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Chapter Forty-Three
Back To Cackles
Esmerelda, Mildred, and Sybil, had to return to school the next week because they were not allowed to have to long off. Esmerelda scowled as Julie drove them to Cackles, it was true it had been agreed the girls would not be boarding for a while as Ethel still needed help with the baby but she was upset she would not be seeing Ethel and Prue during the day.
"Can I not stay home as well?" Esmie asked desperate to stay home with Ethel and the baby.
"You can't Esmie, you have already missed a year of schooling, you can't afford to lose anymore, you won't be out that long, you will have the whole afternoon with them" Julie explained as she looked in her review mirror as she drove. Esmie did not reply but instead tickled the baby in her car seat.
It was the first day the girls were returning to school. Since Ethel had given birth, people had being asking how her and the baby were. Julie was happy that the school cared about their own so much. Since Ethel had had her daughter she had not really being out yet, and neither had Prue much so Julie had convinced Ethel to come to Cackles, just for a visit, knowing everyone would be dying to see the newest Hallow. Ethel had agreed reluctantly, still fearful about her daughter's well-being.
Stopping the car, Julie helped the girls unfold the purple pram Ethel had brought and Ethel gently lowered Prudence into it. She had only being in it once and the baby looked around curiously trying to decide if she liked this new thing she was lying in or not but she didn't cry so Ethel happily started to push the pram along.
"You should be privileged Prudie, not many witches get to see Cackles before they start" Esmie told her niece smiling at her.
Ethel and the others knew it was not definitely true she was a witch yet, but magic came from witches mothers so there was no reason she would not be. Magic did not start to show in babies until they were a few months old so no-one was worried there was no signs yet.
As the little family rounded the corner, Beatrice and Clarice, Sybil's friends, caught sight of them and rushed over wanting to see the new member of the family.
"Well met" Clarice said as she touched her forehead in greeting. Everyone followed suit and Prudence looked at them all confused. Bea and Clarice did not look sure what they should do.
"Can we take a look?" Bea asked wanting to see the baby. Ethel nodded and lowered the hood of the pram so they could see her darling baby inside.
"Aww she is so cute" Clarice said as Prue looked at both her and Beatrice confused as she had never seen them before.
"The cutest" Beatrice said smiling at the baby. Ethel beamed and reached inside to take Prudence out so they could see her better.
"Say hello Prudie" Ethel said holding the baby so that Clarice and Sybil had a better view.
Beatrice stroked her cheek gently and Clarice tickled her chin and the little girl giggled and smiled happily, now that she knew these girls were not going to kidnap her and take her away from her mummy.
"I have the cutest niece, I know" Sybil replied smiling smugly and proudly about it as her friends fussed over the darling little girl.
Felicity and Gloria noticed then and rushed over to look at the baby as well and before long a small crowd had gathered.
"Can I hold her?" Felicity asked happily but Ethel was not sure she was ready for her baby to be passed around yet. She was very over protective after what had happened to her so Ethel looked at Esmie as if asking her for help.
"Let us just look for now" Esmie said smiling at her little niece. Prue loved the attention and giggled happily as she was fussed over. Ethel smiled at her and kissed her adorable little cheeks.
"What is going on here?" the familiar voice of Miss Hardbroom suddenly shouted as she found the crowd gathered in the corridor. She could not see the Hallows or the baby as they were being hidden by view. Mildred, who had gone to stand with Maud and Enid for a catch up, spoke.
"Ethel has brought in the baby miss" Mildred told her as the crowd moved to reveal Ethel holding Prue. It was only then everyone saw Miss Cackle was behind her.
"Aww she is beautiful" the bespectacled headteacher commented as she looked at the little blonde baby.
"Thank you miss" Ethel said unable to meet her eye. Ethel did not trust HB and Cackle near her baby, it was the sad truth but they had never gave her a reason to trust them and these were the two woman who had told her she would be a bad mother and abuse her baby. Hecate looked at the baby but did not say anything, not the type to coo over a baby. Everyone was silent now watching the exchange and Ethel put her daughter back in the pram before smiling slightly and talking.
"I have to go feed her she will be getting hungry now, if you excuse me" Ethel said as she wheeled the pram forwards, wanting to get away from the headteacher and deputy. Esmie and Julie smiled at them slightly as they followed Ethel. Esmie could sense Ethel was crying before she even heard her as they got away from the crowd.
"Ethie" Esmie said upset not liking Ethel to cry at any time but especially now when she should be happy as she was showing off her bundle of joy.
"They think I am a bad mother, you can see it in their eyes" Ethel said as she stopped pushing the pram and cried softly.
"Don't listen to them, that is not true, you are an amazing mother and Prue loves you" Esmie told her not wanting Ethel to start to believe them lies. Ethel was great with the baby and the baby loved her mummy.
"What if that is what everyone thinks?" Ethel asked as she looked at her baby who looked sad as her mother was crying.
"Let them think it, we know the truth" Julie told her as she hugged her gently. Prudie smiled at her mother happily and Ethel smiled back feeling better.
"Thank you, honestly though, you think I am doing okay?" Ethel asked them both wondering if they were just being nice.
"No you are doing brilliantly, never let someone tell you you aren't" Esmie told Ethel kissing her cheek gently.
Despite her not wanting Miss Cackle and HB near Prudence Ethel was happy by the fuss Miss Bat and Miss Drill made over the baby. They have never upset her so she in all honestly liked these teachers, she even let Mr Rowan-Webb look at her, not feeling as afraid anymore of him being near her, though she would never leave her alone with him.
Esmie was relieved to see Ethel was happier after the reassurance and she spoke happily to everyone as she showed off her baby and answered their questions. She even let a few people hold her briefly, Clarice, Beatrice, Felicity and Gloria, clearly realising they meant no harm and just wanted to give her a cuddle.
Ethel was currently sat next to Felicity talking to everyone as Felicity held her baby. Julie smiled watching her foster daughter.
"I was worried she would never let anyone else hold her" Julie said watching everyone hold the tiny girl gently.
"I think she thought that people would think she was a bad mother if she passed her around, as if she didn't want to hold her" Esmie replied logically.
"You are probably correct, it is good she is letting people in" Julie said watching the girls and not able to help herself from smiling.
Ethel walked up to Julie after about an hour holding her child and smiling, looking much happier than she had in a long time.
"She is getting tired, I am just going to change her quick and then can we go home? I think she has had enough for today" Ethel told Julie knowing if she didn't get her sleep, Prue would be cranky.
"Of course" Julie told Ethel. Ethel went to change her child and then left the bathroom waving at her classmates. Felicity gave her a small hug and stroked the babies head. Ethel smiled at them all.
"Come back soon Ethel, we want to give her another cuddle" Gloria told Ethel as she smiled at Prudie.
"We will do, say bye Prudie" Ethel said as she put her daughter in the pram and she left with Julie as the others still had school. She hugged her sisters and Mildred quickly and they fussed over Prue before they left.
"Well that went well" Julie said happily strapping the baby into her car seat.
"I am glad Prudie has so many people looking after her" Ethel replied climbing into the car seat next to her baby.
"She is one lucky girl" Julie said getting in the drivers seat. Prudence was exhausted and already asleep. Ethel stroked her head a few times and whispered.
"No I am the lucky one" Ethel said as she removed her hand to let her baby sleep in peace and just proceeded to stare at her for a while, still unable to believe she was actually hers.