Prologue
13 July, 1984
The rain was coming down in torrents outside the Bennet household. The evening sky was unusually dark, pierced periodically by great forks of lightening. Thomas Bennet leaned his forehead against the glass windowpane of his den and sighed. The worst storm this county's seen in years, and Francine has to go into labor now! Suddenly, his musings were interrupted by a sharp knock at the door. He ran to answer it -
"Bob! Linda! I'm so glad you made it over okay!"
"Calm down, Tom," Linda Phillips replied. "We only had to walk over from three doors down! Besides, who better to come over and watch the kids while my sister's in labor?"
"Sorry," Mr. Bennet said. "Father-to-be jitters, I guess. Funny that I'm still nervous with our fifth."
"Don't worry about anything," said Mr. Phillips. Just tell us what the little ones are up to, and then get your wife to the hospital!"
"Okay." Mr. Bennet stopped to take a deep breath. "I've already put Mary and Kitty down for the night. Jane and Lizzy are downstairs playing with their dolls. The thunder isn't quite as loud down there, so they're not as scared."
Mrs. Phillips re-entered the room with a small suitcase in her hand.
"All right, Tom -- I got Francine settled into the car okay. Here's the bag you guys packed. Now hurry up and go!"
Mr. Phillips smiled and patted his brother-in-law on the back.
"Don't forget to call us and let us know if it's a boy or a girl!"
Mr. Bennet smiled thinly, and then left to drive his wife to Fairfax Hospital.
A half an hour later, the Bennets had still not managed to reach the hospital. The severe weather had thrown many local residents for a loop, and traffic on the highway was moving at a snail's pace.
"Tom?" whined Francine Bennet, between her Lamaze breathing.
"What, sweetie?"
"Can't you ... get us there ... any ... faster?"
Mr. Bennet took one look at his wife's pained expression and decided to try an alternate route. After getting onto a smaller back road, they were able to drive much faster. Before long, he noticed the intersection that was about a mile away from the hospital.
"Just a few more seconds, honey -- then we'll be there."
Both husband and wife were too preoccupied with the thought of reaching the hospital to notice the tractor-trailer skidding out of control beside them.
About two hours later, the phone rang at the Bennets' house.
"Hello, Tom?" Mrs. Phillips answered expectantly. "How's my new little niece or nephew?"
"Excuse me. Is this the Bennet residence?"
The unfamiliar voice on the other end of the line caused Linda's heart to stop beating for a few seconds.
"Yes, this is the Bennet residence ... I'm Mrs. Bennet's sister, Mrs. Phillips. Can I help you?"
"Mrs. Phillips, this is Sgt. Burns with Fairfax County Fire and Rescue--"
"Oh my God!" shrieked Mrs. Phillips. "What's wrong? What's happened?!"
At the sound of his wife's voice screaming, Mr. Phillips ran downstairs to see what was the matter. He entered the room just as his wife was setting down the phone, her eyes staring ahead of her, a shaking hand covering her mouth. She didn't even acknowledge hr husband's presence until he spoke.
"Linda? Linda, for god's sake, what's wrong?!"
Mrs. Phillips slowly raised her gaze until it was level with her husband's. Her voice was barely above a whisper.
"It's Tom and Francine ... there was an accident on the way to the hospital..."
She couldn't bring herself to actually say out loud that her sister was dead. The shock was still too great. Instead, she just threw herself into her husband's arms and cried.
Chapter 1
17 July, 1984
Several days later, the relatives of Tom and Francine gathered at their Springfield home after the funeral to discuss the necessary arrangements that had to be made. The children were in the next room, Mary playing with some blocks, Kitty sleeping, and Jane and Lizzy holding each other tightly and crying. The fifth daughter, Lydia, lay in a bassinet next to where the adults sat. The paramedics who had arrived at the crash scene had been able to deliver her safely, but there was nothing they could do for her parents.
