Golden Box Book Publishing GBBPub February Magazine | Page 26

“For our baby,” she said with a smile. “Granny says it’s due in May,
either the first or second week.”
“Is she sure?” he asked, for lack of something else to say.
Marie nodded. True to her Granny’s word, on the eighth of May the
following year, a girl was born to the proud parents. On the day of her
christening, all the guests commented on how sweet and tender the
child was, with such a pleasant disposition. She was baptized Ella
Marie Elizabeth, but everyone called her Ella. As Ella grew and the
years passed, these early compliments held true. By the time she turned
five she was her parents’ pride and joy, but she wasn’t spoiled.
Shortly after her child’s birthday, Marie fell sick. The physician said
it had something to do with her lungs. He gave her all sorts of
medicines and potions to take, but nothing worked. By September she
was so weak she couldn’t lift her head without an effort. When summer
turned to fall, the Minister came and gave her the last rites. That night
she’d sent for Ella and held her in her arms for the last time.
“Always remember, my love, that if you need me I’ll be there. I’ll
always help you.” she told her, but it was barely a whisper.
The next morning the physician came again but it was too late.
Marie had died in her sleep a week before her twenty-second birthday,
but there was a smile on her lips when Charles found her as if she’d
been having a pleasant dream. She was buried a week later behind the
house, in the yard she and Ella had played in together and where they’d
grown up.
But all that had happened four years ago. Ella was nine now and
growing more and more beautiful every day. She amazed him! Even
during the saddest of times she had the sunniest disposition of anyone
he’d ever known. Marie’s death had taken a toll on him, yet Ella took it
all in stride. Of course she’d cried when her mother died, but it wasn’t