Day 2 - Afternoon (2) - Smith working

[Tom Smith]

Tom Smith returned to the boarding house. He had placed down his tools and the rest of the bits and bobs he had gotten and now was facing his youngest daughter, holding her gently by the arms. Kneeling down to her height he smiled gently. "No wondering off, little one, you stay well within the walls of this Boarding 'ouse...understand Tilly?"



Tilly nodded towards her father. At least she understood that if she nodded it meant he would stop giving her the funny look that her father would give her if she had done something naughty. "Play now" she said and waving back to her Pa she toddled into thier bedroom and sat on the floor with some wooden blocks Tom had made.



Tom shook his head gently and carefully stood upon a chair, he was tall enough to reach the wooden bit of the slanted roof, here he began to repair it with the bits he had bought.

[Viviane Savigny]

Viviane down the strais slowy. Teresa was resting in a room, so she decided to prepar some tea.

She noticed Tom which was working.

Viviane: Already at work Mr. Smith? You would probably found lot of work to do I must admit. When I arrived in Colorado Springs, my Eglantine was already sick and she didn't work on the house since the death of her husband I think. I try to take back the house boardhing, but the period isn't the best here.

She looked around few seconds.

Viviane: Would you like some tea or coffee with cookies?

[Tom Smith]

Tom looked over as Viviane's voice entered the hall, he turned around saw her there with a smile on her face.
"Oh yes, I always start right away with work" Tom stopped his work and came down from the chair. Going over to Viviane, he placed the last of the money into her hand.
"Here, this is the last of the money you gave me, It's left over..." Tom gently smiled at her and listened to how she talked about the upkeep of the boarding house. "Well when I'm finished with it, Miss it will look good as new" The man nodded gently. "Could my daughter Miss have some milk and a Cookie?" he asked.

Tilly had heard a voice besides her fathers and this intrigued the little 2 year old. Getting up, she toddled over to the door and pointed at Viviane with a smile.

[Viviane Savigny]

Viviane: That isn't a probleme. I have oat or chocolats chips cookies, that is up to her taste!

She smiled to the little one and looked back to Tom.

Viviane: And if you need to go in town or somewhere at any time, I wouldn't denied to take care of this beautiful sweet heart, if that is ok for you.


She glanced to the little girl - with her eyes and hair, she could look to the children that she would never have. It was maybe not a bad thing to manage the boarding house of her aunt Eglantine after all - she is able to see many children around her every day now.

She turned toward the kitchen for prepar the snack.

Viviane: I just hope we would be able to end al the work needed. I'm not sure to be able to get the funds needed. Myra suggested about take a loan at the bank, but the income here isn't secure here, the customers come and left.

[Tom Smith]

Tom nodded towards the young woman about finace work, he was working for nothing since he could not afford his board. But he knew once the work was done he would get money from other works and pay the boarding house. This he told Viviane and he finially thanked her for this priveledge, "Miss i think Tilly would like that" he said. The man knew this would was good with children, as Tilly had taken to the young woman. She loved that woman and you could see it through her actions.
He laughted gently as he watched Tilly toddle after Viviane. Tom went back to the work, because he knew Tilly was in good hands.

Tilly toddled after Viviane. Following her, she pulled gently on the woman's clothing. "Wai" she said trying to catch up with Viviane. Giggling she toddled faster after thinking it was a game.
Grinning up at the woman she waved at her.

[Viviane Savigny]

Viviane wasn't sure about what the little wanted, but it make her laught to see her shinning curious face.

Viviane: You should help me to bring the snack to your father. Do you want to help me?

Viviane asked it, no sure about what to understood of Tilly amusing eyes. She turned bacl and pick-up the cookies box from the kithcen closet.

Viviane: Here is one for you and a second for your father. Don't est the both before reach back to your father.

On this words, Viviane made a wink to Tilly. Viviane turned back for fill the cup for bring them in the living room.

[Tom Smith]

Tilly took the cookies off Viviane and looked at them in her hands. 'Tah!' she said with a Nod of her head to the young woman. The little girl watched as she collected a cup. The little 2 year old sat down on the floor and looked up with a big grin. She was very hungry as her father forgot to give her breakfast that day because he rushed to get Lottie to school on time.

So the little girl giggled and put one cookie into her mouth.

[Viviane Savigny]

Viviane: You seem really like the cookie!

The woman was amusing to see the little guggle while showing a huge smile on her face. She heard some steps in the stairs - she thought at first that Teresa was awaken. She walked with her tea pot toward the door when she noticed her aunt.


Viviane: You aren't suppose to walk Aunt Eglantine. You should rest on your bed, please, the doctor asked for it.

The old woman look her niece - which was like her own daughter since the year now - with a sad glance and sighed.

Eglantine: It seem that I can't escape it! Tell to your uncle that I didn't found his book. He searched for it but I don't found it.

Thank the old woman up the stair for walk bakc in her room. Viviane heart was broken - the memories lost was more and more often. At least she seem remember her, which was always good to heard. But her uncle passed away few time ago.

She turned back for pick up her cookie plate but knocked on the table. Some boil water from the tea pot drop on her left hand fingers.

Viviane: Ouch!

[Tom Smith]

Tilly saw the woman whom stood in front of her show a sad painfully expression on her face. This made the little girl’s bottom lip quiver as she felt she was going to cry. Putting one hand into her mouth she rubbed her eyes all the while trying not to cry.


