As I mentioned last time, dear reader, my sister is staying with me for a few weeks. I say my sister because Auntie Ember raised us both. Lettie, that’s short for Violet, came to live with Auntie Ember after her mother died, and me, well, after they found me near the forest. For as long as I can remember we have been close and always did everything together.
When we were little girls we would play for hours, in the garden or in the house, acting out the faery tales Auntie Ember would tell us at night. Lettie was always the princess, and she really looked the part too, with her rosy cheeks and long dark hair. Oh goodness, she used to do the most dramatic faints. And when we went outside to the grocers or to the post office, she would hold my hand to make me feel better when people stared. They always stared.
Lettie met Peter a few years back when he was apprentice to the tailor by our house. She would gush over his newest creations and he would praise the little things she added to her dresses, like ribbons, or lace, or embroidery… and dear reader, she is so skilled at it! The details she created on her wedding gown were simply amazing. And she has only improved since they married and started their own dress shop. He sews and she trims. Peter is a very kind man and they are very happy together.
But after the wedding, with Lettie moving out and the two of them starting the new shop, well, it seemed I was home alone more and more. Even Auntie Ember was busy outside, helping the neighbors and creating remedies. Left with all that time to myself, I began to think about my past and wonder where it was I had come from. That was when I decided to move to Greenwood.
It was almost a year before I could go back home and see everyone, and now Lettie has come to visit! It’s too bad Peter didn’t come, but Lettie said someone had to tend the shop and he wanted to give us sisters some time alone together. Things are different from when we were girls; now we are both fully grown. But it has been such a long time since it was just the two of us, and I’ve already had a grand time showing her the countryside and introducing her to the new friends I have made here in the village. She already knew Mrs. Hume and her husband of course, since Mrs. Hume is old friends with Auntie Ember, but she had not seen them for many years. So it was really a treat when we were invited over to tea along with Mary and Elise to catch up.
Most of the time was spent chatting and snacking. Mrs. Hume had the most delicious cookies out which she and Elise had made together earlier that day. Mary dunked a few in her tea and Lettie, ever indulging her sweet tooth, must have had five. Sadly I wasn’t feeling very hungry, so I only had one.
Mrs. Hume was very curious about Lettie and Peter’s new shop, and after a little coaxing Lettie was pleased as punch to tell Mrs. Hume and everyone all about it, how she had such fun with her husband going to see all the newest fabrics from the suppliers, how they worked together late into the night creating various designs, and how once the baroness of Larksville had paid a visit to their establishment and ordered not one, but two new dresses which she planned to wear to her next appointment in the capital. Elise was very impressed and Mary said how sweet it was that the young couple worked so well together. Mrs. Hume noted how valuable it might be for someone in the capital to show off their creations. Lettie simply beamed. I could see how happy she was to be doing what she loved with the man she loved.
The conversation moved on to the topic of Solmar. Unlike most holidays in Olkaria, I’ve never celebrated Solmar in the traditional fashion with a big bonfire. That seems to be more of a country practice. Mrs. Hume explained to us that along with a full day of festivities, including different games and competitions, it is a tradition for everyone in the village to bring a branch to add to a big pile for the bonfire, and then at sunset it is set alight. Lettie squealed in excitement, “Games and excitement! What fun it will be, Sonya! We will go, won’t we?”. I agreed that we should. It did sound like fun, but, oh goodness…a full day and night of celebration with so many people? Well, I will have to make sure I am well rested.
Before we went Mrs. Hume also gave us some roses from her garden, white and red. She said they reminded her of us when we were young, like the two little girls from the story. I think she means the one with the two sisters who do everything together. One is supposed to be as white as snow while the other is red as a rose. I told Lettie that I must be leaves. She rolled her eyes and snorted. But then with that odd expression, the one I had seen her with on a few occasions since she arrived in Greenwood, she said that the white roses were for me and the red for her. She squeezed my hand and I could see her eyes were misty. It gave me pause. If she means by nature, then perhaps she is right. Red suits Lettie. She has always been so bold and vibrant. As for me, well, white is quieter… perhaps a bit more shy. Anyway dear reader, I just thought I’d share a bit about my dear sister with you. Violet has grown to become a wonderful woman and a highly regarded seamstress. Yet it feels as if no time has passed between us and Lettie and I are just as when we were when we were young.