Dear December
Chapter One
Boston 1874
~
December smiled down at three-year-old Julie as she helped her get ready for bed "I wish you was my mommy."
"Were" December corrected automatically "Don't worry Julie you'll have a mommy real soon."
"And a home?" the little girl asked rubbing her eyes
"Yes and a home, and a Papa, and maybe even some siblings." December told her, making the small girl smile brightly.
"Miss Knight?" Alice the maid walked into the room and whispered, careful not to wake the other children who already slept "Mrs. Ramsey wishes to see you when you're done putting the children in this room to sleep."
December nodded and tucked Julie in "Goodnight Sweetheart." She told the girl placing a kiss on her forehead before leaving the room in search of the Ramsey Orphanage owner.
She took a deep breath before entering the large parlor that Mrs. Ramsey set in the most sipping her tea.
"Alice told me you wanted to see me?" December asked the woman when she walked into the room
"Oh yes Miss Knight I was thinking" Mrs. Ramsey said stopping only to drink her tea "It's time you get a Husband."
"A Husband? But Mrs. Ramsey I'm only seventeen."
"I was fourteen when I married Mr. Ramsey" Mrs. Ramsey took a deep breath and set down her cup of tea "Miss Knight... Please just try to understand. You've been a great help with the other children, but you are much too old to be adopted, and I just got five more orphans. We don't have room for you anymore... It's time you go your own way... wed someone. Have a family of your own."
"Can't I stay and... And work for you? With Phoebe gone Penelope could even more use the help."
"We're doing fine Penelope has got it covered" Mrs. Ramsey sighed then handed her papers "Here Miss Ritter looked threw some ads for Mail order brides... She picked out the best for you. She thinks that fresh air will do you good... I'll go get your legal papers and pack your things for you."
December looked at the letters addressed to her. Her eyes grew wide. She went in search for Penelope Ritter.
~
"Care to tell me why you've answered this man's ad for a wife as me?" December asked watching Penelope put down the book she had been reading in her room.
"Dee, Honey I did it to give you a home, a future. Read the letters, I think that this man his name is George is a good match for you."
"But Penelope How could you? You want me gone too?" December asked in tears
"No! Never! I would love nothing more than too keep you here! But Mrs. Ramsey owns this place. I just work and live in it... just read the letters, I'm only thinking of you Dee. I do love you. You are the child of my heart, Phoebe felt the same way."
~
December laid in her bed that night wide awake thinking of what Penelope had said. She turned to her side spotting the bags that Mrs. Ramsey had gotten Alice to pack. She was leaving in the morning, she couldn't believe it. Last night she had cried over the loss of Phoebe, not knowing in only a day her life would change even more.
December reached for the three letters that Penelope had told her to read. She lit the candle next to her bed hoping the two girls Laura and Jennie who shared the room with her wouldn't be woken by her midnight reading.
She opened the first letter
Dear Miss Knight,
Out of all the reply letters I got for my ad, yours stood out the most to me.
On your inquiry about more information about myself here are the answers. My name is George Wade, I am 22 years old. I have blond hair and blue eyes. I am a sheriff of a small unsettled town in Colorado territory. I'm very busy. But at night when I come home I feel the need for a wife, someone to talk to about my day, someone to Love. I desire children of my own, Girls and Boys. And yes I'd be open to adopting children as well. I have just two questions for you. What is your name? And how soon can you get here?
I look forward to your reply.
Yours Truly
George Wade
December sighed. Maybe marriage to this George wouldn't be so terrible. He seemed nice. She picked up the next letter reading the date.
Dear December,
Your name is truly beautiful! I've never heard it before in my life. Your mother was brilliant!
To answer your questions yes I have a firm faith in Christ. And I will put him in the center of our relationship. I will love you with all my heart if you'll have me.
Please answer soon My Dear December.
Yours always
George Wade
December wondered what Penelope had said to make this man so in love with her. She probably hadn't told him about her eyes. That was the reason she hadn't gotten adopted. One eye was blue and the other was brown, many people thought it odd. She sighed and picked up the last letter.
Dear December,
I am truly blessed you said yes. I will treasure you always! I cannot wait to see you, to marry you to spend my life with you.
I have enclosed your train ticket. I'll be waiting at the station. Then we will wed at once.
I look forward to a life with you.
All my love
George
December closed the letters. She'd be on the train in the morning that thought scared her; she'd never been outside of Boston. She thought about what George had said, he didn't write much in any of the letters, but what he had written was meaningful.
"December?" Laura said in a sleepy voice "What are you doing?"
December put the letters on her nightstand and blew out the candle "Sorry Laura." She said laying back into her straw mattress bed.
"Are you worried about tomorrow?" Laura asked
"Yes."
"You'll be married soon! Aren't you excited?" Laura asked
"What?" Jennie asked sitting up in the darkened room rubbing her eyes.
"December is going to leave us tomorrow. She's to be a mail-order bride." Laura explained
"I wish you didn't have to leave Dee I'll miss you!" Jennie said sadly.
"I'll miss you both." December said trying not to cry.
~
After a sleepless night December got dressed in the new tan and dark blue travel dress Penelope had bought for her. She did her hair in a chignon and placed the matching hat on with the new hat pins. She hugged Jennie and Laura tightly telling the girls to write her then went down the stairs of the only home she had ever known and quickly wiped the tears away. She said goodbye to some of the workers, and children she had grown to love before going to the awaiting carriage.
YOU ARE READING
Dear December (Letters Of Change Series Book 1)(COMPLETED)
Historical Fiction**1st Draft, this will eventually be edited!** "Excuse me sir? Will you please tell me where I can find Mr. Wade?" The man frowned slightly then pointed to the building not far from them "Thank you sir." she said as she quickly fixed her hair and pl...
