Saturday.7 months in.
'Katie you go and get dressed first and then Tom. Tom leave the milk alone... Noo' Screeched Gordon as he leapt across the kitchen and caught the glass milk bottle that was about to fall on the floor. 'Just sit at the table and eat you're breakfast, I could do without milk all over the floor this morning. Go on Katie, I won't ask you again; it's nearly 9'
'Where's Jill? She's meant to be helping me with my spellings this morning' Katie hung onto her dads arm.
'She's still asleep but she'll help you later. Right, dressed now!' Gordon demanded as he gently pushed Katie down the hall way and watched her run up the stairs. He stood watching after her for a while, smiling and overcome with a sense of happiness.
'Tom, you finished eating? I want to wash that bowl up. You can use the bathroom after Katie' Gordon walked back into the kitchen with a tea towel draped over his shoulder.
'Dad... you know Jill?' Tom muttered whilst pushing his breakfast around the bowl
'Yes Tom?' Replied Gordon, watching him carefully.
'She's not going to leave us is she, just like mum did?'
'No of course not, what made you say that son?' Gordon sat down opposite Tom at the table
'Well mum went into hospital didn't she and then she never came back again'
'Your mum was very ill Tom; she was too poorly to survive. Jill's not ill is she?'
'No... But I don't want her to leave us'
'Come and sit on my lap' Tom walked over and sat on his dad's lap; Gordon held onto him 'You listen to me. Neither me nor Jill are ever going to leave you and Katie, I promise. And like we've said before, Jill will only be in hospital for a few days and then she'll come home. You can even go and visit her when the time comes. Okay?' He ruffled his son's hair and kissed his head. Tom hugged his dad tightly, feeling better after having things explained to him. 'Now, go and get dressed before Jill kills me' He laughed as Tom jumped off his lap and ran off up the stairs.
10am
'Katie, can you clean the table please?' Shouted Jill from the living room 'And Tom can you tidy your bedroom up please; your dad will be home from work soon and then he'll take you out to play with your football'
Katie walked into the living room, dragging her feet. 'Can't I do it later? I want to finish off my picture.' She begged
'If you do it now you can draw for as long as you like afterwards and if you do a brilliant job then maybe we can bake some cakes once your dad's taken Tom out; deal?' Jill bargained with her step-daughter
'Fine... Jill, why are you at home and dad's at work?' Questioned Katie as she wiped down the large dining table that sat at one end of the living room; Jill sat on one of the sofa's on the opposite side.
'Well me and your dad thought it'd be best if one of us was at home at the weekends with you and Tom. And it just turned out today that dad was working.' She explained. It was true, they thought it was best the children had some one on one time with either parent so they didn't feel left out. 'Would you rather your dad was here and I was at work?'
'No, we love having you at home Jill. What will happen when the baby's born? Who will look after it?'
'Well, I'll take some time off work and then when it's big enough we'll get an au pair to come and stay here during the day. Is that okay?'
'Does that mean you'll be spending more time at home with us?'
'Yes, yes it does, if that's alright?'
'That's great' Katie chirped, smiling at the fantastic news; getting to spend more time with Jill.
2pm
'DADS HOME!' Screamed Tom as he ran down the stairs
Gordon walked through the front door, his tie hanging loose and his top button undone. He'd finished his weekend house calls and emergency ward rounds at the hospital. He barely had time to get into the house before his son said to him 'Can we go and play with the football now dad?'
'Ah football. I don't remember saying we could play with the football?' Gordon joked as he ruffled his sons hair.
'Daaad, you did! You promised that you'd take me out to play. Pleaseee'
'I know, I know; only joking son. You get your shoes on and get the football whilst I go and see Jill and Katie and then we'll go to the park. Deal?'
Tom quickly ran into up the stairs to find the football in his bedroom. Gordon walked into the kitchen where Katie and Jill were preparing to bake
'Hello Darling. How was work?' Asked Jill as she kissed Gordon on the cheek. Gordon wrapped one arm around Jill's lower back and kissed her.
'Wasn't too bad, just the usual. Nothing for you to worry about. Now what are you two up to then?'
'Jill said that if I cleaned the table we could make cakes' Explained Katie eagerly
'And she cleaned to the table so that's exactly what we're going to do' Carried on Jill whilst looking into Gordon's eyes.
'Jill, you're meant to be resting and taking it easy... especially in your condition' Gordon sighed, still holding onto Jill.
'Gordon, for heaven's sake, making a few cakes is barely pushing myself over the edge. And what condition? I'm pregnant, not dying! Now go on, you've promised to take Tom out. But if you're that worried a nice foot massage would be appreciated tonight' She added sarcastically, and kissed Gordon again followed by pulling away from his grasp to concentration on Katie.
Gordon took a deep sigh, stared at the two most important girls in his life, smiled and then turned to go out with Tom. There was a part of him that wished Jill would listen but just to see her smiling made him happy. There was a point not so long ago where he thought she'd never come to terms with the pregnancy.
That evening
'Well that's both of them asleep' spoke Jill as she walked into the living room; Gordon was sat on the sofa sipping his brandy. 'Tom was telling me you slipped over at the park?' A grin adorning her face.
'Did he now? And there I was thinking it was just our secret. You know how terrible I am with a football! Now stop laughing and come and sit down Dr Weatherill' He replied, trying not to laugh at his own stupidity.
Jill sat down beside him 'I wish I'd have been there; my husband, a football player, albeit a terrible one. Tom sounds as if he enjoyed spending some time with you though.'
'I think me falling over was his favourite bit. And how was your afternoon with Katie? I hope you didn't overdo it Jill' He looked at her in the eyes, a sense of love between the two of them
'Gordon, I said it earlier; I don't think baking a few cakes is over doing it. Calm down will you! I know I'm pregnant and I know I've got to take it easy, I am a doctor.' Jill placed her hand on Gordon's cheek and rubbed her thumb up and down. He placed his hand over hers.
'Okay okay. You are okay about everything aren't you? It's always good to talk about worries, I should know...'
'It's taken me a long time to feel happy about this baby Gordon but I'm okay about it now. In fact I'm quite looking forward to it. I do love you Mr Ormerod, we both love you.'
'And I love you both, very much.' And there they sat, embraced in a passionate embrace. Both of them happy about the situation they were in and the direction life was taking them.
