A cottage where the love is

by plebs

the end of term has arrived and Constance is desperate to catch up with her beloved family

2. Chapter 2

Here it is chapter 2 want to say a huge thankyou to becky for checking and correcting this story for me you are awesome thankyou

Bath and Bedtime

After twenty minutes Imogen came outside carrying two cups of steaming tea and Millie's juice cup.

"Connie! Millie! Drinks are ready!" Shouted Imogen.

Millie came over to Imogen to give her a hug; Constance coming soon after, out of breath.

"How do you do it? How do you keep up with our daughter?" Constance was taking deep breaths.

"Well I was a PE teacher, I am used to it. I don't think I'll ever be able to keep up with our Millie-Moo, though!"

Constance smiled.

"Mummy! Up!"

"Do you want to sit on my lap?" Imogen asked her baby girl.

"Peassss!"

Imogen placed Millie on her lap and turned to Constance, "I hope you're hungry because I've made a casserole for dinner. Also I thought after Millie goes to bed we could catch up over a couple of bottle of wine."

Constance placed her hand over Imogen's, "I would like that," she said softly as their fingers entwined, looking lovingly at each other.

"Mama."

"Yes, sweetie?" Asked Constance.

"Drink all gone! Play Mama!" Millie clapped her chubby hands together, "Down peassssss mummy!"

Imogen lifted Millie off her lap.

"Mama?"

"Yes, Millie-Moo?" Said Constance.

"Come play, Mama!"

Millie held Constance's hand, trying with all her might to pull her along.

"Do you think our little girl is happy I'm here ?"

"Yes of course, she misses you. She asks where you are everyday; why you aren't here."

Constance took a deep breath.

"I wish you were here too, Connie" Whispered Imogen.

"Immy, love, you know why I can't be here. I need to keep you both safe."

Imogen wiped away a tear, "I know you do it's just I miss not seeing you everyday. I love you."

Constance looked into Imogen's green eyes, "I love you more."

She placed a long loving kiss on Imogen's soft lips.

"Mummy! Mama" Piped up a little voice.

"Millie, we love you too. Oh, don't cry!"

Constance and Imogen pulled away from each other and both women knelt down by their daughter, each placing their hands around their precious little girl.

"We love you so much, never forget that," Both mother's said, each placing a kiss on their daughter's cheeks and nose.

"Mama, can we play now?"

Constance stood up, placing her hands on her hips. Millie copied; she enjoyed mimicking her Mama. Imogen let out a laugh which earned her a look from Constance. She turned back to Millie and a broad smile lit her face. Imogen had placed her hands over her mouth to stop herself laughing.

"Let's play, Mama! Peasss!"

She couldn't keep her daughter waiting any longer, "Alright. I'm coming, sweetheart."

Constance leant over to Imogen and placed a kissed on the tip of her nose, tucking a strand of blonde hair behind Imogen's ear, "I love you."

A chubby hand came out to pat Constance's leg. Millie was poking her head from behind Constance, "I love you too!"

Imogen blew Millie a kiss just as Constance swooped behind her, scooping her up in her arms and swinging her around. Millie let out a gleeful squeal.

Constance placed Millie down on a blanket, beginning to playfully tickle her little girl.

Before too long it was time for dinner. Millie was a good eater, taking after Imogen. Neither were picking at their food, unlike Constance who ate less than a baby bird. This evening, however, Constance surprised Imogen by eating everything on her plate.

"Wow! You were hungry. You must've worked up an appetite."

"Oh definitely. That was lovely, Imogen. Thank you." Said Constance, leaning over to place a soft kiss on Imogen's pale lips.

"You're welcome," Imogen rose from the table, gathering up the plates and carried them to the kitchen.

Constance stood up too, "Can I help at all?"

"Can you help your daughter out of her high chair, please?"

"Mama, play outside." Millie was pulling on Constance's arm.

"No, Millie. You have just eaten. If you run around outside you will make yourself ill, besides it will be bath time soon. How about a jigsaw or perhaps draw a picture?" Suggested Constance.

"Yay!" Millie screamed from the top of her voice, clapping her chubby hand together with glee. Millie loved bath time.

"Splash, splash, splash with you, Mama! Will you be splashing me?"

Constance looked at her daughter and Millie looked across at Imogen, giving her the biggest, cheekiest smile. She looked back at Constance with an innocent expression on her face. Constance wasn't convinced.

"Love you, Mama."

"I love you too. Shall we find a jigsaw?"

Imogen watched her beautiful family from the kitchen. Constance felt like she was being watched and looked up; her eyes meeting Imogen's. She blew Imogen a kiss and Imogen returned it, listening to Millie talk to her Mama.

