[A/N. Sorry about this chapter being shorter than usual but there are two
reasons for this: (1) There wasn't much to say in this chapter other than
what was said in it, and (2) I wanted to get it up as soon as possible
since it has been awhile since I've posted anything for it. Not that I
don't have the time mind you, I just haven't really felt like writing. But
now I do again! I can't believe this is chapter number fifty! That's a lot
of chapters!]
Philadelphia, September, 1942.
"Expecting again? At your age?" Mrs. Gracie wrinkled her nose with distaste at Eliza's words.
Eliza bit back her sharp reply. She'd know that of course Mrs. Gracie would react this way, which is why it had taken her so long to tell her. Edward laughed at the way Eliza was worried about what his mother would think. "Come on sweetheart, do you really care what she thinks about it?" He'd ask. "All that matters is that we're happy with it. And the children are delighted. I think Margaret thinks that another child would be like a doll for her to play with. And Ben wants a little brother to play ball with."
Mrs. Gracie took a sip of her tea, and then sighed. "Well I suppose there's nothing anyone can do about it now. I just hate the idea of people talking about you and Edward for this."
"We don't care." Eliza assured her. "Edward and I've discussed it countless times and the opinions of nosy, busybody women who've got nothing better to do than to gossip about others, are no problem for us."
Mrs. Gracie sniffed. Eliza was pretty sure she realised what Eliza meant, but of course, it wouldn't stop her if she wanted to talk about it. She took another sip of tea, and Eliza glanced at her own cup. It had grown cold, but that was because she was unable to drink it. Her stomach was giving her a hard time lately, worse than it had been with Ben and Margaret, that was for sure.
"So," Mrs. Gracie said. "How are the children enjoying their first week of school? Ben's a bit older than the other kids I am sure?"
Eliza nodded. "They love it, and Ben's only a year older than most of them, so it's not too bad. We would have enrolled him earlier, but with the war, and coming back from England and all we didn't get the chance. But according to his teacher he's very bright anyway."
Mrs. Gracie nodded. "I always thought he'd be smart- after all he is taking after his Grandfather and father..although I'm not so sure about Margaret. I don't think she seems very smart."
Eliza frowned. "I don't know," She said stiffly. "I'm sure Margaret is perfectly smart, she just prefers to play rather than work."
Mrs. Gracie shrugged. "Well, whatever." She said.
*****
Edward only had to look at his wife's face when he returned from work to know. "You saw my mother today didn't you?" He asked.
"She's such a pain Edward." Eliza said frowning. "She thinks it is terrible for someone my age to be having another child. And then she managed to insult Margaret again, saying she's stupid."
Edward had to laugh. "Honestly Eliza, you shouldn't let her get you so fired up. I'm sure half the time she just does it to get a reaction. She never says things like that to me, does she? And anyway, you're meant to be taking it easy. Stress won't be good for the baby!"
Eliza wanted to argue the point: that of course she didn't say things like that to Edward because she was trying to insult Eliza, not her son. But she didn't bother. Instead she asked him how work was, which lead to a tirade about the government and exporting. Eliza decided it was much healthier for him to be the one complaining about things, and let him go on whilst she knitted booties for the new baby. Even though she said it didn't bother her she couldn't help but be a little hurt by Mrs. Gracie's reaction. She would have thought she would be a little more pleased about having another child- especially since if it was a boy she and Edward had decided to call him Archie after Edward's grandfather. Still, Eliza told herself, maybe she'd get used to the idea and perhaps even come to like it? And if she didn't then it was just her bad luck and nobody else's.
Philadelphia, September, 1942.
"Expecting again? At your age?" Mrs. Gracie wrinkled her nose with distaste at Eliza's words.
Eliza bit back her sharp reply. She'd know that of course Mrs. Gracie would react this way, which is why it had taken her so long to tell her. Edward laughed at the way Eliza was worried about what his mother would think. "Come on sweetheart, do you really care what she thinks about it?" He'd ask. "All that matters is that we're happy with it. And the children are delighted. I think Margaret thinks that another child would be like a doll for her to play with. And Ben wants a little brother to play ball with."
Mrs. Gracie took a sip of her tea, and then sighed. "Well I suppose there's nothing anyone can do about it now. I just hate the idea of people talking about you and Edward for this."
"We don't care." Eliza assured her. "Edward and I've discussed it countless times and the opinions of nosy, busybody women who've got nothing better to do than to gossip about others, are no problem for us."
Mrs. Gracie sniffed. Eliza was pretty sure she realised what Eliza meant, but of course, it wouldn't stop her if she wanted to talk about it. She took another sip of tea, and Eliza glanced at her own cup. It had grown cold, but that was because she was unable to drink it. Her stomach was giving her a hard time lately, worse than it had been with Ben and Margaret, that was for sure.
"So," Mrs. Gracie said. "How are the children enjoying their first week of school? Ben's a bit older than the other kids I am sure?"
Eliza nodded. "They love it, and Ben's only a year older than most of them, so it's not too bad. We would have enrolled him earlier, but with the war, and coming back from England and all we didn't get the chance. But according to his teacher he's very bright anyway."
Mrs. Gracie nodded. "I always thought he'd be smart- after all he is taking after his Grandfather and father..although I'm not so sure about Margaret. I don't think she seems very smart."
Eliza frowned. "I don't know," She said stiffly. "I'm sure Margaret is perfectly smart, she just prefers to play rather than work."
Mrs. Gracie shrugged. "Well, whatever." She said.
*****
Edward only had to look at his wife's face when he returned from work to know. "You saw my mother today didn't you?" He asked.
"She's such a pain Edward." Eliza said frowning. "She thinks it is terrible for someone my age to be having another child. And then she managed to insult Margaret again, saying she's stupid."
Edward had to laugh. "Honestly Eliza, you shouldn't let her get you so fired up. I'm sure half the time she just does it to get a reaction. She never says things like that to me, does she? And anyway, you're meant to be taking it easy. Stress won't be good for the baby!"
Eliza wanted to argue the point: that of course she didn't say things like that to Edward because she was trying to insult Eliza, not her son. But she didn't bother. Instead she asked him how work was, which lead to a tirade about the government and exporting. Eliza decided it was much healthier for him to be the one complaining about things, and let him go on whilst she knitted booties for the new baby. Even though she said it didn't bother her she couldn't help but be a little hurt by Mrs. Gracie's reaction. She would have thought she would be a little more pleased about having another child- especially since if it was a boy she and Edward had decided to call him Archie after Edward's grandfather. Still, Eliza told herself, maybe she'd get used to the idea and perhaps even come to like it? And if she didn't then it was just her bad luck and nobody else's.