Late May 2015

The baby's cries made Anna stir. She had finally been able to doze off for one short hour after she had been wheeled in her maternity room from the delivery room. The labour had felt so long to her, but everyone told her that it was average for a first-born. Mary had been at her side for several hours, but then she had had to go back home to her own baby, and Elsie Carson had replaced her. Now Elsie had gone home to bring the news to Charles, and change her clothes, but she had promised she would be back in the afternoon. Anna yawned and turned herself in the bed, to face the little bassinet standing beside her bed. She winced at the pain she felt in her intimate parts. Really, giving birth was no piece of cake, she thought. She brought her hand into the bassinet, and let her newborn son grab her finger. A smile crept on her tired face. It was no piece of cake, but it was totally worth it.

- Hey, little one. Hungry already? she whispered as the baby fussed a little more.

She straightened in the bed and bent to pick up Timmy. She held him on her left arm while she opened her nightshirt and tried to settle the baby on her breast. Fortunately for both of them, Timmy seemed to be competent at nursing. She gasped a little when he hungrily latched on her breast and started to suckle. The feeling was a completely foreign one to her, but not a disagreeable one. As the baby nursed, she felt a love deepest than anything she had ever felt fill her whole body. She knew there were some hormones flowing in her blood right now that were supposed to make that happen, yet it felt magical. She had never met that little human being until four hours ago, however she felt she had known him forever, and she wondered how she had lived without him until that day.

Watching the small new love of her life falling asleep, contented, against her breast, she silently thanked her eight-months-ago former self for making the decision she had made. She had hesitated over it for a while. She knew she wanted to be a mother one day, but this was not how she had planned it to happen. She was not afraid of being a single mother, but she would have preferred to plan it a little more in advance. She had wondered how she could make it work with her hospital job. She had discussed it with Mary and Elsie, and both of them had assured her that they would be there to support her whatever she chose to do. Nine months later, she still did not remember what had happened the night the baby was conceived. She assumed she had drunk too much and gone home with that guy, even though it was not really her habit to do such a thing. She shrugged the thought away. Right now, looking at the little button nose and the plump cheeks, she couldn't care less. She carefully unlatched the baby from her breast, closed her shirt and settled the little warm body against her chest.

She had been absent-mindedly looking through the window for a while when the sound of the door opening startled her. Elsie was back, smiling to her.

- Hi Anna dear. How are you feeling?

Anna smiled back to her:

- Bone-tired and very sore, but mainly happy.

- Would you like me to hold him so that you can get a little more sleep?

Anna was split between wanting to hold her baby longer, and the need to get as much sleep as she could to be able to face the upcoming night. She finally handed the baby to Elsie:

- Here, take him, thank you. I'm really exhausted.

Elsie picked him up a little awkwardly and settled him in her arms. Having never had any child of her own, Elsie was not any more used to handling a newborn than Anna was. At least Anna has already met newborns during her medical studies, and she had helped Mary with George since he was born. So little babies were not completely unknown to her, although of course it was completely different when you were the person ultimately responsible for the day-to-day survival of the new human being.

Anna slept for two more hours, during which Elsie silently took care of Timmy. The young mother was awakened when the nurse came into her room to make her evening round and check on baby and mother. When she had left the room, Elsie got up and said:

- I'll go back home to Charles. Visiting hours are nearly over. We'll be back tomorrow to take you home.

Charles and Elsie had decided that Anna and her baby would stay at their house for the first few weeks, until Anna was sufficiently back on her feet to handle going back to her apartment and manage the baby alone. She was very glad for their solicitude.

- Thank you Elsie. That means the world to me, you know. Really.

Elsie smiled warmly at her:

- Have no fear, my dear. We'll be at your side every step of the road. You can rely on us.

Anna hugged her foster mother goodbye and wiped her eyes as she left. She felt lucky she had the Carsons and the Crawleys in her life. They did say that it took a whole village to raise a child. A thought of her parents crossed her mind at that moment. They had not once inquired for news of her or her baby's health since her father had closed the door in her face about seven months ago. She did not miss her father at all, but she felt a little pang of sadness thinking of her mother. She debated for a short moment sending her a picture of her baby. In the end she decided against it. Eileen had taken her side when she had allowed her husband to throw her daughter out, and she had persisted by not calling or texting to ask for news. Anna had decided that she wouldn't be the one making the first step towards her. If and when Eileen came round, Anna would consider how she responded to her. Anna looked down to the small baby in her arms, and whispered:

- See my little one? We might not have a regular family, but we won't be alone in this, you and me.

x x x x

Late May 2021

- Penny for your thoughts? teased John to Anna who was dreamily watching Timmy play in their backyard.

