"They were all still awake?"
Richard Clarkson rose from the sofa as Isobel rejoined him in her spacious sitting room from the kitchen where she had just wished the Carson family and their guests a happy New Year.
"Pete was fading around eleven so Charles took him in the nursery to rock and Elsie said she checked on them half an hour ago and they were both fast asleep, but I spoke to Poppy and Mary Ann, and they said Daisy and Andy and that nice Nathaniel were still up playing games with them and Livy. She said the girls are bound and determined to make it to midnight."
"You sorry we aren't there?"
Isobel shook her head. "Seems a bit odd. It had become a bit of a tradition to spend New Year's in Halifax over the last few years, but it's also become a tradition to be with you, so I am not a bit sorry to be welcoming in 1954 in London." She gave him a warm smile before moving to fill their champagne glasses.
"It has been a lovely evening. Dinner was wonderful and dancing with you is always a treat."
Handing him a glass, she left little space between their bodies as she joined him back on the sofa. "I return the sentiment."
"I've never been a fan of the city, but being here with you makes it seem like a different place. I don't seem to mind the crowds or the pace as much, and you hardly hear the noise from this high up."
Isobel leaned her head against the cushioned back, a grin on her face. "You should get a job with the London visitor's bureau, doctor."
He joined her in a reclined position, returning her smile. "I just don't want you to think I'm anti-London."
"And I'm not anti-Halifax, Richard."
"Well, then…" he took her free hand in his.
"Well, then what?"
"It isn't out of the question. You and me."
She shook her head. "I told you that. I told you we could work it out."
"And I am doing a rotten job of attempting to start a conversation about how we might go about this working it out."
"You shouldn't be talking to me, in that case. It's Elsie you want."
"Elsie?"
"The lovely Mrs. Carson has all the answers." Isobel gave him a knowing look as she continued, "She told me that Phyllis has expressed the need for a reduced workload now that they have Mary Ann and so it makes sense to Elsie that if you also reduced your work load and if I hired an assistant or two to help me at the hospital, we could spend more time together, both here and in Halifax. And, in her words, ring or no ring we could be together."
Richard's mouth fell open which led to more laughter from Isobel.
"I know. Silly woman has everything figured out. She's quite wonderful."
"I'm going to send her flowers."
Isobel leant over and gave him a lingering kiss.
"That was nice," Richard whispered.
Isobel nodded towards the clock on the mantel. "It's 1954, Dr. Clarkson. Happy New Year."
"Happy New Year." He returned her kiss, albeit a more arduous one than she had given.
"So you'd be willing to see patients fewer days a week?" Isobel asked when he had finally pulled away.
Taking a deep breath, he gave a nod. "I will meet with the hospital director and find out what my options are and then advertise for a junior for the practice. I'll have to hire someone to fill in for Phyllis, but it is doable. It will take a bit of time…"
"Of course. It will take me time to find the right person, or people, to assist me, as well. Perhaps by the end of summer we can figure out the next step."
"Seems like forever away," Richard whispered, a tinge of disappointment in his voice as he pulled her against him so they could cuddle against the cushions. "But I've waited five years, so what are a few months more."
Turning her head to look up at him, she slid her hand up his chest and began to gently loosen the knot of his tie. "And in the meantime, we'll still find time here and there to be together."
A smile crossed his lips as he slid his a tender hand under her chin. "I want to be here and there and everywhere with you, Isobel."
The house was quiet for eight in the morning, the festivities of the previous evening having gone into the late hours which had led to the children sleeping far past the early hour at which they normally rose.
"Nineteen fifty-four," Charles whispered as Elsie snuggled up against him, her back to his front.
"And a quiet start to this New Year it seems," she murmured as she slipped her fingers between his and pulled his arm more tightly around her middle. "I hope we don't have a houseful of little grumps this afternoon. We probably shouldn't have let them stay up so late."
"How late did you and the girls stay up with Andy and Nathaniel?"
"Poppy and Mary Ann made it to almost one and then Phyllis and I put them to bed with Pete and she went upstairs to join Joe while I came in here with you and crashed. Daisy said she would let Livy bunk with her on the sofa. I don't know what time Andy and Nathaniel left, but I got up around three to make sure the doors were locked and they were gone."
Charles nuzzled her neck, kissing just below her ear before murmuring, "We Carson men just don't have the stamina you lovely ladies do."
"Wasn't the same without Isobel." Elsie whispered as she turned over to face him.
He nodded. "I know, but I am glad she and Richard were together in London."
"I wonder how it went."
Charles reached down and gently brushed an eye lash from just below her eye onto the tip of his finger. "I'm sure she'll call you in a bit and fill you in. Here, honey, make a wish."
A smile graced her lips as she closed her eyes before gently blowing the auburn lash.
"I don't even have to ask, do I?"
She pushed herself up and gave his lips a light peck. "A tiny baby could be in nestled in this bed between us this time next year if we manage to get pregnant by the end of February."
"I promise to do my part. You just tell me when."
She basked in the warmth of his embrace and deeply inhaled the light traces of his new cologne which still lingered from the previous night. "I wish I could say now. You feel and smell so good." She smiled as he shifted, his arousal ignited by her huskily whispered words.
"Careful, Mrs. Carson, or you'll get me all hot and bothered."
Reaching up and unbuttoning the top three buttons of his pajamas, she hummed lightly as she began kissing his neck and then down over his Adam's apple before moving down to his chest.
"Sweetheart…"
"Shhh…just lay back, Charles. I want to make you feel good." She reached up and rested the fingers of her left hand against his lips as she unbuttoned the rest of his top with her right before easing her way down under the covers.
"Happy New Year indeed," he whispered as he followed her lead, shifting onto the side of his good hip as she worked his pajama bottoms down below his knees. Pressing his head back against the pillow, he slipped his hand inside the neckline of her gown and massaged her back and neck as she began to pleasure him.
