His Two Miracles | Thomas Barrow

Chapter 121

One afternoon, as he made his way up to the second floor, Thomas caught a heartwarming sight. There, in the corridor, Ellie was playing with George and Sybbie.

Setting aside his duties for a few precious minutes, Thomas joined the children. He crouched down, a gentle smile spreading across his face, and greeted Ellie with a warm hug. "Hello, my little star," he said affectionately, "Are you having fun?"

"Y - yes, Daddy," Ellie replied, nodding vigorously.

Thomas couldn't agree more, but he knew he had to get back to his duties. As much as he wanted to spend every moment with his children, he had to support them and work for the Crawley family. He glanced at his pocket watch, realizing he only had a few minutes to spare.

"Darling, Daddy needs to go back to work now," Thomas said gently. "But how about a quick piggyback ride before I go?"

Ellie's eyes lit up at the mention of a piggyback ride, and she clapped her hands in excitement. "Yes, p - please, Daddy"

Thomas chuckled, his heart swelling with love for his daughter. He carefully lifted Ellie onto his back, making sure she was secure before standing up. Ellie wrapped her arms around his neck, and Thomas held onto her legs for added stability.

"Ready?" Thomas asked, looking over his shoulder to see Ellie's beaming face.

"R - ready!" Ellie exclaimed, her voice filled with anticipation.

And so, Thomas began to walk the corridors, with Ellie on his back. He moved slowly and carefully, Thomas was patient and gentle, ensuring that his daughter felt safe and supported.

He felt an overwhelming sense of love and pride for his daughter. Ellie was his everything, and he would do anything for her.

"Daddy! Faster!" Ellie giggled, her small hands squeezing his shoulders excitedly.

Thomas obliged, carefully picking up the pace just a little. Ellie's laughter filled the air, and for those few moments, any worries and fatigue faded away as George and Sybbie joined in the fun, running alongside them and pretending to chase after them.

As Thomas carried his daughter, he couldn't help but feel an overwhelming sense of love and pride. Despite all the challenges they faced, Ellie was a beacon of happiness and hope in his life. She had brought so much joy and purpose to his existence, and he was grateful for every moment they shared together.

After a few minutes of playful antics, Thomas gently lowered Ellie back to the ground, giving her a warm hug before setting her up with some toys to play with. He watched her interact with George and Sybbie, amazed at her ability to find joy in the simplest of things.

"I love you sweetheart," Thomas whispered, kissing her forehead.

"I love y - you too, Daddy," Ellie replied, wrapping her arms around his waist as best as she could.

With a heavy heart, Thomas left Ellie to continue her play with George and Sybbie. He knew he had to get back to work, but he couldn't shake the feeling of longing to spend more time with his children. As he walked away, he promised himself that he would find moments to cherish with Ellie and Finley, no matter how busy life at Downton Abbey became.

Throughout the day, Thomas found himself stealing moments to check on Ellie whenever he could. He made sure she was comfortable and engaged, taking breaks to play with her and share precious father-daughter moments.

~

As the evening descended, the household settled into its nightly routine. After dinner, Thomas returned to his room, and Ellie followed closely behind, eager for her nightly routine with her father.

"Alright, Ellie, time to get ready for bed," Thomas said, sitting her down on her bed. He carefully helped her undress and then fetched her nightclothes from the dresser.

As he was tucking her in, he asked, "So, my darling, what did you get up to after I left to do my duties?"

Ellie's eyes sparkled with excitement as she recounted her day, "George, Sybbie, and I p - played in the garden, and we h - had a picnic. Mrs. Patmore g - gave us some delicious cookies too!"

"That sounds wonderful," Thomas said, glad to hear that Ellie had such lovely moments with George and Sybbie.

As Ellie settled into her bed, Thomas reached over to tuck her in and planted a tender kiss on her forehead. "How about I read you your favorite story before you sleep? The Adventures of Peter Rabbit?"

Ellie's face lit up with joy, and she nodded eagerly. Thomas wrapped an arm around her, feeling the warmth of her tiny body against his. As he began to read, his voice filled with tenderness and care, transporting them both into the magical world of Peter Rabbit.

In those quiet moments, the bond between father and daughter grew even stronger. Thomas knew that life at Downton Abbey could be unpredictable and demanding, but he also knew that the love he had for Ellie and Finley was a source of strength and purpose.

As the story came to an end, Ellie's eyelids began to droop, and her breathing softened. Thomas kissed her once more, whispering, "Goodnight, my precious girl. I love you more than words can say."

And in that moment, as he watched his daughter drift off to sleep, Thomas knew that the love between a father and his children was an unbreakable bond—one that would carry them through the challenges and joys of life at Downton Abbey and beyond.

 Ellie turned her head to look at her father, her bright eyes meeting his gaze. Despite her challenges, she had an unmistakable spark in her eyes, a determination that Thomas found both inspiring and heartwarming.

Thomas placed a gentle kiss on top of her head, cherishing this intimate moment with his daughter. He knew that life had thrown them both some difficult challenges, but they faced them together with love and strength.

With a contented sigh, Thomas closed his eyes, still holding Ellie in his arms, and drifted off to sleep. In that moment, the troubles and worries of the world seemed to fade away, replaced by the overwhelming love he had for his daughter and the unbreakable bond they shared.