Swan's Nest House is East-facing, and the two o'clock sun seemed to hide behind its chimney pots. Watson walked up the garden path diagonally so he didn't step its shadow, which I supposed he must have done as a boy, and so did I because for a moment I imagined myself at tree-climbing age following my best friend.
Watson knocked the door with a peculiar rhythm and peered shamelessly through the letter-box. Eventually he saw something and breathed a sigh of relief. "It is my younger brother, Charles- you'll like him." I got the feeling that either Watson didn't expect me to like any of the others, or he didn't.
The door opened and a man with Watson's kind eyes was revealed, Charles Watson. He had chalk on his cuff and a thinness about his hair that made me think him a schoolmaster and this was later confirmed, though his clothes were too old for him to be any higher than a deputy head. He was paler and had darker hair than Watson did, and he kept his youthful face despite flecks of grey about his temples and crow's feet on the corners of his eyes.
"Hello, hello! John, it's been far too long- and who might this be? Would it be presumptuous to think I am addressing Mr Sherlock Holmes?"
I knew my queue. "It would not, Mr Watson," I said, shaking the man's hand. He was as thin as Watson was when I first met him, with narrow shoulders. I stepped back a little and the two men embraced with genuine affection.
They broke apart and Watson spoke for the first time. "Who's here, Charlie?"
"Oh, everyone. Mother's upstairs so best wait until she's ready, Emma's in the garden playing with the girls, Jenny's through talking to Uncle David-"
"-David's here." There was a certain flatness about my friend's tone that suggested he didn't favour his uncle's presence, though the list of names had completely alienated me.
"He's on his best behaviour, and it is Mother's party." Mr Watson looked at his brother and paused, having noticed what I had. "Come on, John." He waited for Watson to look up. "I was about to say it wouldn't go amiss to congratulate Jenny and go and find Robert Lee, who holds your newest nephew?"
"What's his name?"
"Thomas. Even mine will hardly remember you, John." Though he wasn't angry with him, there was a hint of sadness. Now he was leading us through to the dining room, where a portly man with a moon face, presumably David Watson, was talking to the woman Jenny, whom though I suspected her to be Watson's sister looked nothing like him. She was tawny-haired, sharp-nosed and small. Watson tapped my wrist and we stepped forward.
"Hello David, Jenny. This is my friend Mr Sherlock Holmes, and Holmes; this is my uncle David Watson and my sister Jennifer Lee." We all smiled, and I shook David Watson's hand.
"I suppose John's told you all about us," said the fat man.
"He hasn't, actually." I thought this the best course of action. "Only in passing."
"Perhaps he's more of a mystery than you thought, then." David Watson smirked at me and I saw Watson's eyes flash with anger out of the corner of my eye. "You've missed out on a couple of stories from your own chronicler." I decided not to answer and the conversation moved on.
It was Watson's duty to speak. "Congratulations on your son, Jenny. Thomas Lee is a fine name."
"I sensed the next generation needed a boy." She smiled. "But congratulations are hardly needed anymore, seeing as he can walk." I flinched for him. Charles Watson, whom I'd grown to like more and more as the moment had gone on -if only in comparison- cleared his throat.
"Come on John, Mr Holmes, Emma's been dying to hear about London's fashion." He walked away and I think we were both relieved to follow. "Well, I'm not qualified to discuss the length of ladies' dresses, but I think it high time you came to visit…" Watson paused on hearing a tread on the stair, and suddenly we were confronted with the huge presence of the tiny Mrs Watson.
"Well, now my first son has arrived, the party is complete."
I felt Watson's hand at my elbow clench a little.
MontyTwain'sLineThingy-DesignedAndPersonalisedByHimself
Author's Note: This may take several chapters and unless I hurry up and finish this evening then you may have to wait until I arrive home on Sunday night, so probs no updates until Monday. Sorry about that, and believe me this is a really good one [I think]. Hope you stay to enjoy the show.