The following week Elise spent hunting across the London for affordable furniture after her office hours. She had to prioritise, of course. Her salary was not enough to buy the furniture and pay the rent. Let's not forget the bills. She had to live practically at O'Donnell's until she could afford to live at her flat. Didn't that leave a sour taste in the mouth! The Irony with a capital I! This time she did see Amelia smirk. Mrs Penham was puzzled, of course! The only time she ever came to the flat was to clean it on weekends. She had left china untouched of course; the clothes were moved out three days later.
Elise had thus taken working at a bookstore after the office. That way she could afford buying furniture and paying bills and kept herself from getting bored. You can only take so much of being around old people not belonging to your time! It was hard enough back home. She didn't have much to do at home and Tom wasalways sleeping as all babies do till three months. The job gave her 'alone' time andthe perk of reading any book she wanted. And it also allowed her to observeinconspicuously the people of this time.The pay was not much but the pecks of the job covered it.
When she paid the rent with the advance as promised Elise finally moved in properly. She had enough to buy toiletries and food along with other essentials though she still slept at O'Donnell's. Beds were awfully costly she had thought sourly. Tom had looked at the flat with interest when he was not sleeping. As expected Mrs Penham was flabbergasted at seeing baby in her arms.
"Is it a boy or a girl?" asked Mrs Penham cooing at the sleeping Tom.
"It a boy. His name is Tom." Answered Elise smiling at Tom. She knew where the conversation was heading. She wanted to see if Mrs Penahm was noble enough to be straightforward.
"Good classic name! So is he your friend's?" she asked looking at her, smiling. Guess not! Just my luck. She could already imagine the long talks.
"No! He's mine." Said Elise looking scandalised. If she was going to have this conversation (read interrogation) she might as well have some fun!
"Oh! I am so sorry, dear. You just look too young to be a mother." Said Mrs Penham apologising. Could have fooled me!
"What with the war going on it's never too early." Said Elise sniffing a bit.
"Oh dear! Forgive me, Mrs Lane." Said Mrs Penham this time looking really ashamed and sorry. Hook, line and sinker! And look at that! A gossiper with conscience. Hmm, must be the high morality.
"It's Miss Lane actually. It is too painful . . ." trailed away Elise looking forlorn.
"Yes, of course. Would you like some tea?" asked Mrs Penham but Elise started climbing as if she hadn't heard her.
It had felt pretty weird to be called Mrs Lane. Her life was good so far; she had great jobs, a beautiful flat and people to call family. Her routine was perfect too – wake up in the morning, straighten things up, feed and ready Tom, drop him off with Amelia, work from eight to four at the office then go to bookstore after dinner till nine then pick up Tom from Amelia and finally go to sleep. Till Tom turned four months. The nights became a bit longer; it was only her violin playing that contained the situation. A wise investment! Buying violin was like killing two birds with one stone.
As each month passed she bought one new furniture, first came the bed followed by two old fashioned long backed armchairs and a teapoy, two tall bookshelves, a sheet stand and never forget the bedspread, curtains and carpet. It was amusing watching Tom look at the monthly new addition with fascination and interest.
Amelia looked around in awe, it was their first visit to Elise's flat after she'd moved back. Bookshelves to the walls; wingback armchairs facing the French windows at the other side of the hall near the fireplace betwixt them a teapoy. The whole flat looked homey.
"No dinning table?" asked Patrick looking around.
"Seeing as the kitchen is custom made for one person and the only adult in the house being me, I see no reason to waste on one." Replied Elise holding Tom.
"And where are you serving dinner?" asked Patrick looking curious.
"Why on the teapoy, of course!" answered Elise handing Tom to Amelia. Patrick simply chuckled.
"Of course!"
"And where will you both sit?" asked Amelia, playing with Tom.
"I shall sit on my very clean and fluffy carpet while Tom can sit with either of you, of course!" replied Elise with a winning smile.
Amelia rolled eyes, Patrick laughed and Tom looked at them with interest. They sat down to eat and as always Elise fed Tom first. She was very thankful that Tom was not a fussy baby, just picky one.
"Delicious as always!" said Patrick and Amelia nodded in agreement as Elise finished feeding Tom. Thanking she cleaned up Tom and sat down to eat as she watched O'Donnell's feed Tom dessert.
"He is growing up fast. Only yesterday he was a new-born!" said Amelia cooing over Tom as he played with his jigsaw puzzle on the carpet.
"Yes and I am already dreading taking him to hospital." Said Elise.
"He'll be fine. Won't you Tom?" said Amelia cooing at Tom.
"So I hope." Said Elise dryly. She had taken Tom to the hospital a week after adopting him. The new-born's were protected till six months due to the antibodies in breast milk but since Tom was not on steady diet of breast milk she was worried. Surprisingly he had fussed very much! Now that he was actually going to get vaccinated, she shuddered to think what might happen.
Tom had surprisingly not shown any signs of magic till now; that might be because he didn't need to, he was well taken care of. No flying milk bottles, no apparting out of cradle and most importantly no Talking to the snakes. Elise hoped this miracle would last till the vaccination day. Can't have a freaked out doctor!
