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“We’re making mince pies.“ To all concerned it seemed, distractions were in order. Sandy had decided it was time to put that sod out of her life and that, meant proving to Mia, she could get on with her life, bring it back to the normal happy state, it had been before he had messed it up for them both.“
Terry headed into the cellar to tidy things up, grab some kindling and move some of the logs upstairs not forgetting to top up the coal scuttle. Mutter, mutter; things to do. Stopping for a glass of sherry, mid morning. Ah yes, could put some of that into the mince pies.
What about Mia eating them; with Sherry in them? “Sounds well wicked momma.” ‘Cooking', Sandy pointed out to Mia. ‘Burns off the alcohol. In that case, how about a glass of? No! No sherry for you miss. Coca cola now in her hand Mia decided putting together a snowman might not be such a bad idea after all. .
A carrot and the old black hat kept for such an occasion, the snowman finally completed with pebbles for the eyes, it was opportune as Mia remarked, for a selfie followed by the usual snowball fight.
Ah indeed, energy well spent! Terry did protest, at both of them throwing snowballs at him, BOTH of them at the same time. The deadly duo! His protests drowned out by laughter. Suddenly Sandy let out a howl and ran towards the house.
The mince pies rescued from the oven, were, luckily NOT burnt! The meat pies in the oven were almost cooked and the vegetables Mia and Susie had cooked, including potato fritters, would soon be on plates in front of them being devoured by them.
“Thought we might take a walk later? Don’t want you getting fat young lady.“
“Mama!“ "Finklers wood is nearby. Kind of eerie though and they say, it’s haunted.“
Mia looked at Terry, smiled. “What ghosts and things.“ “Suppose so. Rumor hereabouts, of strange things, ghostly goings on! Howls at night and.“
“Yes Mr Grimm. That will do.“ Sandy rolled her eyes, shook her head as she looked at Mia. “Othewise someone won’t be getting to sleep at night.“ “No such thing as ghosts. Nor ghouls. All in the imagination. Fairy tales and such like rubbish.“
“Did you hear that!“ “Thomas Lamb! Behave yourself.“ Mia had put her mince pie on the plate to one side of her. Terry had gone to the refrigerator to fetch some cream for them. Sandy had taken the plates to the sink.
The mince pie rose mid air, hovered and then dropped into Mia’s lap. There was a squeal as they both looked back, at Mia. “Did you see that, my mince pie!“
She grabbed at the pie bringing it up into view from her lap.
“Was on my side plate and then in my lap.“ Sandy looked at her and then at Terry “See what I mean, no more silly stories Mia, behave!" “Honest Mama.“ “I thought you said, you didn’t believe in them?”
Sandy turned back to the sink, to fill a tumbler with some water, as Terry took the cream and poured it into a small jug. Mia had replaced the mince pie on the side plate. Poking it, prodding it somewhat vexed that it stayed put?
She went to move the plate in front of her. The mince pie rose again, mid air, to move back and drop once again into her lap. Another squeal from her. “Mia! “
They, were now moving towards the table to sit. Ignoring Mia. once again trying to convince them, that the mince pie had moved of it’s own accord.
Terry couldn’t stop laughing. Mia he noted had scrunched lips! Annoyed that she was NOT being taken seriously?! She poured some cream on her mince pie holding firmly onto it as she raised it to her lips the cream moved to spray across her face?
Sandy was trying hard not to laugh, too late as she realized she was unable to stop herself from laughing, almost choking. A slap from Terry across her back and that piece of mince pie shot out to disappear into the ether.
"Shame on you Thomas Lamb.“ “Kids, I love kids! They can be so much fun. Specially at an age where they can’t see you, unlike that spotty little tyke last summer.“
Mia was being told off. “You can stop this farce now or face the consequences.”
What that might entail Sandy was currently unsure of but with any luck, the lack of moderation, the severity of the threat intimated by her tone of voice, might just have its effect. Mia scowled and went quiet.