He felt her smile against him just after he pressed her pillow against his face to stifle the sighs and moans her efforts were divining. His climax approaching, he patted her shoulder as he pulled back the pillow to whisper, "I'm…Oh, honey…I'm…"
Slipping up beside him, she used her hand to bring him to completion, a gentle smile on her face as she watched a gamut of expressions cross his.
"Dear God, woman, you are too good to me."
"Making you feel good makes me feel good, sweetheart." She whispered as she pushed herself up and onto the side of the bed.
"If that is true then I am the luckiest man in the world."
Elsie disappeared into the lavatory only to return a few seconds later, smiling as she tossed him a hand towel. "I'm going to open the door once you get your clothes on and then jump in the shower."
"You aren't going to let me shower with you?"
She smirked as she picked up his pajama bottoms from the floor. "Someone has to keep an ear out for our urchins."
"Daisy's in there…"
"We had the joy of making them, Charles Carson, therefore we have the responsibility of taking care of them."
Sighing dramatically, he swung his legs over the side of the bed and was pulling up his pants when the door to the bedroom suddenly flew open. Startled by the abrupt entrance of Pete in the doorway, he hesitated briefly before hastily pulling his pants up the rest of the way, but was caught off-guard by the blood curdling scream that suddenly erupted from his son.
"Bird!" Elsie rushed across the room and pulled the little one into her arms. "What's wrong, baby? Are you hurt?"
"Piders!"
Her ribs and toes complained, but she managed to swing her son onto her hip as she glanced about the floor and out into the corridor. "I don't see any spiders, baby."
"On Daddy!" Pete whimpered against her neck.
Elsie and Charles exchanged bewildered looks.
"There's no spiders on Daddy, sweetheart," she gently bounced Pete and kissed his cheek. "It's okay."
"On Daddy's pee pee!"
Elsie gasped and then bit her bottom lip to hide a smile as she glanced over to find her husband's face turning bright red. "Oh, baby, Daddy doesn't have spiders on his pee pee."
"I don't, Pete. I really don't have spiders on me."
The child lifted his head, his expression still one of fear and a bit of doubt. "Lots of piders on you, Daddy."
"It was just hair, sweet pea. You just saw hair that looked a little bit like spiders." Elsie explained as she fought a keen desire to burst into laughter.
"No piders?"
Charles shook his head, his cheeks losing a touch of their heat as he watched his son relax. "No spiders."
Pete nodded his head and was being lowered to the ground when he suddenly called out, "You have a big pee pee, Daddy."
Elsie turned her head away, her giggles getting the better of her.
"Alright, Pete. That's enough pee pee talk." Charles cleared his throat as he pulled his pajama top back on before slipping on his dressing gown en route to his wife and son. "Why don't we go check on Daisy and the girls and we can let chum and the kittens have a wee while Mumma takes a shower?"
Pete nodded his head enthusiastically, taking his father's hand, but pausing to give the area just below Charles' waist another look. "I have a big pee pee when I am a big boy like you, Daddy?"
He scowled as he looked over at his wife who was currently wiping her eyes as she shook with silent laughter. "You have been a tremendous help, thank you."
She bent over, shaking her head as she managed to mutter a laugh laden "I'm sorry."
A deep sigh was followed by an honest answer. "You probably will, bird. If you have Daddy's long legs, you'll probably have my other…attributes as well."
"I'm going to be a really big boy like you, Daddy."
"And you'll have a very happy wife," Elsie playfully added as she watched her boys leave the room.
"Thank you, dear." Charles shot over his shoulder, the couple sharing amused smiles.
She had only taken a few steps towards the bathroom when she heard Pete ask, "Will I have big furries on my eyes like you, Daddy?" Another loud sigh filling the corridor, Elsie ducked back around the doorway just as he informed their son: "Eyebrows, bird. They're called eyebrows."
"I have big eyebrows like you?"
Turning back to find his highly amused and lip-biting wife watching, he couldn't help but laugh as he answered, "We'll just have to wait and see, sweet pea."
Final touches to the now fully furnished conservatory, bedroom, temporary sitting room, and lavatory in the new edition completed over the first few days of the week, Charles found Elsie doing a last minute tidy up in Purley and Lilly's bedroom mid-Monday morning, the fourth of January.
"We could run a white glove over every surface in the house, Elsie. It's perfect. Stop fussing."
"Nervous energy," she answered with a shrug before moving to her hands and knees to adjust the dust-ruffle around the base of the bed.
"Why are you nervous?" His question went unanswered as she remained hidden. "Honey?"
She peeked over the edge of the mattress and took a deep breath before admitting, "When they get here it will be like a countdown has started. I mean, she's coming here to… to die," her voice faded in and out as she fought to speak. "Their moving in has seemed like something so far off in the future, but now it's here and it feels real, her illness, her cancer is real. It's the beginning of the end."
"We can't back out…"
She forcefully shook her head as she pushed herself up higher above the bed. "I don't want that. That's not at all what I am saying. I know it will be awful; awful for Purley, for us, for the children, for everyone when the time comes, but she'll have good days and I hope to help make those good days the best they can be for both of them, for all of us."
Charles sat on the edge of the bed and offered his hand which she took before joining him. "I woke up in the middle of the night and couldn't sleep. Found myself thinking about Lily and Purl."
"About them moving in?"
He shook his head. "No. Just about how important they have been in my life, in ours. They were both in the room the day I was born and Purley was the first person after my father to hold me, which I think you know, but he was also in the room when my father died. I don't think I've ever told you that."
She shook her head, her grip on his hand tightening.
His gaze went to the far wall where a framed copy of Lily and Purley's wedding photo now hung among other old photos of their family and Charles and his parents, and more recent photos of the Purley's own grandchildren and great-grandchildren, as well as Poppy, Livy, and Pete. "It was the early hours of the morning and I remember waking up and hearing my mother crying and Purl was sitting in a chair just outside my room waiting for me. I was more than half his size even though I was only eight, but he pulled me onto his lap and told me Dad had slipped away and he just held me while I cried."
