Monday morning dawned bright and early, a weak sun fighting to rise in the sky. Kathleen looked out the window at the picture perfect view. The snow was like a white blanket covering everything. It looked beautiful, but she knew it wouldn’t last. It would soon turn black, as people came and went. She spotted an ambulance making its way down the street outside, the poor horse looked frozen. She sent up a quick prayer for the passenger, before turning her attention on the day ahead.
She had spoken to Bridget briefly at mass the day before, and her sister had promised to be at the sanctuary early. Carl was going to stay at Lily’s house with Teddy and Laurie. Lily felt it was too cold for the twins to leave their home, but Kathleen guessed she was also a little worried they may catch a cold or worse from the crowd at the sanctuary. The children were getting excited, counting down the days until Santa would come to visit them.
As she stared out the window, she couldn’t help but think of the children on the streets. If only there was a way to give them a happy Christmas. Given the weather, they would be struggling to survive the cold, and food was likely to be scarce as people would stay indoors where possible. She should speak to Bridget about taking some food baskets to Mr. Fleming and other families in their old neighborhood. Feeling a bit chilly, she washed and dressed quickly before going downstairs to the kitchen where Cook was already working over the hot stove. Her cheeks were rosy red, as she turned to say good morning.
“Cook, have we enough coal and wood to see us through?” Kathleen asked. “I meant to check with you before but got distracted.”
“Tommy and Mini Mike brought us loads, Miss Kathleen, so don’t you fret. We have enough to heat the whole of New York. Doesn’t it feel chilly this morning? I made hot cocoa for the children. Would you like some?”
Kathleen grinned. Cook knew her penchant for cocoa. She loved the rich taste and suspected Cook added her own special twist.
“Will Miss Bridget be here soon?” Cook asked, as she sat at the table, a steaming cup of tea in front of her.
“Yes, I am expecting her any minute. She said she would be around a lot over the next few weeks. Carl and she will be taking the children on the train in early January depending, of course, on good weather. We could be snowed in, judging by this lot.”
“Don’t be saying things like that, Miss Kathleen. I’ve had enough snow to last me a lifetime. I can’t wait for summer.”
“Don’t you like Christmas?” Kathleen asked, curiosity getting the better of her. She never asked Cook about her family, having been told it was something she didn’t like to talk about.
“I like Christmas day. I love going to mass and then seeing the children’s faces, as they open their presents, but it’s only one day. The rest of winter is miserable. I know we’re lucky here, as we have warm shelter and lots of good food, but it wasn’t always like that. I can remember going to bed cold, hungry, and terrified.”
“You were scared?” Kathleen couldn’t help asking. The idea of the kind, old woman being scared of anything didn’t seem right.
“I was, out of my wits. You see, where I lived back in Ireland was in the middle of the so-called rebel country. The English would raid our home over and over looking for people. They took my daddy away and then my brothers, didn’t care they were innocent. Daddy might have given the rebels shelter and the odd meal, but he wasn’t personally involved. But that didn’t help him at the trial. They didn’t care my brothers were underage either. They sent them all to prison in England.” Cook took out a large hanky and blew her nose noisily before continuing, “Mam had a brother in America, and he sent home money for our passage. She stayed in Ireland but sent my sister and me over here. My sister got married and went west, and I became a maid in a big house. I was lucky. The people were good to me, and the cook was a grand lady. She taught me everything I know, and so here I am.”
Cook seemed embarrassed to have been talking for so long. Kathleen was quick to reassure her.
“You lived an eventful life, Cook. And I am sorry for what happened to your father and brothers. But I am glad you ended up with us. I don’t know what we would do without you here in the sanctuary.”
“Ah, go on, Miss Kathleen. I don’t do anything special.”
“But you do, Cook. You make wonderful meals for us, sometimes out of very little, when supplies run low. You helped the children get better when they fell ill. Your chicken soup could cure a lot of people. Maybe you should can it and sell it?”
“Miss Kathleen, you get some wild ideas sometimes. Whoever heard of canned soup? Now I best get on. We are going to make sure our children have the best Christmas. Drink up that cocoa, before it gets cold.”
Cook stood and busied herself with her work, but Kathleen knew her comments had delighted the older woman. She should speak to Lily and Bridget to ask for their help in finding the perfect present for Cook. She wanted everyone to have something under the tree waiting to be opened on Christmas day.
“Says here in the paper the President is going to have a tree with electric lights in the White House. Can you imagine that?” Kathleen asked.
“Electric lights?” Cook balked. “They are going to burn down that house and maybe take him with them. What sort of things goes through people’s heads?”
“I think it might be safer than candles, but who knows. We have to make sure the children know the lights get blown out every night. We can’t risk a fire at the sanctuary,” Kathleen mused aloud, as she continued reading the paper while drinking her cocoa.
Soon the excited murmurs of children’s voices alerted her to how much time had passed. She had more than a full day’s work ahead of her.
“Thank you, Cook. That was just what the doctor ordered.”
“Hmph. I hope that doctor of yours orders you something a lot nicer than a hot cocoa, Kathleen.”
Kathleen ran, wishing she hadn’t mentioned doctors. Now Cook would be teasing her as well.