Chapter 34
Louisa had just finished feeding the baby and had placed her in her cot when she heard Martin pull into the drive and turn off the car's engine. It was just past midnight; Martin had called her to say there had been a backup on the M5 near Swindon, and that he would be late. She looked into the boys' room one more time to ensure the beds were turned down and then jogged down the stairs.
There was a light rain, of course; there almost always was rain in Cornwall in the winter and she pulled on her wellies to help Martin with the boys. James had awakened and was rubbing his eyes. Martin had picked up Robert and advised Louisa, "Keep James here and I'll be right back for him. That way we don't have to put his shoes on." It was only a moment and he was back, gently carrying his oldest son out of the car and into the house. "Why don't you grab one of your bags and then come inside."
Louisa snatched up two of their bags and then ran into the house, dropping the bags inside the door, slipping the boots off her feet and running up the stairs to tuck each of her sons into their beds. Martin was just coming out of their room across the hall and was headed down to the car when Louisa came out of the boys' room. She pulled on his sleeve to stop him to give him a quick hug and kiss. "Wait until tomorrow to unpack. Come to bed."
He returned her hug and then asked, "How is Joanie?"
"She's fine. Please come to bed."
'Yes. I'll go make sure the car is closed up and bring in one or two more bags, and I'll be right up."
"Good. I'm going back to bed. You'll join me soon?" She was so happy to see him that her voice had a note of amorous anticipation to it which she hadn't meant to convey just then.
He had caught that tone and looked at her guardedly, then sighed, "Of course, but it's been a long day Louisa, and I'm tired…"
"Which is why you need to come straight to bed. You need your rest."
She saw relief briefly cross his face as he replied, "Yes," and she suddenly realised why he thought she wanted him to hurry to bed and she grinned, "Yes, tonight we sleep … but tomorrow night … " She cocked her head and gave him a mischievous grin.
He knew instantly what she had in mind for he had been thinking the same during the entire drive down to Cornwall and he pursed his mouth in a slight grin of his own, "Yes. Good. Tomorrow night. I'll just be a moment." Realising that he knew exactly what she had in mind for tomorrow night warmed her thoroughly and she considered trying to seduce him once he came to bed, but knew that would likely be unproductive. They were both tired and it would be their first time together since Joanie's birth. Best to wait until they could truly enjoy it, she decided, and she skipped lightly into their bedroom, crawled under the duvet, and was sound asleep before Martin slipped in beside her a few minutes later.
xxxxxxx
Louisa heard the baby rustle in her cot and looked at the clock … 7:30. The sky was beginning to get light even though the sun wasn't yet up over the horizon. Why her mind shot back to one of her science units on the movement of the earth as it circled the sun and the various types of twilight she would never know, but it did. She carefully slid out of bed and peeked through the curtains. The previous day was the winter solstice, the shortest day of the year and the sun wouldn't officially rise until after 8:00, but it was still fairly light outside … must be civil twilight she thought, when the sun is almost at the horizon, but not quite. She should refresh her memory about the various degrees of twilight; it would make for an interesting discussion with James.
Louisa had been up with the baby around half three for a feed, and Martin hadn't budged from his usual sleep position. He was tired and she didn't want to wake him so she straightened the curtain to keep the room dark and headed into the study where they had placed Joanie's cot. Their en-suite bathroom was actually tucked in between their room and the study with a door leading from the bathroom to each room. It was a simple matter of walking into the bathroom, closing that door and turning on the small lamp sitting on the table next to the overstuffed chair Martin used for reading. After she changed the baby's nappy, she settled into the chair and started to feed her, singing softly to herself. Suddenly the door opened and Martin peeked in, "Louisa?"
She raised her head and gave him a concerned look, "Oh, good morning. I had hoped not to wake you so you could sleep after the long drive yesterday."
"It's fine. It's time I arose – almost 8." He walked over to her side and gazed down at the two of them, distracting the baby who turned her head to see her father.
Louisa jiggled her a bit to return her attention to breakfast, and then looked up and smiled at him. "How are you feeling this morning?"
"Good." He leaned down and gave her a gentle kiss. "I think I will take a shower and then go prepare some breakfast. The boys will be up soon."
'There's not much food in the house. Alicia left a casserole for Ruth and me last night and a loaf of bread and some milk for the children. We'll need to go to the village to stock up."
'I brought some bread and eggs and milk as well as some sliced chicken for sandwiches. I thought I might pick up some fish for dinner."
