As the door opened Tom noticed that Elise was dressed to go out. Curious, he walked in to play with his son who as usual was waiting for him. Smiling, Tom sat down to play with Edmund. Both Tom and Edmund looked up when Elise clicked their picture in surprise.
"Let's go for a walk tonight." Said Elise clicking another picture of them.
"Sure." Said Tom still bit dazed, looking at Elise who was busy with her camera.
Satisfied, Elise picked up Edmund and sat him on the bed.
"I'll get his coat." Said Elise and walked to their bags while Tom moved to hold Edmund. Elise came back with a black coat and the blue scarf along with other winter wear. Tom smiled at the sight of the scarf.
Elise started to put on the coat but Edmund would have none of it; he wanted his papa to dress him.
"Only two days and he's papa's boy. Such betrayal!" said Elise dramatically sighing at Edmund and glaring at Tom.
Smiling cockily, Tom took the coat from Elise and started dressing Edmund who happily smiled away at his papa. Elise smiled grabbing the camera and started taking pictures of them startling the father and son again. Tom started to turn away from camera.
"Oh come on! I want to capture all of your first moments with Edmund." Said Elise.
Tom stopped averting from the camera and soon they were walking down the nippy streets in the clear night. Elise and Tom randomly conversed about nothing in particular while Edmund would point at things and Tom would tell some facts and relate some interesting story to which Edmund listened keenly. Soon Tom was pointing at things and narrating about their history or some interesting facts while Edmund would blabber sometimes as if to tell he knew it too and Tom would smile and listen to his son's excited blabber. Meanwhile, Elise who had brought the camera along was taking pictures of the stunning night scenes and theirs too, discretely.
Suddenly they were in a pathway, which ran alongside Thamesand they stopped to admire the view and Elise took some photos. Since it was a clear night, Tom pointed to Edmund all the visible constellations and starting telling about the solar system. Elise smiled at the scene and mentally congratulated herself at the success of her plan.
After Tom had left yesterday she had abruptly realised while putting away the album that she hadn't captured any moment of Tom with Edmund. They were precious moments, the moments when Tom had become Edmund's papa. She wanted to remember them for forever. And she wanted Edmund to remember them too; she owed Tom as much – his rightful place in the family album, as Edmund's papa.
"We should go, it's getting chilly." Said Tom turning to look at Elise as if noticing her presence for the first time.
"Yes, we should go." Said Elise. "Now you both, smile for me!"
Tom gave a smile while Edmund grinned at the camera.
"Ét Voilà!" said Elise smiling at them.
"Why do I feel that you had it all planned?" said Tom looking at Elise as they started walking back to the hotel. Elise smiled at Tom, who had been holding Edmund all night.
"You didn't say you were psychic!" said Elise in fake astonishment.
Tom just snorted and waited for her to answer.
"I did plan this walk."
Elise's diplomatic answer was hard to decipher for any ultra motives so Tom let it be. It was 8:30 when they finally reached the hotel; climbing up they entered the room when the lights went off the very moment.
"Power cut." Said Tom.
Elise nodded and walked to the window seat, Tom followed her with Edmund still in his arms. There was sufficient moonlight for them to see around the room. Edmund fussed in Tom's lap to be put down so Tom put his down on the floor where Edmund crawled to his toys still on the blanket on the floor. Tom and Elise watched as Edmund played with his toys.
"We should exchange our addresses." Said Tom still looking at Edmund.
"Yes." Replied Elise not looking at Tom either.
"When does your train leave tomorrow?" asked Tom.
"In the afternoon at 2:30."
Edmund looked up at his parents, smiling and they smiled back. He put his puzzle piece on the floor, got up on his hands and feet, slowly standing on his tiny feet and made his way to his parents. Tom and Elise, who were watching Edmund, were taken by surprise when he stood up on his feet. Tom couldn't believe his eyes as he watched his son walk towards them smiling, beside him Tom heard Elise click a photo. A big smile split open on Tom's face as Edmund neared them and he stretched his hands to catch him if he fell. Elise watched her son quicken his steps, a big grin split open on her face when he reached and almost stumbled into them; Tom caught him and got up holding him up in the air with a laugh. Elise quickly took their photo and joined the moment.
The next half an hour was spent cheering Edmund as he walked towards them. Finally Edmund stumbled into Tom's arms and fell asleep. Tom gently held Edmund and made his way to the bed. Elise quickly grabbed her camera again and took a photo as Tom gently and carefully led Edmund on the bed and kissed his forehead. Tom looked up rolling his eyes at Elise; she has been taking pictures all night. Elise simply smiled in reply and put away her camera as Tom opened the door.
"Good night." Said Elise standing at the door.
"Good night." Said Tom before walking down the stairs.
Elise closed the door as Tom disappeared down the stairs and made her way to the bed. She smiled faintly at Edmund and gently started taking off his coat and rest of the winter wear. She still couldn't believe that he has started to walk!
Tom sat with the curtains closed and opened his journal with a faint smile.
Today Edmund started walking. For the first time. He got up on his own and started walking towards Elise and I.
Tom looked up from his journal; he was ecstatic, he had witnessed his son walk. He hadn't missed it.
