@playboths sent: ART ISN’T ENTIRELY SURE THAT JOHANNA WILL LIKE HIS VALENTINE’S DAY GIFT. HE HOPES SHE DOES. HE’S been planning for it for months. Once the girls have gotten settled down and are comfortably chatting and playing in the parlor, he pulls her aside and into the ballroom. He’d chosen the ballroom on purpose. It was one of their favorite rooms in the house for more reasons than one, but he’d always felt like this was the center of the house. The amount of times they’d had indoor picnics while the girls rushed about playing tag and hide and seek was too many to count. And besides, it’s just a gorgeous room. “If you don’t like it,” he says as he guides her into the room, “I’ll understand.” He takes her hand and gives it a quick squeeze before he pushes one of the ballroom’s many curtains aside. There are three perches behind the curtain, and on each perch is a different bird. They all whistle as the curtain is moved aside and Art smiles a little. “I didn’t know which one you liked best, so I got all three.” He’d remembered her saying something about liking larks and nightingales and robins a long time ago and so he’d decided to get her one as a gift. And then he realized he couldn’t decide on just one, so he’d gotten all three.
his saint valentine's day surprise is coming later that evening . . . oh goodness, not like that! ( though, she wouldn't mind if, perhaps, it does end up like that . . . ) when she asked the staff to help her prepare for it, they'd told her to wait. when she protested, they told her to calm down. she never expected to be mistress over a staff who treated her as if she were family, including the requests to simply calm herself. but when johanna realizes where her husband is guiding her to, she understands the why. his surprise for her and she's already grinning.
none of them are caged. they are free to spread their wings, but tender enough to stay put. as johanna looks closer, she begins to wonder if they can fly at all. perhaps, they are the birds left behind by their mothers. they need a home. art didn't really give her the birds. he's giving her the opportunity to love them and give them everything they need.
❝ they'll fly around everywhere, ❞ she whispers, gentle hands slowly reaching out for the robin. it's hardly a complaint with all of the joy stuck in her throat. they'll get to fly around everywhere, unlike her childhood larks. if she is free, they deserve to be, too. safe. taken care of. when the robin reluctantly and wobbly steps onto her palm, she lets out a slight giggle. johanna looks over her shoulder, careful not to disturb the bird. a thank you is perched on her lips, yet she's speechless. ❝ how could you think i could possibly choose a favorite? ❞ the tease falls out instead. she doesn't think art will mind.
❝ they're all so beautiful and can you just imagine the girls playing with them? we'll have to be very gentle at first, but they'll be good friends---all of them. ❞ another laugh. ❝ you know me so well, mr. donaldson. ❞
















