Mrs Mason, Mrs Clarkson and Mrs King

A/N Just a little something that popped up. If I owned anything I would not be driving a 22 year old car, among other things. Hope you like it and I guess it's pretty clear who they all are….

~oOo~

Young Mrs King stood- with some difficulty, due to her swollen belly- up from the examination table, arranged her clothes and shook the doctor's hand. 'The child has turned into the right position. Everything is as it should be, Mrs King,' he told her. 'You are going to have a healthy baby.'

'Thank you, doctor,' she beamed at him. 'My Kevin wants to have a little girl, having grown up with seven brothers he says… You can't tell, can you…?'

'Alas not, Mrs King. Only time will tell, and you won't have to wait much longer I suppose. Send me a message as soon as your time comes. You're a healthy young woman and everything looks perfect, but I like to keep a close eye.'

'I will doctor,' the young woman answered, but he sensed there was something on her mind.

'What is it, Mrs King?' he encouraged her.

'It's…well, I just wanted to ask. Will you bring your wife with you?'

'I might, if you would like that.'

'I would love that doctor, thank you very much!' and Mrs King left his consulting room with a bright smile on her face.

Dr Richard Clarkson leant back in his chair and grinned. He had been happily married for almost three years now, and he sometimes joked his wife could run the practice very well without him by now. However, young Mrs King was a special case. Since she was his final patient, he tidied up the room and set out for home. He had bought a car, as suggested by his wife and it had proved to be a great help in his practice, and he enjoyed driving and maintaining it much more that he'd thought. If only it were possible to place a record player in a car. Driving along the country roads on a sunny day, the wife next to you and music playing. That would be wonderful! Lacking a record player, Dr Clarkson drove home singing. He was feeling happy and relieved; young Mrs King's baby had finally decided to turn into the right position, he had feared a very difficult birth. Mrs King's welfare meant a lot to his wife and he was glad to bring her the good news.

Five days later, Dr and Mrs Clarkson woke up at half past six because someone pulled the bell and banged at the door at the same time. Richard rushed down, opened the door and found a heavily panting boy. 'Sumner, what's wrong?'

'Mrs King sir! She's having the baby sir. She told me to fetch you and your missus, sir!'

Ah yes, the Sumner family were their closest neighbours, Richard remembered. He brought the boy to the kitchen and poured him a big glass of lemonade. 'Alright Sumner, sit down and drink something while Mrs Clarkson and I get ready. We'll take you back with us.'

'Yes sir, thank you sir.'

Dr Clarkson went upstairs to alert his wife. 'Time to get up my darling! Young Mrs King is having her baby and she wants you present as well. More than she wants me, I suppose.' Mrs Clarkson was up within seconds. 'Oh Richard, I'm so excited! It almost feels like she's my family, is that very silly?' she said, while getting dressed.

'I think not, you are her family in a way. Ready, love? Let's go then!'

They collected the Sumner boy from the kitchen, and while Richard performed the complicated series of acts that were needed to get the car engine running, Mrs Clarkson chatted with the boy. She knew his name was Colin, and like most children he was fond of the doctor's wife.

'Mr King came by and asked me to fetch you Mrs Clarkson, and I ran as fast as I could.'

'You did very well lad, your mum and dad must be proud of you! I know I am,' she said and patted his shoulder. 'I won the first price at the drawing contest at school last week,' he informed her.

'My word, that's fantastic. Weren't your brothers a little jealous of that?' The boy shrugged and his shoulders slumped a little. 'No, they said drawing is a girl's thing...they laughed at me,' he said, big sad eyes looking up at her. She couldn't help it, she pulled the boy in her arms and kissed his brow. 'You know, I bet they said that to Rembrandt as well, when he was a little boy,' she whispered in his ear. 'But that's our secret, right?'

'Yes, Mrs Clarkson. Who's Rembrem?' the boy yawned and she grinned. 'He is a great painter from Holland. Where they have all the windmills,' she told him. Colin smiled, cuddled up against her and soon fell asleep. She was touched by his embrace and his trust in her. She had to blink away a tear, but put herself together again quickly. Not all children are angels, she reminded herself.

~oOo~

They had dropped young Colin off at his home- his father had collected him from her arms without him waking up- and arrived at their destination.

Before they could climb out of the car, the door flew open and Mrs Mason ran out, looking very upset.

'Mrs Mason! Anything wrong?' Richard hurried to get his case.

'No, I mean I don't know, Mr Mason says it's all normal but she's in so much pain!'

'I see,' Richard answered. 'I'll go and see her right away. Darling, can you take care of Mrs Mason for now?' He went inside without waiting for her answer, leaving her with a smile on her face. He always called her Mrs Clarkson when they were with patients. Hearing the endearment told her he was seeing this family as his own extended family, just as she did. She took the very upset woman to the kitchen and put the kettle on. Not only for tea, but Richard might need hot water soon, she knew. Meanwhile she began to calm Mrs Mason.

'It's all right dear. Babies are born in pain. Mr Mason is right, he's been there before, he knows. Calm down, please, your daughter will need you…. Yes I know that! but she's your daughter more than anyone else's.'

Many a young mother to be wished her mum to be present at childbirth, but Mrs Clarkson knew Mrs Mason would be utterly useless. She fixed her a cup of tea and slipped a healthy drop of valerian in. 'Here, drink up dear, it will do you good,' she told her. Taking sips of hot tea actually calmed the woman down. They sat together, having small talk, admiring little baby jumpers and knitted baby footwear, and Mrs Mason was finally able to relax somewhat.

Mr Mason had been with his daughter in law all the time and now entered the kitchen.

'Good morning Mrs Clarkson! The doctor wants hot water and towels, and my daughter in law wants to see you. Thank you for looking after my wife, I'll take over now.' His pleasant mood told her everything was going well. He carried the hot water upstairs for her, she brought the towels and a small blanket that had been warming near the fire.

Ready to welcome a new baby into the world.

~oOo~

TBC…if you like it, please let me know!