He stepped over to the window and opened the blinds, "Humph, it's still raining. I wonder if there are any vegetables in the garden."
"Not likely, but you can check before you go to market." Realizing that it was time to switch sides, Louisa lifted the baby to her shoulder and started to wind her.
"Let me wind her before I shower." He leaned over, carefully placed her on his shoulder and gently patted her back, tucking his face into her neck, closing his eyes and inhaling her baby scent. He lifted his eyes to his wife and gave her a gentle smile.
Joanie let out a loud belch which signalled time for him to return her to her mother. "I won't be long."
"Good. I think I heard Ruth pottering around downstairs a while back. I imagine she has put the coffee on. I'd love a cup of tea when you get down there."
"Of course."
Shortly after she heard Martin turn on the shower, a little blond head peeked in, "Mummy?"
She smiled at him and signalled that he should close the door and come in, "Robert, good morning."
He ran over to her and climbed onto her lap and hugged her tightly, jostling the baby who looked up and gave her brother what appeared to be a smile while jerking one of her hands up and down, "Well, I guess Joanie is finished with her breakfast."
"Look Mummy, Joanie is smiling at me." Robert reached over to Joanie and tickled her chest, grinning back at her.
"No need to tell him that it's probably just gas" she thought as she replied, "Yes she is."
Whilst he was distracted with Joanie, she felt his bottom checking for the signs of a wet nappy, but it appeared to be dry. "Do you need to use the toilet?"
"No." Robert quickly replied, shaking his head back and forth.
"Why don't you go into the bathroom with Daddy and use our toilet anyway." Louisa knew that Robert, just like James before him, liked to use the big potty just like daddy. They had discovered that imitating their dad was a good way to encourage and speed up the toilet training process.
"Ok." Robert trotted over to their en-suite bathroom and opened the door, "Daddy. I use the potty, okay?"
Louisa could hear Martin turn off the shower and reply, "Yes, good. Do you need any help with your pyjama bottoms?"
Robert started grunting as he tried to pull off both his pyjamas and the night-time nappy, "No … ugh … ooof."
"Here, let me help … now step up on the stool and be sure to aim for the middle of the bowl."
"I know how to do it daddy."
"Yes … Robert!" Martin shouted. "Pay attention". It sounded as though Robert had sprayed Martin's leg thoroughly.
"Sorry daddy. I wipe your leg off."
She started to giggle as she heard Robert climb down from the step stool and unwind the paper from the roll.
"That's enough Robert."
A moment passed and then Robert exclaimed, "All dry now."
"Hmmm … yes … thank you Robert. Next time be more careful."
"Yes Daddy."
Robert opened the door and, leaving his pyjama bottoms lying on the floor, ran bare-bottomed out of the room and jumped back on Louisa's lap, leaving the door ajar so she could just see Martin turn the shower back on to rinse his leg before drying off from his shower. It was a sight that she couldn't help but appreciate and she found herself smiling at the sight of his unveiled masculinity, from his broad shoulders down to his long legs and all that fell in-between. He leaned over to finish drying his legs and noticed Robert's pyjama bottoms and he huffed in exasperation as he picked them up off the floor. As he straightened up, he saw her looking at him and blushed, covering himself with his towel.
She laughed, "Now, why did you do that? I was enjoying the view."
He tucked his chin into his neck, tugged on his ear, and gave her a sceptical look, "Yes, I noticed."
She grinned and laughed, then cocked her head to one side and gave him a beguiling look, "Later … yes?"
He returned her look with a seductive one of his own, "Yes."
He handed the pyjama bottoms to her and picked up Joanie and placed her in her cot. "Perhaps you could put Robert's pyjamas back on. I'll get dressed and check in with Ruth and get breakfast started. James should be up soon as well. We'll unpack after breakfast."
"Okay." She lifted Robert from her lap and stood him in front of her as she replaced his pyjamas. "You are such a big boy. I am so proud of you, going wee-wee in the toilet."
Robert grinned and puffed out his chest, very proud of himself indeed.
Louisa stood up and lifted Joanie out of her cot and guided Robert toward the door. "Now, let's go downstairs and see what Daddy is fixing for breakfast."
Author's note: I hope you enjoyed this short glimpse of the family on holiday at the farm. The Women in his Life will go on hiatus for the month of June while the author holidays in and around Portwenn herself. Perhaps, if she is lucky, she will encounter our little family while she is there.