Around the dining room table sat three couples, all with faces showing the strain of the last few days. The Phillips had been looking after the children at their house down the street since the accident. Though they had no children of their own, they had managed tolerably well so far. The Collinses had driven over from their house in Burke. They had one young son, but they were trying every kind of therapy available to give him a sibling. The final couple, the Gardiners, were newlyweds. They had had to cut their honeymoon short and return to their house in Fairfax Station when they heard about the accident.
The room was silent, everyone in it just trying to absorb the events of recent days. Mr. Gardiner, being a lawyer, decided it would fall to him to begin the conversation.
"Well, as we've all discussed before, Tom's will is pretty clear about what to do with all material possessions and such. The one major issue that remains unresolved is what to do about the children."
As if on cue, baby Lydia chose that moment to begin crying uncontrollably. Mrs. Phillips silently got up and took her into the family room to calm her down. When she had left, Mr. Gardiner resumed his speech.
"Now, Bob, you and Linda had said something earlier about taking care of the baby...."
"Yes." answered Mr. Phillips. You all know that Linda and I have been trying to have a baby for some time now, but with no success. We've talked it over and decided that we would like to raise Lydia if we can."
"All right," replied Mr. Gardiner. "Tomorrow I'll get the required papers to make you her legal guardians."
Then Mrs. Collins spoke up.
"Perhaps we could take care of Mary? She seems to be a very quiet and good toddler."
"Yes dear," her husband said. "Mrs. DeBourgh has often told me what a nice thing it would be for our Billy to have a little brother or sister. She says that a minister ought to have at least two children to set a good example in the community."
Mr. Gardiner was just agreeing that that idea seemed like a good plan, when his wife nudged him gently. "Edward? Can we discuss something in private for a moment?"
Mr. Gardiner excused them, and he and his wife left to go talk in the kitchen.
"What is it, Maddy? Is anything wrong?"
"No, Edward. I was just thinking about something." Mrs. Gardiner noticed her husband's inquisitive glance and continued - "I know we're just starting out, but I feel like I know the children already after visiting Tom and Fran so much ... what would you say to our taking care of one?"
Mr. Gardiner sighed. "I know, Maddy -- I feel the same way you do. Let's just go back in and try and sort things out. If we end up being instant parents, you know that's fine with me."
Madeleine Gardiner smiled and kissed her husband before going back to the dining room and sitting down.
"Edward," Mr. Phillips said, "What about the other three? What will happen to them?"
"Well, Bob, could you and Linda take care of any more children?"
"Oh no," Mrs. Phillips piped in. "I've really had no experience with kids, and as much as I'd love to help even more, I just know we couldn't handle more than one."
"Arthur?" Mr. Gardiner looked hopefully at his brother-in-law's cousin.
"I'm afraid taking in another child besides Mary right now would be too much for us. I'm quite busy, you know, with my duties as assistant pastor to Mrs. DeBourgh, and I'd hate to leave Gladys alone with three children and hardly any help from myself. Why don't you and Madeleine take the other three?"
"I wish that we could," sighed Mrs. Gardiner, "but Edward and I are just starting our life together. Three children right away would be terribly difficult."
"Well I can't understand why," said Mrs. Phillips with apparent confusion. "You two have the biggest house out of all of us. And Edward's salary is just going to keep climbing, you know. What on earth is stopping you?"
Mrs. Gardiner was getting more and more uncomfortable as the conversation progressed. Edward had warned her before that his family sometimes became contentious over money, but she hadn't been expecting that kind of reaction.
Mr. Gardiner sought out his wife's hand under the table and gave it a little squeeze, just to reassure her. "Linda, you know Maddy and I can't handle the burden of three children at once. It's just impossible. Why don't we take Jane?"
"But honey," interrupted Mrs. Gardiner, "we can't separate Jane and Lizzy. They're so close as it is. And they're both old enough that being sent to an orphanage would be a traumatic experience for them."
"I suppose you're right," he replied. "Okay, I guess that settles it. We'll look after Jane and Lizzy."
"But what about Kitty?" said Mrs. Collins.
Mr. Gardiner let out a long sigh. "I would feel terrible about sending her away when we're giving all of her sisters homes. Can any of you think of a solution?"
