Love In War

One

  I loop my arm with my sister. Charlotte and I were sent off to buy supper. "Bessy...?" I hear my eleven year old sister's soft voice from beside me.

"Hm..?" I hum out in response as I am glancing over the small piece of parchment in my hand, the shopping list Mama sent us with.

"What do—" She stopped mid sentence, once we felt someone bump into us.

I look up to see two people; a man and a woman, both who look near my age. The man looks apologetic, however, the woman looks disgusted as she brushes off her skirt. I disregard it as I smile softly,

"I am deeply sorry, my sister and I must not have been watching where we were going. Again, my apologies."

Before the women could speak, the man smiled and responded, "Oh, do not feel the need to apologize, Miss. It was completely our fault."

I smile softly, "I assure you, Sir... It was our fault and we apologize." I gently tug my sister's arm so we can walk away. Little did I know, the man's gaze lingered on me and my sister as we walked away.

 Once we were out of earshot, Charlotte suddenly said, "That man was handsome, and he looked your age~" She gave me a cheeky grin. I sigh softly. He did look nearly eighteen... my age.

"Char, he might have been handsome... And he might have been my age, but he was clearly upper class. Did you see the way he was dressed? The way he walked and talked? The way he stood? He's wealthy. And that woman by his side, she was wearing a ring. She must be his wealthy, upper class wife. Or at least his fiance." I look away from Char once I sense her giving me one of her unsure yet sassy glances. I continue walking arm in arm with her. The rest of our shopping and walk home was rather quiet. Neither of us have spoken a word. I push open the light brown wooden door as I finally say,

"Why don't you go ahead and wash up. Then you and I can make supper." I didn't wait for a response, I walk into the kitchen setting the ingredients down on the table. I hear the sound of Mama walking into the kitchen. I turn, saying

"Hey, Mama. How has your day been?" I look up to see Mama's warm smile as she gives my arm a slight squeeze.

"My day has been the same as any other day, my dear. How was yours? Did anything new or exciting happen?" My mind drifts back into the moment of that man. He was quite handsome. Wait. No. I must not think of such things. He was clearly married or, at the least, engaged to that breathtaking blonde haired, blue eyed woman who was stood at his side. She was beautiful. I bet they'll have a happy life together. I clear out of my head when I felt my mother grab my hands,

"Are you okay, Elizabeth? You didn't answer my question." I feel ever so slightly embarrassed. I can't say what was really on my mind. That I was daydreaming about a, possibly, married man...

"Oh... Sorry, Mama. I just had... drifted off into my thoughts for a moment or two..." Is all I could think to respond with. If only that was the full truth. Luckily, no one questions it.

"Well anyway, I found this today. The announcement to the Winter's Ball. It is to be held in three days. The twelfth of December. I hand the flier over to Mama so she and Char can read over it. I wanted to get a new gown for this event, but I know we don't have the money so I won't mention it. Char smiles in an excited manner as she reads over the announcement before squealing,

"Ooo! Can we get a new gown for the ball?!" Mama sat and thought for a moment. Even if  she decides yes, I'll tell her I don't need a new gown. We really don't have the money for it. But Char at least deserves a new gown. If I'm not mistaken, this is my sister's first ball. So once Mama smiles and says,

"Yes, of course, Charlotte. You both may get a new gown for this ball." I almost instantly speak my mind,

"Oh, Mama. I don't need a new gown. I'll just wear one of my older ones to the ball.." Mama just squeezed my hands gently as she spoke

"I'm the parent here, my dear... Don't worry about the finances. Go out with your sister tomorrow, the both of you will each purchase a new gown for this ball."

I sigh softly. I dare not argue with her, despite my urge to do so. "Yes, Mama.." Is all that I can bring myself to mutter.

"Char," I start as I look over at her, "Let's go ahead and make supper so that way we can eat and then get ready for bed. Most of the dress shops and tailors are nearly an hour's walk away." She didn't respond as she walked over, starting to help get ready to cook. She's making dinner while I am starting to make an apple pie from scratch.

While I am rolling out the dough, I gasp when I felt flour hit the left side of my face. I  look over to see Char giggling with a fist full of flour.

"Oh! It's on, Char!" I grab a fist full of flour, throwing it on top of her head.

This turns into both of us laughing to the point of tears, throwing flour back and forth until dinner and the pie were both done.

"We should wash our hands before we eat. And, then we can clean the flour off of the kitchen walls and floor." She nods in agreement, still laughing from our flour fight. Mama walks in and sighs before softly laughing as she mutters

"Goodness..." Char and I wash our hands before I hang up my apron. We sit down at the table with Mama as she prepares to say grace before we eat.

"Dear Lord, thank you for this amazing weather and thank you for this food. And bless the hands that prepared it. Amen."

Char and I mutter our amens in order to start scooping the pork and vegetable stew into our bowls. I lift my spoon up to my mouth, blowing softly before putting the contents in my mouth with a small smile. Char has gotten pretty good at cooking. I didn't realize how fast we had eaten until we both reached the bottom  of our bowls. We look up at each other, giggling slightly. I turn to look across the table,

"Mama, would you like some pie tonight? Or would you rather wait until tomorrow?" Tomorrow is Mama's birthday. She made the request of me making her my apple pie.

"Oh, we can wait until supper tomorrow, Dear" She gives me a small smile. As the years have gone by we haven't done anything special or really even celebrated her birthday. Not since the year Papa died... And, in that same year, my older brother moved away. Benedict Lucia. My older brother, he now lives in Paris, France. I nod slightly as I stand up, taking both mine and Char's bowls. Placing them in the sink as I make a mental note to make sure I clean them in the morning. I grab a small rag and run it through water, slowly getting on my hands and knees as I begin to clean the flour off of the floor.