Elsie sniffed and pulled a handkerchief from her pocket, wiping her eyes before handing it to her husband so he could attend to the few tears which had escaped the corner of his.
"And Lily and Isobel were with me at the hospital the night mother died and it was in Lily's arms that I cried then."
"Oh, honey." She let go of his hand and wrapped herself around his middle as she tucked up under his arm.
"And the girls. They are why the girls came into the world, into my hands and then into your arms so safely. I owe them so much."
Charles was wiping away streaming tears when Beryl's voice called from down the hall. "They're here!"
Feeling the bed shift as she prepared to rise, Charles held fast to her hand, his words whispered and quick, "I know I haven't said it, but thank you. Thank you for wanting to do this. It would mean so much to my parents that we are doing this so thank you for being you." Leaning over, he kissed the side of her head before whispering, "Lovely, kind, perfect you."
She reached up and brushed away the stream of tears no sliding over his cheeks. "Of all the times to be sweet. They'll think we're blubbering babies, sweetheart. I am the one who should be thanking you. Livy, Purley, Isobel…our children…you've given me everything Charles." She kissed him soundly before abruptly pulling away and moving to her feet. "Now dry your eyes and put a smile on your face," she announced before clearing her throat and giving her head a bit of a shake. "This may be the beginning of the end, but it's still a beginning."
She had taken a few steps around the end of the bed when he leaned over and reached for her hand. "How are we going to do this?"
"With love." She simply responded. "We follow their example and we do everything with love."
Any fears Elsie and Charles had regarding Lily and Purley's arrival soon dissipated as a jolly Lily bounded into the house, her arms quickly filled with her "peanuts." She had lost nearly two stone since they had seen her in late November, but her coloring was good and a recent B-12 shot had given her a boost of energy which pleased Richard who had joined the Carson's, along with the Molesley's, Beryl, Bill, Andy, Daisy, and Nathaniel for a welcome dinner for the couple.
Conversation flowed easily among the adults who discussed everything from Bill's chickens to the Royal Family to the latest Morecambe and Wise radio show. Amid the contented chatter, however, Elsie detected a reticence on Andy's part to join in, not to mention the fact that the young man had barely touched Beryl Patmore's delicious dinner. Daisy on the other side of him engaging in happy banter with Nathaniel who sat across from her, Elsie took advantage of being on Andy's immediate left and gave his arm a squeeze. "Everything alright, love? You feeling well?"
He glanced up, caught off-guard, but managed a polite, but perfunctory smile. "Fine, thanks. Sorry. Know I'm being a bit quiet."
"You've barely taken three bites and you've usually gone for seconds by this point in the meal. You sure you are feeling alright?"
His glance in the direction of a giggling Daisy and then a brightly grinning Nathaniel were all the answer Elsie needed.
"Three's a crowd?" She whispered.
He quickly nodded, pausing briefly before admitting, "And I'm beginning to think I'm the odd man out."
Elsie reached down and patted his hand. "I doubt that's true. They're just friends."
"I don't know. He's bet-…Sorry. I don't mean to be a killjoy," Andy uttered before quietly excusing himself from the table.
The loss of their dinner companion didn't go unobserved by Daisy who turned to watch him leave before looking back at Elsie. "Is he ill?"
She gave Daisy a small smile before looking across the table at Nathaniel who had struck up a conversation with Bill about replacing a bit of the roof on one of the barns. "Not ill, per se, but a little…worried."
"Worried?"
Elsie bit her bottom lip before softly saying, "It's not really my business, Daisy, but I do encourage you to talk to him."
The young woman nodded before glancing back in the direction in which her beau had disappeared.
"The children know not to bother you and the phone is set up on a separate line. You just pick up and call our number and one of us can be here within seconds." Elsie left Charles' side in the doorway that separated the new edition from the rest of the house and perched next to Lily on the arm of the small sofa that sat opposite the couple's new bed. "Help yourself to anything in the kitchen, of course, well, anything anywhere, for that matter. And if at any point the children are in the way or being nuisances…"
"Oh, little mother, please don't fret. Everything is wonderful; beautiful and far nicer than we deserve." Lily reached over and took Elsie's hand, pulling it to her lips. "You sweet, sweet girl."
"We just want you to be as comfortable and relaxed as possible." Charles quickly answered, moving across the room and resting his hand on his emotional wife's back. "And now we'll give you some time to settle. You've had a long day of driving and company."
Lily gave him a wink before turning her attention back to Elsie as she whispered, "Plenty of time for tears later, Elsie. I just want to love on those babies and cook in that lovely kitchen of yours and talk about good times and hopefully make a few more memories while I can."
"Sorry," Elsie said with a smile. "I'll do my best to keep my leaky eyes in check, Lily."
"Good girl."
Seated at her vanity, she was mid-stroke with her hairbrush when she noticed her reclining husband's gaze at her in the reflection of the mirror.
"It isn't polite to stare."
"Sorry, but I am afraid it is hard not to when someone is as beautiful as you."
Elsie grimaced at him, but it soon shifted to a smile as she countered, "I think we need to have your eyes checked."
"Nothing wrong with my eyes," he playfully argued. "Now stop that brushing and come to bed."
She placed the brush on the table and shifted in the small seat so that she was facing him. "Do you think Lily and Purley are happy to be here?"
He gave his head a light shake. "No. They're miserable. All that laughing and those big smiles are just an act. And the children, well, it's clear that can barely tolerate them. Hugging them, playing with them, I mean, it's clear they are just putting on a show. And you. Ugh. They can't stand how lovely and caring you are. No doubt they'll be packing their bags by the end of the week."
"Oh shut up." She muttered with a smile as she stood to remove her dressing gown. "I know they don't hate it here. I just want them to feel at home."
"We've a warm hearth, a larder full of food, comfy beds, and we love one another. I am quite certain that is the definition of home."