She smiled to him and replied:

- I was just thinking back on the day Timmy was born. I can't believe it's been six years already.

John came to her back and put his hands on her shoulders.

- I wish I had been there. I bet he was a very cute baby.

- He was. The cutest.

- Of course.

How could it have been differently?

- Oh my God I realize I never showed you the photo albums from when he was little.

- I haven't had that pleasure no.

- We'll have to look at them, the three of us, now I've brought them back here from my apartment.

- I'd like that. But later, now we should be going, Mary told us to be there at half past noon.

- Yes, you're right. I'll go fetch Timmy.

x x x x

The kids were sweating and yelling their lungs out in the bouncy castle, while the adults where sitting at a safe distance, enjoying a quiet chat. Anna was sitting between Mary and Elsie, enjoying the sun and the presence of all her friends and family of heart.

- I bet they'll sleep well tonight, after that, pointed Elsie.

- I do hope so, laughed Anna. So, tell me Mary, what's going on with the Abbey? she asked her friend.

- Well, we've finally fully reopened the restaurant, to Mrs Patmore's utter joy. She has spent the lockdown time working on a new menu, and we've made the best of the closing time to make all the needed repairs, and lift up some rooms. We've upgraded the indoor swimming-pool too. There's a sauna near it now. And we've added a jacuzzi next to the outdoor one. You'll have to come see it one day.

It was one of the many advantages of being friend with the Abbey's owners. Since Timmy was little, they had been able to come enjoy the Abbey's swimming-pools, both indoor and outdoor, depending on the time of year.

- Wow, I can't wait.

- Has John told you about the reopening party?

- He mentioned it before I left for India, yes. It's meant to be in August, isn't it?

- Well, since things seem to be going well, we're thinking of doing it sooner. Maybe mid-July.

- What kind of party are you planning?

- It'll be a charity event. A sort of "Thank you NHS" thing. The proceeds will go the Royal.

- Oh, really? said Anna, raising her eyebrows.

- Yes. Papa and I don't forget that I owe you and your colleagues my daughter's and my own life you know.

Anna silently squeezed her friend's hand.

- And what will be the program of that event? she asked.

- We're still working on it. I suggested a rock concert and a lottery. Papa agreed on the lottery, but he's not much keen on the rock concert. He says he prefers classical music and opera. Says it's more fitting to the Abbey's atmosphere.

Mary rolled her eyes.

- I think a rock concert with the Abbey in the background would be stylish, said Anna.

- I know, thank you very much! exclaimed Mary. But apparently he's "putting his foot down"… So I guess it'll be opera music… He's been in touch with a famous singer from Australia who will be touring in the UK this summer. He's negotiating with her PR assistant right now. That's hoping international travels are opened and everything.

- I do like opera music, said Elsie.

Mary frowned.

- I guess if we want the rich boomers from all around Yorkshire to cough up their money to our cause, we have to give them what they prefer. Opera music it will be then.

- Hey, are you calling me a rich boomer? asked Elsie pointedly.

Although her date of birth technically made her a boomer, she could hardly be qualified as rich. Mary laughed:

- No, Elsie, not you! But Papa has been pulling strings among his high-society relations, there will be some fine people attending…

- Like who? asked Anna.

- The Mayor of York, some MPs…

- Jesus...

- And of course all the Royal's employees are invited, added Mary, winking at Anna.

- Of course. I'll be glad to come. I know John loves opera music. And he's not a boomer, thank you very much! she stated laughingly at Mary.

Anna saw that her mother was sitting not far away, chatting with Isobel Crawley, and she got up, excusing herself to Mary and Elsie. She went to the buffet to refill her glass, and sat in an empty chair next to her mother.

- So, Anna, started Isobel. How are you handling the return to day-to-day life after your Indian excursion?

- I'm alright. It was hard, but the quarantine, as tedious as it was, had the advantage of allowing me to rest fully before going back to normal. There are things I won't forget of course, but I think I'm handling it fine for now.

- I'm glad to hear that. If at any time you feel you need it, my door's always open to you, you know that.

- Yes, thank you Isobel. Don't worry, I'll keep it in mind. And thank you very much for seeing Gwen too.

Anna had suggested her friend to call Isobel for counselling, when she had noticed that Gwen had a hard time managing the transition and return to the UK.

- You're welcome. So, your mother was telling me she was looking to move back here in York?

- I'll have to really start looking into flats, said Eileen. The house is about to be sold. I'll soon be homeless.

