December 1923

Mary and Robert

"So I am going to be an aunt again. That was a lovely surprise."

"Was it?"

"Was it what? Lovely or a surprise?"

"It certainly was a surprise, I am not so sure about the 'lovely' part."

"Why not?"

"Because I think it is too soon. Their little girl is only five months old and Edith is pregnant again. And she must have been pregnant for at least a few weeks already and I am worried."

"Why?"

"Because Sybil almost died when she had Katie and you almost died when you had Claire."

"Papa, I didn't almost die. It wasn't an easy birth, I grant you that, it was worse than the other three put together, but I was never going to die."

"So you say. But you didn't see the look on your mother's face. I thought you had died at one point, that was how desperate she looked."

"But that is not her fault, or mine, or Edith'. Dr. Clarkson didn't express himself very well but he was under a lot of stress. Claire was breech and that isn't easy to deal with for the doctor who has to deliver the child."

"They had to cut you open."

"They cut Sybil open too. And we both made it. And who says that that is going to happen to Edith? I have had three children before that one complicated birth. She might just breeze through this one."

"As much as I love my grandchildren, I won't be sad when I won't have to deal with my daughters being pregnant anymore."

"What about Julie?"

"She just turned 9. It will hopefully be another 15 years before she has her first child. By that time I might feel differently, who knows."

"You won't. You'll be just as worried about her."

"Yes, I will be, you are right. All that worry is the prize I am paying for having four such wonderful daughters."

"The worry and your grey hair."

"That is the prize I am paying for your mother."

"It's a good bargain I suppose."

"A very good one."

"You should go up; she said she'd wait for you."

"Yes I should. Goodnight Mary."

"Goodnight Papa. And please remember that we have guests and that Mama will have to be at the breakfast table at nine. I will check if she is up at 8:30. I will come into your room without knocking. Remember that Granny is still sleeping here and I don't want to be at the breakfast table with her while you and Mama are both conspicuously absent ever again."

"I'll try my best."

"I won't knock Papa."

"All right. I'll tell your mother."

Robert and Cora

"You have to get up on time tomorrow morning."

"Why?"

"Because my mother is still sleeping here and you have to be at the breakfast table at nine."

"Robert, your mother has been here since the night before Christmas and will stay until New Year's day. It is only Boxing Day. Do you expect me to get up for her every day?"

"I don't expect you to, but she does. And Mary does."

"Why Mary?"

"Because she was at the breakfast table with my mother this morning while we weren't there."

"We were busy."

"I suppose my mother gathered as much and didn't keep quiet about it. Mary said she never wants to be with her grandmother at a breakfast table again while we are both 'conspicuously absent' to use her words."

"But then why don't you just get up on time? And let your wife sleep?"

"The reason we didn't go down for breakfast this morning was not because we were asleep."

"I am aware of that. You woke me with amorous intentions."

"You looked so lovely with your braid having fallen apart. What was I supposed to have done? Just walk away? I am only a man."

"I am not sure whether I should be flattered or offended."

"Flattered, darling, always flattered."

"I love you."

"I love you too."

"Robert, if you don't stop, there will be no way I will be up on time tomorrow morning. It is past one am. And I will have to get up at seven if I am to be ready on time. What were you doing downstairs for such a long time anyway?"

"Talking to Mary."

"About what?"

"My grey hair. I told her it was the prize I had to pay for you."

"What did she say?"

"That she would come in here tomorrow morning at 8:30 to make sure that you were up. And that she wouldn't knock."

"Then you have to stop now Robert, or the day will start with me being made fun of by our eldest daughter."

"I don't want to stop."

"Robert"

"What?"

"Kiss me."

Mary and Cora

"So you really are up."

"And you really came in here without knocking."

"You look as if you didn't get enough sleep."

"Your father kept me up until"

"I do not want to hear that Mama. I am very happy for you and Papa, believe me. But I do not want to hear about what you are doing or when you are doing it. That sounded wrong. I'm sorry."

"You haven't slept enough either."

"No. Jamie had a nightmare and decided that the best way to deal with it was to wake up Claire. So we had our youngest two children sleeping in our bed. You have no idea how much space two such little people can take up."

"I do have an idea about that Mary. And I dare say that your children inherited that particular talent from you."

"I am sorry for the all nights I have kept you awake because I took up too much space in your bed."

"I am not. Mary, you might be exasperated now, but once all your children are too grown up to sleep in your bed from time to time, you will be glad that you have those memories. What you will not be glad about however, is your grown up daughter coming into your bedroom unannounced."

"I am not announced. I told Papa to announce me last night. I just didn't knock. And I didn't have to because you knew I was coming in here."

"If you weren't my daughter I'd be angry at you now."

"But I am your daughter."

"Yes. You better be glad about that."

"I am glad about that. Very glad, Mama."

"Let's go downstairs or your Granny will have a fit."