I kept all this to myself. But for all that was holy, this child would have a pair of skates before next Saturday, even if I had to beg Alexander to return mine and get her a pair instead.
“What will you make with the fish?” I asked.
“Soup. I got some turnips down in the cellar.” She flashed her shy smile. “I grew them all by myself.”
“How clever of you,” I said. “Did you keep the seeds and starters from the year before?”
Her expression darkened. She looked away and dug into the popped corn bag with new vigor. I couldn’t be certain, but I suspected she’d stolen the turnip starters from Alexander’s garden. If only he’d known, I’m sure he would have gladly shared. Regardless, this child was a survivor. If she had to steal from a neighbor’s barn, then she would do it to stay alive.
Again, I silently cursed Kellam. What kind of man made his child steal for food so he could fritter away any of his wages at the saloon?
We were at the entrance to the driveway now. A puff of smoke above the tree line hinted at the house where Louisa lived with her father. She’d managed to empty the bag of popcorn, which had dimmed the glint of hunger in her eyes. I took the bag from her. If she took the evidence into the house, who knows what could happen?
Louisa jumped from the sleigh before Alexander could get out to help her. “Thank you for the ride.” And with that, she began her trudge through the snow toward the thicket of trees that hid their shack from the road.
Fiona didn’t wake when Alexander carried her into the house and up the stairs to the girls’ room. It was nearly three by then, and she usually took an hour and a half nap. I watched from the doorway as he took off her boots and covered her with a blanket. Moved by how gentle his large hands were as they brushed her curls away from her cheeks, I had to fight the lump in my throat.
When she was settled, Alexander nudged me into the hallway and shut the door behind us.
“Harley brought the Wu family over this morning,” he said. “Should we go down and say hello?”
I tugged at the collar of his jacket. “Maybe a kiss first? We’re all alone for once.”
He pulled me close. “I can’t think of a better idea.”
After a long kiss that left us both breathless, we headed downstairs. Before we took the stairs down to the kitchen, Alexander stopped me for another kiss.
Alexander introduced me to Mrs. Wu and Li as the schoolteacher, Miss Cooper. All very proper, which made me want to giggle after our kisses.
Mrs. Wu and Lizzie were at the island rolling out some kind of dough. Apparently, Lizzie had changed her mind about Mrs. Wu only looking after the girls. Given the delicious smell of the dumpling filling, I was pleased she’d done so.
“We’re making dumplings,” Lizzie said. “Mrs. Wu is teaching me her old family recipe.” Cooking didn’t require a shared language, I thought, as the two women seemed in perfect communication.
Li and Fai were at the table eating from steaming bowls of chicken soup. Despite their frayed clothing, the children’s hair was neatly combed and their faces clean. I sat next to them at the table. “I’m glad to meet you. Are you looking forward to school?”
“I’m not sure,” Li said. “I’ve never been, so I don’t know what to expect.”
“Do you like to learn and meet other kids?” I asked.
“I think so.”
“Then you’ll love school.” I turned to his little sister. “Did you know you’re going to have a friend to play with here at the house?”
She nodded as she scooped broth into her spoon.
“Lizzie told us,” Li said. “Grandmother was happy.”
Alexander joined us at the table, taking the chair next to me. “Li, please let me know if your grandmother needs anything.”
“Do we have to sleep on the beds?” Li asked quietly as he looked into his now-empty soup bowl.
“You don’t want to?” Alexander asked.
“At home we sleep on mats,” Li said.
“Whatever your grandmother tells you to do is fine with me,” Alexander said. “But I think you might like a bed.”
The kitchen door flew open and Flynn, Theo, and Cymbeline piled into the room, breathless and arguing over who was the fastest skater. They stopped in their tracks at the sight of Mrs. Wu.