Lintwood Farm Chapter Eleven

Chapter 11

Christmas morning and the country was covered in glittering frost, Chrissie and Lindsey sat looking out of the dining room window

"I hope it snows again" Chrissie said

"Me too then we can make snowmen and snow angels and have snowball fights" Lindsey giggled

"Merry Christmas girls" Martin said entering the dining room

"Merry Christmas Martin" they replied. Martin started to get breakfast ready, Jennifer and Louis came downstairs

"Where's Ellie, is she not up yet" Jennifer asked Martin

"No not yet, she is still really tired so I'm leaving her to sleep a little longer" Martin said carrying on with breakfast. Ellie had only just been coping since Nicky had left, Martin had been so supportive and had told her to only concentrate on the shop and family whilst he took complete control over the farm with Louis. Ellie came down later that morning, everyone still at the dining room table talking,

"Merry Christmas everyone" she said

"Ellie" Chrissie ran to give her a hug,

"Morning beautiful" Martin kissed his future wife "how are you feeling today"

"I'm feeling a lot better thank you" she replied "A bit hungry though"

"Here have a seat, I'll get your breakfast" Martin said showing Ellie to a seat.

     After Ellie had eaten they all got themselves ready for the day and went to open Christmas presents. They all sat around talking before Ellie went to make dinner, she put the meat on and prepped the vegetables ready to boil later on,

"Need any help sweetheart" Martin asked her

"No I'm all good for now" she replied, Martin put his arms around her and gave her a hug, she turned around and hugged him back when there was a knock at the door,

"I'll get it" Ellie said, she went to answer the door and was shocked to see who was standing there,

"Hello Ellie"

"Ian" Ellie said

She stood there staring at him,

"Ellie, are you ok" Ian asked

"Yes, yes I'm fine, but what are you doing here" Ellie asked him

"Well I lost my arm in No Man's Land in August, been recovering ever since and then they let me come home" Ian showed Ellie his arm, It had been lost just below his left elbow. Ellie then showed him though to the dining room,

"Just wait here" she went into the kitchen to see Martin,

Martin, there is someone here to see you" Ellie told him

"Ok, on Christmas Day" he replied

"Yes"

"Ok, who is it" Martin went into the dining room "Dad"

"Hello son" Ian stood in front of Martin who went to give his father a hug,

"I thought the worst had happened to you" Martin told him. Ian showed Martin his arm and explained what had happened,

"The important thing is that you are alive" Martin told him and gave his father another hug,

"Where's Nicky" Ian asked as he sat down at the table, Ellie made him a cup of tea,

"She's gone to stay with my Auntie Maria, she's not really been coping well since Dad died and she thought it would be good for her to be in a different environment" Ellie said

"I'm so sorry, it's gotta be really hard for you looking after the farm and the shop"

"Yes it has, it's been really exhausting but Martins been amazing, completely taking over the farm and taking it off my hands" Ellie put her arms around Martin and kissed him,

"That's my boy" Ian smiled as Martin hugged Ellie back,

"So when do I get to see my daughters" Ian asked standing up,

"We'll take you though now" Martin said, they walked through to the living room where Chrissie, Lindsey, Jennifer and Louis were all dancing around to the radio,

"Jenny, Lindsey" Martin said standing in the doorway "I've got a surprise for you" they both looked up as Ian walked in

"Dad" they both ran and gave him a hug,

"What happened to your arm" Jennifer asked

"I had a little accident in No Man's Land but I'm fine now and I'm home"

"Home to stay, you don't have to go back to war" Lindsey asked

"No I don't, I'm here to stay" He gave his daughter another big hug.

Dinner was nearly ready, Martin and Ian had set the table, Ellie was in the kitchen keeping an eye on the food,

"May I say you two congratulations on the engagement" Ian said,

"You got my letter" Martin asked

"Yes I did" Ian pulled out Martin's last letter to him "got it just before the bomb went off, never got a chance to reply"

"Well we are just glad you are right, and here's the ring" Ellie showed Ian the ring Martin had bought her,

"That is so beautiful, have we settled a date yet?" Ian asked

"30th June next year" Ellie replied

"That soon"

"Yes, the sooner the better" Martin said giving Ellie a kiss, Ian smiled at them.

"Dad" Lindsey ran into the dining room and wrapped her arms round he dads waist,

"Lindsey don't think for one minute you are going to spend the next week clung to me like before I left" Ian told her

"Yes I am and Jenny is too" Jenny walked into the room

"No I'm not" Jennifer said sitting at the table with her new diary,

"Oh Jenny you promised" Lindsey let go of Ian who ran out the room

"Dad where are you going" Lindsey ran out after him

"You can't catch me" Ian said from another room.

Martin smiled