Miranda – A New Beginning
Chapter 52
….Two minutes later they are asleep; dreaming of what tomorrow, and the rest of their lives, will bring.
SEVEN MONTHS LATER.
After a smooth pregnancy, Miranda gave birth to a son who was named Gary Junior, or Junior for short. Although parenting has come naturally to both Gary and Miranda, the lack of sleep has made them both rather short tempered; and this is not helped by Penny popping over three times a day and pressing Miranda to organise the Christening.
It is seven a.m. Miranda is sprawled on the sofa. Gary sits next to her, yawning. Junior is in Gary's arms having his morning bottle of milk. Penny enters.
Penny – Morning darling, morning Gary, morning Junior.
Miranda – Mum; it's seven a.m.
Penny – Don't worry about anything for me; I've got a breakfast meeting with Cressida Fowl-Bottomly. I just popped in to show you the samples.
Miranda – Cressida Fowl-Bottomly? Is that a real name?
Penny – You were at school with her niece.
Miranda – Oh, Stinkers, of course. And what samples?
Penny – For Junior's Christening gown. I did mention this.
Gary – Penny; we don't know if we're going to have him Christened. Please don't buy him a dress.
Penny is suddenly deflated. She sniffs and turns away from Gary and Miranda.
Miranda – Mum? Are you ok?
Penny – (sniffing) You don't know what it's like… All my friends' daughters got married in country mansions with Hello snapping their every movement, recording every word uttered by every titled guest and minor celebrity present... And then there's you! You get married in Paris without so much as a word about it. And no photographer! And now you want to deny me the chance to be involved with my only grandchild's Christening.
Miranda – You're right, sorry Mum. Of course you can organise the Christening.
Gary gives Miranda a pained look, but she's too tired to react.
Penny miraculously recovers and starts to leave.
Penny – Super, I'll do everything, you only have to bring Junior! It's next Thursday at St. John's Church, two p.m. Get a new dress. (Looking at Miranda in her dressing gown, with a bit of sick down the front.) And have a shower! Ciao!
