As the winter holidays came to an end, most children in the country were getting ready to take their midterm exams, and the Pelton children were no exception.
George was under a lot of stress, seeing that this was his last high school year before going off to university. His midterms were a big deal. Maggie's exams were also stressful since her grades start to truly count now, seeing that she is in year 10 (grade 9). And although the twins did have some sort of tests being handed out to them at their very young age, they still had it a lot easier than their older siblings. And Margot, she just brought paintings home.
Almost like any other household, Mr.Peltons house was nearly dead silent with the children studying in the library, but the tension and stress was loud enough to deafen any person.
In their immense sense of concentration, Annabel and Richard left the children alone most of the time, seeing them only during meal times and during times they were taking a breather to complain about the amount of studying they have to do. Annabel and Richard did occasionally get called in to help with understanding or to test the children on certain subjects, but other than that, the children didn't want anyone with them. It got too stressful like that.
"A letter for you Annabel." Samantha handed Annabel her letter, she was the one that got the mail today.
"Thank you Samantha." She took the letter from the womens hand, and with Margot holding her other hand, they walked into Richards office.
"Aren't you two just a sight for sore eyes." He smiled up at them and leaned back in his chair, putting down the papers he was looking at. His smile only grew when Annabel shot him a look. "Hey Mar." He picked his daughter up on to his lap when she came around his desk to give him the wet stick she found outside.
"It's wonderful, thank you." He kissed the top of her head and opened up one of his drawers to reveal that it was filled with sticks. He added the new one to the ever growing collection and placed Margot down to go play with the few toys he allowed inside his office.
"What do you have there?" He said, getting up from his seat and heading to the couch where Annabel was sitting.
"It's a letter from my mothers neighbor in the flat next door. Why is she..." As Annabel's eyes scanned the contents of the letter, her face turned from its natural, slightly flushed cheeks to a ghostly white and her hands began to slightly tremble.
"What's wrong?" Richard sat down and took the letter from her hands and began reading while she just sat there, clamping her hands together and thinking up the worst possible scenarios.
"W-what do I- I." She began to say once he put the letter down.
"You need to go to her." Richard said and folded the letter back up while studying her face.
"But what about the children? They have exams coming up and they might need me, but my mother, she's really sick and I need to be with her. But if I leave you and the chi-"
"Annabel, it's okay. Just calm down." He took her hands in his and moved closer.
She stopped rambling and felt a small sense of safety and security just from him holding her hands.
"We'll be okay. You don't have to worry about us. I'll help the children if they need anything with their school work. And Sam and Tam are getting more independent, no need to stress over them. You need to go to your mother and focus on her. She needs you right now. Stay with her for as long as you need."
"A-are you sure? Won't the children-"
"They'll understand. And anyways, this time it's an emergency and you are coming back, so it will all be okay."
"Okay, okay. I'll, um, I'll go and pack and then I'll take the train, and, oh, I'll just get going." She hurriedly got up, Richard following her lead and she rushed to the door.
"Oh,umm, Richard?" She stopped from stepping out and looked back at him.
"Yes darling?"
She ran back to him and hugged him tight.
He stood surprised for a second before hugging her back. He did have to lean slightly down, but it was perfect. She was perfect. It felt as if they were molded for each other. He closed his eyes, really feeling the hug before all to soon, she began pulling back.
"Annabel," he called out when she was at the door again. "if you need anything, just give me a call. I'll be there, right beside you."
She could feel his sincerity with every word he said.
"You'll be the first one I reach out to if I need help." She promised him and then hurried to her room.
"Mama! I'd like some help!" George called out to her as she went down the hall to her room. She went to the railing and looked down to where he was standing beside the large library door.
"I'd love to George, but I have a train to catch and not much time."
"A train? What for?"
"Well, you tell me what a train is used for Georgie."
"Alright alright. Where are you headed and for how long?"
"I'm heading back home to my mother. But I'll be back soon."
"Is she alright?"
"There's no need to worry." She smiled at him and went to pack her clothes. She didn't want to worry him while he has exams to study for.
"What's going on with mama?" George said, barging in to his fathers office.
"Whatever do you mean?" Richard asked, he wasn't sure how much Annabel told them. So he didn't want to tell them something she didn't. "Next time, please knock on the door."