The words he had just said inspiring a bloom of warmth in her chest, she made no reply, but simply climbed into the bed beside him, her arms instantly wrapping around the large, warm man who was her definition of home.
Charles having to return to school the following Monday, he and Elsie made a point of setting the alarm a half hour early, Wednesday, January 11, to make some special preparations before both went into the nursery, moving to their knees at the side of the bed and gently waking the girls before the foursome began to sing:
Happy birthday to you,
Happy Birthday to you,
Happy Birthday dear Petey,
Happy Birthday to you…
A smile filled the little one's face before he opened his eyes to find his family grinning at him as he whispered. "Happy to me."
"Happy to you, baby bird," Elsie cooed as she pulled the toddler into her arms.
"Big three year old boy," Charles added, gently running his hand through his son's mop of dark curls.
Livy and Poppy were scrambling up and around their father's torso when Pete suddenly inhaled deeply which was immediately followed by his eyes lighting up as he let out a little gasp and shouted, "Pancakes!?"
"Yes, sir. Special birthday pancakes just for you, baby," Elsie answered as she moved to her feet to lead their little family to the dining room where Lily, Purley, Beryl, and Bill were waiting and another round of "Happy Birthday" began to fill the room.
Birthday pancakes were followed by Bill and Purley taking the bundled up children to the farm where Pete helped milk the cow while the girls fed the chickens, each of them then given turns riding Jasper with Purley while Bill and those waiting played with the goats and Barley who frolicked among bales of hay in an empty stall of the stable. The merry group was soon joined by Mary Ann who was spending weekdays with the Carson's while Phyllis and Dr. Clarkson began the search for a young doctor and nurse to join the practice.
A luncheon of the three year old's favorite foods consumed, Beryl took the twins in the nursery for story time and a nap while Mary Ann, who had long since outgrown naps, spent time with Lily, the twosome's instant bond not surprising anyone given Mary Ann's sweet countenance and Lily's seemingly boundless loving nature. The other children occupied, the birthday boy had elected to stay with his mother in whose arms he was currently curled up in the master bedroom's bed, along with Barley whose head rested on the toddler's tummy.
Bright smiles being shared as they softly sang through the catalogue of all of the songs the children loved, they had just finished "A You're Adorable" when Elsie asked, "What next, birthday boy?"
"Umm… 'Wheels On the Bus."
Elsie nodded, knowing full well that the child would only want to sing the silly verses he and his sisters had made up about one another and their friends and family.
"Who first?"
"Daddy."
Taking a deep breath, Elsie lifted her head to signal the start of their singing:
The Daddy on the bus says I love Mumma, I love Mumma, I love Mumma...
The Daddy on the bus says I love Mumma all through the town…
"Now Uncle JoMo," Pete decided.
The JoMo on the bus says I'm so silly, I'm so silly, I'm so silly…
The JoMo on the bus says I'm so silly," all through the town…
"Poppy."
The Poppy on the bus says, Let's play babies, let's play babies, let's play babies…
The Poppy on the bus says, Let's play babies, all through the town...
"Umm…Livy on the bus."
Giving his tummy a tickle, Elsie kissed his plump, pink cheek and then nodded.
The Livy on the bus goes climbing like a monkey, climbing like a monkey, climbing like a monkey…
The Livy on the bus goes climbing like a monkey, all through the town…
A wink from his mother was followed by, "Two more and then we'll close our eyes and sing a soft song, okay, baby?"
"Okay, Mumma," Pete agreed as he let out a little yawn. "The bird on the bus."
The bird on the bus says, I'm a sweetie, I'm a sweetie, I'm a sweetie…
The bird on the bus says, I'm a sweetie, all through the town…
Smiling, Elsie whispered, "Last one."
Lifting his little hands to her cheeks, the grinning child leaned up and gave her a kiss before choosing, "The Mumma."
Returning his little peck, Elsie rested her forehead against his and whispered, "This time instead of "I love Daddy," the Mumma says "I love Petey."
His little arms going around her neck as she pulled him closer to her, they finished their song.
…The Mumma on the bus says, I love Petey, all through the town.
They had just reached the end when they received a surprise from the doorway.
"Did I just miss the bus?"
Rolling over, Pete lifted his arms towards his father, "Daddy!"
"It's not even three. Why are you home, sweetheart?" Elsie asked as she propped herself up on her elbow.
"They sent those of us with a bit of a drive home early. It's coming down pretty hard and I'm fairly certain school will be cancelled tomorrow, as well. Joe's collecting Mary Ann so they can pick up Phyllis and get home before the roads in town get too bad."
"Cuddle, Daddy?" Pete asked, his little arms still outstretched.
Slipping out of his jacket, he quickly removed his tie before sitting on the edge of the bed and leaning down into his child's embrace. "Cuddling with my birthday boy and his sweet Mumma. I can't think of anything else I'd rather do." His shoes removed, Charles soon slipped into the space on the other side of Pete.
"Can you believe we have such a big, big boy, Daddy?" Elsie asked as she placed her hand over Charles' which was gently patting Pete's back.
"I can't. Seems like only yesterday I was climbing into this very bed to join you and our tiny new baby Pete."
"I remember that." The memory of the morning after Pete was born instantly came back to her. Turning her attention to the child between them, she recalled, "I had fallen asleep and you were curled up with me right here and Daddy took the big girls over to Gran Bill's and then he came back to take a nap with us just like today only you were awake so Daddy started talking to you."
Charles nodded as Pete turned back from his mother to look at him. "I did. I asked if you remembered me because I was the first person to hold you after you were born, and then I picked you up and turned you so you could look at your beautiful Mumma and I told you how lucky we are to have her and we are, aren't we, bird? So, so lucky."
Pete nodded as he turned back to grin at his mother. "Uh-huh."
"Oh, Daddy. You're going to make me cry."
Turning his hand to hold hers, Charles continued, "And I promised you we would read lots of books and play cricket and that Mumma and I were going to take very good care of you because we love you so much and then I gave you a kiss." He leaned over and repeated the gesture, feeling Elsie's grip tighten. "My sweet boy."
