Tom and Mary decided to spend their afternoon in the nursery with the children when Robert and Tom returned from Oakwood Farm. Mary sat on the burgundy carpet with Sybbie and George pottered around, collecting toy animals to show his uncle.
"Tea Ma?" Sybbie asked her godmother, trying to bring Mary's attention away from Tom and back to their makeshift tea party. Tom's eyes widened at the term his daughter used to address Mary who in turn picked up a toy tea cup and said "Yes please darling" holding it out to the little girl. The beaming four year old busied herself with imaginary 'tea' and 'milk'. Tom cut in, guiding a reluctant George over to the girls and asking his daughter to serve "Georgie" while he talked to Mary.
"Tom, I'm sure it was just short for Mary. She's heard you call me that since day one.." She stretched her long legs out in front her, grateful not to have to kneel any longer.
Tom sat down on the floor beside her, a small distance away from the children.
His eyes glazed over for a minute but he snapped out of his reverie just as quickly. "Sybil wanted to be Mummy. She said it was the perfect balance, not as stiff as Mama and not as Irish as Mam," he reciprocated Mary's reassuring smile.
"Matthew never told me what he wanted our child to call him. I suppose it would have been Papa but I can never be sure," she turned away and looked at the children, not daring to meet his eyes when she said:"They would be happy for us Tom. Glad to see us happy."
"I know," he nodded "Besides, I think Ma is the perfect name for Sybbie to call you. We can always say it's short for Mary, which it partly is. In Ireland though Ma is another term for mother,"
"I'll only ever be a mother figure to her Tom. I never want to replace Sybil,"
"Nor I Matthew." Thrilled to have the heavy conversation out of the way he grinned, "Now come on," a familiar sound rang through the Abbey "That's the gong and I have a surprise for you before dinner," he stood up and gave her his hand to help her up. She took it with her left hand and he stared down at her now bare ring finger.
"Mary...where?" Tom looked confused but in a way, he understood why she did it. He himself had removed his ring after they confessed their love for one another the evening before.
She shook her head and walked over to kiss each child.
"This is a new beginning Tom, I'm looking to the future, our future together,"
They held hands leaving the nursery as the conversation grew lighter.
Mary repeatedly enquired about the surprise, so many times that she had to be silenced with a long, achingly slow, passionate kiss.
His kisses always seemed to silence her..