"I'm popping out to the shops for a wee bit!" Shelagh yelled before shutting the door, knowing her daughter was safe and sleep with her sister. She walked into the small town and up the stairs to the local small town doctors. She had began to notice how tight her pants were, she was small, but not as small as her pants wanted her to be.
"Shelagh Turner?" Called the receptionist from behind the counter, lifting her hand and standing up, she walked to the counter.
"That's me." She softly spoke, clutching her bag in her hands.
"Room two on the left, dear."
"Thank you."
"Knock, knock?"
"Perfectly decent." The younger midwife smiled, and set her clipboard down.
"Alright now, what seems to be the issue?"
"Only one thing it could be" The two gave a hearty chuckle. "Back home I'm a nurse and midwife as well, my husband and I run a little clinic in stepney. Judging by the look on your face, you have no idea where that is. I'm from the UK visiting my sister."
"Ahh! That makes sense, let's have a look see eh?" Shelagh laid back and let her drape the sheet over her, suddenly feeling quite nervous. Angela wasn't even seven months old yet. Surely she wasn't pregnant…
"Dear you look pale as milk, are you alright?" She stopped what she was doing and took up Shelagh's free hand.
"I-I don't know. My youngest is only six and a half months old!"
"Ah, I see, well love I can tell you from experience it will be okay. I had 3 in 4 years. But I can tell that's not the only thing that's worrying you."
"No. I started bleeding, last night. I've kept off my feet and took it easy, but I'm scared half to death. I only took a test three days ago!"
"Well let's have a doppler check, do you want to call anyone first?" Shelagh shook her head and reached for her phone.
*Can you sneak out? -S*
*On my way, where are you? -P*
*The Doctors clinic in town, but don't worry. -S*
*WHAT! Why!? -P*
*Tell the receptionist your name -S*
*I'm here -P*
Shelagh took a deep breath and wiped her tear stained eyes with the tissue the midwife gave her. She looked up at the door and Patrick flew in, immediately by her side he kissed her.
"Shelagh, love whatever's happened?"
"I'm not sure Patrick, In all my years I honestly don't know." Patrick sat in the chair next to her, and was baffled by what he saw, her eyes were red and she was wearing a pink gown.
"Shall we have a look?" The midwife asked, Shelagh gave a nod and let her continue, she tightened her grip on her husband's hand and for once let herself realize she wasn't alone.
"Well you're only about eight weeks, dosen't look like anythings the matter, but I want to make at least two house visits before you head back home." Shelagh looked to Patrick, tears flooded down his face, he was truly shocked at all the news at once. They looked to each other and Shelagh didn't even notice the prodding to her stomach, what was until they heard a swishing coming from the monitor.
"Is that?" She asked, as though she'd never heard it before.
"That it is, good and strong. 165 right on track. As for the bleeding, I will call tomorrow, if it hasn't stopped by then I will give you something for it. After you get home only do the light things. Picking up kids is, fine stairs are fine etc. But I do want you to do a lot of resting, read a book and keep those feet up, hear that dad?"
"Got it! Let her do nothing and be waited on hand and foot! Perfect that's easy!" Shelagh rolled her eyes in a Timothy like manner and chuckled.
"I'll leave you to get dressed, oh and here is your pictures."
"Shelagh why didn't you tell me?"
"I didn't think anything was wrong, I took a test and was going to surprise you with pictures."
"Then the bleeding started."
"Yes. I was scared." She sighed, and buried her head into his chest. He held onto her for what seemed like ages.
"Let's get you dressed and head home eh? We have a family waiting to tell about our arrival."
"Can we wait until after dinner? I'm so tired."
"Anything for you my love. When you are ready." He zipped up her dress for her and they walked out together. it was only two blocks to home, he hadn't drove through. They decided a slow stroll home would do a bit of good. They walked down the street, his arm wrapped around her protectively, and his free hand interlocked with hers and resting on her abdomen. They didn't care who saw or starred, they were happy.
"Ah you two made it, dinners on the table." Finnean said, opening the door and swinging a towel over his shoulder.
"Thanks Finn, where are the kids?"
"Ones on grans hip the other in the living room, I'll let you guess which is where." He gave a good laugh and walked away. Peeking in the living room they saw Angela fast asleep in her moses basket. Giving a confused look to each other they walked into the kitchen and started hysterically laughing.
"What in heaven's name!" Shelagh was almost laughing to hard to talk nevertheless breathe.
"I said some things and now I have to be taped to her for the night." Timothy said, the look and voice of regret covering him.
"That's right, that'll teach you to smart off to your gran, I'm an ol' bat!"
"What did he do gran?" Patrick asked, trying to wipe the tears from his face.
"Oh, he only said that I was old and slow and couldn't do anything."
"TIMOTHY!" The both scolded in unison.
"I know, I know. I said sorry, but then she pulled out the tape and chased me." Timothy hung his head and knew this probably wouldn't be the only punishment.
"Hey sis, remember when she did that to us."
"Ohhhhhh, yes. That was a horrible day for everyone!" They all gave a laugh and sat down for dinner, Timothy and Miriam sharing the bench seat.
"Alright you can be free'd now, what did ye learn?"
"That you're not slow, and I'm now rather exhausted."
"Good, now be a doll and make a kettle will you?"
"Yes granny" Timothy immediately headed off to the kitchen, and Miriam the opposite way. When everyone retired to the sitting room for the night, it seemed they were all in different places.
All, but Patrick and Shelagh. They were sitting on the settee, Patrick with his feet tucked under him and a book in one hand, Shelagh with her feet up on the cushions stretched out and fingers laced with his free hand; sitting ever so nonchalantly on her middle. Her eyes were closed, and a faint smile permeated her face ever so sweetly; all she could think about was the life she was carrying, growing inside her. Shelagh had what she always dreamt of. A big family, bursting at the seams. Soon Timothy returned with a tray of tea and biscuits, since his bat with the flu he was still a bit more tired in the evening, being the small thing he still was, he crawled up into the empty crack and laid down on her legs, using her free hand she stoked his soft black hair.
"Mummy's little boy." She whispered, he nodded his head against her legs and soon drifted off to sleep, she soon followed, and Patrick just continued to read his book. H.G. Wells The Time Machine, it was a classic favorite of his, he must have read it a thousand times. The Time Traveller produces a miniature time machine and makes it disappear into thin air. The next week, the guests return, to find their host stumble in, looking disheveled and tired. They sit down after dinner, and the Time Traveller begins his story. She loved listening to him talk about the story, she had heard him read her the entire book, just like he had with many others.
After an hour or so passed he closed his book, looking over to Finnean who did the same (hearing the click of Patrick's book closing), he nodded.
"Come on lad, time for bed." He picked up the young boy off of Shelagh's lap and began to take him to his room in the cottage next door, it was now dark outside and the stars lit his way. Patrick Swooped Shelagh up in his arms and she burrowed into him, draping her arms sleepily around his neck. He slid her into the sheets of their bed, took off her shoes, and tucked her up before escaping to the bathroom to wash up and change himself before bed; he just didn't have the heart to wake her, all for putting on a nightdress.
Tomorrow was going to be an exciting day.
