12. A Battle for the First Kiss!

The seasons came and went, and it was now the end of the year. In what felt like no time at all, almost a year had passed since Violet was born.

“It’s almost time for Flür National Day. I couldn’t do much last time around because I was carrying Lettie, but I’m back to pitching in this year!”

“All right, all right. Have it your way.”

“Hooray!”

I’d stuck to polishing silverware back when I was expecting, but this year my body was traveling a lot lighter. Now that I’d gotten Mr. Fisalis’s approval, I was going to pull out all the stops and do my part!

Violet had Mimosa and Daisy to look after her, so she’d be fine without me. Despite all my early objections to having a nanny, I was learning to rely on her these days. It was great to have her around.

* * *

Between the cleaning blitz and setting up the mistletoe decorations, preparations for Flür National Day were slowly but surely coming together.

But that wasn’t the only occasion we had to celebrate this time—Violet’s birthday was likewise drawing near.

“I’m glad to see Miss Lettie reach her first birthday in good health.”

“We’re as delighted as anyone to watch her grow up so fast.”

The servants seemed more excited for Violet’s big day than the national festivities.

“That should do it for the end of the year and New Year’s feasts. Now to figure out what I’m doing for Miss Lettie’s birthday.”

“Woo! I can’t wait!”

“You can count on Uncle Cartham!”

Over in the kitchen, upon finishing his preparations for the New Year’s meals, Cartham turned his attention to the menu for Violet’s birthday celebration.

“She’s still too young for grown-up foods, so let’s stick to a vegetable-based menu.”

“Yeah, that sounds like a good idea.”

“I’m sure Lord and Lady Fisalis will come bearing plenty of rare fruits and veggies!”

Good timing on their part.

My in-laws were going to be staying in the capital from the end of the year onward. Whenever they came to visit, they always brought us ample fruit and vegetables from their territory as a souvenir. That was sure to include all kinds of produce we didn’t have here in Rohze; no doubt Violet would be thrilled.

“There are so many delicious vegetables grown in the Fisalis territory! I’m a big fan myself.”

“That’s the beauty of farm-fresh produce.”

“Exactly!”

I was practically drooling at the thought of the salad to come.

“Now what should we do for dessert?” Cartham wondered, his mind already elsewhere.

Dessert?! Oh boy, I’m hyped already!

Wait, no! I’m not the star of this celebration—Violet is.

“Normally we’d go for a pastry loaded with cream and fruit, but I’ve never tried feeding her anything that rich before.”

“Precisely the issue.”

“We could take this opportunity to introduce her to a new taste...ooor...maybe not.”

“That’d be pushing it, I think.”

“Yeah, probably.”

We need a dessert appropriate for Violet, who still hasn’t learned to eat grown-up foods... What should we do?

While I was racking my empty brain, Cartham struck his palm with his fist in an epiphany. “How about a fruit tower?”

Now that sounds like a good idea!

“A fruit tower?”

“Oui! I’ll stack various kinds of fruit together, all beautifully cut and decorated!”

“Ooh, good idea! Lettie can handle fruit!”

“Precisely.” Cartham shot me a charming wink.

“Man, I’m already drooling! Won’t it be a lot of work to cut everything into pretty shapes, though?”

“Don’t worry—I’ll make Tin handle that part.”

“Poor Tin...”

Cartham’s son, Tinctorius, was supposed to be coming home for the New Year’s holidays. The poor guy was getting work dumped in his lap before he’d even arrived!

Once the end of the year rolled around, Quince—who was on break from school—and Tinctorius—who had taken time off for New Year’s—both arrived at the manor. Mother and Father Fisalis made their trip from Le Pied as well—and at long last, Flür National Day was here.

* * *

“Who cares about the ceremony? We’re all really here to celebrate Lettie’s birthday.”

Very candid of you, Mother Fisalis.

“Lettie’s young enough to skip out on tomorrow’s ceremony, I’d say,” said Father Fisalis.

“Agreed,” my husband replied. “We can leave Mimosa and the rest of the servants to look after her. Vi, you’re coming with us this year.”

“Are you sure I can’t play hooky two years in a row?”

“Not a chance.”

That part aside, it was a good call. There was no point bringing a baby to such a boring—ahem, solemn ceremony.

“Okay. But I’m coming home as soon as the event is over.”

“That’s fair. Guess we’ll have to put a pin in our usual side trip.”

Mr. Fisalis and I would always go to the church downtown after the New Year’s event at the royal palace, but not this year. We’d have Violet waiting for us back home, after all.

As my husband and I were discussing our plans for Flür National Day, Father Fisalis chimed in, “Count us in. We’re going home when you do.”

“What he said!” said Mother Fisalis. “It wouldn’t do to keep Lettie waiting. All four of us ought to head home straightaway.”

My in-laws were both on board. The plan was to make it back to the manor as soon as possible.

* * *

Everyone spent the morning of Flür National Day running around getting ready to go out.

“We’ll be home soon. Be a good girl while we’re gone, okay, Lettie?”

“’Ay.”

“Have fun with Daisy and Quince.”

“’Ay!”

It hurt to leave our darling Violet behind, but that was all the more reason for us to get in and out of that ceremony as fast as we could!