After a few minutes of silence, Mrs. Gardiner burst out and said, "I know!"
"What?" inquired all the others.
"My sister was just telling me recently about this orphanage somewhere in Maryland....it's funded by George Darcy."
"You mean Ambassador Darcy?" Mr. Collins said.
"Yes, that's him. Well, you know how his whole family is old money -- he's been donating a lot to this new orphanage. So much, in fact, that they're thinking of renaming it after him. Why don't we write and see if we can send Kitty there? I don't like the idea of giving her up any more than the rest of you do, but at least we'll know she's well taken care of. And the children there have a really high placement rate with good homes."
It was decided that this was the best plan for all involved, and in a few days everything had been settled. Mr. and Mrs. Phillips were to raise Lydia, Mr. and Mrs. Collins were to raise Mary, Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner were to raise Jane and Lizzy, and Kitty was to be sent to the Darcy Orphanage in Potomac.
Chapter 2
"So, Jane, Lizzy - how did you enjoy your first day at school?" Mr. Gardiner looked expectantly at the girls across the dinner table.
After the accident, Jane and Lizzy had had to take the rest of their summer to get settled into their new life, so the Gardiners hoped this transition to normalcy was going well.
"It was so much fun!" said Jane. "I met lots of other girls and boys, and Miss Hammond is a really nice lady!"
"What about you, Lizzy?" asked Mrs. Gardiner. "How did you like your first day of kindergarten?"
"I like Mrs. Greco. She's a nice lady, too. We played fun games."
"And drew some pictures, too, didn't you?" said Mr. Gardiner. "This one is wonderful!" He held up a piece of construction paper with 4 straggly stick figures lined up in a row, and two more floating up next to the sun.
Lizzy smiled and explained the drawing, pointing at each person in turn. "That's you, and Aunt Maddy, and Jane, and me."
"And the angels up in the clouds are Mommy and Daddy," Jane added, happily.
"It's a very good picture." Mrs. Gardiner said with a tear in her eye. "I'm glad you both had fun at school today." She finished bringing dinner to the table and sat down.
A few minutes later, Lizzy broke the comfortable silence that had settled in over the room. "I want more potatoes, Aunt Maddy."
"Lizzy, what do you say?" Mrs. Gardiner hoped her tone of voice would be a sufficient reminder to her niece.
"Please I want more potatoes, Aunt Maddy??"
Mrs. Gardiner smiled. "Here you go, sweetie."
Lizzy was about to start eating again when Jane tapped her on the shoulder. "Lizzy," she whispered, "you forgot to say thank you!"
"Oh! Thank you." Lizzy flashed a toothless grin at her aunt and uncle, eyes sparkling.
"You're quite welcome, dear." Mrs. Gardiner sighed contentedly and looked across the table at her husband. The expression on his face showed him to be just as happy with the scene as herself. They felt like they were starting to get used to being parents.
12 March, 1986
Billy Collins was sitting outside in his front yard when he heard someone sounding tentative notes on the piano. He ran inside to the living room and found his cousin Mary randomly hitting different keys.
"Mary," he said, "what are you doing?"
"Playing the piano," Mary replied. She was evidently very perturbed at being interrupted.
"But that's not really playing the piano. You're not even doing a real song!"
"Am too!" Mary insisted. "I'm making up my own song. I think it's pretty." She began to sing the nonsense lyrics that she had invented to accompany the piano.
"Those aren't even real words, Mary! That's not a song!"
His five-year old cousin sent him a dismissive glare, and began to play and sing even louder.
Just as Billy was about to correct her again, Mrs. Collins announced that dinner was ready. Mary ran off and beat Billy to the table, asking in a triumphant voice "Can I say the prayer, Aunt Gladys?"
"Of course you can, Mary," said Mrs. Collins. At hearing these words, Mary's face broke out into a rare smile.
"But Mommy!" whined Billy, "I wanted to say grace tonight!"
