“It’s my day off today, and I intend to go to the market with Daisy. Do you want me to fetch you something from the market?” Sarah inquired of Henry at the breakfast table as they savored some blueberry muffins she had baked early in the morning.
Henry’s mind wandered to his broken radio, which still remained unrepaired due to missing parts. Unsure if the market carried items like wires and tubes necessary for the radio, he considered that obtaining working batteries might be a more feasible goal.
“Batteries, I suppose, for my flashlight,” he mentioned, silently adding on the intention of procuring them for his portable radio. His plan to communicate with the Consehannon military remained undisclosed.
“Okay, anything else?”
Henry shook his head in response, and Sarah nodded, making a mental note to fetch batteries for Henry’s flashlight. “I’ll also buy you a new flashlight, just in case yours won’t work despite having the replacement battery.”
“I would appreciate that.”
“Mama, can we get some ice cream? Please?” Daisy begged Sarah, blinking her eyes with undeniable adorableness.
“Well, it’s still cold. I think it’s not suitable to eat ice cream in this weather, sweetie,” Sarah replied gently. “How about some hot cocoa instead? We can buy cocoa powder and marshmallows as well. Do you like that?”
“YES!!” Daisy happily exclaimed, clapping her hands.
She devoured everything on her plate almost as swiftly as lightning and promptly headed to the bathroom without any prompting to bathe or brush her teeth. Sarah shook her head, amused by her daughter’s unwavering motivation when it came to food.
“Do kids always need to be bribed for them to do something’?” Henry muttered under his breath, but Sarah caught his words and let out a soft chuckle.
“So, you bribed her too, yesterday,” she remarked, still chuckling. “What did you say to sway her?”
“I told her I’d buy her some toy when I return to Viscardia.”
“Oh dear,” Sarah exclaimed, clicking her tongue. “Daisy never forgets a thing. You should’ve promised something you could actually deliver, like buying her some candy or the like.”
“Well, she’s worried if I’d leave.”
A moment of silence settled over the table.
Sarah had pondered the matter. Of course, she felt a pang of guilt for weaving tales about Daisy’s father through Henry. Yet, even if only for a brief spell, her daughter could relish the notion of having a paternal figure. Sarah couldn’t shake the memory of Daisy’s excitement when she announced her Papa’s return.
At least, for a little while, she can feel like she belongs. The kids in the neighborhood taunt her for not having’ a father around. I went through the same when my mom left me, and I won’t let my little girl endure that.
“I have to go, sooner or later,” Henry emphasized, and she needed to comprehend that.
“She won’t stand in your way of leaving; I promise you that,” Sarah assured Henry. “I’ll manage whatever comes after.”
“Alright, then.”
Sarah and Daisy strolled hand in hand through the bustling marketplace. Prioritizing the purchase of batteries and a flashlight, Sarah navigated the stalls before turning her attention to essential household items and ingredients for their meals. Fortunately, her modest garden yielded a supply of fresh vegetables and fruits, allowing her to economize instead of relying solely on the market.
With the storm now subsided, though a lingering chill lingered in the air, the streets were gradually returning to normal. While some repairs were still required to address damages, it appeared that the town was resilient, having weathered the brunt of wartime hardships.
“Hello, Daisy!”
The enthusiastic greeting came from Mr. and Mrs. Johnson as they spotted the lively child on the street. Sarah acknowledged the couple with a nod and a warm smile as they approached their vegetable stand in the market.
Mrs. Johnson immediately enveloped Daisy in a tight hug, treating her as if she were her own. Sarah understood the depth of Mrs. Johnson’s longing for her own daughter, who was away in the main city pursuing university studies. Mrs. Johnson often shared that she saw glimpses of her own daughter in Daisy.
“Can I get some apples and oranges, Mr. Johnson?” Despite the array of fruits and vegetables flourishing in Sarah’s backyard, maintaining apple and orange trees proved to be a bit challenging.
Henry could benefit from them to restore his strength and bolster his immunity. Sarah recalled hearing him sneeze and cough inside her room—while not alarmingly frequent, it was evident he had a mild cold. Sarah envisioned whipping up some fresh orange juice and baking an apple pie for dessert that evening.
“Is someone ailing in your household?” Mr. Johnson inquired as he prepared Sarah’s requested fruits.
Right. Sarah nearly forgot that in their town, it was customary to offer apples and oranges to someone unwell as a gesture of well-wishing. She had done it automatically, momentarily overlooking the tradition’s significance.
“Did you catch a cold after the drenching in the rain?” Mrs. Johnson joined the conversation.
“No, I’m not sick. I’m alright,” Sarah replied. “It’s just for making some-”
“It’s for Papa! He’s at home, and he’s a little sick!” Daisy eagerly interjected.
There it was. Sarah sensed the impending barrage of questions and mentally prepared herself for the onslaught.
“Your husband returned? Since when? Can we meet him? How did he arrive? Is he well?” Mrs. Johnson fired off questions in rapid succession, and Sarah could only hope she had a way to gracefully sidestep them.
“Well, he just got back, and he’s resting. As Daisy mentioned, he’s a bit under the weather, so I’ve advised him to stay indoors for a while.”
“We’d love to meet him someday,” Mr. Johnson expressed, and Sarah mustered a forced smile.
“Oh, you will. I’ll introduce him when the time comes.”
Sarah briskly concluded the conversation upon receiving the purchased fruits. She sighed heavily, realizing that the entire marketplace was now privy to the news of her husband’s presence at home. This included the girls at her workplace, who relished making her life difficult and were more interested in her personal affairs than their own.
But, at least, the rumors surrounding him and Mr. St. Claire would finally cease.