This is the story of Thomas Barrow.
Thomas Barrow has been working as the first footman at Downton Abbey for years. He's always been careful to keep his personal life hidden from the prying eyes of the other staff members and the Crawley family. Bu...
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It was December at Downton Abbey, and the Crawley family and the staff were getting into the festive spirit by putting up Christmas decorations all around the grand estate. Thomas was particularly excited as it was his daughter Ellie's first Christmas. She was only three weeks old, but Thomas couldn't wait to share this special time with her.
As he held her close to his chest, Thomas made his way to the main hall where the grand Christmas tree stood, adorned with beautiful ornaments and twinkling lights. Ellie's eyes widened in amazement as she took in the sight, and Thomas couldn't help but smile at her reaction.
"Look, Ellie," Thomas said, his voice soft and gentle. "It's your first Christmas, and this is our tradition. We always have a big Christmas tree in the main hall, and we decorate it with ots of beautiful things. It's a time of joy and celebration, and I want you to be a part of it all."
As he approached the tree, Ellie's eyes widened in wonder at the sight before her. She cooed softly, and Thomas couldn't help but smile.
"You like it, don't you?" he said, his heart swelling with love. "It's okay if you don't understand what's going on yet, little one. But I promise you, this time of year is magical, and it will always be special to us."
Ellie gurgled in response, and Thomas chuckled softly. He knew she couldn't understand him yet, but he felt like she could feel the happiness radiating from him.
As they stood there, taking in the beauty of the tree, Mrs. Hughes, the housekeeper, approached them with a basket of ornaments.
"Good morning, Mr. Barrow. I see you're showing Ellie the Christmas tree," she said, smiling kindly at the pair.
"Yes, Mrs. Hughes. I thought she might enjoy seeing it," Thomas replied, still holding Ellie close.
"Well, how about we decorate it together? It'll be a lovely memory for you and Ellie to share," Mrs. Hughes suggested, holding out the basket.
Thomas gratefully accepted the offer and took a few ornaments from the basket. As he hung a small, red bauble on a low branch, he couldn't help but feel a sense of warmth and contentment.
~
As Thomas was feeding Ellie her morning bottle of milk, things took an unexpected turn. Ellie started to gag and cough, and before he knew it, she had brought up all the milk she had just ingested. Thomas was taken aback and worried about his little one. He held her close, trying to soothe her as she whimpered and squirmed.
"It's okay sweetheart. Daddy's got you. Shh, shh," Thomas murmured, rocking her gently back and forth. He was concerned about what had happened and wondered if it was something he had done wrong. He had been taking care of Ellie on his own since her birth, and he wanted to be the best father he could be.
As Ellie continued to cry, Thomas decided to seek some advice from Mrs. Hughes, the head housekeeper. He gently cradled Ellie in his arms he found Mrs. Hughes in the drawing-room, helping to decorate the Christmas tree.
"Mrs. Hughes, could I have a word with you, please?" Thomas asked hesitantly.
"Of course, Mr. Barrow. What is it?" Mrs. Hughes replied, noticing the worry etched on Thomas's face.
"It's Ellie. She just threw up her milk, and she's been crying ever since. I don't know what to do," Thomas said, his voice shaking slightly.
Mrs. Hughes took Ellie from Thomas's arms and inspected her carefully. "She seems alright, Mr. Barrow. Babies often spit up their milk, especially when they're still getting used to feeding. It's nothing to worry about."
Thomas let out a sigh of relief. "Thank you, Mrs. Hughes."