Mr. Collins decided he'd better resolve the situation before their dinner got cold. "Billy, you say grace almost every night. It's time you gave your cousin a chance. After all, she needs to learn her prayers, too."
"Yes, father." Billy pouted for a moment, but then thought better of it. I'll just ask to do the Bible reading after dinner!
Mr. Collins was pleased with the way Mary had adjusted to life with them in the past few years. She had turned out to be a very well behaved little girl, and he was sure that his son could benefit from seeing her quiet and studious ways. What was more, Pastor DeBourgh said that little Mary was one of the best children in her Sunday school class. Mr. Collins smiled to himself. He didn't think he could have found a child more suited to their family if he had tried.
15 November, 1988
"William! Georgiana! Come on - we don't want to be late!" Mrs. Darcy's voice rang out through the foyer of their home.
"Yes, kids, hurry up - " Mr. Darcy added, putting on his coat as his driver went out to warm up the car.
It was time for the family to pay another visit to the Darcy Orphanage. Being the main source of support for the children, George and Anne Darcy liked to stop by from time to time to see how things were going, and to check up to see what needed to be done.
"Okay, Mom. We're ready." William Darcy started to come down the large spiral staircase, sister in tow. But his young sister was not as long-legged as he, and he had to pick her up. "Come on, Georgie - I'll carry you the rest of the way. We have to go!"
Georgiana didn't mind the extra attention at all - she was still somewhat awed by her older brother. The eight years between them was enough to make him seem to her like quite a big kid indeed!
Mr. Darcy smiled as they joined him at the door, and tickled his daughter's cheek. He always made a point of including his children in his philanthropic ventures. He hoped it would instill in them a sense of responsibility about the wealth they would one day inherit.
Half an hour later, the Darcys arrived at the orphanage. As they were walking in, Georgiana gently tugged at her mother's dress and shyly asked "Can we go see my friend?"
"Of course we can, dearest. Here, come with me, and we'll go look for her." With that, Mrs. Darcy took her daughter's hand and went off in search of Catherine Bennet.
Over the preceding two years, Kitty and Georgiana had gotten to be quite close. Every time the Darcys visited the orphanage, Georgiana would sit and play with Kitty while her parents and brother walked around.
While they were walking, Georgiana spied her friend and began running towards her, arms open. "Kitty!!!"
"Gee!!!" Kitty flung her arms out and met her friend halfway.
When Mrs. Darcy caught up with them, she said "Hello, Catherine!" There was warmth in her voice that spread over her face as well. She had a particular soft spot for the little Bennet girl, for she remembered the sad circumstances which had led to her being sent to the orphanage for care. And she was so glad that Georgiana had found a friend whom she really liked. Generally, she was so shy that she would avoid talking to anyone, but when she was with Kitty, Georgiana behaved like a completely different child.
25 June, 1989
"Lydia, honey, eat your carrots." Mrs. Phillips looked up from the box she was packing in the kitchen. The Navy had just transferred Mr. Phillips to Norfolk, and they would be moving down there in few days.
"I don't want the carrots!" Lydia stuck her lower lip out petulantly and threw her fork down.
"Lyddie, I said eat your carrots. Now be a good girl, won't you? Aunt Linda has a lot of things to do today." She sighed in exasperation as the telephone rang. After crossing the room and stepping over a few boxes of dishes and silverware, she reached for the receiver. "Hello?"
"Hey, Linda, it's me!" Mr. Phillips's voice was cheerful, and it made his wife wish that she could get out of the house more often.
"I don't want the carrots!!!" Lydia screamed. As if for emphasis, she threw her plate on the floor, scattering chunks of vegetable everywhere.
"Oh, Lydia!" Mrs. Phillips said. "Sorry, Bob. I'm not exactly having the best day. I'm trying to get the last of the pots and pans packed away, and she just absolutely refuses to finish her lunch."
"Well, maybe she doesn't like the way you cooked it. Can't you just make her something else?"
