Part Eleven

It was raining heavily. Lucy scowled at the skies as she waited at the intersection for the lights to change. It was only quarter past ten in the morning, yet she was already in a foul mood. Everything seemed to be against her today. She had been woken up by Gordon early in the morning, and as soon as she stepped out of bed, a raging headache seemed to envelope her head. To make things worse, Scott and Virgil weren't exactly being cooperative with getting ready for school. She had snapped at Jeff for not being more helpful, only to get a few sharp words in return. Finally, she had got her troublesome elder sons off to school. At least that was two of them occupied for the day. John was back at home, being looked after by Elizabeth, who came round twice a week to do some general housework. She had worked for them for almost a year now and had been a godsend for Lucy. The lights changed, and Lucy drove on. She glanced in her rear-view mirror at Gordon, who was babbling away to himself and found herself smiling a little. She was on her way to her appointment for the first scan of the new baby. Jeff and herself weren't the only ones to be gobsmacked at being parents for the fifth time, most of their friends were too, especially since Gordon was barely a few months old. She thought back to the doctor's reaction.

"Hmm. I wouldn't have recommended you have another baby so soon after your experience with the last one. Still, so long as we keep an eye on you, I expect everything will be fine," she had said, with an air of "shouldn't you know better?" which Lucy had found rather insulting. Yes, to have five children was unthinkable for some people, yes to have two babies in quick succession might be crazy. To tell the truth, it was almost unthinkable for her too, but she would say that she only had herself to blame, really. She'd instigated the likely liaison, in high spirits (and full of spirits, thanks to an amazing punch that had been deceptively alcoholic) after they'd come home from a friend's party, which had been the first opportunity in what felt like forever to have some fun and adult company. She may have tackled her husband and may have made a crude joke about a rocket, which he didn't take lying down. After that, things were a little hazy. She had been awoken the next morning by Jeff snoring down her ear, a change from the usual wake-up call courtesy of at least one of the children. It didn't make her head feel any better that day.

Lucy pulled into the medical centre grounds, her mood clouding again as she hunted for a parking space. Eventually, she made her way to her appointment, Gordon tucked up in his carrier. The nurses cooed over him whilst Lucy had her scan. She felt nerves sweep over her as she recalled that the last time she had a scan was just before they rushed her to theatre to have Gordon. But the anxiety soon passed as she looked towards the screen and got her first look at the baby. With all her children, this had always been the moment that really made her feel as if she were pregnant. Even though this was the fifth time, she felt the same maternal love blossoming as strongly as it had done with Scott.

"I don't think that there's anything to worry about there," the nurse smiled at her.

"That's good," Lucy smiled back. Soon she was on her way again, this time to meet a friend for a coffee. Later in the evening, she was making dinner for the family. One of the things that she was quite proud of achieving over the years was the ability to make something more than beans on toast. It hadn't been something that came easily to her, and in the early days back in Houston, Jeff had become used to getting home from the space centre and walking into the smell of burning or having something 'experimental' placed in front of him on the nights when it had been Lucy's turn to cook. Josie had been helpful in handing out tips without being intrusive, and though Lucy knew that she'd never be the cook her mother in law was – most people would struggle to do that – practice had made a difference. Lucy darted about the kitchen, stirring vegetables, turning over the meat, calling Scott to come and help her out. Unsurprisingly, he didn't appear, being absorbed in whatever TV channel or movie the boys had on. However, someone else came into the kitchen who gave her a hug from behind. She turned and smiled at Jeff, their minor altercation that morning forgotten.

"I didn't hear you come in," she said.

"You're busy," he replied. "Smells nice."

"Good."

"How was the hospital?"

"Fine. Everything's okay. The pictures are on the side there," Lucy indicated with a nod of her head. Jeff went and picked the envelope up and had a look.

"Have the boys seen them?"

"Yep. I think that March seems a bit far off for them though."

"Six months is a lifetime at that age," Jeff smiled. "I'll go and get Scott away from the TV."

"Oh, leave him," Lucy said, not really in the mood for dealing with a sulky child. She grinned at Jeff. "You're here now."

"Yeah, so I am. I'll go and say hi to the boys then come give you a hand," Jeff replied. Lucy knew full well that she wouldn't see him again until the meal was ready. It was not because he was against helping out, it was just because he got so caught up with the boys.

"I'll come back," he said, knowing what she was thinking. Lucy just raised an eyebrow.

"Of course you will," she said.


