The Picnic

Tom had returned from dropping Mrs. Lester at the ferry to Ireland, so exhausted he had slept for twenty hours. Tom's mother had been in a state of shock at the size of Sybil's parent's home. As soon as she had seen her grandson and met Lady Cora the two women were in a flurry of cooing and cawing over the baby and any issues surrounding the splendor of the house and the aristocratic title were soon forgotten.

Rory had come to the Abbey before Tom and Sybil returned to London for a picnic. Mr. and Mrs. Drake had given him the day off to relax after the stress of the confrontation with his mother. The entire Crawley family had joined them complete with maids and footmen. Lord Grantham had volunteered to show Rory how to fly fish.

"What's the point of a picnic with servants?" Rory whispered to Tom.

"I have no idea," Tom whispered back. "It's one of those snooty things, just smile and nod and pretend like your having a good time."

Rory put on a pretty good front until he got a trout on his line. There was so much splashing and yelling that by the time he landed his fish he was soaked. Sybil and her sister's had cheered him on and even the Dowager Countess had applauded when he triumphantly held up his prize.

Tom's mother accompanied them back to London for another two weeks before she headed back to Ireland.

By the time summer was drawing to a close, life in the house was getting back to normal.

"I still haven't got my car," Tom pouted.

"Get Evelyn to go with you to pick one out," Sybil said. "It can be one of those male bonding things. I don't want to go."

"That might be a good idea. I'm glad I thought of it." Tom said.

The only answer was a playful slap across the top of his head.

A few weeks later Evelyn stopped by for a brief visit. He and Tom still weren't on easy terms. Neither one quite knew what to do with a new sibling.

"Have you ever gone car shopping?" Sybil inquired sweetly of Evelyn. "Tom loves to shop for cars but I can't stand it."

"I've been looking for a new motor myself," Evelyn said.

It was all it took and the two brothers were lost in a world of engines and speed trials only they understood.

Rory had come to London for medical school in September. He came over on weekends for Sunday dinner or when he just needed a break. Money was tight for him and he struggled a bit with some of his courses, but he was determined to see his schooling through.

"A life worth living isn't always easy," Tom told him. "The hard sacrifices will pay off in the end."

By Christmas Tom had his car. There wasn't much call for it in London with the trams so convenient and the lack of parking. Tom had it in the garage and went out to polish it or play around with the engine almost every day. On the odd afternoon Sybil would go out and join him.

"I think you wanted that car to remind you of our courtship," Sybil said.

"I think you like garages," Tom teased her.

"Maybe I happen to like a particular mechanic. You never did finish teaching me how to drive."

"I'll show you how to drive in the spring, my love."

"It might have to wait," Sybil replied.

"Whatever for?"

"My stomach will have to shrink enough for me to get behind the wheel."

Tom bonked his head on the bonnet as he straightened up.

"This time I'll drive you to the hospital," he said.

"Perhaps," Sybil replied as she jumped off the crate she was sitting on and went to kiss her husband before her stomach had a chance to get in the way.

The End of Part I