Hearing this suggestion of her husband's sent Mrs. Phillips over the edge. Why doesn't he get it? I swear, it's been 5 years since we started taking care of Lydia, and he's still clueless as to how to be a father! Is he ever going to help me take care of her? She sighed again, and then remembered she still had the phone in her hand. "Never mind, Bob. You wouldn't understand."
As Mr. Phillips resumed his chattering, Mrs. Phillips grabbed a towel and began to clean up Lydia's mess. "Okay, Lydia, you don't have to finish. Go and play with your dollies."
When Lydia had jumped down from her seat and run into the family room, Mrs. Phillips realized her husband was still talking, oblivious to the fact that she wasn't even listening.
" . . . I can't understand why you always sound so exhausted when I talk to you on the phone, babe. I was telling Mike Sinclair that the other day, when we were at poker night . . ."
This was not the best time for talk, however. She couldn't get anything done while holding onto the phone, and Lydia had just run out of sight. "Bob? I've got to go, all right? See you at dinner." With that, Mrs. Phillips hung up the phone.
20 December, 1991
"Jane, Lizzy, could you come downstairs and help me clean up?" Mrs. Gardiner called as she walked around the house picking up things to put away.
A few minutes later, Lizzy ran down the stairs, with Jane following closely behind her. Both girls `joined in with their aunt in doing the chores.
"Aunt Maddy?" Lizzy began - "When is everybody else supposed to arrive tomorrow?"
This Christmas was going to be the annual family reunion for the Bennet sisters. Over the years, the adults had tried their best to keep the girls in touch with each other. The only person missing was Kitty - the orphanage had a rule that prevented her from being able to join them for family holidays, as it was focused on finding her a happy home, and did not want attachment to relatives that could not provide her one.
"Well, dear," Mrs. Gardiner replied, "the Collinses have decided that they're just going to come over for Christmas dinner, but your Aunt Linda and Uncle Bob should be here around lunchtime tomorrow."
"Oh, good!" said Jane. "I'm so excited to get to see everyone again! I'll bet Lydia and Mary have changed so much since last year."
"Well, we actually won't be getting to see everyone," Lizzy reminded her sister. "We never get to see Kitty." Her face was a little sad, conspicuously missing her usual bright smile.
"But, Lizzy, you know why we can't see Kitty...how is she supposed to be happy at the orphanage knowing that all of the rest of us are living in homes with people to look after us? Try and cheer up - maybe a nice family will adopt Kitty, and then we'll get to see her."
"Yeah maybe..." Lizzy sighed as she started to unload the dishwasher.
Mrs. Gardiner was secretly relieved at how the girls seemed to be dealing with their periodic visits with (most of) their sisters. It was certainly a very unusual arrangement, but everything seemed to be for the best. Her only wish was that they might be able to see Kitty. Deep in her heart, she still felt guilty for not being able to find a place for the child all those years ago.
Just then, Mr. Gardiner walked in and interrupted his wife's reverie, arms full of Christmas presents. "I'm back, everyone! Now, who wants to help me put these gifts under the tree?"
Jane and Lizzy ran to help their uncle, and the rest of the evening was spent in happy preparation for the coming holiday.
21 December, 1991
The Gardiners and their nieces were just cleaning up their dishes from lunch when the doorbell rang.
"That's Aunt Linda and Uncle Bob," Jane said as she dried off her hands. "I'll get it!"
"I'll come with you," added Lizzy. "I'm sure they'll need help getting their stuff out of the car."
However, when the girls opened the front door, they found only their aunt, standing there with suitcases in her hand. She smiled plaintively before saying "Hi."
Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner had finished up in the kitchen and were coming to greet their guests - they were visibly surprised when they saw Mrs. Phillips walk in alone.
"Linda!" Mrs. Gardiner exclaimed. "Where are Bob and Lydia?"
"Oh, Bob had to finish up some work down in Norfolk...he'll be driving up tomorrow. Lyddie's asleep in the car." Mrs. Phillips was doing her best to appear nonchalant as she spoke, but there was a sad quality in her eyes that Madeleine Gardiner caught in a second.