"Alright, close your eyes, my sweethearts, and we'll sing one more song," Elsie whispered as she wiped away a tear with her free hand.
"Mumma, will you sing "Moon" song?"
"Of course."
Moving closer together, the birthday boy's parents snuggled around him and shared a gentle kiss before Elsie began softly singing:
It's not the pale moon that excites me,
That thrills and delights me,
Oh no…
It's just the nearness of you…"
The children curled up on the sofa reading books with Lily and Purley before bedtime, Elsie was putting away dishes as Charles sat at the kitchen table with a stack of French history books and maps, comprising a list of notes when the telephone rang.
"It's almost nine." Elsie noted as they looked at one another before making their way towards the telephone table in the sitting room where Charles picked up the receiver on the fourth ring.
"Carson res-…she is!?..No, no, it's wonderful that you called. I wish we were there…I see…Oh good!Yes, please do…I will…Yes, yes…of course. Please call and let us know no matter the time…"
The phone call abruptly ending, Charles turned to find six expectant faces looking up at him.
"That was Auntie Izzy and she called to let us know that Auntie Cora is having the baby!"
An excited smile broke across Elsie's face only to turn into a look of concern, "She's not due for another month."
Charles nodded, "But things seem to be going fairly smoothly. The weather is better down south and so they were able to get her to The London in plenty of time. Either Isobel or Robert will call to let us know as soon as it gets here."
"Little Lady Mary is going to be a big sister just like you sweet girls," Lily noted as she gave the twins each a squeeze.
Poppy lit up like a Christmas tree at the news of the new baby. "May we go see the new baby, Mumma? Pretty please?"
"We will, sweet pea. In the next few weeks we'll spend a weekend at Auntie Izzy's and go see Mary and the new baby." She turned her attention to Pete with a sweet smile. "The new baby might have the same birthday as you, baby bird, if it is born before midnight."
"Happy to me and to baby," the toddler said with a sleepy grin as he snuggled up against Purley's chest.
"Happy to you," Charles whispered, giving Elsie's hip a squeeze before passing her on the way to the sofa. "And now I think it is time to make a move to the nursery, my sleepy children. Let Lily and Purley get ready for bed."
"Please may Mrs. Lily tell us one more story? Just one more story, Daddy? Please?" Livy pleaded as she curled her fingers around Lily's hand which rested against her tummy.
"One more, Mister Charles?" Lily asked with an impish grin.
"Well, since I am incapable to saying no to such beautiful ladies, I suppose one more story won't hurt, but make it a short one please, madam."
The sofa full of smiling faces, Charles lowered himself into the large leather chair and Elsie was not far behind, perching at his side on the arm.
"This is a very true story about a very special little boy on his birthday almost forty years ago."
A knowing sigh from her husband inspired Elsie to look down at his scowling face. "Ringing a bell, Mr. Carson?"
"Ringing a gong." He gave her a gentle tug so that she slid down the side of the chair and into his lap.
Chuckling, she turned her head and kissed the side of his head. "I can't wait."
"There once was a little boy named Charles Ernest…"
"That's you, Daddy," Poppy quickly noted.
Lily nodded. "It was your Daddy, but he had just turned your age, Miss Poppy, and Purley and I had come over to give him a special cake just before bedtime so he could celebrate with his mother and dad. We had just finished our cake when it started raining and thundering a bit so Purley and I needed to get home so we gave him goodnight kisses and your Grandmother Joan and Grandad Peter were seeing us to the door when the brightest strike of lightening I had ever seen suddenly ripped across the sky and was followed by the loudest clap of thunder any of us had ever heard and all the lights in the house went out."
"Were you scared, Daddy?" Livy asked.
Charles shook his head, "Let Lily finish the story, sweet pea."
"Well, we all ran back into the house and I went to check on your Daddy while everyone else started looking for candles and matches. I made it to his room and said, "Are you alright, peanut?" and your Daddy said, "I'm alright, Miss Lily, but you can stay with me if you are scared." Now I have to tell you, ever since I have been a little girl, I have been very scared of the dark so I was so grateful that your brave Daddy offered to let me stay with him and he was curled up in my lap just like you girls are now when your Granddad Peter appeared with Purley and Grandmother Joan in the doorway and they each carried a lit candle and do you know what your Daddy did?"
Pete was fast asleep in Purley's lap, but the girls were very much awake and intrigued, shaking their heads as they looked up intently at Lily.
"Your Daddy looked at those candles and he started singing:
Happy Birthday to me,
Happy Birthday to me,
Happy Birthday, dear Charlie,
Happy Birthday to me…
And your sweet Grandmother Joan carried her candle over to us and your Daddy closed his eyes and he made a wish before he blew out that candle."
"Ohhhhh…." Elsie half cooed, half laughed as she pulled Charles' arms tighter around her middle. "Sweet little Charlie."
Poppy climbed down from Lily's lap and made her way over to her parents, laying her little head in her mother's lap as she asked, "What did you wish for, Daddy?"
"I probably wished that the thunder and lightning would stop because I am sure I was a little more afraid of it than I was letting on."
"Who was Daddy like when he was a little boy? Was he more like me or Poppy or Pete?" Livy asked as she looked back and forth between Lily and Purley.
"What do you think, Purl?" Lily gave him a gentle nudge.
"Hmm...I suppose he was a bit like Miss Poppy because he was a very good cuddler."
Elsie shared a sweet smile with Poppy before pulling her into her lap so the child could demonstrate her aforementioned ability.
"And I suppose he was a bit like Mr. Pete because he had a very sweet smile and chubby cheeks and he had a very sweet giggle when he was a wee one."
"Hard to imagine, I know." Charles lowly mumbled as Elsie reached up and stroked his cheek.
"What about me?" Livy asked, her little voice tinged with concern that she might be left out.
"Oh, he was definitely very much like you, Miss Livy. I don't think I ever saw him without a scab on his knee or a bump on his forehead from climbing a tree or over a fence, he was so curious and brave."