Despite her initial fear, they wouldn't have to move home. Jeff had worked out that there was room for an extension and had set about organising the building of that. They had become well settled in Boston and the neighbourhood they lived in. Scott was happy at school, and Virgil looked to be settling in there too, so it would have been such a shame to move them. Autumn was well underway now, with the trees an orchestra of colours. The days were getting shorter, but the weather had held for the past few days, allowing the boys to still play outside. John had just celebrated his third birthday and was busy zooming around on a tricycle his parents had bought him, Virgil shouting encouragement to him. Scott, meanwhile, was bored. He wasn't interested in joining Virgil and John, his father was busy sorting some business out, and his mother was temporarily out of sight dealing with Gordon. Scott peered out of the treehouse that was at the bottom of the garden. His father and grandfather had built it not long after they had moved in. Scott looked round the garden. There were two other trees there. One was a little evergreen spruce, the other an old maple tree. He looked at the maple tree. It had lovely, spreading branches which just looked to be made for climbing. He couldn't do it without help though, so he made his way down from the treehouse, and over to where Virgil was.

"Let's climb that tree," Scott said, pointing at it.

"Daddy said we weren't allowed," Virgil replied, looking shocked at the suggestion.

"So?" Scott answered. He went over to the tree. Virgil followed, leaving John to cycle in circles by himself.

"We need that chair," Scott said, looking over to the patio. He went and got the plastic garden chair and dragged it across the lawn to the tree.

"You go first," Scott said, trying to get Virgil to stand on the chair.

"I don't want to," Virgil protested.

"It's okay. I'll help you," Scott assured. Virgil looked back at him; his hazel-brown eyes filled with uncertainty. He didn't want to make his father angry, but he didn't want to go against his brother either. Eight-and-a-half-year-old Scott seemed to loom over the five-year-old Virgil. He made his decision and climbed onto the chair.

Meanwhile, Lucy had put Gordon to bed for a nap and made her way back downstairs. She heard Jeff finishing off a phone call as she passed the study. It seemed a good time to call the boys in from outside and prepare a snack for everyone. A yell from the back garden brought her into the kitchen faster than she had intended to go. A yell was probably the wrong description. It was more of a scream, the kind that instantly let Lucy know that something very bad had just happened. She looked out of the kitchen window.

"Jeff!" she yelled over her shoulder as she rushed outside. She knelt by Virgil, who was lying on the grass, not moving. To her relief, his eyelids flickered slightly.

"Vee," she called softly, stroking the side of his face. Jeff joined her.

"What happened?" he asked, also kneeling.

"I don't know," Lucy said. Jeff noticed the chair by the tree.

"It looks as if he was trying to climb the tree," he said. "I'll call 911." He got up and quickly made his way back to the house. Lucy tried to stay calm. Just then, Virgil opened his eyes, blinked, then began whimpering softly. Lucy took hold of his hand.

"Mummy's here, darling. Just stay still," she said. John came over on his tricycle, wondering what was going on. Lucy was about to ask Scott to come and keep him occupied when she realised that he was nowhere to be seen.

"Scott!" she called. He didn't appear. She looked back at Virgil, wondering where Jeff had got to.

"My leg hurts," he whimpered. Lucy could only smile reassuringly at him.

"It'll feel better soon," she said, stroking his hair. Jeff reappeared, accompanied by two of their neighbours who lived next door.

"Mitch and Terri will look after the others whilst we go with Virgil," Jeff said, crouching back down beside Lucy.

"Oh, poor Virgie!" Terri exclaimed as she saw the little boy on the grass. Lucy looked at Jeff.

"I don't know where Scott is," she said, quietly. Jeff looked around the garden.

"He's probably in the treehouse," he said. They heard the sound of a siren as the ambulance pulled up outside. Mitch went to get the paramedics. Soon they were fussing around Virgil, checking him over for obvious injuries. Lucy stayed with him throughout, whilst Jeff went to look for Scott. He looked everywhere, including the treehouse, but couldn't find him. He suspected that Scott might well have had a hand in Virgil's accident – Virgil wouldn't take it upon himself to climb the maple tree. He wouldn't even go in the treehouse unless Scott or his parents were around. The paramedics were ready to take Virgil to hospital, so Jeff gave up his search. Mitch and Terri could keep a lookout for Scott.


Fortunately, Virgil had sustained nothing worse than a broken leg and a mild concussion from his fall. Jeff and Lucy could take him home, but he would have to rest quietly. At first, he wouldn't tell them what had happened, but his parents managed to coax the story out of him.