"She's going to visit her mother."
"And what's wrong with that?"
"Normally, nothing. But when she was working for Mr.Wilton, he gave her a week break to go visit her. And now winter break is over, so it doesn't make sense why she's leaving now, especially with exams coming up. Why does she have to go see her again?"
"Last I checked, Annabel isn't taking any exams so she doesn't need to worry about them." Richard said, going back to his work so he would come off as uninterested.
"Why'd you let her go?"
"Well, since she's worked for me, I haven't given her anymore than a few days off and that's unfair. And she wants to visit her mother again, so why not?"
George just sighed and left to go study again.
Richard could understand why Annabel didn't tell George the real reason as to why she's leaving, she doesn't want them to worry right before their exams.
He heard the sound of running feet on the second floor and recognized them as Annabel's, although they were heavier this time which meant that she was carrying her suit case. He beckoned Margot over when he reached his office door so they could see her off.
Tam was balling her eyes out by the door. Tears streaked down Sams face. Maggie was holding in her tears and George was nowhere to be found.
"I promise you all, I will be back as soon as I can. Now you must promise me to work extra hard and try your very best in your studies. Don't cause any unnecessary trouble for papa and be sure to eat your entire meals, alright?" She crouched down and wiped Tams tears, pulling her into a tight hug.
"No need to cry Tami. I'll be back. And I'll call as much as I can."
"You promise?"
"Of course." Annabel pulled away and Sam also hugged her. And then she got up and hugged Margot and Maggie. Richard was debating with himself whether he should hug her again or not, and when he noticed that she too was on the verge of tears falling down her face, he pulled her into a hug. He wrapped his arms around her waist tightly and she slightly went up on her toes and put her arms around his neck and her chin on his shoulder.
"Annie...if you need anything, and I mean anything, just call. Even if you just want someone there with you." He whispered to her. Reminding her that he was here for her.
She replied by leaning into him more. She felt completely safe in his arms. Like nothing from the outside world could hurt her if she just stayed where she was, with him. Like anything was possible as long as the two of them were together.
They pulled back and Annabel felt better, a lot more calm after that hug.
"I'll see you all soon." She said one last time before she was out the door.
Maggie was going to say a cheeky comment to her father, but saw the amount of sadness in his eyes that she just let it go.
"You can go now Phil." Annabel said to Phil who was in the drivers seat and who would usually be taking care of the horses, but today he was driving her to the train station because the driver twisted his ankle.
"Hold on." George said from the outside. He reached for the door and got in, joining Annabel in the back seats. "I'm coming with you."
Annabel studied his face for a second before reaching over and taking hold of his hand.
"Alright."
If George was surprised that she agreed so easily, he didn't show it, instead, he held on to her hand tighter, almost seeming like he was too scared to let go.
Annabel could understand what George was going through right now. He's already lost his birth mother, and he was old enough to still have many memories of her when she past away. So he must miss her dearly and her passing must have affected him more than he let on. The first time she's seen him be a huge emotional wreck was when she first left. And now the second time, although he wasn't screaming out and crying like last time, he was trying to calm his self at the thought of having his mother go, all over again. This must be very scary for him and he was probably be very doubtful that she will be coming back.
"I'll be back." She said for reassurance when they were nearly there.
"But what if you don't?"
"Why would I not?"
"I don't know, but what if-"
"What if you stop thinking the worst thing is going to happen? Why don't we take this one step at a time?"
"Is she sick? Your mother I mean."
Annabel sighed and pulled her hand away. She thought that he at least should know the truth.
"Terribly so."
"And there's no one else that can help her?"
"No, my father and brother have already past away and our neighbors are too busy to help out."
"I'm sorry for your loss."
"It's alright, it wasn't your fault now was it?" She grinned at him although she was hurting on the inside.
"May I ask how they past away?"
She softly smiled at his curiosity and looked out the window.
"Blasted Germans did it. My father got chemical gassed, more than half of his squad or whatever you call it, couldn't make it. And my brother, Adam, he got shot."
"They're war hero's."
"They sure are. So that's why I have to go back to my mother. I need to help take care of her until she's better."
"And what if..."
"Let's hope not."