Epilogue - AKA - A Savoy cabbage, a pink pushchair and an eternity ring.
A/N Ok here comes the epilogue - apologies if it's shite, I can't make up my mind one way or the other. Thank heaven this writing business is done incognito (as well as, for me anyway, tongue in cheek in parts). Anyway have tried to tie up one or two loose ends. IMHO the cabbage trick really does work, despite leaving an imprint resembling a road map! Sincere apologies also to Tony Grounds et al.
Oh, almost forgot, there is swearing in this, so please don't read if you find it offensive. Also many thanks for the reviews on the last chapter.
...
Three days later - 15th October 2018
Charles picked up the piece of paper from the coffee table and skimmed over it. "Is this it?" he queried, glancing over in Molly's general direction. She didn't answer, being too preoccupied with Mia on the sofa struggling to get her to latch on. Mia's head was bobbing from side to side instinctively trying to find her mum's nipple but it was all the more difficult given that Molly's milk had come in and her breasts were completely engorged and tender.
"Molly, is this everything? he repeated. She could feel his eyes on her and nodded her head, wincing in pain as the baby finally clamped her mouth on Molly's nipple at an awkward angle and tried to suckle.
"You ok? Charles asked, concerned, as Molly swore under her breath.
"Never been better Charles," she hissed, shooting daggers at him, as she placed her finger between Mia's mouth and her breast trying to break the seal, ease her off gently and reposition her. Mia whimpered in protest.
Charles sighed slightly, "You don't have to do this you know. She could always have a bottle and some formula."
"No! She's not having a bleedin' bottle. I'm gonna feed her myself even if it kills me."
"Well, let's hope it won't come to that Molls." Charles joked, as he swept aside a pile of baby paraphernalia and sat down on the coffee table opposite Molly. He put the shopping list down and picked up a mother and baby care book from the pile that she'd purchased a while back, leafing through the pages, eventually settling on the one he wanted. He got up and sat beside her on the sofa, kissing the top of her head before tilting her head towards him, his eyes roaming over her. She looked exhausted; her eyes slightly sunken, her skin pale. Aware that what he was about to say could land him in trouble, he said it anyway. After all he was a Major in HM Forces and finding solutions to practical problems went with the territory. "Molls look. It says here that massaging the breasts may help with engorgement. And seeing as I'm on paternity leave now, I can always oblige whenever and wherever." He grinned at her hopefully.
She narrowed her eyes and shot him another look, suppressing a smile. "Nah. You're alright thanks... Actually that reminds me. Add another item to that list will you please?" she requested, as she shuffled Mia around on the nursing cushion so that she could try her on the other breast.
"What?"
"Savoy cabbage."
He looked at her bemused. "Why? You don't even like cabbage."
She sighed heavily, looking down at her daughter as she began to wail in her arms, having tried unsuccessfully again to latch on. Mia's own frustration and hunger now all too apparent. "Mum said I should try putting a cabbage leaf down my bra, supposed to help with engorgement apparently, somethin' about..."
Charles interrupted, taken aback. The thought of Molly having cabbage leaves down her bra ...well he really didn't want to go there. "It's ok Molls forget I asked."
...
An hour or so later
Charles dumped the shopping bags down on the kitchen table, not bothering to empty them. He proceeded to the lounge to check on Molly and Mia having called out to his wife as he'd opened the front door. She hadn't answered and he'd assumed, rightly, that she was asleep. He found them both on the sofa where he'd left them, sleeping peacefully. Molly laying down at an angle, her head supported by a cushion, cradling their daughter to her. Charles was relieved to see some colour had returned to Molly's cheeks. A mug of tea remained untouched on the coffee table, although she'd drunk the glass of water he'd left her. He turned his attention to his daughter. Mia was now snuggled up on Molly's chest, her head in the crook of Molly's neck, her rosebud lips slightly parted, her cheeks full. Charles was struck by how beautiful they looked together and felt an overwhelming rush of love for them both. He knelt down beside them, leaning in to drop a gentle kiss on first Molly and then Mia before tucking a blanket in around them both. Neither stirred and he continued to crouch next to them for a while stroking Mia's soft downy hair, unable to tear his eyes away. Eventually, he stood up, retreating reluctantly to the kitchen to unpack the shopping.