Charles quickly chimed in with, "But both of you are beautiful because of Mumma. Your beauty comes from her."
Poppy climbed up higher on Elsie's lap, her little face earnest as she offered, "You are beautiful, too, Daddy."
Livy hopped off Lily's lap, nodding her little head in agreement as she added, "Even if your nose is really big and it is really big, Daddy. Really big."
Lily and Purley each began laughing, as did Elsie, although they all covered their mouths in an effort to spare Charles' pride.
"And your brutal honesty comes from Lady, my darling," Charles noted as he and Livy exchanged dancing eyebrows.
"And on that note, I think it really is bedtime." Elsie gave Poppy a squeeze before patting Charles' hand so he would give her a boost from his lap.
The girls quickly found their way back into Lily's arms, giving her kisses before taking their mother's hands.
"Here, Purl, I'll relieve you of this big three year old," Charles bent down to lift the sleeping child from the older man's lap.
"Takes me back, Mister Charles. His long legs and all these curls…if I close my eyes it could be 1914 and this could be you."
Pete on his shoulder, Charles smiled warmly at Purley as he whispered, "I'm so glad you're here, Purl."
"So am I," the old man returned with a nod. "So am I."
The call from Isobel came at just after two that morning.
"Small, but perfectly healthy. Cora is doing well and Robert is floating on cloud nine. Mary doesn't know yet, but Robert is going to bring her to the hospital to meet her new sister in the morning. Oh, and they've named her Edith after one of Cora's aunts, much to Violet's chagrin."
"Oh dear." Elsie whispered with a laugh as she looked up to find her sleepy husband making his way down the corridor towards her.
"I'm afraid Livy will have to share her middle name. They've chosen Violet to ease the sting of Edith."
"I don't think Livy will mind a bit. Poppy is already asking when we can visit. She can't wait to get her hands on a real-live baby."
"That precious girl. You know you are welcome here anytime, but I think they might keep the baby in the hospital for a bit because she is on the small side, but she doesn't have to be in the incubator."
Elsie could hear the relief in Isobel's voice, her friend's experience of having a premature baby in the forefront of her mind, as she was sure it was in Isobel's. "That's wonderful and thank you for the invitation. I am sure we will take you up on it in three or four weeks."
"Did sweet Pete have a good birthday? I'm sorry I didn't have a spare minute to call today, but I was thinking about him all day."
"He did have a good day, I think. Pancakes for breakfast and cheese sandwiches and tomato soup for lunch and then Charles was sent home early because of heavy snow here so we got some extra cuddle time with Daddy and I think we'll have him all day tomorrow, as well."
"I'm glad he had a good day. Please give him a kiss for me."
Elsie reached out and wrapped her arm around Charles' middle pulling him towards her as she answered, "Will do. Please give everyone kisses for us, especially Mary and baby Edith. We can't wait to meet her."
"Alright, love, I will. Love you."
"Oh, we love you, too, sweet Isobel. Goodnight."
"Goodnight, Elsie."
The phone returned to its cradle, Elsie moved back to Charles' embrace. "Lady Edith Violet Crawley has made her way into the world. Small, but healthy and her mother is doing well and we are welcome to stay with Isobel whenever we decide to go down and visit."
Charles inhaled deeply, his reply one that Elsie hadn't even considered. "A second girl and no heir apparent."
Her brow furrowed as she countered, "A healthy child, Charles."
"Of course and that is what matters, but…it is a factor in their lives, love."
The antiquated rules of peerage never failed to bewilder and frustrate the very independent Elsie Carson. "It's ridiculous. It's bloody 1954!"
"And yet…"
Leaning back, she gave him a testy look. "It's the middle of the night. Please don't stir me up."
"Not another word," Charles whispered before kissing the top of her head. "Let's sleep while we may."
They were almost to the bedroom when Elsie whispered, "Edith may not be the heir, but Poppy was hoping they'd have a girl, so at least one person will be pleased."
"It's not that they won't be pleased. She'll be so loved. You know I didn't mean they would be displeased."
Taking his hand, she pulled him into the room. "I know that's not what you meant. Come on."
"I'm sorry I brought up the peerage. A child is a blessing no matter its sex. This is a happy day."
She ran a gentle hand over his chest and down to the tales of his pajama top which she gave a tug. "I know, sweetheart. It's alright. Come to bed."
Climbing back under the covers, they lay apart in the dark for a few moments before Charles reached over and placed his hand on her stomach. "When we were cuddling with bird earlier today, I thought of something I wish I had said to him that first morning after he was born."
Turning on her side, Elsie could just make out his profile in the dark. "And what might that be?"
"That there were no children on this earth more wanted and yearned for than he and his sisters."
The words hung in the air for a few moments before Elsie managed to fight past the lump in her throat to form words. "I can't lose any more babies, Charles. My heart won't survive losing another. If he would hurt Livy or…"
"Shhhh…sweetheart. Shhh…don't even entertain the thought. That bastard is dead and Livy is fine, silly and cheeky and beautiful and clever." He had to fight his own desire to cry as she began to tremble next to him. "Don't cry, honey. Please don't cry. This time next year, remember? A new baby could be in this bed with us this time next year, right?"
She rolled over and pressed herself against his side. "I know."
He took a deep breath before taking a chance and sharing an idea which he had been putting off bringing up. "What would you think about a trip to the studio tomorrow? Neither of us have been back since the night it happened. It's cleaned up and Nathaniel replaced the door. We're going to have to face it sooner or later."
Elsie felt a twist in her gut. She had avoided even looking at the building since the awful event the week before Christmas, and she'd even made excuses to keep from visiting the barns with the children so she wouldn't have to go near it. "I don't know."
"I don't want to push you, but I'm going. I'll be damned if that son of a bitch is going to keep me from any part of this farm. It's our home and that is your space. Your special, personal space and it's time to reclaim it."