"That boy is in trouble when we get home," Jeff seethed, referring to Scott. They returned home in the early evening to find that Scott was still absent.

"He was around earlier in the back yard, but when he saw that you were coming back, he disappeared again," Mitch said. Jeff thanked them for looking after the other boys, then he helped Lucy get Virgil into bed. After checking that Virgil was okay and setting Jeff the task of making him a drink and a light meal, Lucy decided to go and look for Scott. She wanted to get to him before his father and it was getting dark and chilly. She made her way outside and stood in the middle of the lawn.

"Scott!" she called. "Scotty, where are you?" She heard a thud from the treehouse, the kind that meant whoever was inside wanted to be found. Lucy smiled to herself and proceeded to climb the ladder into the treehouse. Inside was Scott, who looked back at her dolefully, his bright blue eyes somehow subdued.

"Where have you been?" Lucy asked gently, sitting next to him. Scott didn't answer her, not wanting to reveal the secret hiding place he had discovered some time ago. There was a hole in the fence behind the garden shed, which was just large enough for a boy to squeeze through into Mitch and Terri's garden. Nobody could see him there because on their side of the fence, there were a lot of shrubs. Scott had hidden there, hearing first his mother, then his father call for him. When he was sure that they had gone, he had crept out. Despite the fear of being told off, he was now glad to see his mother.

"Is Virgil dead?" he asked her. The piteous tone of voice simultaneously made Lucy feel sorry for him and want to laugh. She kept a straight face.

"No, sweetheart. He's hurt his head and has broken his leg, but he's not dead."

"I thought he was because he didn't get up after he fell and he had his eyes closed," Scott said.

"You shouldn't have made him climb the tree. You're supposed to look after your brothers, not put them in danger."

"I didn't mean for him to fall."

"I know you didn't. But you know that Dad has told you lots of times not to climb that tree."

"Is Dad very angry?"

"A little bit, Scott. You broke a promise to him"

"I'm sorry," said Scott.

"You shouldn't be apologizing to me," his mother told him. "You should be saying you're sorry to Virgil and your father. Let's go back to the house."

"No," Scott said. "I don't want to."

"Why not?"

"Because I don't," he said. Lucy thought that perhaps he didn't like the thought that he had upset his father. Scott idolized Jeff.

"You can't stay out here."

"Yes I can." Scott was as resolute as Jeff could be.

"How can you?"

"I just will."

"Don't you want to see Virgil?" Lucy asked. Although the light was dim, she saw Scott shrug his shoulders.

"Virg wants to see you," she said.

"Does he?"

"Yes. So do your other brothers. And Dad does. They'd all miss you if you didn't come back," Lucy told him, gently. "I'd miss you, too." She heard Scott sniff, and pulled him into a hug. He hugged her back, glad that his mother wasn't too angry with him.

"Come on," she said, still cuddling him. "It's getting cold. I'm sure you want something to eat, don't you?"

"Yes," Scott said in a small voice. He allowed his mother to help him down from the treehouse and back into the warmth of the house. Later, after a much calmer Jeff had had a few words with him, Scott was allowed to go and see Virgil. Despite their mother's assurance to Scott, at first Virgil wasn't too happy to see his older brother, but he accepted Scott's apology, and the promise that he was allowed to play with any of Scott's toys for a whole month. Lucy checked in on them later when she herself was going to bed. They were both fast asleep. It had been a long day for them. She got ready for bed, snuggling down under the covers. Jeff soon joined her, feeling worn out.

"What a day," he said.

"I knew something like that was going to happen eventually," said Lucy.

"Yeah. Guess that's not going to be the last trip to the hospital," Jeff agreed, reluctantly. Despite their young age, the boys had already caused each other various bumps and bruises. Add Gordon and the new baby to the mixture, and the future looked to be a chaotic one.

"I gave my brother concussion once," Lucy said.

"Oh?" Jeff asked, intrigued.

"It wasn't my fault. I didn't know he was standing behind the bathroom door when I slammed it open," she replied, a grin on her face. Jeff smirked.

"Of course you didn't," he said.

"It's the truth, but no one believes me!"

"I bet Peter didn't."

"He still complains that he's got a dint in his head from it – oh."

"What is it?"

"I think the latest addition just said hi," Lucy said. Jeff placed a hand on the small bump. He couldn't feel anything but the thought of baby number five in there cooking nicely still brought a smile to his face.

"So, any thoughts on names?"