- Won't you miss the south? asked Isobel.

- Oh no. I'm Yorkshire-bred, me. It was my late husband's idea to move south, I never liked it much. I'm so glad to be back here near my daughter and grandson.

Eileen smiled to Anna, and gingerly took her hand.

- I've missed so much time with them.

Anna smiled back to her.

- Mum, I've been thinking, about flats. You know we've moved into John's house?

- Yes, he showed me when I came to see Timmy. He did such a great job on that house!

- He did. So, I'll be giving up the lease to my flat next month. I was wondering if you'd like to take it.

Eileen's eyes grew wide in surprise at her daughter's suggestion.

- That's very kind of you Anna. I like your flat very much.

- I thought it would save me the time and energy to empty it, and save you the time and energy to look around.

- And I can sell all the house's furniture, I won't need to move everything back. Yes that would be great. And…

Eileen looked up to Anna, hesitantly, obviously meaning to ask a question but not daring to voice it out loud.

- Yes? asked Anna.

- Would you let Timmy use his old room sometimes?

Anna smiled.

- I've thought about it. We'll see in time how things go between you two. If he wants to, and if I feel I can trust you with him, yes, why not.

Eileen's eyes shone with anticipation. Her voice was a little tight as she said:

- I don't deserve you, you know. My sweet beautiful Anna.

Isobel was looking fondly over the two of them, glad that they were patching things up. Anna had talked to her about her past, so she knew of the history between them. Before the silence grew uncomfortable, Mary came up to them, and told Anna:

- I was thinking we could do the cake now?

- Oh, yes, sure.

- You round up everyone, I'll go and fetch it inside, instructed Mary before disappearing into her parents' house.

Moments later, everyone was gathered around the large table, admiring the highly artistically-crafted space-theme cake. Timmy was standing proudly in front of it as the assembly sang "Happy birthday" to him, and he blew his candles out with all his might. Photos were taken, presents were opened, the cake was cut and eaten. As the young people started to scatter around the garden again, and went back to the bouncy castle, John came near Anna and whispered in her ear:

- Are you happy my love?

Anna smiled to him:

- Yes, very much. It's an awesome party. Timmy's having the time of his life.

- You can always trust Mary to throw a good party.

- Indeed, agreed Anna. We've been talking about that charity event by the way. They seem to intend to do something grand.

- Oh, they do. That will probably keep us quite busy in the upcoming weeks.

- Do you know the singer Robert wants to invite?

- The opera singer? I've heard of her. Her name's Dame Kiri Te Kanawa. She's quite famous in the opera world. It's not all settled yet, though. We'll see if it goes through.

- Well if it doesn't, I bet Mary will have a rock group ready to fill in.

They both laughed.

x x x x

After a bath and a light dinner, Timmy was yawing and ready to go to bed. Before going up to his room, Anna suggested:

- Hey, what if, in place of a story, tonight we looked to the photo albums of when you were a baby? John doesn't know them.

- Oh, yay!

Timmy had always liked looking at pictures and his mum telling him the stories around the pictures. While John supervised the teeth-brushing, Anna searched through a few of her boxes that were still awaiting being unloaded, until she found the photo albums. The three of them then settled on Timmy's bed and they started flipping through the pages, Anna and Timmy telling John all about Timmy's early childhood. Anna pointed to a picture of a three-year-old Timmy, who had chocolate smeared all over his face, up into his hair:

- Do you remember that one Timmy? I had bought him a chocolate ice-cream, and he had vigorously insisted on eating it on his own. Well that was the result.

- Oh sweet Lord, laughed John.

- I must say it was a very good self-control practice to let him go through with it.

They went on for a while, Anna telling all the little stories that had built their lives, until John nudged her arm, and she noticed that the boy had fallen asleep against John's shoulder.

- Well, the bouncy castle did do its job well, she noted.

They carefully got up and settled Timmy comfortably in his bed. When they had come out of his bedroom, John picked up the photo albums from Anna's hands, and said:

- I'd like to continue looking at those. I feel I've missed so much of his growing-up.

- All right, she said, let's go downstairs and go on with the last ones.

As they sat side by side in their couch, John started shuffling through another album, until he noticed Anna grinning at him.

- What?! he said, raising his eyebrows.

- Nothing, she replied. I'm just telling myself how happy I am.

If the name Kiri Te Kanawa doesn't ring any bell to you, I advise you to Google it and look at a picture. (Just saying ^^)

Not that the mention "opera singer" wouldn't be enough ring some bell to any Banna fan...