...
Molly found Charles in the kitchen an hour later preparing lunch. She glanced around the room, noting with relief that it was in a much better state than when she'd abandoned it earlier to feed Mia. He'd loaded the dish washer, wiped down the work tops and had put away the shopping as well as putting a washing load on.
"Hey," she said softly, from the doorway.
He turned around to greet her, leaning back against the counter top, returning her smile, "Hey, yourself. How's Mia?"
"Sleeping like a baby," she winked as she wandered over to him, closing the gap between them. She reached out and took his left hand in hers, her thumb tracing over his wedding ring, as her eyes met his. She stood on tiptoe, kissing his lips briefly. "Thanks for sorting this mess out. You know Bossman, if you weren't already married, I'd marry you myself."
He squeezed her hand, before letting it go and placing his hands on her hips, pulling her closer to him. "Well, it's a shame I am then Dawsey, because my current wife works me far too hard and I have it on good authority that you're an easier option," he grinned down at her.
"Really? Is that a fact?" A half smile played on her lips, as she wrapped her arms around his neck - her fingers in his curls. She chose to ignore his first comment, electing instead to focus on his second. "Easy am I?"
"Yep...very!" He teased, continuing to smile at her, before resting his chin on her shoulder and hugging her tight.
"Ouch!" she yelped, her breasts still tender. In fact, she still ached everywhere. "Not for the next few weeks or so soldier."
"Shit! Sorry Molls," he grimaced in sympathy, releasing her from his hold. "No better? I presumed you'd managed to feed Mia seeing as she's not screaming the place down and you left the breast pump out."
"Yeah. I expressed some milk off, though trying to get the pump airtight on my boobs in the first place was a bloody effort in itself. She managed to latch on eventually, after throwing one massive hissy fit. Fine pair of lungs she's got - obviously takes after you there..." She looked down at her chest missing his look of indignation. "These are still bleedin' sensitive mind."
Charles couldn't help it, his eyes automatically jerked downwards roaming over her breasts appreciatively. They were even larger now than they were in pregnancy. A fact that hadn't slipped under his radar. "Well my offer still stands Molls," he smiled, a gleam in his eye, never one to miss an opportunity.
"Mmm I bet it does Charles." She stepped away from him and opened the fridge, turning her back on him and his offer. "Did you get the cabbage?" she asked, glancing back at him.
Somewhat put out that he'd been cast aside for a vegetable, he nodded wearily throwing her the same look of distaste as before. "Please tell me you don't have to cook it first. I really don't want to have to fix that extractor fan right now."
"No!" Her eyes scanned the tightly packed vegetable box looking for the cabbage. On locating it, she took it out, pulled off the outer leaves, wiped them clean and shoved them down the cups of her nursing bra.
Charles looked on, shaking his head in complete bewilderment and sighing slightly. "I've seen it all now Molly James."
She put the remains of the cabbage back in the fridge, closed the door and poked her tongue out at him. "Yeah well, I'll try anything right now." He opened his mouth to speak, but she cut him off quickly. "Almost anything Charles!"
...
Molly sat on the sofa, finishing the remains of the now cold, chicken risotto Charles had cooked them both for lunch. He sat beside her, holding Mia to his chest, her head resting on his shoulder. He rubbed her back in a circular motion winding her. Eventually, she burped loudly, a dribble of milk making it's way down the back of his shirt. He adjusted her position so that she was propped up on his lap as he wiped her face with a muslin square.
"God she's so like you it's uncanny!" Charles smirked, a wicked glint in his eye.
Molly uncurled her legs, placing them on the floor, before leaning forward and putting her empty bowl on the coffee table. She turned to look at him. He was now eyeing her sheepishly, waiting for the backlash.
"Seeing as that was proper nice even cold, I'm gonna pretend I didn't hear that."
Charles let out a slow release of breath. "So what do you want to do this afternoon? Mum said she's free if we needed anything or wanted her to look after Mia." He kissed Mia gently on her forehead before placing her on her back in the Moses basket by his feet and tucking the baby blanket in around her.
Molly shook her head a little too vigorously and his brow furrowed. She noticed, mentally reproaching herself for seeming ungrateful, and voiced her thoughts.