Tom heard a voice that sounded like it was in pain. Getting off his chair quickly, he left the tools upstairs and joined Viviane and Tilly in the kitchen.
He noticed Vivianes face and went over to her, from what he could see, it looked like she had tipped something on her fingers. “Oh Miss” he said. “May I?” he held open his hand and as she placed hers into his.

“Oh dear, you’ve hurt them quiet badly….” He paused and as he looked over at his daughter quickly, a thought came to him. “Please wait miss”.
He wondered upstairs and soon he was back down with an ointment in his hand. “I bought it today at the store…my own money of course…since Tilly seems to have a rash…” Tom took out a hanky from his pocket. “Don’t worry miss, it is clean” The man then tipped it upside down so it soaked into the hanky and then placed the clothe onto her fingers. Carefully he wrapped it around her fingers. “That should hopefully take the sting away” He said.

[Viviane Savigny]

Viviane: You didn't had to take care of that Mr. Smith, but thank you. Your daughter seem have an organized father ready for anything!



She smiled softly few seconds while saying this words, but her mind return to her pain. She removed her hand and stroke it with her right hand. She finally laughed nervously.

Viviane: How dump I could be by time. By chance that wasn't to bad, I would be able to prepar the supper. By talking of lunch, I don't remember from where you come? It could give me some idea about the various meal to prepar for all customer here can appreciate the good food.

[Tom Smith]

Tom shrugged his shoulders "miss, it was nothing..."
Tom smiled and bit his lip. "Country" he said gently. "four brothers and 2 sisters" he said.
He looked around. "Can i help?"

Tilly sat on the floor putting her fingers out and waving at the two people. "more" she asked.

[Viviane Savigny]

The woman smiled to the little girl.

Viviane: That wouldn't be proper young girl to eat too much cookies.

She turned back to the counter, fill small glass with milk and giev it to Tilly.

Viviane: If you still hungry, I have some delicious apple for you.

It wasn't cookies, but would probably be better if the little girl didn't eat well in the morning. She pick up an apple on the fruit bowl and cut few slices on the counter, while talking to Tom.

Viviane: Seem have been a nice family that you had Mr. Smith. I couldn't image really what it could be, but I always dreamed about what it could be. I lost my paretns when I was child and was adopted by my Uncle Paul and Aunt Eglantine, but they couldn't have chilren of their own. So since my uncle death, I'm the only family for Eglantine and she is my only family. That is why Dr. Mike wrote to me about her health and requested to me to come. So that is what I did, left Frisco and came to in visit, since now 2 years!

She put her knife on the counter and collect the apple slices for drop them in a small bowl before bring the bowl to Tilly.

Viviane: With all this, I totally forget your coffee cup Mr. Smith. How a bad hostess I could be sometime.

[Tom Smith]

Tom looked over at Tilly and saw the little reach for the apples and much on one peice. "One at a time sweetie, otherwise you'll choke" he said reaching over and smoothing her blonde hair.
He turned and listened to Viviane. "Well my big family did not much for me....." he fell silent. "My mother died young too miss, after my last sister...she died too" He picked up a piece of apple and gave it into Tilly's hand. "Now the last surviving of my family" he added. He turned and saw the milk in the glass. "be right back miss" he went out of the room and then returned with a bottle.

"I'll pour the milk into this....she is not to good with glasses" He offered Viviane a smile. She had been through a lot and Tom gave his heart to her, listening to the sad story. "Well miss, i think you've made a friend for life with my daughter" He watched walk about, he wanted to help, but he did not want to ask incase he insulted her.
"It is okay Miss, no worries"
Tilly took the bottle into her mouth and she smiled brightly up at Viviane. "Pretty" she said as milk drippled down her chin/

[Viviane Savigny]

The woman put back the glass on the counter, grinned to herself while feeling acward about not paid attention about this.

Viviane: A friend for life? Maybe, but I doubt she would remember me when she will be older.

She turned and walked toward the window for take a quick look outside while crossed her arms.

Viviane: I don't think be in town for next Christmas. The doctor said that is a question of months, maybe of weeks before...

She looked down while took a deep breath.



Viviane: The debt of this house and Eglantine lost all her saving, I couldn't keep this house for much time now. Myra suggest about a loan at the bank, but between you and me, I not hae the profile for this huge loan needed. The last possiblities is sold the boardhing house to new owner.

She turned back and walked toward the counter, then smiled quickly to Tilly, for try to hide her worries.

Viviane: I will bring this glass to Teresa upstair and see if everything is alright for her.

And the woman walked outside the kitchen.

[Tom Smith]

Tom watched Viviane leave. He went over to his daughter as she had the last bit of apple. 'She must have been hungry' Tom thought. "Hey sweetlil" he went down to her height and tickled underneath her grin, which made the little toddler chuckle.

Smiling Tom thought about Viviane and her problem. "What we going to do tigger" he asked her as she looked up at him. Tom was willing to listen to any solustions his daughter had, but being 2, she had nothing.

Playfully he took his daughter's nose into his hand and made his thumb look like her nose. "Got your nose" he said laughing as Tilly moved her hands out to reach it with a grin.



He lifted his daughter up off the chair and took her into his arms. "Here, Papa's putting your nose on" he said. This made the little girl smile and Tom then pretended to sneeze and put her nose back onto her. "Awww " he said as he watched his daughter rub her nose.

He leaned across and took her hands into his, he carefully helped her walk sterdy. "I think we should get some work....and hopefully little one, the money we get, we can split it between our family and some for this boarding house...". He thought about it, but wondered how he could get childcare for his two daughters, mainly Tilly since Lottie was now in school.