The Years of Riddle

Chapter Twenty-Five | Lewes, November 1959

Chapter Twenty-Five

Lewes, November 1959

Violet Lacroix sat outside her mother's hospital room, eyes on the ground, unusually still for a girl that seemed to be always buzzing about. Doctors passed by without much thought for the tiny child, who wasn't in a hospital gown, so didn't require their attention.

It was quite late, and Anthony had almost completely forgotten about his six year old, who had been waiting for several hours. Gwyn had not been doing well, and he'd been rushing about getting information – and Violet had just slipped his mind. He left Gwyn's room, closing the door gently, and leaned against the wall; closing his eyes, rubbing his temples. It had been a very long day.

"Papa?"

"Oh...Vi." Anthony kneeled by his youngest, opening his arms for a hug. Violet rushed to him, holding on tight. "I'm sorry love, I was busy with –"

"Mamma." She shrugged, still clutching him. "It's okay."

"It's not, I should have gotten Grandma to come and get you." Anthony allowed himself a few moments of peace, just holding his daughter – trying to forget about his best friend, who was lying in a hospital bed, fading away.

"Can I see Mamma?" Violet looked up at Anthony with his own eyes, and he just melted – as he had since the day she was born.

"She's sleeping right now, but tomorrow, for sure." He smiled, smoothed back her curls. "But hey, guess who I'm going to go get?"

"Silas?" Violet didn't look as excited as Anthony had hoped.

"Aren't you excited to see him?" he asked, leading her to the exit. He wanted her to sleep in her own bed.

"Yeah, but..." Violet's lower lip trembled. "If Silas is coming home from school, then...then Mamma must be really sick."

Anthony saw his mistake then. He had fought with Gwyn so hard to agree to bring Silas back, just for a few days to see her, because they honestly didn't know if she would make it to the Christmas break. Violet, though only six, knew that Gwyn wouldn't want Silas to miss school unless it was very serious.

"There's a holiday this weekend," lied Anthony swiftly. "Most kids stay there, but sometimes they come home."

"This close to Christmas?" Violet was frowning. "I've never heard of a holiday now."

"It – um – celebrates the changing of seasons." He felt so awful, lying to his child, but he hoped one day she would understand. "Lots of kids are going home."

"Are there festivals?" she asked hopefully.

"Er, yeah. But none near us, and we're going to spend it with Mamma."

Violet nodded. It made sense, and besides, there were a lot of things she hadn't heard of. Anthony wouldn't lie to her. "When are you getting Silas?"

"Tonight, Grandma and Grandpa are staying with you."

After tucking Violet in, Anthony stood in her room for a while. She was so little. Gwyn had wondered what would happen to her, when she was gone – he had reassured her that she would be around a while yet. And now Violet might not even have a mother for Christmas.

          Silas waited nervously in the entrance hall, Molly and Arthur on either side of him. He didn't need to pack anything, simply a book or two to study. His teachers had said not to worry, they understood if he didn't have time to do homework – but Silas wanted a distraction.