We're Home – Part 30

I'd like mornings better if they started later. Author Unknown

More marriages might survive if the partners realised that sometimes the better comes after the worse. Doug Larson

The next day was a day for relaxation, Archie and Lexie stayed in bed till noon snuggling under the covers. They were just about to get up when Melanie burst through the door and jumped on the bed right in between her parents.
" Mummy! Daddy! It's our last day will you come out and play footy with the rest of us. We're going to have a HUGE game!"
Archie sat up, tickling Mel as he heaved her off him, smiling at her enthusiasm
" Okay sweetheart, just let us get dressed and we'll be down soon."
Melanie smiled and jumped over Archie and off the bed screaming, " Don't be long!"
" We won't" Archie reassured, with a muffled echo from Lexie
" Come on Sleepy Head, up and at them" Archie whispered in Lexie's ear,
" It's a beautiful day…"
Lexie moaned and he smiled, climbing out of bed to get dressed
" You coming?" He asked as he pulled on a shirt, glancing over at Lexie who was now perched on the side of the bed rubbing her eyes
" Yeah, in a minute. There's something I have to do first." Lexie commented
" Okay" Archie whispered, kissing her good morning " See you soon"
Lexie watched him walk from the room before getting fully out of bed and walking to the window to watch the game forming outside. She bit her lip and smiled, hoping that her suspicions we're right.

Lexie emerged out of the front door fifteen minutes later and motioned to Archie. He signalled to the others that he was going off and ran over to his wife
" What's wrong?" he asked, out of breath. She smiled and pulled him closer to whisper in his ear.
A grin broke out over Archie's features as he wrapped his arms around her waist and lifted her off the ground, swinging her round and round. Melanie let out a shriek of pleasure at seeing her parents acting so childish and ran over to be lifted up as well.
" What's going on?" Paul asked as they walked back over to the game
" Lex is pregnant!" Archie announced proudly. Again everyone erupted into shrieks
" What a birthday present!" Molly laughed, and then added coyly, " I expect lots of photos."
" Of course" Lexie laughed
" So does that mean you won't be playing soccer?" Duncan asked
Archie raised his eyebrows and they all burst out laughing again.

The time after Lexie's announcement was filled with much packing, and jostling around in order to get everything back into the car and get the family out of the house by the desired time.
Melanie was excited about going home and seeing all her old friends, but at the same time sad about leaving Glenbogle and her castle. She hugged her grandmother around the waist with watery eyes that threatened to overflow at any minute.
Duncan and Archie finished packing the car and closed the boot with only a slight struggle, walking back to the others who had now migrated to the doorway. Molly was now hugging Lexie as well and none of them looked too willing to let go. Archie smiled and regarded them with compassion mirrored by irony
" We will be coming back you know" he commented
Lexie narrowed her eyes, " I'm allowed to be emotional"
Archie cringed; this was one part of pregnancy that he'd chosen to forget. Finally they let go and walked over to Paul and Katrina while Archie said goodbye to Golly.
" You will be back for the wedding won't you?" Paul asked, directing his question at the entire family, as they stood ready to leave
" Yes, of course we will" Archie announced with a glance at his wife
" Probably with another bairn in tow" Lexie added
Archie smiled and wrapped one arm around her middle, taking Mel's hand with the other.
" Well we better be off, life doesn't stand still for anybody"
Archie guided Lexie around to her side of the car, knowing that she would want to stay just that bit longer if he didn't push her. While at the same time Mel climbed into the backseat in between countless suitcases and odds and ends they swore they hadn't had when they'd come up two weeks ago.
Archie climbed in last; taking his wife's hand as he fastened his seatbelt and turned the key in the ignition. It only seemed like just the other day that they had been driving up the stately driveway for the first time in three years. Yet so much had happened in that short period of time. So much had changed.
They were all happy to be getting back to Glasgow and their normal lives, but also it hurt a bit to leave a place that had such a hold on them.
Still, they had a new baby to look forward to, and they would be back for Paul and Katrina's wedding- time which would surely pass much too quickly as it was.
Silently they took one last look at Glenbogle and the people who inhabited it and said they're own private farewells before heading off home to Glasgow.

How lucky I am to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard. From the movie Annie

The End