Her breaths still halted from crying, she managed, "Let me think about it."
"Of course." He wiggled down in the bed so that their faces were even. "I don't mean to upset you. I love you. Love you so much."
She smiled as she lifted her hand to cup his cheek. "I love you, too, my beautiful husband. Even if you do have a really big nose."
"And spiders on my pee pee?"
Her laughter filled the room as she recalled the awkward experience with Pete the previous weekend. "One of the greatest moments of my life."
"Took years off mine."
She gave him another kiss. "If it's any consolation, I love your nose and your pee pee."
Giving her bottom a squeeze, he chuckled and whispered, "Mmm…enough of your sweet talk. Go to sleep, Mrs. Carson."
As expected, school was indeed cancelled the next morning and so, after a leisurely breakfast, Charles made sure there was a roaring fire in the sitting room's fireplace before corralling the children, kittens, Barley, and Wee Daddy there where Lily and Purley could keep a watchful eye on the motley crew while he and hopefully Elsie could trek out to the studio.
"Honey?"
Elsie was drying her hands on her apron, the last of the breakfast dishes resting in the drainer on the side of the sink when Charles bent his head around the doorway. "Dishes are done. I'll start peeling vegetables and brown some stew meat. How does that sound? A nice big pot of stew for lunch on such a cold day?"
"Sounds lovely and I am happy to help, but before we start all that, why don't we bundle up and take that trip out to the studio."
Her shoulders fell at the thought. "It can wait until the weekend surely?"
Charles began to cross the kitchen towards her, countering, "And then this weekend it can wait until the next and then there will be some other reason, and another. There will always be some other reason. Let's just get it out of the way, sweetheart."
She screwed up her face, lips pursed and eyes closed tightly as she fought to keep her breakfast down. "I don't know."
"I'm going. I am going to try to do some writing out there, or at least see if it is possible. Lily and Purley are happy to watch our little goblins and I'd rather go with you, but if you can't manage it, I will go alone." His voice was gentle, but resolute and he gave her shoulder a tender squeeze before he turned and left the room.
Bundled up, Charles' boots left large prints in the heavy blanket of snow as he made his way towards the road which Bill had manage to somewhat clear with his lorry in the early hours of the morning. His own stomach was twisting into knots as he approached the studio, but the sound of crunching steps in the snow behind him filled with a sudden sense of relief. "I'm glad you decided to come."
Elsie didn't respond, but gratefully took the hand he offered.
"Say the word and we leave."
She nodded, but quietly noted, "I've spent hours and hours alone in that barn. It's like you said, we can't let him ruin something that is ours."
He felt her grip tighten as they arrived at the padlocked door which was on the far side of the structure from where most of the fracas with Grigg had taken place. "Ready?"
Closing her eyes, she briefly remembered having cursed herself that night for not having her keys when she had approached the studio.
"We can go around to the other side…"
She shook her head adamantly. "No. Let's enter here."
Charles slid the key into the hole, relieved when it easily turned and the shackle was freed from the heavy body of the lock. Lifting it from the latch, he paused for a moment and turned back to her and asked again, "Ready?"
Swallowing hard, she gave her head a less than convincing nod.
The door opened with a familiar creak and the couple stepped inside to find a fairly comfortable temperature filled the space.
Answering her unspoken question, he shared the fact that he had asked Bill to run the heaters a few times a day over the last few weeks to keep her supplies from freezing or ruining.
"That was very thoughtful. I've just been putting it all out of my mind."
Stepping further inside, he felt resistance on her part to follow him. "Come on, sweetheart."
"It's the smell."
Charles turned his head back towards the center of the room. "I only smell paint thinner and wood."
Elsie began shaking her head. "It's too much…" Letting out a groan, she stumbled backwards, letting go of his hand as she fought to stay upright just outside the door.
"Honey…" His chest tightened as he watched her bend over, breathing heavily. "Let's go back. I'm sorry. Too soon. Let's go back to the house."
Lifting a hand, she gave her head a shake. "No." Her hands resting on her knees, she forced herself to look up at him. "We're here. We've already come this far."
"You're sure?"
She gave her head another brisk shake. "No, but let's go in anyway." A smile greeted her as she straightened up and once again took his proffered hand. "I might vomit. Fair warning."
"I'll hold back your hair if you do."
She gave his hand a squeeze and chuckled. "This is why I love you. You always make me laugh at just the right moment."
He cocked an eyebrow as he dryly uttered, "Sometimes when I don't even mean to."
"That's when I laugh the hardest."
He gave her a wink before pulling her into a hug and quite seriously admitted, "You're the bravest person I know, Elsie Carson. Woman or man."
She bit her bottom lip and gave his hand another squeeze. "Whether you mean that or not, it helps."
"Of course I mean it. Mothers are warriors and there's not one mightier than you so let's go." He thought he could detect a lessening of tension in her body, but decided she needed another small prod. "I know it's easy to think of what happened here as being terrible, but it's really a place where something so good, something wonderful happened."
"Wonderful?" She asked with surprise.
He gave his head a quick nod. "I know what saving her cost you, cost us, but if you hadn't…My God. I wouldn't have survived that. You said it last night and I agree. I don't' think either of us could have survived losing Livy, but we didn't lose her. It took a sacrifice, a horrible, heart-wrenching sacrifice, but ultimately we still have our lovely girl and we survived to keep building our family." He held his breath as she took the few steps that separated them.
"You're right. You're absolutely right."
A sigh of relief escaping his mouth, Charles gave her a quick kiss before attempting to lighten the moment. "Oh my God. You just said I was right. I need a moment to enjoy it. I may never have the chance again."
"Alright, alright, funny man," She used the lapels of his coat to pull him down for a kiss before giving him a playful push towards the studio.
The bright morning sunshine pouring through the upper windows provided more than enough light for the couple to move around the large space, although it didn't escape Charles' observation that Elsie was avoiding looking at the far side of the room where the episode with Grigg had occurred.
"How are you doing?"