Elise took a day off to take Tom to the hospital; she knew it would take a whole day to appease him. As expected he kicked up a lot of fuss, thankfully not involving accidental magic. Grinning, she took Tom to ice cream parlour, which immediately brightened his mood.
Elise looked as Tom slowly ate ice cream; Tom was a very adorable baby, had everyone wrapped around his little finger, to some extent even her not that she'll ever admit it out loud and a very curious thing. Getting him to sleep was a mini war in itself! And he loved listening to her read the books she had picked for him, Amelia was surprised to see Tom listening keenly as she'd read. Elise had then smiled at her in triumph. Weekend as promised were spent at the O'Donnell's. Amelia and Patrick had become Tom's grandparents who as any other were very indulgent. She had had many one sided conversations with Tom after they came home!
Amelia and Elise were sitting on the picnic blanket watching Patrick pointing out around the park to Tom. It had been Amelia's idea of spending the Saturday. It was a sunny day in June.
"You should spent more time with Tom, he always misses you." Said Amelia.
"I know, I am thinking about quitting the job at bookstore." Said Elise.
"Finally! What took you so long?" asked Amelia rolling her eyes.
Elise playfully scowled at her. She knew Tom missed her very much; she missed him too and wanted nothing more to be with him all the time. That's why she had been planning a mini holiday for just two of them. She had thought her possessiveness over Tom was just the bi product of newly acquired maternal instincts that will pass in a week or two. Boy was she wrong! Every time she saw Tom in Amelia's hands she felt a twinge of possessiveness.
Patrick looked up as the door to his office opened to see Elise walking in; he looked at her questioningly. Elise simply handed him a letter and watched him read
"I have been planning this vacation since Tom turned four months. But if it is disagreeable I shall cut it short to whatever you suggest, sir." Said Elise.
"Two weeks in Oxford, eh? Couldn't you have waited for holidays?" asked Patrick looking nonplussed.
"That would be in December at Christmas and my son's birthday, which I want to celebrate with my family, sir." Replied Elise calmly.
"Two weeks is too long. Twelve days?" asked Patrick.
"Twelve days it is then." Said Elise with a smile.
"If that's all." Said Patrick.
Elise nodded and returned to her office. Exactly as I planned! The basic rule of bargaining – show big figure and you'll get what you actually wanted. She wanted Tom's first trip be to the first educational centre of the England and also because it was one of her family's traditions, of sorts. One of their most academically unambitious ancestors had once visited Oxford; inspired by its beauty and history he joined the college to study Arts. Since then the children were taken to Oxford and Cambridge Universities, the later because of its historic connection.
Elise was trying to bring up Tom according to her family traditions and his intelligence was a major factor in this decision. Intelligence was a dominant gene in their family as such they had quite a bit of eccentric habits and traditions unique to them. Nothing I haven't seen was a very common utterance amongst the older members, which attested to the fact.
As soon as they stepped into the house Patrick told Amelia about the vacation. Tom squealed and started crawling towards her as soon as he saw her. Elise laughed and waited till he reached her to pick him up. Tom had started to crawl when he turned seven months in July and ever since the little terror had become unsustainable; she had to baby proof the house even more now that he crawled every inch of their home. Even Mia had not been this active! Picking up Tom she hugged him and kissed on his head.
"Elise are you really going to take Tom to Oxford? He is still a baby and can catch something! Most certainly not when there is an on going war!" Said Amelia turning to look at her.
"Yes and I am well aware of all that you said but Tom needs to see more than just a park and us! He is certainly old enough to travel small distances and Oxford is the safest place right now. I have been planning this long enough to consider all the variables. Don't you trust me Amelia!" Said Elise calmly, pulling the guilt card to give an extra nudge.
"Elise you are the most mature and level headed girl I have ever met. Of course, I trust you but you could have informed us beforehand!" said Amelia.
"To inform Patrick beforehand would be unethical. And it's only for twelve days." Said Elise.
"As I have said before, you are old enough to make your own decisions we are only worried about you both." Said Patrick.
"I shall be very careful and phone you the moment I reach there. Let's not worry about what is a week away." Said Elise rationally.
"So you are leaving on October 1st." Said Amelia looking at the calendar.
"Yes. I'll be off then. Be good!" said Elise kissing Tom again. Tom fussed a bit, something, which had become a daily occurrence now a days and as always it broke her heart. Waving goodbye, she walked out the door.
Freshening up she made dinner and as always ate while reading the newspaper. Reaching bookstore she told the owner that it would be her last week at the store. He had become upset and offered a raise but she declined.
The week passed quickly and they were now standing at the station. Elise quickly boarded the train holding Tom and carrying bags. She sat down with Tom in her lap and waved at the O'Donnell's along with Tom who was imitating her. They laughed at Tom and the train began to move. Waving one last time she leaned back into her seat. Finally she was going to spent quality time with Tom whom she had started to regard as her son since the past nine months. It had taken her one whole month to acknowledge that fact. Sighing, she kissed Tom who gave a smile and started playing with him.