"Well, well, come in, for goodness' sake!" Mr. Gardiner boomed jovially. "Maddy, why don't you get Linda settled upstairs, and I'll go get my little niece out of the car." He headed out the door, followed by Jane and Lizzy.
Mrs. Gardiner followed Mrs. Phillips to the guestroom, softly shutting the door behind her.
"Linda?" she said after a minute. "What's wrong? Something's troubling you, I can tell."
Mrs. Phillips sighed "Oh, Madeleine!" as she collapsed despondently onto the bed.
Mrs. Gardiner sat down beside her sister-in-law and silently patted her on the shoulder, waiting until she was ready to explain the source of her distress. After a few minutes, Mrs. Phillips took a deep breath and began, head in her hands.
"Sorry ... it's just that everything is falling apart."
"What do you mean?" Mrs. Gardiner's face showed her confusion. "What's falling apart?"
"Oh, nothing...just my marriage, my life ... everything I thought was important." Mrs. Phillips shut her eyes tightly to try and keep from crying.
Her companion was absolutely incredulous. "I don't understand - what happened?"
Mrs. Phillips lifted her head as if ready to speak, but she remained silent. She didn't really want to talk about it, but she desperately wanted someone to understand. "It's a long story, Maddy, and I'm not going to sit here and recount the whole thing. Bob and I have been drifting apart for a long time - since Lydia came, almost. The last few months have been really horrible."
She paused, swallowed, and looked Mrs. Gardiner straight in the eye before continuing. "Bob and I are getting separated ... we're going to get a divorce."
Mrs. Gardiner let out an involuntary gasp. "Oh, I'm so sorry." She stopped, unsure of what else to say. But then, as both women sat in silence, she managed to connect all the pieces of Mrs. Phillips's story. As realization dawned, she slowly said "So that's why Bob's not arriving until tomorrow..."
"Yes." Mrs. Phillips's voice was quiet. "Actually, he did have some business to finish up before coming. He's requested another transfer."
24 December, 1991
"Lydia, do you know what's going to happen tonight?" Lizzy's eyes sparkled with delight. She really enjoyed playing with her little sister.
Lydia's eyes lit up as well as she said "Of course, silly! Santa Claus is coming to bring presents!!!"
Jane grinned widely. "Yes, that's right. Santa Claus is coming ... but have you been a good girl?"
At this question, Lydia's face became suddenly sober and she nodded her head up and down slowly. "I'm a good girl. Aunt Linda says so."
"And what do you want for Christmas, Lyddie?" Mr. Phillips spoke up from across the room on the couch.
"I want a new bike with flowers on it and a puppy and lots of candy in my stocking!" she said excitedly. "And maybe a Magic Nursery doll," she confided to Jane and Lizzy. "They come brand new, all wrapped up like from the hospital, and it's a surprise if it's a boy or a girl!"
Mr. Phillips pondered these requests and then leaned over to his wife. "Do you need me to run out to the store or something? I mean, she can't have a dog, but we should get the kid something for Christmas, right?"
"Don't bother, Bob," she responded icily. "You've never bothered to help me with Lydia before ... why begin now?"
He lowered his voice before speaking, lest the others in the room hear their exchange. "Well, excuse me, Linda, but I was just trying to make sure the little tyke gets what she wants tomorrow morning. I thought it would help soften the blow of us splitting up."
"Oh, don't worry about it," Mrs. Phillips replied in a frustrated whisper. "I bought all of Lyddie's presents and wrapped them weeks ago."
"Okay, everybody - time for eggnog!" Mrs. Gardiner walked in the room carrying a large tray covered in mugs. She set it down on the desk in the corner, and began pouring out something for the adults to drink.
Mr. Gardiner walked over to his wife under the pretense of helping her, and quietly said "I think Bob and Linda are perilously close to an argument right now."
When Mrs. Gardiner casually tossed a glance in their direction, she saw the Phillips sitting on the couch, steely-eyed and speaking to each other in hushed tones. "I'm afraid you're right, Edward. Can you think of something to do? We've got to get the two of them apart before there's an explosion. I don't want anything to happen in front of the children."
