Being a Barrow - A Sequel to Barrow's Boy

I'm Offering This Simple Phrase

December 25, 1910

     "You didn't have to spoil him, you know."

      "He's not spoiled! Besides, it's Christmas. He deserves some new things."

      Eliza could only smile at the insistence, raising her wine glass to her lips as she watched little Teddy crouch by the ground, placing a piece of his new puzzle into place. The puzzle was meant to come together to make a scene from Peter Rabbit, but not enough pieces were placed for the image to be clear. 

      "He's a smart kid, isn't he?" 

     When Eliza looked over, Augustus was watching her, an eyebrow raised. She nodded in agreement.

     "Always has been. I have no idea where he gets it." Her great-grandfather scoffed, so she continued. "I mean, I do everything I can for him. But sometimes, he just naturally knows something, and I haven't the slightest clue where he learned it."

      "He gets that from you. That natural curiosity that lets him pick up on it all. You were the same way."

      "Was I?"

      Augustus nodded, though their conversation was cut off by a little voice.

     "Mummy! Look!" 

     Teddy had successfully assembled about four pieces of his puzzle and was proudly showing it off to her. Eliza smiled, placing her glass on the side table so that she could move off her chair and onto the floor next to him. 

     "Well done, my love," she complimented him, letting him come to sit on her lap as she situated herself on the floor. "That looks like a bunny's ear to me!" 

    Teddy giggled, leaning forward to grab another piece of his puzzle. As he continued his task, Eliza turned to look back at Augustus.

     They'd chosen to have Christmas with him ever since Teddy was born; it was more familial than doing it alone in their flat and easier than going through all the celebrations on their own. It was just tradition at this point that the two of them would take the train up north to spend it with Augustus. It didn't escape Eliza either that, as her grandfather grew older, the travel became more difficult for him. Even if he claimed that he was fine, she knew it was better for everyone involved if she and Teddy were the ones to make the journey.

     Theodore was focused on his puzzle again, enough so that he moved off of his Mum's lap to continue his work on it. Eliza turned to look at Augustus again. 

     "I did invite Thomas," Eliza told him. Teddy looked up at the name, but after he looked around and failed to locate the man, he turned back to his puzzle. "But he said there's no way he could get away from that job of his."

     "Which job?" Augustus asked. "I thought he worked with you?"

     Eliza's brow furrowed as she looked up at the man.

     "No, not for months now. He's got a place as a footman at a house in Yorkshire."

     "Is he?" Augustus asked as if this were entirely new information. Eliza hesitated before she answered, eyes watching her grandfather.

    "Yes, he is. But he says the butler already seems to hate him, and Christmas is their busiest time of year, so leaving right now would be practically handing in his resignation," Eliza explained, to which Augustus nodded in understanding. He sipped from his wine, and Eliza turned to Teddy. 

     "We did send something to Uncle Thomas for Christmas, though, didn't we?"

     Teddy hummed in affirmation, nodding as he put Peter Rabbit's foot into the puzzle. Then, lips pursed, he looked over at Eliza.