"Sorry it's not that I don't appreciate the offer," she touched his cheek, tracing her fingers across his stubled jawline, before continuing. "But I kind of wouldn't mind if it was just us and Sam when you pick him up later. We've been inundated with visitors the last few days and Brains an' that lot are coming tomorrow. Is that ok with you?"
He pulled her down on the sofa beside him and she rested her head on his chest. "Sounds perfect Molls," he said, kissing the top of her head. They lay together on the sofa for a while, in a companionable silence, their arms wrapped around each other; him smoothing her hair, her listening to the steady rhythm of his heartbeat. Eventually Charles broke the silence. "How about we take Sleeping Beauty here out for a spin in the pushchair if you're feeling up to it? It's not been christened yet."
Molly sat upright and nodded, smiling,"Ok, but you're gonna have to assemble it first."
Charles was already on his feet, heading for the dining room where the box containing the travel system had been stored unopened since being delivered. He paused in the doorway. "Shouldn't take too long. D'you want to get Mia sorted and I'll bring it through to the hallway."
Molly busied herself with the changing bag, having averted her eyes, unable to look at him. She nodded again, her hair concealing her face, not trusting herself to speak this time. As he disappeared from her peripheral vision, she crouched down by the Moses basket, touching Mia's cheek tenderly. Her daughter was still fast asleep, her head to one side, her arms bent at the elbow, forearms up either side of her head flat against the mattress. "Wait for it Mia. Your daddy's gonna have the right hump." Molly whispered conspiratorially, once satisfied Charles was out of earshot as well. Mia stirred in her sleep, and Molly grinned at her daughter, pressing a forefinger to her lips, before transferring the kiss to Mia's nose. Mia rewarded her mum with a fleeting, reflex smile as if sharing her secret; Molly immediately beamed back at her, before glancing at her watch. "Yep...any second now Captain Stern Face's gonna put in an appearance."
Sure enough, as if on cue, Charles' voice boomed out into the lounge. "Molly James, get your gorgeous arse in here right now. That's an order!"
"Here goes. Wish me luck baby girl." Molly got to her feet, holding a hand to her mouth desperately trying not to laugh, as she wandered into the dining room and found Charles adopting his finest Captain Stern Face stance. He'd cocked his head slightly to one side, his arms were folded tightly across his chest and his feet were spread hip distance apart; Major Bleedin' Perfect clearly having done a runner. The travel system was half out of the box down by Charles' side. "S'pose you think this is funny?" he growled, gesturing towards it.
Her eyes met his. "What?" Molly asked, feigning ignorance, having composed herself.
His eyes narrowed. "You know what."
She took a step towards him, creasing her eyebrows as she peered at the pushchair. "Is there something wrong with it Charles?"
"Yes... It's pink Molly James."
"Oh...is that a problem then?"
"You know full well, we agreed on a neutral colour not FUCKING, out there, in your face, SHOCKING PINK!"
"It's fucking fuchsia ACTUALLY."
"Whatever!"
Molly gave up trying to contain her laughter; it being a fruitless task after all. She rushed the words out between giggles, the white lies rolling off her tongue, "I...I thought you'd like it...Thought it would... bring out your feminine side."
"I don't have a FUCKING feminine side."
"You weren't saying that when you tried to squeeze into that pale pink negligee of mine this time last year."
"That was for Mansfield Mike's BLOODY fancy dress party!"
"Yeah right...you were the only bloke who turned up in women's lingerie I seem to recall."
"That's because the bastard told me the party had a cross dressing theme AND, if you remember rightly, you bloody well went along with it!" He scowled at her, as she continued to laugh at him unable to help herself.
"Well it ain't my fault you fell for it hook, line and sinker! And anyway I thought it suited you, brought out the colour of your eyes. You got more than a few wolf whistles as you walked through the door."
That wasn't all he'd got, and he shivered involuntarily as he recalled the evening in question. He shook the bad memory from his mind before throwing his arms up in exasperation and returning to the original topic of conversation. "I'm NOT pushing our daughter around in this. You're gonna have to change it." He barked sullenly.
His tone and attitude grated on Molly. Her mood changing in an instant to mirror his. "Really? I'm sorry I didn't think you cared that much," she threw at him sarcastically.
