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Chapter Twenty-Five
14th September 1911
I was feeding Elba in the sitting room when Tommie walked in. He looked tired, and fed up. He flopped down onto the sofa next to me, and kissed me on the cheek. He rested his head on my shoulder, and I could feel the stubble tickling my chin. Elba sat up a little, so she could see her father, who reached out his hand to her. She took hold of Tommie's fingers and pulled herself forward using them. "Daddy, look…" Elba grunted as she struggled to her feet. Tommie smiled at her, but I could tell he was hiding something. I held her shoulders as she tottered over to Tommie on unsteady legs. She had taken her first steps today, and Tommie wasn't there. He had already missed her first words, and now he had missed his daughter's first steps. I couldn't help but feel a deep pang of guilt for him, for I had been there with her at both times. Elba stepped off of my knee and onto Tommie's thigh, and he welcomed her into his arms. He kissed her soft hair as he praised her, and she had an unmistakable look of proudness on her face. As soon as Elba couldn't see Tommie's face any more when she threw her arms round his neck, his expression changed dramatically. He looked as if he was about to cry. I didn't say anything, but I reached out and stroked his cheek. "Come on then, Elba, bed." I said, taking Elba off of Tommie. Tommie said goodnight to Elba, before disappearing upstairs, into his study. I planned on seeing him afterwards.