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Chapter Forty-Four
First Time But Not The Last
Ethel did not get out all that much anymore, worried about running into trouble and not wanting her baby in that situation, but Julie thought it was bad that she isolated herself, especially as the nice weather was coming. One weekend, Sybil and Mildred had chosen to stay at Cackles as they had not spoken to their friends properly in weeks. Esmie and Ethel were at home but it was a beautiful day.
"Why don't you two take Prudence to the park?" Julie suggested not wanting them cooped up all day.
"I don't know..." Ethel said fearfully.
"Well you will be fine if there is two of you, go on take her, the air will do her good" Julie told the girls.
"Will you come?" Ethel asked looking at her foster mother.
"You two should have some alone time" Julie told them wanting them to be able to spend time together like normal sisters. Ethel sighed but nodded.
"Come on Ethel, we will be fine, we can just go out front if you don't want to take her to the park" Esmie suggested knowing Julie was right. Ethel looked at her sister and sighed.
"Alright, but not for two long" Ethel replied as she placed Prue in her pram.
"Any problems call me" Julie whispered to Esmie who nodded as Ethel strapped the baby in.
It was beautiful outside. It was the type of weather where it was hot without it being to hot and it was bright and cheery. Ethel pushed the pram as she walked next to her sister, trying to not think about the fact it was nearly summer, and nearly a year since her attack.
"Look at her" Esmie said overwhelmed by how adorable Prue was being. She was sucking her thumb and looking around curiously.
"Oh Prudie you are such a cutie" Ethel cooed to her. Prue giggled happily at her mum and auntie.
"I think she likes it out here" Esmie told her sister as they walked together talking quietly.
Arriving at the park Esmie and Ethel sat down on a bench. Prue obviously was not old enough to go on the slide or swings yet, so Esmie lifted her out the pram and held her on her lap so she could look around and feel the air on her face.
"Sorry I probably should have asked you if I could pick her up first" Esmie said as she had wanted a cuddle and did it without asking Ethel.
"You don't have to ask, you are her amazing auntie, you can cuddle her whenever you want, unless I am cuddling her obviously" Ethel replied with a smile as she watched her sister with her niece happily. Esmie chuckled at that.
"Or Julie, or Mildred or Sybie, I will have to fight them to hold you Prudie" she said to her niece who smiled looking at her.
"She is such a happy baby" Ethel commented truthfully. Prue was always giggling or smiling and whenever she did it, it warmed her heart.
"Yes well she has loads of people to give her cuddles" Esmie said kissing her little nose.
"I am glad, I never want her to feel neglected like I do...well did...not really anymore" Ethel commented so happy her daughter could have the love she had always craved. Esmie put her arm around her sister and kissed her cheek.
"You are amazing to me, never forget that" she told her sister who laid her head on her shoulder watching her sister and baby happily.
After around an hour, Esmerelda, Ethel and the baby made their way to the small cafe located in the park as they were both staving, and it would seem Prue was as well as she started crying loudly as they got through the door.
"Mummy is coming baby" Ethel said quickly sitting down and starting to unstrap Prudence so she could take her out.
"I will go order" Esmie told Ethel who nodded as she pulled her screaming daughter out of the pram and took a bottle out of her baby bag, obviously not wanting to breast feed her in public she had made one up in advance. Prue sucked on her bottle straight away, ready for her lunch.
"They said about ten minutes" Esmie told Ethel as she took a seat next to her and stroked the babies head as she was fed.
"Is that better grumpy chops?" she asked her niece as she stroked her cheek and smiled at her.
Esmerelda stopped smiling for a second as she caught sight of a woman sat a few tables away from her and Ethel. She was staring at them and shaking her head and tutting. Esmie shook her head telling herself to ignore her.
The chips Esmie ordered arrived but Esmie could still sense the woman was staring at them. Ethel had not noticed as she was preoccupied with feeding Prudence.
"Are you alright Esmie? You seem edgy" Ethel asked as she finished giving Prue her bottle and picked her up to wind her.
"That woman is staring at us" Esmie whispered and Ethel looked up and noticed the woman for the first time too. Staring right at them and shaking her head, and Ethel realised then the only reason that would make sense as to why she was doing that was because Ethel was holding her baby and she was clearly a teenager.
"Just don't look" Ethel told Esmerelda even though she felt really uncomfortable.
Esmerelda did try her best to ignore the nosy woman but she could sense she was still there. Ethel was uncomfortable, Esmie knew that as she was being quiet. Esmerelda looked up and saw the woman still staring before she spoke.
"Is there some sort of problem? You have been staring at us for the last twenty minutes" Esmie rudely said to the woman.
Now that Esmerelda had spoken the woman seemed unable to keep her lips sealed anymore, she had clearly being wanting to say something for ages.
"I just think it is a disgrace to see children who look around twelve with a baby" the woman answered back and Esmie shook her head.
"I don't see how my niece's existence is any of your business" Esmie replied wondering who this woman was to judge Ethel.
"It is disgusting, kids as young as her having sex" the woman replied as if she knew Ethel's life story and could comment on it.
"Don't talk about things you know nothing about, my sister was attacked and had no choice in having sex, and even if she hadn't been, I would still be asking you how you can possibly judge my sister when you don't know her" Esmie told the woman. She expected shock or an apology when she found out Ethel had been raped, but this woman seemed determined to hurt everyone.
"So she shouldn't of being allowed to keep the baby, it is nor fair to people who actually want children, that baby will end up in foster care because she can't look after it" the woman yelled. People had stopped to watch now as they realised Esmie and the woman were fighting.
"My sister is a better mother than most people I know twice her age and it was her decision to keep the baby not yours" Esmie said before turning to Ethel.
"Come on Ethel let's go, we are not welcome here" Esmie told her. Ethel nodded and followed Esmie out, knowing it was best just to leave, they were just kids they didn't know what else to do.
"Are you okay?" Esmie asked Ethel putting an arm around her once they were outside, sensing she was shook up.
Ethel sighed as she wished people would just leave her alone, but she knew that was not going to happen.
"It is going to happen everywhere I go with her isn't it?" Ethel asked Esmie who sighed, not wanting to agree even if she knew that was true.
"I suppose I will have to get used to it, thank you for sticking up for me Esmie" Ethel said with a smile.
"Of course, just ignore them Ethel, they just want someone to talk about, but don't let it affect you" Esmie told her, knowing Ethel would have to learn to deal with it.
"I won't, I don't regret keeping her" Ethel said kissing Prudence's face.
"Exactly Ethel, show everyone that despite your age you can be brilliant with her" Esmie told her and Ethel nodded as she looked at Prue, not wanting to imagine life without her again.
"I will do, we will prove them wrong" Ethel said as she put Prue, now calm, back in her pram. Ethel knew she would have to become more thick skinned now to deal with the talk she would receive because she had a baby, but Ethel tried to forget that as Esmie started pushing the pram and they made their way back home.