Chapter 10
"Whichever one is best at not embarrassing me." Hamish grouched, flopping into his father's chair.
"When you first arrived, I was having tea with John and Mary, who had brought you along, Sherly." He said, using her pet name.
"The doorbell didn't ring; I'd shot it a week before, so there was quite a loud knock. John pretended to fuss with you, forcing me to answer it. There I opened the door the The Woman, the most beautiful woman," Irene giggled girlishly. Sherlock touched her arm fondly before continuing.
"In her arms she carried a small replica of myself. I looked at him and I said, 'So I'm the father.' And he opened his little eyes, looked up at me and said, 'That's what I'm told.'"
Sherlock let loose a rare, hearty laugh and Sheryl could see why Irene loved the detective. Despite all their faults, the Holmes men were truly wonderful in their affections.
"So Irene came in and sat down with us at tea, with Mary cooing over him and John slapping me on the back in congratulations and you walked over and tugged on my coat. I picked you up in my arms and you asked why everyone was excited. Instead of saying anything, I gestured for Irene to carry Hamish over. We set you both on the ground and you just stared at each other for the longest time. And then…" He hesitated, ever the dramatic.
"And then…" Hamish mocked. Sheryl titled her head, wondering at what had come next. Her parents had never told her this story, and she couldn't remember meeting Hamish; he was always just there.
"Hamish spoke and he said, 'I deduce that you're boring.' He was smug about it too. And then little Sherly said, 'I deduce that you're from India and that you're a bastard.'
Irene burst out laughing and Sherlock chuckled, while Sheryl turned bright red and looked down at the floor.
"You're mum was so angry at your father for teaching you that word. Then I asked, 'How do you know, Sheryl?' and you explained that his diaper wasn't a brand found in England based on the fibers and the design, his mother had no ring on her finger, and how he should go ahead and start wearing pants that aren't for babies." Sherlock smiled, but Sheryl continued to stare at the floor.
"And Hamish replied…" Irene goaded the detective. Sheryl dreaded hearing more, but glanced up shyly.
"So Hamish simply holds out his teddy bear and replies 'Molly and I don't like you.' You two had a matching set you see; Irene sent me yours Sheryl I gave it to you when you were born. She gave Hamish the other one. You saw that teddy and you ran to the sofa and grabbed yours and said, 'Well Mydlock likes you.'
"And then all the adults asked you why the bear had such an odd name and you said his full name was Mycroft Daniel Sherlock, but he liked to shorten it. To the two of you, if the bears matched, so did you, and you've been inseparable ever since." Sherlock finished, as Irene planted a kiss on his cheek.
Hamish groaned, risking a glance at Sheryl, and was taken aback by the tears on her cheeks. Although by the smile on her face, he could tell she liked the story as much as he did.