Somewhere along… during the night, Amelia awoke. As to just why, she didn't quite know. She lay still beside her lightly snoring husband, telling herself to go back to sleep. Finally, with a soft, irritated sigh, she gave up the fight. Amelia smoothly got out of bed, drew on her favorite robe, and went down for some tea. That was it, she told herself, I simply need some tea...
She made her way down to the kitchen, and set about to making herself a hot, soothing cup of tea… Earl Grey, her favorite. After brewing her tea, she took herself into the living room, and snuggled down into a plush armchair beside the fire. After she had finished her tea, she felt drowsy, and soon she had finally fallem asleep.
When she opened her eyes the next moring, she felt someone gently rubbing her shoulders. She smiled, and looked over to see Delbert sitting beside her, gently trying to wake her up.
"Good morning, honey," Amelia said softly, and kissed him. He smiled over at her. "Do give me a moment to throw on some clothes, and I´ll be right back," she told him. She got to her feet, made her way upstairs and put on some clothes. When she had finished donning her clothes, she was surprised by a most unwelcome bout of nausea.
"Hello, not again," she muttered to herself, placing a slender hand upon her abdomen. Normally, this would be something most unusual for Amelia. However, it had been going on like this for a week now, and her overprotective husband, the Doctor, had finally coaxed her into making an appointment to see a physician.
Once her stomach had calmed down, Amelia made her way back down to be with her Delbert, Jim and Sarah. Since the Benbow Inn was still under constructsion, the Hawkins lived with herself and Delbert for the time being.
"Good morning, all," Amelia said and took a seat beside Jim, who was the only one seated at the time.
"Good morning, Captain," Jim greeted her. He then yawned hugely, stretching.
"It would appear that you are in need of more sleep, James," Amelia observed with a smile.
"Believe me, I'd love to, but… I can´t, Ma'am," Jim informed her. "I'll never get all the things I need to do done, if I sleep the day away, Captain."
"Ah. So, in other words, your mother has told you that you may not go back to bed," Amelia responded matter-of-factly, as if it were the simplest thing in the world to determine.
On the other side of Jim, Sarah sat herself down with a laugh. "You're right, Amelia. But how did you know?" Sarah asked, pleased but surprised.
"You should know, Sarah. Woman's intuition, of course," Amelia said. "Besides, that's the way a mother is supposed to act, don't you know."
"Of course," Jim said with a wan grin. "What are the odds of you ever being one?" Jim observed under his breath.
"Actually, Mr. Hawkins, that's none of your business," Amelia responded tartly, arching a graceful eyebrow at the red-faced Jim. "And if I were to be, my experience would be vastly different than your mother's, I assure you. My species, felinids, don't usually have only one offspring. No, female felinids generally have "litters"," Amelia said with an expression of distaste. "Wretched expression, that. 'Litter', indeed! But, be that as it may, where was I? Oh, yes. You see, Mr. Hawkins, we bear at least two children at a time," she said while looking at Jim. "Not an experience I look forward to."
She was interrupted from saying anything further as Delbert laid a plate of food before her. She looked down at it and groaned. "Dear Delbert, must you always give me a plate that I'm certain that Mr. Hawkins would have trouble finishing?" she asked, her nose wrinkling in dismay.
Jim frowned, and looked over at her plate. There were five---count 'em, five!---sliced crumpet halves on the plate, as well as a glass of cold milk beside it.
"Shoot, ma'am… that's not all that much," he told her.
Amelia shot him a sharp look. "Perhaps not… but, I am not---if you may of noticed---a growing teen-age boy with an apparently boundless appetite," Amelia commented wryly, looking dismally down at her plate.
"Please eat, Amelia," Delbert pleaded with her. "It's simply not healthy to starve yourself, dear heart".
Amelia looked up at her concerned husband, and her resolve melted. "Oh, very well, dear," Amelia sighed, and began to eat. After she had finished the last slice of her second crumpet, she chance a look at the clock.
"Well, goodbye all. I simply have to be off, or I shall be late for my appointment," she declared, wiping her lips daintily with her napkin. Then she slipped into her coat and left them all to their own devices.