Mr. Gardiner became thoughtful for a moment, and then said in a loud voice "Oh my! Look at the time! I think it's just about time for little girls to be getting to bed...you know you've got to go to sleep, or else Santa Claus won't come."
His idea worked beautifully. Mrs. Phillips got up to tuck Lydia into bed, and disaster was avoided. The only worry that persisted in bothering Mr. Gardiner was the thought of what might happen during dinner the following day.
25 December, 1991
The morning passed calmly enough for everyone in the Gardiner household. The children were all up early, ready to open their gifts, and they'd been delighted with everything they got. The adults, too, enjoyed themselves for the most part. Madeleine and Edward exchanged gifts and just sat watching Jane and Lizzy, while Mrs. Phillips was equally caught up in watching everything Lydia was doing. Fortunately for her, Mr. Phillips did not make an appearance for Christmas morning. It seemed that he had put a little too much bourbon in his eggnog the previous evening, and it took him until Christmas lunch to recover.
It was about noon when the Collins family knocked on the door. Mr. Gardiner excused himself from the dinner preparations to go and answer it. "Arthur, Gladys! Merry Christmas! So glad you guys could come!"
Mr. Collins shook Mr. Gardiner's hand. "Edward, good to see you again. So, where's the crowd?"
"Oh, come on in ... everyone's in the family room." Mr. Gardiner noticed that Mrs. Collins was carrying a large bowl of rutabaga in her arms. "Gladys, if you want to put that down, Madeleine's in the kitchen getting stuff ready for dinner."
Mrs. Collins turned to the children and said "Billy, Mary, why don't you go and play with the other kids while I help Mrs. Gardiner with the food?"
When Billy and Mary walked into the family room, Jane was helping Lydia with a little jigsaw puzzle. She looked up with a smile on her face. "Hi, guys! Merry Christmas!"
"Hello," said Billy. He looked as if he was about to say something more, but then he abruptly walked away and went to go read a book in the corner.
Lizzy got up from her place on the floor and walked over to Mary to give her a hug. "Merry Christmas, Mary! How are you?"
"I'm good," replied Mary. "How are you doing? Gosh, you seem so much older than you did last year."
Lizzy smiled. "You look like you've grown, too. You're how old now? 10?"
Mary nodded, but didn't say anything further, so Lizzy went on. "I'm 12 now, and Jane is 13. A teenager! Can you believe it?" She made a funny face, hoping to get Mary to laugh or offer up some more conversation, but to no avail.
"Is there something in your eye, Lizzy?" Mary asked inquisitively.
"No, Mary, I'm fine." Lizzy had to bite her lip to keep from laughing. "Come on, you haven't gotten to see Lydia yet. She's turning into such a big girl!"
Lydia heard this last comment about herself and smiled proudly.
A few minutes later, Mrs. Gardiner and Mrs. Collins entered the room.
"Well, I think that takes care of everything for a while." Mrs. Gardiner said. "Now we can sit and relax for a bit while the turkey and other things are cooking. Jane, why don't you give Mary and Billy their presents?"
"Oh, we brought some things for the kids as well," interjected Mrs. Collins. "Did you remember to bring them in from the car, Arthur?"
"Of course, dear," Mr. Collins replied.
Billy stopped reading and walked over when he heard talk of presents. "You go first, guys." He took three wrapped boxes from his father and handed one to Jane, Lizzy, and Lydia.
The girls unwrapped their gifts simultaneously. "Another prayer book!" Exclaimed Lizzy suddenly. She was at a loss for words. Interesting gift. I hope they're not disappointed with their toys.
Jane came to her sister's rescue by adding "What a lovely gift, Billy! Thank you, Mr. and Mrs. Collins. This is just what we needed."
The Collinses seemed pleased with their reactions, and the rest of the evening passed by rather uneventfully. Everyone appreciated having family around, and they all had a good time that night. Such a good time, in fact, that no one even minded having to listen to Mary's rendition of her favorite Christmas carols on the piano.