"Shaky. I'm remembering."
"What you already knew or the foggy bits?"
She turned slightly, glancing briefly at the new, solid door which had taken the place of the glass windowed one through which Grigg had broken. "Some of both, maybe. I landed there." She pointed at a spot on the ground about five meters in front of the door. "And he was next to me when he hit the ground."
Charles nodded.
"Bill and Joe had him tied up after you and Livy left for the house. I remember that. His arms and legs were drawn up behind him." She moved slowly, but eventually stood in the spot at which she had been pointing. "I see this in my dreams. It's dark and there is only light coming from that corner," she gestured to the far corner by the door through which they had entered. "He's on the floor here and I kick…" She closed her eyes tight in an effort to visualize what she could remember from the dream she had experienced several times over the previous two weeks.
Remaining as still as possible, he didn't utter a word as he watched her from a few meters away.
"I had a knife and a rolling pin, but I didn't use them." She opened her eyes and took a few steps to the left. "I had placed the knife on the ground…why did I…I had it in my hand…" She suddenly spun around and cried, "I remember. I remember I told him what I said to you that night at the Sandcastle on our honeymoon, about how I told you I would cut his balls off if I ever met him," she looked back at the ground as she continued, "and then I dragged the blade over the seam between his legs and then I looked at his face. I remember! I remember the white handkerchief I had shoved in his mouth and how scared he looked and I that thought it wasn't enough. It wasn't enough for what he had put Livy through and you, trying to kill you in France, it wasn't enough…then I heard voices coming from outside the other door…" Her hands were shaking as she pointed at the far side of the room. "…and I knew I didn't have long before the police came in so I kicked him. I only kicked him two, or maybe three times, but so hard. God, I kicked him as hard as I possibly could. That's how my toes got broken. I don't remember pain at the time, but that must've been how I broke them." She clenched her fists tightly, closing her eyes once again as she relieved the next moments of the confrontation. "And then I just stomped and smashed where I kicked him until I couldn't anymore."
"Good. Good for you, Elsie. Good for you."
His sound of his voice broke her concentration and she turned and to look at him, their eyes locked for a moment before her gaze trailed down to the exact place on his hip where he bore his terrible scar; a scar that would be a life-long reminder that true evil existed and that it had tried to destroy him.
"Good for you, darling."
She nodded, but burst into new tears as she remembered the sight of her little girl shivering in her princess costume, her tiny arms wrapped around her daddy's neck after he pulled the gag the same evil had shoved into her mouth before threatening to kill her. "I told him he was going to kill my child so I wanted to make sure he never brought any children into the world."
"Oh, honey."
She was in hysterics, her arms wrapped around her middle as she cried, "I HOPE YOU SUFFERED, YOU SON OF A BITCH! I DON'T REGRET IT! I DON'T REGRET A MOMENT! I JUST HOPE YOU SUFFERED!"
He took long, swift steps to reach her and pulled her into his arms. "He's rotting in hell now. I can promise you that. Rotting. In. Hell." He continued to hold her for a few minutes, waiting for her breathing to become even again before softly offering, "We could tear it down. Build a new studio in its place. Nathaniel could do it. He could. Mr. Adams and I discussed it when we spoke about the new houses and it could be built to your specifications. Be exactly what you want."
Leaning back, she studied his gentle eyes. "Thank you."
"Thank me?"
"I may be a plotter, but you're the one who is always a step ahead. Always planning with such sweet consideration. Thank you for being so lovely, my sweetheart."
His left arm supporting her, he gently brushed tears from her cheeks, his smile loving and tender as he whispered, "So what do you want to do?"
"It's got such good bones and this wonderful light," Elsie noted as she leaned back and scanned the ceiling of the large structure. "If you think you can write here, then I can still paint here." She took a deep breath, a new sense of calm suddenly settling over her. "He's gone. Like you said, he's rotting in hell and besides, this is ours, not his. I say we keep it just the way it is."
"Then I want what you want." He joined her in looking about the space. "This will be a historical site someday; the place where the famous Elsie Carson painted her masterpieces."
"No. It's going to be the place where Charles Carson wrote his marvelous novel. Novels!"
"Let's not be ridiculous, darling."
She let out a sigh as she pressed her head against his chest, "Don't be defeatist, Mr. Carson. It isn't very attractive."
"At least let me get some words on paper before you start shouting platitudes."
"Oh very well. Speaking of, you said you wanted to write a bit today so would you like me to leave you be so you can have some peace and quiet?"
He held her tightly. "Upon further consideration, I think I'd rather hold you."
"I suppose that would be alright for a few more minutes," she whispered as she pulled back and began unbuttoning his coat. "But I want to feel you, not your coat."
He slipped his arms from his coat and then helped her out of hers before they moved over to the old wingback chair Elsie kept draped in an old quilt.
"Let's curl up here for a bit." He settled so that she could perch in his lap.
Nestling in his arms, she nodded towards a heavy straight back chair on the far side of the room and asked, "Do you remember making love in that chair after the girls' first birthday party?"
"Quite fondly. It's when you told me you were pregnant with Pete."
She kept her gaze on the chair as she surprised him with her next statement. "Let's try to make our new baby here. That way it will not only be the place where Elsie Carson painted and Charles Carson wrote, but it will be the place where they created new life."
First off, the spider thing, the "Happy Birthday" candle during the storm thing, and the "really big nose" thing are all based on actual things that have happed to people in my life. Write what you know...
And- my younger niece (now 10) made up special verses to Wheels on the Bus when she was 2. About herself: "The Harper on the bus says "snack, snack, snack..." and about her sister: "The Ellie on the bus says "I love Harper, I love Harper, I love Harper..."
I feel like I am treading water for a bit here, but I promise things are going to start moving fast. I just needed them to have the chance to do a little more healing and a little more grieving before they move on to bigger, mostly better things.
Thank you for your patience. Life isn't always kind, but having these sweethearts to turn to when it gets particularly unkind helps.