A Home For Emily

Chapter Ten

December

Things have gotten easier between Austin and Emily since the day of the fire.

Maybe because Emily has stopped hoping. Maybe because Austin said all the things he had been keeping inside of him for so long. Maybe it's because they've been a family for five months now and they've found a rhythm that works for everyone. Of course, the quiet slow-paced days they have now will change once winter gives way to spring and it's time to plant next year's crops, but for now, Emily is enjoying the days they spend as a family cuddled by the fire—reading, telling stories, enjoying each other's company.

Emily isn't inside by the warm fire today, instead, she's outside speaking to Mrs. Palmer who stopped by on her way from town.

"Sissy says you might have some eggs to sell me," she says.

She's eighty if she's a day, skin weathered by too many days spent in the fields, body hunched over the reins she clutches in her wrinkled hands.

"We've got a few," Emily says.

It's a cool morning. Not frigid cold, but definitely colder than it was the day before. If it keeps getting colder, the girls' wish to see snow might be granted. Austin says it almost never snows this early in the winter, rarely snows at all, but Emily thinks it would be fun to see the girls play in the snow. Right now, though, her fingers are freezing and she's shivering. She wishes now she had bought a second-hand coat instead of a brand-new nightgown with the little money she had in Missouri. Austin has never noticed the nightgown, which is no longer new, but she could definitely have used a coat. Austin only has the one and it's too big for Emily anyway.

She has money now, money she could use to maybe buy material to sew a coat. But her sewing abilities still leave much to be desired and, besides, she'd much rather spend the money on buying gifts for her family. After all, Christmas only comes once a year, and this will be the first real one Emily has ever had.

"I'll take what you can give me," Mrs. Palmer replies.

Emily runs to the chicken coop, more to get blood flowing to her cold limbs than to rush the eggs to Mrs. Palmer. She scoops up the eggs that she left there this morning. Eggs keep longer outside, now that the air is so much cooler, so she no longer gathers all of them at once. She finds an old seed bag and places the eggs inside of it before returning to Mrs. Palmer.

Emily hands the eggs to Mrs. Palmer and she presses a nickel into her hand "That's too much," Emily protests, trying to give the money back to her.

"Stuff and nonsense," Mrs. Palmer replies. Her voice is grouchy, but she's smiling. "You take care of those precious girls, you hear?"

Emily nods. As soon as Mrs. Palmer is safely away, she brings the nickel inside and places it in the drawer with the rest of the money she's gotten from selling eggs and teaching adults their letters and numbers. She should be able to buy a few pieces of candy with this money for the girls' stockings and a toy for each of the girls.

The girls are sitting in front of the fire, all the miniature animals Austin whittled for them in front of them. Emily sits down and pulls Mary on her lap.

"I swear, I have the prettiest family that ever was."

Emily looks up to see Austin leaning against the wall. He's smiling down at them. He had been tending to the pigs and stacking some more wood. It's been a colder winter than usual, and they've used more wood than Austin had been planning on this early in winter.

"Come play with us, Papa," Eliza urges.

"Yes, Papa, do," Mary adds.

"Don't mind if I do," Austin replies. He takes off his coat and joins them on the floor. Eliza sits on his lap and they spend a pleasant afternoon telling fanciful stories of what mischief the miniature animals have gotten themselves into.