Let tomorrow come

Chapter 10.

A few days later, everyone in the house calmed down. Grandma didn't seem to notice Christina's absence. It looked strange, but everyone was silent. She spent a lot of time with Mabel, Amber's mother. John and Amber played or ran in the yard all day long, except when Alice was teaching the boy. And Mabel teached Amber herself. Sometimes it was very noisy on the lawn and the grandmother shook her finger at them from the window, but she was not angry with her grandson. Ann brought coloring books for Christina yesterday; the girl was very bored from lack of attention. Dr. Wilson shared with Ann that Peter wanted to keep the girl company in order to relieve the loneliness that is so harmful for a child her age. Ann was grateful to him for this. However, she did not give up the idea of clarifying everything and talked to Marie. She withheld the details, but warned that John and Amber's rooms needed to be searched when she cleaned up and Mrs. Winnes's shawl should be found. As she expected, Marie found a mutilated shawl in Amber's room.

"He's a cunning boy, he hid it with her so that he wouldn't be suspected," Ann stated the fact.

"Young Mister would do well to be more restrained, he's very rowdy..." Marie remarked, "...and what are you going to do about it?"

"By the way, yesterday Mrs. Winnes couldn't find this shawl. We said we didn't see it. But since it was found, I will take it. Thanks for the help."

In the evening, the mistress of the house was clearly not in the mood. Anne told her everything she knew. Once again, Eugena Winnes did not attach much importance to Christina's story, but she did not come out for dinner, citing poor health. However, she called John to her, and after ten minutes in his grandmother's chambers, he came out depressed. Anne internally rejoiced. The truth has finally triumphed.

***

The next day after lunch, Christina lay aimlessly and looked out the window, still covered with blinds. Heavy November clouds floated across the sky. I didn't want to color the animals anymore. The girl felt completely sad. But at some point, the door was opened and Peter slipped into the room with two books. One was smaller, and the second was larger. He handed the larger one to the girl with the words:

"Welcome to my world. Take it, don't be afraid! It has pictures. If you like it, I'll bring you more. If you want, we can chat. If I was left alone, I would be sad. That's why I came when I had free time and will come again. Do you want?"

Christina nodded, took the book and put it on the shelf.

"Thank you, I'll read later. Why do you always read so much, Peter? There are no pictures there."

"Pictures help the imagination, but the basis is still the content. Then you will understand me. Besides, with books you are not so alone. You will learn something new. You can also imagine the characters and complete their story in your head."

"Sounds good," Chris agreed.

In general, she was an inquisitive girl, and therefore she asked Peter about everything, and he answered what he could. Three hours passed like this.

"I'll come see you once every couple of days if you want," Peter said.

Christina smiled and nodded affirmatively.

The next day, she finally risked opening the book. At first she looked at the pictures and didn't read, but then decided that she would try. Ann came infrequently, and the girl missed her terribly. But the book captivated the girl into its story, and ended faster than Christina would have liked.

Peter came exactly as scheduled and brought new picture books. Christina was very happy. During the period of treatment, they became close, and now he was not just the son of Eugena's grandmother acquaintances, but her friend.

Two weeks later, Christina was finally discharged, the burns were almost gone, but when she went outside, she felt dizzy. The dim light of the ward did its job and it was unusual to see daylight.

"Do you want to take a walk?.." Ann asked, "...As soon as you get tired, we'll call a taxi."

"Of course I want to..." Chris beamed. "...Is there a park nearby? I want to run there while grandma doesn't see."

"Little lady, you shouldn't run.You haven't fully recovered yet," Ann worried.

'"Then just let's go."

"When we get home, Marco will give you something tasty. You probably missed his food," Ann reassured.

Chris smiled, took the housekeeper's hand. And they walked, inhaling the smell of gloomy, rainy November.