“Poor little darling. You! Come with me. Leave them alone Thomas Lamb.“ Unseen by them, the door to the cellar opened and then closed. “Always got to spoil my fun woman.“
“Fish for tonight?“ “Fish pie or fish cakes, will do fine.“ Terry took the ingredients out of the freezer and left them on the side. “Are we ready for that walk?“ Mia was now stood in the hallway, putting her coat on.
She was insistent there was no ‘ambiguity’ on what had happened, it had!
Which meant, she needed to keep her eyes and wits about her. Those whatever they were, ghosts, goblins or ghouls, were not, going to catch her out again.
On Terry's suggestion, Mia had run upstairs to fetch her scarf and gloves, well, borrow some of Nina's. There were a stack of them that she had in a drawer, would, he thought fit her tiny hands. “Well I suppose ghosts take her mind off that scum.“
“Ah remind me to give Joules a ring when we get back, I clean forgot.” Terry pulled open the drawer to the hallstand. Gloves, ah yes. Several pairs and above on the hooks, scarves! “Favorite color?“ Mia interrupted him. “Mama’s is yellow!“
“Then yellow, it is!”
From in amongst the scarves he pulled out a yellow scarf with red polka dots on it. From the drawer a pair of yellow gloves. Sandy slipped them on to make sure they fitted. "These are beautiful, soft leather, lambs wool lining."
His bobble hat? Mia was teasing him. "Green with a some white stripes. "American football NFL Packers colors!" "Ahh!" Terry glanced at the gloves and scarf Mia had chosen. Hello Kitty in Pink!
All wrapped up, they stepped out into the sunlit snowy landscape. “Follow me as I know where the path goes that will take us into the wood.” “This must look beautiful during the spring.“ “Or the autumn! My favorite time of the year, for the various colors of the leaves.“ 
There were birds darting amongst the branches. “A Robin redbreast.“ Mia pointed as they looked at the bird in front of them.
“Can we have a bird table?“ Mia had ventured the question, much to Sandy’s surprise. Terry nodded.“I think, when we get back Mia, there are some seasoned bits of timber in the barn, that we can use to make one. Now where to put it?”
“Somewhere we can sit and watch the birds feeding. What about in front of the main room, window. Overlooking the back garden.“
“Excellent Mia. It can sit on the patio during the winter, so we can watch the birds coming to drink and eat.
In the summer, we can move it onto the lawn,
so we can watch from the conservatory.“ “Conservatory?“ “Oh heck! Clean forgot to tell you, let alone show you the other rooms.“ “Just how many rooms are there.“
Terry was laughing. “The housekeeper who's not seen the whole of the house yet!" She scrunched her lips, just like Mia had done. Another round of laughter from him. "Glad you find it so amusing!" "6 bedrooms?!”
“Not forgetting, the conservatory, three front rooms, the main room and the kitchen oh and of course, the downstairs bathroom and upstairs bathroom.
The garage, the two outhouses, the barn and all that’s missing though I suspect we haven’t found it yet; is the Partidge in a pear tree.” “ and the cellar Mama.“ More laughter, even Mia this time was grinning.
“Oh you two think it’s funny do you? As for you missy, who do you think is going to be helping me with the housework!" Mia now scrunched her lips. "Mama, I shall plead child exploitation!" Terry found that hilarious, there was another peal of laughter from him.
"I think, whilst you two, make that bird table, I am going to have some tea with those delicious choc chip cookies I made earlier and then do some exploring. after that I will also, sort out the evening meal“ Hmm bird table or join her mother for some cookies and a coca cola? Nope they could wait.
“The cellar? I don’t advise you go down there, the stairs are narrow and a little steep. It’s had a clean up, only coal, logs, kindling, odds and ends.” He paused before a further round of laughter. "Might even be ghosts down there!" Starting to run towards the barn the hiss of Sandy’s voice in his ears with Mia laughing. “Ghost’s indeed, there’s only going to be the bottled variety here - now where’s the wine cellar.”
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