And so, we left for the royal palace.

I wanted to get home ASAP—both because I wanted to get out of the spotlight and because I was nervous about leaving Violet at the manor without us. The whole time the king was giving his yawn-worthy (whoops, let that one slip!) speech, I was practically glaring daggers as I willed him to wrap it up already.

“You were paying pretty close attention today,” Mr. Fisalis said to me after the fact. It seemed I’d played the part of a good listener completely by accident.

“Next you’ll be paying a visit to the sanctuary, correct?” His Majesty asked Father Fisalis, only to have his invitation unceremoniously rejected.

“No. I’m heading straight home.”

“Huh?”

“See you around!”

With that, the entire Fisalis family stood up and took our leave. “Lettie’s waiting for us! Hurry!” was our mantra.

* * *

“Speaking of Flür National Day, I’d better give Lettie a kiss,” said Father Fisalis, the thought having occurred to him during our carriage trip home.

Good thinking! I was in too much of a hurry to remember this morning, but I need to give her a kiss under the mistletoe when we get home!

“She was born after the holiday had passed, so we never managed to give her a good luck kiss last year,” added Mother Fisalis.

“Yeah.”

At the time, I’d been convinced that if she was born on Flür National Day, getting a mistletoe kiss from everyone around the manor would make her the happiest girl in the world. The plan hadn’t worked out in the end, but she’d turned out pretty happy regardless. All’s well that ends well.

So wait...wouldn’t that make this one Violet’s “first kiss”?

“Omigosh! We’re talking Lettie’s first kiss here!”

“Huh? Oh—you’re right!” Mr. Fisalis came to the same realization. “Lettie’s first kiss, eh? I’d say that privilege ought to belong to her father.”

He looked like he meant business, but I wasn’t about to let that one slide!

“Hello? I’m the one who gave birth to her! It should be me!”

My vehement protest left Mr. Fisalis momentarily flummoxed. “Hrk...”

“Then it’s settled—”

I get first dibs! was on the tip of my tongue.

“No! But what about her pop-pop, who’s always thinking of her from afar?!”

“Would it kill you to defer to your elders once in a while? We’ve only got so many years left to live, you know! Consider Nana’s name in the hat!”

Oh, c’mon, Mother Fisalis, you’re still in the prime of your life! Funny how you only bust out the “grandma” card when it’s convenient!

“That settles it. The kiss goes to her father.”

“No, it should go to her mom! I’m the one working myself to the bone to raise her!”

“No, to her poor pop-pop who never gets to see her!”

“To her nana who loves her more than anyone in the world!”

Everyone was volunteering to be the chosen one, and not a single one of us was willing to back down. Even I wasn’t about to bend the knee on this one!

“Fine. We’ll let Lettie choose, then.”

“Good thinking.”

“You’re on!” the in-laws sounded off.

We weren’t having any luck reaching an agreement, but everyone was willing to go along with Mr. Fisalis’s idea.

So we’re going to let Violet decide. Oho, doesn’t that work out in my favor? I mean, I’m the one she spends the most time with each and every day! Ho ho ho! My condolences to the rest of you!

I went home to the manor, confident I had already won.

* * *

“C’mon, Lettie! Make your choice!”

“Um?”

The moment we walked through the front door, Mr. Fisalis, Father Fisalis, Mother Fisalis, and I all ducked under a bough of mistletoe and began calling out to Lettie.

All right, folks, it’s time for the first annual “Violet’s Favorite” Championship! The winner will receive—you guessed it—our little girl’s first kiss! Or something like that.

“What’s going on here?” asked Rohtas.

“We’re competing for Lettie’s first kiss.”

“Pardon? Oh, wait...now I understand.”

He looked perplexed at first, but a look at where we were standing (under the mistletoe) and the words “first kiss” clued him in to what was going on.

“Set Lettie down, Mimosa,” requested Mother Fisalis.

“Yes, ma’am,” she replied, lowering Violet from her arms onto the floor.

All the pieces are in place. Ready...go!

“Hey, Lettie, where’s Daddy’s welcome home hug?”

“Look, Lettie! Pop-Pop brought your favorite fruit!”

“Nana’s got an adorable stuffed animal for you!”

“Mommy’s home! Sorry to keep you waiting, Lettie.”

We clapped our hands, flashed her all sorts of enticing items, and did whatever else came to mind in our frantic attempts to win her over. Though we kept big smiles on our faces, our desperation must have come through; she did nothing but stare back at us, refusing to budge an inch.

“Lettie!”

At long last, Violet—who had been sitting on the floor of the entrance hall and staring at us unblinkingly—wriggled into motion.

That’s it! Come to me!

Everyone watched her with bated breath, dying to know who was going to be the lucky winner.

“Kee!”

Violet began to crawl towards Quince and Daisy.

“Quince?!” we all shouted in disbelief, collapsing on the spot.

The boy in question turned sheepish in the face of our distress. “Um... I don’t get what’s happening, but I’m sorry, I guess?”

“It’s fine... Don’t worry about it,” Mr. Fisalis tried to assure him, but the tears in his eyes really ruined the effect.

And so the kerfuffle ended with Quince winning Violet’s first kiss.

But there’s always next year!