Dear Tess,

Sorry I haven’t written since before Christmas. I received your card, but I’ve been a bit of a coward when it comes to answering the questions in it. I’m sure you must be wondering about the baby and she is the main reason why I’m writing this letter.

You’re an aunt now! She arrived right on schedule and we named her Lydia Rochelle. Lydia was about the only name Darren and I could agree on and Rochelle is in honor of his older sister who has been a great help to us these past few weeks. I know you’ve never been overly fond of children, but whenever she pops by to give us a break I can’t help but wish it was you instead. I have a feeling you’d like her.

Darren has taken to calling her Liddie and I’ve followed suit. I’m not sure why I was so nervous. She’s proving to be a better baby than most. Quiet. Content to sit in her crib and watch her mobile spin. Everyone keeps telling me her blue eyes will probably darken, especially since Darren’s are nearly black but I have the feeling they’ll stay. I’d like her to have a piece of me, but more importantly you and mummy. I know you don’t agree with my decision to keep her in the dark about you lot and magic in general, but I’m thinking of her even more than I’m thinking of Darren.

I know you never threw it in my face, but you have no idea how it felt to stand by, idle as you and Rich purchased your wands and headed to school. I know that probably sounds pitiful and for a long time I felt exactly that, pitiful and helpless. I’ve never been happier since Darren and now Lydia came along. She deserves a simpler life than the one I had. I know there’s a chance she will inherit more than blue eyes from mummy, but I’d rather be more cautious than not.

To answer your other question, no, there aren’t any wedding bells in our future. I’d like to think its because I’m a modern woman, the sort who isn’t overly concerned about dresses and flowers but I quite like being a homemaker and nothing would make me happier than being a Mrs. It’s not because of Darren. Please, please don’t think badly of him, sissy. He asked me to marry him even before I got pregnant and more than a few times after. I just don’t want to get married without you, Rich and our parents there.

I know it’s partly my own fault. As far as he’s concerned I’m an only child who was made an orphan when my parents died in an accident when I was still in school. It makes me sick to write it, especially to you and especially now that daddy is doing poorly. Some days I wonder if I willed it into existence, wielding my own sort of terrible power for once, but… please tell me if he takes another turn. I’d like to be there before he goes. I can get away easily enough. I should be going. Rochelle thinks I’m napping and I don’t want to leave her with Liddie for too long. I’m enclosing a picture, her first one. It doesn’t move, but I think it captures her quite nicely. Since we are unmarried, Lydia is still a Paget! Tell that to daddy if he needs some cheering. I know it’s all a bit bittersweet but I hope it’ll make him as happy as it does me.

All my love,

Gloria