"Why the hell would you think that?"
"Well let's see..." She paused, tapping a forefinger to her right temple, as if trying to remember, when the reality was she remembered all too well. "Oh yes I remember now you had not one, not two, but THREE opportunities to go shopping with me to buy the bleedin' thing AND IF YOU remember rightly you chose not too. Correct me if I'm wrong but it was football with me dad one Saturday, a rugby friendly with Tom, your dad and Sam the next and drinks at the officers' mess another wasn't it?"
Charles began to squirm uncomfortably on his feet as he tried to justify himself in the face of her obvious displeasure. "Come on Molls...It was your dad who arranged the footie, the rugby was for Tom's birthday and I couldn't very well miss the Brigadier's retirement do could I?"
"Hmm the retirement do... just how long did that go on for? All bloody day and all bloody evening Charles? Because I seem to remember you disappearing pretty early that Saturday, and not coming home till way past midnight."
Charles sighed heavily. "Molly I told you I had things to do that day. I wasn't at the retirement do the whole time."
"Mmm things that were obviously far more important than coming shopping with me for the baby!" Molly glared at him, the light-hearted atmosphere from earlier having now completely disintegrated.
"Yes ACTUALLY!"
"What then?" Molly snapped.
Charles sighed once more, fumbling in his pocket before pulling out a small black box. "This!"
Silence.
"Oh shit...what's that?" Molly eventually managed to mumble, blushing scarlet whilst hazarding a guess. Her eyes scanned his face but he wouldn't look at her.
Instead, he opened the box, revealing it's contents - a diamond and emerald encrusted eternity ring. Molly gasped as her eyes alighted on it. He removed it from the box, stepped closer and took hold of her small hand in his. She watched him wriggle off her engagement ring before sliding on the eternity ring next to her gold wedding band. Finally, he replaced the engagement ring, before bringing her hand to his lips and kissing her ring finger gently. "This, Molly James, is the cause of me appearing to be in the dog house right now. I ordered it when we stayed at Bibury Manor and picked it up the morning of the retirement do. I was going to surprise you with it later but..."
"Bleedin' hell Charles...I... I'm so sorry." She traced the eternity ring with the thumb and index finger of her right hand. It nestled perfectly between the other two rings he had given her. Each ring, an out-right declaration of his love for her.
"Do you like it?"
She looked up at him, her eyes remorseful. "It's beautiful I love it, you didn't have to do this though..." she acknowledged, before silently cursing herself for being angry with him.
"I know but I wanted to." He sighed again and she mumbled another apology. He took her head in his hands cupping it gently. His eyes finding hers. His voice husky with emotion as he spoke. "Molly James... and no, before you ask, I never bought one for Rebecca..."
"I wasn't going..."
He bent his head, placing his lips on hers briefly, silencing her, before pulling away to look at her. "I completely and utterly love and adore you. Sam adores you. Mia will too. Christ... my whole family adores you and believe me when I say they never came even remotely close to feeling that way about Rebecca. I'm so incredibly lucky to have you in my life as is Sam and Mia. You're absolutely beautiful both inside and out. You have the warmest heart. You're fun, feisty and down right bloody infuriating at times..."
"Hang on...I'm infuriating ?!"
"Yes! Now shut the fuck up and let me finish. You make me so happy... Far, far happier than I ever thought was humanly possible and than I'm sure I really deserve to be. I have everything I ever wanted...suffice to say I could do without the bloody pink pushchair...that really wasn't on my wish list." He joked, pausing to brush away the tears that had begun to fall. "So this ring symbolises everything I feel about you and can't put into words as well as meaning forever..." She opened her mouth to speak, but he silenced her again, laying his heart bare. "Don't ever leave me Molly... If I ever really make you mad or unhappy then tell me won't you please...so that I can try and fix things," he pleaded, looking a little lost and vulnerable; the confident, calm Captain of old having disappeared. A stray tear rolled down his own cheek.
In that moment, her own heart melted completely. She wrapped her arms around his neck, choosing to ignore the tenderness in her chest as she pressed her body against his, desperate to reassure him. She reached up to kiss him. "I'm never, ever gonna leave you Charles. Don't worry," she whispered as her lips met his.