“Okay!” Maddie raced out of the kitchen and up the back stairs. The sound of her youthful footsteps carried into the room.
“You don’t have to walk her again if you don’t want to,” Gray said as he leaned against the counter near the sink. “If I didn’t know better, I’d say my daughter has you completely tied around her little finger.”
Victoria grinned as she set her breakfast dishes in the sink. Claire was usually in the kitchen bustling around even though Gray did most of the cooking of the morning meal. They had hired help who kept up the house and a woman from Hardman who cooked lunch and dinner for them. Nevertheless, the past two mornings, Claire had not felt well and stayed in bed.
It gave Victoria the chance to spend time with her brother and niece. She cherished Claire, but it was nice to reestablish her relationship with Gray and work on forming one with his lively little girl.
When Gray and Claire came for a visit during the summer, Victoria felt like she hardly had a chance to get to know Maddie before it was time for them to leave. What little opportunity she did have with her had been enjoyable.
Victoria had been awed by Maddie’s talent with the violin. To call her a prodigy seemed an understatement. In all her years of hearing violin music and seeing some of the finest performers in the world, Maddie far surpassed their talents yet the child was only five.
Gray was quite talented at playing the violin, too, as well as creating them, but he’d chosen to continue living in Hardman where Maddie could enjoy being a child without any pressure to be anything more.
Although Victoria wished Gray would reconsider moving back to Philadelphia, or even Boston where she’d been staying with Aunt Octavia, she understood his reasons for wanting to live in Hardman. The community was welcoming, quaint, friendly, and homey. She had no idea how to explain it, but she’d felt at home since she’d arrived in town three weeks ago.
Now that November had arrived, bringing with it chilly weather and frosty windows, she thought the town would lose some of its charm. Only it hadn’t. If anything, it just seemed cozier. She loved walking with Maddie in the mornings when the scents of woodsmoke, coffee, and bacon floated in the air. She’d made it a habit of dropping by Elsa Drecker’s bakery after leaving Maddie at school to purchase a cup of something hot to drink and, occasionally, a pastry or sweet roll.
Victoria could hardly believe her brother, who had once been a world-class violinist, was the one who cooked breakfast and seemed quite capable at any number of domestic chores. She supposed living alone in the woods for four years made him proficient at most tasks out of sheer necessity.
She admired Gray for fleeing Philadelphia and starting anew just to keep Maddie safe. The reason why he was forced to flee made her stomach clench in knots of regret. Rather than succumb to the guilt, she shoved it down and smiled at her brother.
“I’m sorry Claire still isn’t feeling well. May I bring home anything for her? Something that might help her feel better?”
“It’s kind of you to offer, but I don’t know what she needs. I told her if she doesn’t feel better in the morning, I’m going to insist she see the doctor.” Gray gave a concerned glance toward the kitchen doorway that led to the hallway and their bedroom.
“I’m sure it’s nothing to worry about, Gray. If you like, I could stop by the doctor’s office and ask him to come out,” Victoria offered as she washed the dishes. Gray picked up a towel and dried them.
“I’ll let her be for today.” The way he emphasized the word “today” let her know he would make sure Claire saw the doctor tomorrow if she wasn’t markedly improved.
Victoria nodded in agreement, making an unspoken pact with Gray to support him in insisting Claire visit the doctor, if the need arose.
When the last dish was washed, she dried her hands, pinned on a hat, then held out Maddie’s coat as the rambunctious child raced into the room. Maddie rammed her arms in the coat sleeves and yanked on a pair of pink mittens.
While Victoria slipped on her coat, Gray settled a pink knit hat on Maddie’s head, handed her a pail with her lunch, and kissed her cheek. He picked her up, gave her a hug, then set her down with a smile. “Have a good day, Maddie Mae. I love you.”
“Love you, Daddy! Mrs. Guthry is going to take us on a walk today.”
“Oh, that’s right,” Gray said, reaching for Maddie’s scarf and wrapping it around her neck. “I hope you see lots of fun things.”
“Me, too!” Maddie grabbed Victoria’s hand and pulled her toward the door.
Victoria smiled at Gray, lifted a basket to carry home any purchases she might make in town, and followed Maddie outside into the brisk morning air.
On the short walk into town then on to the school, Maddie chattered incessantly about her friends, about the upcoming Christmas season and her hopes to be in the play at church, as well as the new song she was working on composing.
“Do you think you’d let me hear your song?” Victoria asked as they neared the school.
Maddie shrugged. “Not until it’s ready.”
“Oh, I see,” Victoria said with mock solemnity. “I shall anxiously await the moment you are ready to perform it for us.”
Maddie giggled. “You’re silly, Aunt Victoria. But you know what?” the child asked, clasping Victoria’s hand tightly as they reached the schoolyard.
“What, darling?”
“I love you. Bye, Aunt Victoria!” Maddie gave her a quick hug then raced off to play with Maura Granger and Erin Dodd. Although the two girls were older, they always invited Maddie to join them.
Victoria watched the group of girls as they skipped over to the swings and started to play. Alex Guthry, the schoolteacher, waved at her from where she stood on the school steps, watching the children. Victoria returned her greeting then headed into town.
In no rush, she meandered down the main street, admiring displays in windows. She smiled at the sight of a wreath fashioned of wheat adorning the church’s front door. She wondered who’d created it. As she considered all the people she’d met since arriving in Hardman, she assumed it was most likely Ginny Stratton. The woman seemed good with those sorts of things, as did her sister-in-law, Filly Granger.
A smile touched Victoria’s lips as she thought about the Granger family. Luke and Filly lived on the opposite end of town from the school in a beautiful home where Victoria had enjoyed a few meals as their guest. Filly was a perfect hostess and one of the best cooks Victoria had ever met. Luke’s sister, Ginny, was married to Blake Stratton. The man was a talented worker of wood, and he also raised horses. Dora and Greg Granger, Luke and Ginny’s parents, had a massive, imposing home where she’d heard the Christmas Carnival was hosted every year on Christmas Eve. Victoria knew Gray had been asked to allow Maddie to play the violin, to which he’d readily agreed. From what Claire said, the event was one the whole town participated in and looked forward to each December. Victoria could hardly wait for it because Alex Guthry, who used to be a prestidigitator, promised to perform a magic show.
Victoria’s smile widened as she thought of how often Luke seemed to find a way to work the word prestidigitator into a conversation. According to what she’d heard, everyone teased him about it which only seemed to cause him to say the word even more.