Page 64 of Alessandra (Chisholm Manor #1)

"What do you think of this idea, Nicholas? Speak plainly and honestly, please.

Do not say what you think I wish to hear," Alessandra said sternly to her brother, seeing the overwhelming surprise on his face.

"Father also offered to let you live in the house we grew up in, so you have that option also."

Nicholas stared at his sister, wondering why there were not more people in the world like her.

Already she had done so much, letting his family stay at Missinger Estate when their mother had been in her last days, and now Nicholas and his family were staying at Chisholm Manor to spend time with their father.

"Alessandra, are you sure? It seems like a very generous gesture..."

"You are my brother, and your children are my nieces and nephews.

It is important to me that Edward and I, and our children, and our parents, all have rooms established in the home there.

That will leave plenty of rooms for you and Victoria to set up for you and your children, so you will not be without space.

I would also like for any of us to be able to come and stay in the house when we wish to, as if it were our own home..."

"It is your own home," Nicholas said, amused.

"Yes but I am handing it to you to live in."

"But how will I repay you for this? You could be earning rent off the estate."

"I still will be, from the tenants," Alessandra replied.

"You will be doing me a great service by keeping the estate running exactly as it does now, without changing anything.

You also have the skills to identify any maintenance that needs to be done.

Quite simply, by keeping the manor house lived in, you will be helping me immensely."

Nicholas was in shock at what was being offered to him.

"I will certainly think about it, Alessandra, but I do thank you as it is a wonderful offer.

I do have to consider what Father has offered also, as that would provide me with something to leave my children, and I do need to think about that."

"Yes, although you could invest the funds from the sale of the house..." Alessandra responded thoughtfully, whilst not wanting to put pressure on her brother.

"I am hesitant about accepting our family home from Father," Nicholas admitted.

"I know it was his idea, but all those memories it holds for him, with Mother."

Alessandra thought about that before answering.

"Yes, but he will still have those memories, and I do not think he has offered to do it just as a token to you.

I do believe he is quite lonely and will enjoy living around people.

Perhaps he may spend his time divided between my home and yours."

The siblings walked further without having to speak any more, both having much in their heads that they needed to think about and consider.

Watching Alessandra and her extended family in their household, Edward's parents enjoyed the vitality it brought their home.

They both found her father to be communicative and a welcome addition to their household, having empathy for where he was at since Alessandra's mother had died.

The combination of their own two grandchildren, combined with the five that Nicholas had brought, resulted in Edward's mother, in particular, feeling like it was how the manor had always meant to be - full of people.

When it was time for Nicholas and his family to leave again, it was emotional for everyone, especially his father, who seemed particularly distressed.

"Father," Alessandra saw her brother say, in a rare moment of expression of his love.

"What is it? We shall see you again soon."

"I am proud of you, my son," his father said, causing concern in Nicholas and Alessandra as they heard the words.

"You are a fine father and a fine son.

Thank you," he continued, moving closer to his son and pulling him into an embrace.

It was something that Nicholas had rarely had in his lifetime from his father.

Alessandra saw Nicholas give her a look of fear at the action, wondering what it meant to have his father act in such a way.

"Father, you are welcome to come with us if you would like to..." Nicholas started to say but his father pulled away, with a small tear in his eye, and shook his head.

"No, Nicholas, I am well.

It has been a very happy time, all of us being together.

I know that it meant so much to your mother that you and your sister were with her ... when ... before..."

All of a sudden, in front of them all, Alessandra saw her father break down in a deep flow of tears.

Giving thought to how his father might not want to be seen in such a way, Nicholas immediately flung his arms around his father once more and held him tight.

It was not a usual thing for the two of them to do, but finally Nicholas felt that they, as father and son, had reached a time when it was not only acceptable, but desperately overdue and, quite simply, needed.

Edward saw his parents move away respectfully and enter the house.

After a brief look of acknowledgement to his wife, he followed, leaving only Alessandra, her father, and her brother's family to see the demonstration of love.

"Oh my children, I miss her so much ... every single day.

