Childhood Memory (Finn Shelby)

Part 24

The year working in Boston flew by. Elsie managed to convince Ada to let her live with her and Karl. Her birthday also went so now she was legally an adult at eighteen years of age. She had also missed Finn's birthday which also went by, she did send him a birthday gift (a beautiful vest-jacket to go with some of his suits). One Christmas went by and the second one was rolling up. This also meant she almost could go home.

"Elsie? I've got a letter from John, it has both of our names on it" Ada shouted from down the stairs.

"Alright, I'm coming" Elsie ran down the stairs and sat next to Ada on the sofa, "what does it say?"

"He's having a New Year's  party, and he's sent us Christmas cards. So did Arthur, Michael and Polly. Isaiah and Finn sent you one as well"

"Are you going to go to the party?" Elsie questioned.

"Yeah, you should too. Ask Mr Woodward if you can stop working there a bit earlier, I'm sure he won't mind, you've already gone beyond what he expected anyway"

"I guess you're right. Alright, I'll go too. Would we be going there before Christmas?"

"Yes, I think'll be good, we can give them their presents without having to pay to get them sent over" Ada said.

~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~

Elsie had managed to convince Mr Woodward to let her leave a few days before Christmas. She got paid and spent the last day in America shopping for last minute Christmas presents for everyone.

Eventually they did get on a boat to England and then got driven by Ada's chauffeur to John's new house. It was a big country house which had plenty of room for the kids to run around at.

Ada's chauffeur opened both doors for the ladies and he grabbed the bag of presents they got together for John, Esme and all of their children.

John invited them in (minus the chauffeur who waited in the car) for a drink. "I thought we'd lost you to the great white way of Broadway" he said looking at Ada and then to Elsie, "and you to that big shot Stud"

"No. Well, this beats Watery Lane, John" 

"Does it? Take a seat, I'll grab the kids"

"Oh, it's alright, we're not stopping" Ada told him. "We're just dropping off their presents for tomorrow. I don't want words on Christmas Eve"

"It's my house, you're welcome" John offered Ada a drink of whiskey but she shook her head and then he offered it to Elsie who accepted and sipped it.

"It's okay. Elsie's probably going to stay with Finn and I'm staying with Polly" Ada told him.

"She's in a bad way" John told Ada, taking a sip of his whiskey.

"I'll bring her to her scenes" Ada told him.

"Michael's already tried that"

"I'll get through to her"

"You still going to come to the party on New Year's Eve?" John questioned the girls.

"Yeah" Both Ada and Elsie said but Ada carried on, "who else is coming?"

"Arthur, Linda-" John started to list when Esme walked in.