Imogen headed back to the kitchen with a big grin on her face, knowing that Millie's bath time would be very eventful indeed, with water going everywhere and her and Constance being soaked to the bone.

She wondered if Constance could keep a straight face whilst she was scolding their daughter, Imogen never could. Constance's usual glower worked on the girls at the school but never on Millie. She couldn't wait to see her reaction when Millie was in the bath tub and let out a laugh, thinking of a very wet Constance.
Imogen was so lost in thought that she hadn't noticed Constance standing behind her and she jumped when arms were wrapped around her waist.

"Are you okay, Immy?"

"Yeah, why?"

"I've been calling you but you didn't move."

"Sorry... I was lost in thought." Imogen looked at Constance.

"Somewhere nice I hope."

"Oh yeah." Imogen smiled, "What's the time?"

"Half past six." Said Constance,

"Shall we do Millie's bath and bedtime? I'll run the bath water. I'll give you a shout when it's ready." Imogen kissed Constance before leaving to go upstairs.
Whilst she was upstairs Imogen got Millie's pyjamas out and placed them on on a warming rack with Millie's towel along with a spare towel for Constance. She ran a bath, pouring some Peppa Pig bubble bath into the water as well as throwing in some of Millie's toys. She checked the water temperature before going back down to get Millie and Constance.

When Imogen entered the living room she found Millie and Constance playing with big Lego blocks. Millie was fascinated by what she was making.

"What are you making, Mil?" Asked Imogen.

"I'm making Mama's school."

"Wow. It looks amazing-" Before Imogen could get another word out, Millie leapt up.

"Yay!" She screamed, trying very hard to pull Constance to her feet, "Mama! Bath time!"

Millie rushed upstairs with Constance in tow. Millie was trying to take her clothes off whilst going up the stairs.

"Wait, Millie-Moo!" Imogen called after them as Millie lead Constance into the bathroom.

Constance helped Millie take off her remaining clothes and placed her into the bathwater.

Millie went for a swim, first kicking her legs and arms with all her might, making a huge splash, some of which managed to wet Constance. Millie decided to jump up and down in the water, throwing it all over the bathroom with her tiny fists. She was sending water everywhere including all over Constance.

"Millie!" Constance snapped, frustrated at being soaked through.

"Are you enjoying my bath time, Mama?" She smiled at Constance sweetly, who was looking at her beautiful daughter; admiring her chubby cheeks, her piercing green eyes, her soft, baby blonde hair.

"Millie," Constance asked, "Is your bath time always like this?"

Millie nodded her head, clapping her chubby hands together in the water, splashing her Mama even more.

"Let's give you a wash. It will be time for bed soon." Constance tried to smile, but it is actually very hard when your clothes are sticking to your body.

Imogen was outside the door, listening. There were no raised voices to be heard. She tried to stop herself from smiling as she walked away from the door to continue with her chores. "Come on, Millie-Moo. Time to get out."

"One more splash, Mama?"

"Okay, one more."

Millie splashed as hard and as fast as a one-year-old could, but this time Constance joined in. Together they made double the mess. Then Constance had an idea.

"Are you ready to make the biggest splash ever, Millie?"

Millie nodded excitedly.

"I'm going to call Mummy. Let's see if we can get her wet too."

Millie clapped her chubby hands, "Yay!"

"Immy!" Shouted Constance, "Can you come here for a minute?"

Imogen dropped what she was doing and walked to the bathroom, unaware that she was walking into a trap.

"What's wrong?"

"Oh, nothing. Millie and I want to show you something," Constance turned to the baby girl in the bathtub, "Ready?" She trapped Imogen between the bath and her body as she cried, "Go on Millie!"

Millie splashed with all her might, using her arms and legs to throw the water into the air. She was laughing her head off at the sight of her now dripping wet mothers.

Constance placed her hands around Imogen waist, whispering, "I love you, Immy."

Imogen placed her hands on top of Constance's pressing a kiss to her cheek, "I love you too."

She turned around to face Constance and placed another kiss on her burgundy lips. They were unaware of the jealous one-year-old watching them as a cascade of soapy water came their way.
The two women pulled away, not taking their eyes off each other. With a wink, both knelt down by the bath and had their revenge; they tickled her and tickled her until she was in a screaming fit of laughter, pleading for them to stop.

Everyone was soaked through when bedtime arrived and Millie was extremely tired which made getting her dry and into her pyjamas a hard task. After Millie was dressed, Constance and Imogen placed a towel around themselves. Putting their tired child to bed was more important.

"Can you read me a story?" Millie piped up as she lay in bed.

"Yes, which one would you like?"

"This one." Millie pulled out her favourite book from under her pillow, "Room on the Broom. It's about a witch, Mama."

Constance looked at Imogen and with a smile, she sat down on the edge of Millie's bed and began to read.