It does, however, make me very pleased to see both of you settled so well, and with good people beside you.

Edward and Victoria are both honest, generous, and loving people.

Getting to spend time with all of my grandchildren - that is a great gift that you have both given to me and your mother, who I am sure is looking down on all of us, with a great smile on her face," he said and paused before going on. "I do not know how much longer I shall have in this lifetime, so please always remember how happy you both made me and your mother. We never wished for more children, as we both loved both of you so much."

"Father," Alessandra said more forcefully than she expected.

She'd grown more and more alarmed with each word that had left her father's mouth.

"Father, why are you talking like this?"

"Because these things need to be said, Alessandra! Your mother's passing has made me realise that I, too, may not have too long to live.

We need to say things to the people we love, while we can.

I give that advice to you also, my children.

Make sure that you tell the people in your lives how much they mean to you. Tell them each and every day if you can, so that on that one day when they are suddenly not there, you know that they felt your love right until the very end."

Alessandra caught her brother's eyes once again.

They both suspected that something was seriously wrong, either in their father's body or his mind, but said nothing.

"Go now, Nicholas," their father said.

"Your beautiful wife and all of those wonderful children are waiting for you.

I shall see you soon, I believe?" he asked, pointing the question at Alessandra, who nodded in return.

"Yes, Father, you will travel with me and Edward when we go up to Missinger Estate, and we shall settle in to welcome Nicholas and Victoria when they move there," Alessandra replied.

"Very well then.

Go safe on your journey, my son."

Nicholas knew he was dismissed so climbed into the carriage with the rest of his family, and Alessandra and her father watched them slowly and quietly disappear from sight.

"I worry about him, Edward.

He is despondent, as if he is giving up on life," Alessandra said as they lay in bed that night, holding each other tightly.

Edward nodded in response.

"Yes, I can see it also.

I suppose it is understandable, given how much he loved your mother.

Certainly, I cannot imagine how I would be if anything happened to you, but what do we do about it?"

"I do not know," Alessandra replied.

"I will talk to Mother and Father about it when I can do so alone.

Perhaps tomorrow you could take your father out for a walk after breakfast, to get him out of the house."

"Yes I will do that, and then you and your parents can have some time alone together," Alessandra continued, suddenly aware that her family must sometimes seem like such an imposition on his family.

"Oh, no, I did not mean for that reason.

If you and your father take a walk, I shall be able to see what my parents' input is to how he is feeling."

Edward looked closely at her and saw her tears beginning.

"Thank you, Edward.

I am so fortunate to have you..." she started to say.

Edward pulled her even closer to him and no more was said.

"I do not know, Edward," his father said when Edward brought up the subject the next morning.

"I agree, he is very unhappy, but what can we do?"

All three were quiet as they thought about options.

"Could a change of scenery not perhaps help?" Edward heard his mother say quietly.

"A trip to Bath can do wonders for anyone.

Has he visited there before? Seeing something new might reinvigorate his mind."

"Yes.

It is worth suggesting I suppose," Edward said.

"Certainly, making the suggestion could not hurt.

I will talk to Alessandra when they come back from their walk."

As if sensing the discussion between Edward and his parents had ended, Alessandra and her father walked in then, making the conversation flow naturally.

"Ahh, there you are," Edward's father said, smiling at both.

"We were just discussing how lovely Bath is at this time of year.

How would you like it if we were all to go and look at some of the sights there? Perhaps we could even visit the baths.

They are very good for one's body, you know." He worded the question to everyone but directed the question most particularly at Alessandra's father, who looked up with a look of interest on his face.

"Bath! Do you know, I have always wanted to visit there," he said.

"My physician has mentioned the waters on many occasions, as therapy for one complaint or another."

Edward's mother smiled at him, pleased her suggestion may have been a good one.

"Shall we all go, then? We could arrange to rent a house that will fit all of us in.

Alessandra, would the children be pleased to visit Bath also, do you think?" she asked her daughter-in-law to divert the conversation.

"They would," Alessandra said, excited.

"Oh, it is a wonderful idea!"

And so it was arranged.