a winter story, part two

by: Olivia Dale

"Your biscuits never seem to rise, do they, Janet?"

"Oh, Janet, really, can't you do anything right? This tea isn't even warm, let alone hot." Great Aunt
Eliza complained minutes after entering in the house. "This house is drafty, too, I might add." she said covering her shoulders with a shawl. "Oh, and where is that husband of yours with my luggage? It's taking him years, not that I have many more years left to waste, you know."
She finished with an abrupt sip of her now cold tea.
Janet sighed, all ready irritated with her aunt. But, she decided firmly to herself, she would make Great Aunt Eliza's stay pleasant, no matter what. She turned to her youngest daughter. "Oh, Cecily, will you please see where your Father is with the luggage," she bent closely to the child's ear and whispered, "And tell him to hurry up, Great Aunt Eliza is getting grouchier by the minute." She swiftly turned around to her aunt and smiled brightly. "I'll set another pot of tea on the kettle for you, dear." she said, filling the pot with water. "My, isn't it a lovely surprise that you came to visit us, Eliza, how long do you plan to stay?" Janet asked sweetly.
"Oh, not that long, mind you." Eliza said, sipping her tea. "A month, two months. Maybe even three."
Janet's eyes widened at the thought. Not long, she said. Two to three months!.....oh dear, and right in the middle of lambing season too, Janet thought with a sigh.
"Oh, of course, dear, stay as long as you need to." Janet told the old woman who sat across the table, nibbling delicately on a cookie.
"These cookies would taste a lot better with raspberry jam, don't you think, Janet? These seem to be a bit more drier than usual." Eliza said, pointing to her cookie. "Would you mind getting me some of your raspberry preserves, Janet?"
She'll be eating me out of the house, too. Janet thought with a grunt as she trudged off to the pantry.
A scrawny old woman she may be, but boy! she sure has an appetite!
"What's for supper?" Eliza called over her shoulder, still munching on a cookie.
"Mother was planning on baked beans, a roast, mashed potatoes with gravy, and homemade biscuits. And afterwards a cherry pie." Felicity told her great aunt.
"Oh, that sounds good, Felicity." Eliza squealed, taking another bite of her cookie.
"But of course, Great Aunt Eliza, I do most of the baking. Though I suppose Mother will fix this evenings meal because I will have to help Father with the lambing."
Janet came walking in with a jar of  her prized preserves. "Here we go, Great Aunt Eliza, raspberry marmalade. This summers fruit." she said, placing the jar on the table.
"Oh, thank you, Janet." Eliza said, immediately slathering a big glob of jam on her cookie.
"Well, I should go see to the lambs, I'll see you later, Great Aunt Eliza." Felicity said, heading towards the door.
"Felicity seems so mature for her age, doesn't she Janet?" Eliza asked.
Janet smiled. "Oh, yes, she certainly is growing up." she said, sitting down and started peeling potatoes.
"Felicity is much more mature than you were at that age. You were always gallivanting around with Alec, much to your Father's displeasure." Eliza continued.
Janet blushed. She hated that old story being brought up again. To Janet's great relief, Alec, Hetty, along with Felix, Cecily holding baby Daniel, and the dog, Digger, came inside, making Eliza forget about the story she was bound to tell.
Janet smiled and continued peeling potatoes. Now they can keep Eliza company for a while. Janet mused.