"The witch had a cat and a very tall hat.
And long ginger hair which she wore in a plait.
How the cat purred and how the witch grinned
As they sat on their broomstick and flew though the wind.
But how the witch wailed and how the cat spat
When the wind blew so wildly it blew off her hat.
"Down!" Cried the witch, and they flew to the ground.
They searched for the hat but no hat could be found.
Then out of the bushes on thundering paws
There bounded a dog with the hat in his jaws."

Millie listened to every word of the story read by her Mama, fighting sleep.

"He dropped it politely then eagerly said (as the witch pulled the hat firmly down on her head ), "I am a dog,as keen as can be.
Is there room on the broom for a dog like me?""

Millie join in, "Yes!"

""Yes!" Cried the witch,and the dog clambered on.
The witch trapped the broomstick and whoosh! they were gone.
Over the fields and the forests they flew.
The dog wagged his tail and the stormy wind blew.
The witch laughed aloud and held on to her hat,
But away blew the bow from her long ginger plait!
"Down!" Cried the witch and they flew to the ground.
They searched for the bow but no bow could be found. Then out from a tree, with an ear-splitting shriek
There flapped a green bird with a bow in her beak.
She dropped it politely and bent her head low,
Then said (as the witch tied her plait in a bow),
"I am a bird, as green as can be.
Is there room on the broom for a bird like me ?""

Millie spoke again, "Yes!"

""Yes!" Cried the witch, so the bird fluttered on.
The witch tapped the broomstick and whoosh! They were gone.
Over the reeds and the rivers they flew.
The bird shrieked with glee and the stormy wind blew.
They shot thought the sky to the back of beyond.
The witch clutched her bow but let go of her wand!
"Down!" Cried the witch, and they flew to the ground.
They searched for the wand but no wand could be found.
Then all of a sudden from out of a pond
Leapt a dripping wet frog with a dripping wet wand.
He dropped it politely, then said with a croak
(As the witch dried the wand on a fold of her cloak),
"I am a frog, as clean as can be.
Is there room on the broom for a frog like me ?""

"Yes..." Said a little voice and Constance and Imogen both let out a little laugh.

""Yes!" Said the witch, so the frog bounded on.
The witch tapped the broomstick and whoosh! they were gone.
Over the moors and the mountains they flew.
The frog jumped for joy and ...
THE BROOM SNAPPED IN TWO!"

Millie grasped her face, "Oh no!"
Constance went on,

"Down fell the cat.
And the dog.
And the frog.
Down they went tumbling into a bog.
The witch's half-broomstick flew into a cloud
And the witch heard a roar that was scary and loud!"

"Oh no!" Millie pulled her hands over her face.

""I am a dragon, as mean as can be,
And I'm planning to have witch and chips for my tea!"
"No!" cried the witch, flying higher and higher.
The dragon flew after her, breathing out fire.
"Help!" Cried the witch, flying down to the ground.
She looked all around but no help could be found.
The dragon drew nearer and, licking his lips,
Said,"maybe this once
I'll have witch without chips."
But just as he planned to begin on his feast,
From out of a ditch rose a horrible beast.
It was tall, dark and sticky, and feathered and furred.
It has four frightful heads,
It had wings like a bird.
And its terrible voice, when it started to speak,
Was a yowl and a growl and a croak and a shriek.
It dripped and it squelched as it strode from the ditch
And it said to the dragon,
"Buzz off!-
THAT'S MY WITCH!"
The dragon drew back and he started to shake.
"I'm sorry!" He spluttered, "I made a mistake.
It's nice to have met you but now I must fly."
And he spread out his wings and was off though the sky.
Then down flew the bird
And down jumped the frog
Down jumped the cat.
And "Phew!" said the dog
"Oh thank you, oh thank you!" the grateful witch cried, "Without you I'd be in that dragon's insides."
Then she filled up her cauldron and said with a grin,
"Find something, everyone, throw something in!"
So the frog found a lily, the cat found a cone
The bird found a twig and the dog found a bone.
They threw them all in and the witch stirred them well,
And while she was stirring she muttered a spell.
"Iggety, ziggety, zaggety, ZOOM!"
Then out rose... A TRULY MAGNIFICENT BROOM!
With a seat for the witch and the cat and the dog,
A nest for the bird and a shower for the frog.
"Yes!" Cried the witch and they all clambered on.
The witch tapped the broomstick and whoosh! They were gone!"

Both mothers looked down at their sleeping princess, "Goodnight, Millie." and they both placed a kiss to their daughter's head, "Sweet dreams."

Constance and Imogen took one last look at Millie before leaving her room.

"So I was thinking," Imogen said quietly, "How about we get out of these wet clothes?"

please review tell me what you think !