Robert didn't know what to buy for Cora's birthday this year. She was turning 30 and he wanted to do something special. Her gift when he turned 30 was so unforgettable, they had several star gazing nights in their conservatory, searching for his star. Then he got it!

Robert got up very quietly, not to wake Cora. He got Mary out of her bed, to help him make breakfast. They both walked up, and he got Edith out of bed. Then he notched his girls in their bedroom. "Go wake her up."

The girls stormed in on Cora, jumping on her bed. Mary started singing Happy Birthday, and Edith tuned in. It was a cacophony, but Cora clearly loved it. She cuddled both girls. They made drawings for her.

Robert gave Mary a tube: "Give this one to your mother."

Cora smiled at Robert and opened it. Inside was a custom night sky star map of the first day they met. "Oh, Robert, how wonderful, I really love this, how sweet of you!" She got up on her knees to kiss him, but Robert held a box in front of him.

"This is your real gift." He held up a red jewellery box from Cartier, he opened it.

Cora's eyes grew big, inside there was a beautiful set of earrings from platinum rose-cut diamonds. "Darling, this… this is beautiful." She carefully touched it with her fingertips. She pulled Robert close and gave him a passionate kiss. "This is too much, darling."

"Nothing is to much for my princess. Tonight, you can wear them for our dinner at 'The Ritz'." He kissed her again, but Mary pulled on Cora's arm.

"Mama, do we have a party today?"

"Aunt Rosamund will come with uncle Marmaduke, granny Violet and granny Martha." She got interrupted by Mary:

"And uncle Harold?"

Cora brushed Mary's hair. "No, darling, uncle Harold and aunt Madeleine aren't coming. They are in America."

You could see the thoughts going through Mary's head. "What's America?"

Robert sat down on the bed. "That's where your mama was born, it is a country on the other side of the world."

Mary didn't understand it fully, but her attention was already gone to Edith who was playing with a toy on the bed.

The day had been wonderful, but it was finally time to change for the evening. Cora chose her dark blue dress with a heart-shaped neckline. It even got lower between her breasts; she knew Robert loved this dress on her. It showed of her collarbones. Robert stepped in the room in his newest suit. He looked stunning. The suit was also dark blue and the shirt stark white.

He held up another box from Cartier. "Turn around darling." he put a necklace on her. Cora's hand reached to the necklace, she looked in the mirror. The necklace was beautiful, she didn't know how to describe it, it was from platinum oval-shaped brilliant-cut diamonds and rose-cut diamonds. She touched Robert's hand which rested on her shoulder.

"This is truly an amazing piece of jewellery. But it is too much darling."

"It matches your earrings." He winked at her.

Cora turned around and wrapped her arms around his neck. "How did I get so lucky with you."

"You make me happy, and I want you to be happy. Darling, you look stunning tonight." He kissed her.

Their dinner was excellent. It was a long time ago they had gone out for dinner just the two of them at such a beautiful place.

"Darling, since Harold moved back to New York, I was thinking." Robert started. "You could show me where you spent your youth."

"You are saying, I am not young anymore." Cora said playfully.

"Oh No, no definitely not. Oh darling, no, of course not. You look younger with every year that passes."

Cora touched his hand. "I was joking, sweetheart. Of course, I want to show you New York, but then we will also go to Cincinnati where I was born. Why wait, we can book our trip tomorrow. Just the two of us. I love our girls, but they are too young to bring to New York. Nanny can stay with them, and maybe Rosamund wants to have a fun day with them?"

Robert's heart fluttered. He married the perfect woman. He started to bend over the table, when the waiter came with their desserts. "You will get your kiss later." He said smiling.

Both Robert and Cora had free time in September, so they planned a three-week trip to America. Robert booked the Penthouse Suite King in 'The Plaza' hotel in New York and the Hilton in Cincinnati.

Harold said they would have been welcome at his place, but Robert wanted to stay at the hotel, so they would have more freedom. And they could have more fun, Cora had joked.

It was the first week of September and Cora was making Mary ready for her first day at school. She looked adorable in her little uniform.

Robert stepped into Mary's room. "How wonderful you look, darling, are you ready for your first day at school?"

Mary straightened her back and said proudly. "I was ready yesterday."

Both Cora and Robert heard the shaking in her voice and gave each other a look. "You will make new friends today." Cora said with her voice soft. "And learn so many new things. I can't wait to hear your stories when we pick you up from school. Come we must go"

Robert took Cora's hand, while they watched Mary walk into her new school. He squeezed her hand. "She will be ok, she is a tough girl."

"I know, but it was like yesterday I got her in my arms for the first time. Time is going by so fast."

"It is, darling, it is." He saw Cora started silently crying. He turned around so he stood in front of her. "It's ok, to feel this way, dear. The loss of our darling boy is already a year ago, but it still feels like yesterday."

Cora grabbed his shoulders and pushed herself into his shoulders. "I wish he was here with us, sending Mary on her first day of school. Our little family of five."

Robert had to suppress his own tears. He rubbed Cora's back. "Patrick is always with us darling, he is in our hearts. Come we will walk home, it will do us both good."

A couple of weeks later, it was time to leave for America. "Girls, are you going to behave, while we are away, with Nanny? I don't want to hear bad stories when we come back." Cora was squatting in front of her girls. Both nodded.

"We have to leave, otherwise we will miss our flight." Robert urged Cora to get up.

The first days Cora showed him all the touristic places. They walked a lot, but the city was enormous, so they had to use the subway a lot. They also got in Taxi's many times. Robert didn't like the subway, in London he never had been inside it. It was too crowded he said. Cora didn't mind.

She showed him where she had attended school and where they had lived.

One morning, Cora woke Robert up. She sat next to him, stroking his hair with her hand, in the other hand she held out a small test strip.

Robert sat up straight. "Is this what I think it is?" He took the strip from Cora's hands. He got a big smile on his face, until he saw Cora's face. "What's wrong? Aren't you happy?"

"I don't know, I think, I am scared mostly." Her hands touched her abdomen. "What if it happens again?"

Robert pulled Cora close and caressed her back. "We will go to the gynaecologist as soon as we are back home. We will do everything in our power to keep this little one safe." His hand moved to her abdomen, covering her hands.

They had 4 days left for Cincinnati, Cora showed him all the places from her youth. They cherished every moment together. Robert was filled with joy, Cora started to feel the same way. But in the back of her head, there was a little voice telling her, she shouldn't enjoy this too much.

Before they knew it, it was time to go home. Cora couldn't wait to have her girls in her arms again. She had missed them so much. She loved travelling with Robert, but the girls were missed during trips like this.

"We will be back with them in a few hours." Robert said holding Cora's hand. She had slept until now. As soon as they were in the air, Cora had given in to her tiredness. "Are we going to tell them?"

Cora took a deep breath. "Maybe it is better to wait, until we have seen the gynaecologist. I don't want to give them hope."

Robert put his hand on Cora's cheek. "Darling, I know it's hard, but try to relax and enjoy the growth of this little one inside you." His other hand was resting on her abdomen.

Cora put her hands on his and smiled. "I will try that darling, please keep reminding me."

Robert leaned in to kiss her. "Every day, my dear, every day.