky was in the kitchen putting together dinner,
"Martin,
everything is fine, dinner is nearly ready" Nicky replied, Martin looked
at her, "Martin what is it"
"Nothing,
it's nothing" he turned to walk away
"I'm
going to try harder, I will, it's not just words"
"Prove
it, then I will believe it"
"Yay,
birthday dinner" Chrissie said in excitement as everyone entered the
dining room,
"Hope
you enjoy it Chrissie" Ellie said having just woken up, Chrissie smiled.
They all sat down to eat and sang 'Happy Birthday' to Chrissie who had the
biggest smile on her face.
Later
after everyone had gone to bed, Martin snuck into Ellie's room to find her not
there. He quietly walked downstairs to find her tidying up the kitchen and
dining room,
"Ellie
what are you doing, I thought your mum was going to do this"
"Yeah,
I told her to go to bed" Ellie replied
"Why"
"I
really don't know, I just wanted to do it myself"
"Ellie
go to bed, I'll do it"
"Martin,
I'm fine really"
"Ellie"
Martin took Ellie in his arms and kissed her "Ellie please go to bed, you
are exhausted" he looked at her
"Ok,
ok I'll go to bed" Ellie kissed him then went upstairs to bed as Martin
carried on cleaning up.
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