A/N: WARNING - THIS IS THE SECOND CHAPTER POSTED TONIGHT! The first was a flashback. After this, unless something drastic happens to change my mind, there will be an epilogue.
I'm already in withdrawal from this story.
Twelve Years After Charles and Elsie's Wedding
Charles lay back in the recliner, Pepper asleep on his lap. The family room was back to its usual appearance. Well, except for the scuff marks. Those won't come off the walls easily. And I don't want to think about what they've done to the upstairs. No. Don't think of it, Charlie. Not now. Whatever they've done, you'll forgive them. You always do.
He woke at the same time as Pepper; both of them alerted to the sound of someone entering the house. He looked through bleary eyes at the figure standing in the doorway.
"Let me guess – the marks are the work of Miss Ada and Mr. Quinton Barrow-Kent?"
He cleared his throat. "How did you know?" She leaned against the doorframe, swinging her keys on her fingers, and he was struck by how much she resembled her mother.
"They're the youngest, except for Will and Mason. Beatrice is too sweet to behave like that, and the twins behave themselves better, even for hyperactive boys." She snorted. "That does it. Please give my apologies to Uncle Thomas and Uncle Jimmy, but I'm going to kill their kids."
He ran his hand over Pepper's back. "Can you mow the lawn first, Sybbie? Since you're here already-"
She blew her hair out of her face. "You act like I don't mean it! I do! I know you and Aunt Elsie love those kids, but they are hooligans! Lottie's only a year older than Ada, and she doesn't trash your house when she visits!"
Laughing, Charles got to his feet. "Charlotte has your Aunt Mary as her mother. Ada doesn't. Thomas and James are admirable parents, but they are a bit strict at times. It's ironic, because those children have been wrapped around their little fingers since they were adopted." He shrugged. "When they visit Nana and Papa Carson's house, Ada and Q blow off steam. It's only marks on the wall, they'll wash off."
Sybbie bent down and picked up Pepper. "You are an old softie. From what Dad tells me, you were the strict one once, at the office. I find that hard to believe."
"Ask Elsie, if you don't believe him. She'll be back soon." He yawned, rubbing his face. Sybbie straightened up, her face alight.
"Why didn't you call me? I could have come over earlier, taken the kids home-"
"And murdered them on the way? No, Els drove them-"
"-and come back to mow for you. I can drive, Uncle Carson," her eyes sparkled. "I know you don't trust me, but I am an excellent driver. I've had my license for two years now. Not one accident or citation."
"Which is more than what Poppy can say. When was the accident, a week after she got her permit?"
"Yes. Poor girl," Sybbie stifled a laugh. "It really wasn't her fault. The woman behind her wasn't paying attention, and bumped her at the red light." She paused, shaking her head. "I think Uncle John would have taken it better, but the fact that she was driving, with Aunt Anna in the passenger seat and Sebastian in the back, almost gave him a coronary."
Charles leaned against the island in the kitchen. "Well, at least he's letting her drive again. Or, at least Anna's convinced him to let her. I know she wants to take the test after her birthday. Anna's eager to have someone else do the school run, at least in the afternoon. We'd pick up Sebastian then, if we didn't have our volunteer hours at Becky's home four days a week."
"For being retired, you two are awfully busy." Sybbie grinned. "I'll go mow now, it won't take me much more than half an hour."
He watched her in the backyard for a few minutes, mowing around the bench that Elsie loved. He pottered around the kitchen, preparing for dinner, before he had to sit down. He didn't like to admit that his knees weren't what they used to be. Fact of life, Charlie, you're almost eighty years old. He was glad that Sybbie had offered to mow for them this summer; it kept Elsie from doing it. And it was another opportunity to have more time with their oldest "spirit-child", as his wife called them. He sighed, setting down the paring knife.
University. And George next year, and Poppy and Marigold the year after that. Sebastian will be a teenager next year. Andy and Daisy's twins are almost ten.
Where has the time gone?
It had been ten years since he retired. Robert had taken over as Managing Partner briefly, before seeing sense (helped by a frightening scare with a burst ulcer). Between them, John, Mary, Matthew and Tom had steered the firm into what sounded like its busiest years. It had been seven years since Elsie handed over the job of office manager to Phyllis Molesley. Appropriately, the same day she retired, Beryl handed over the responsibilities of the Records Clerks Supervisor to Phyllis's husband.
He glanced across the room where the collage of pictures hung. The largest, in the middle, was of their wedding day. It was a black-and-white still from the reception. Neither he nor Elsie remembered the photographer taking the picture during their first dance. He, with a soft look and softer smile, and she with a blissful expression, her eyes closed, as they embraced. That picture was surrounded by a dozen others. Most were of him and Elsie alone, or with friends and family.
"You're far away, Charles." The love of his life sat down next to him. "I'm sorry I took longer than usual. Jimmy wanted to chat." The sound of the mower through the back door reached him.
"That's quite all right, I wasn't worried." He reached for her hand and kissed it softly.
"What were you thinking about?" She grabbed the paring knife and continued chopping the peppers.
"You. Us. How fast the time goes, Sybbie will be leaving in a few weeks…"
"Don't remind me," she said. She felt a lump in her throat, and turned her head, dropping the knife on the table.
She wasn't fast enough. He tucked a finger under her chin, gently turning her face. "Love, you know they have to stretch their wings and fly eventually. Let's enjoy tonight and tomorrow, hmmm?"
"I know, and I will," she said shakily. She squeezed his hand. "Let me finish with these, then I can help you with the rest."
"I can finish preparing dinner," he protested. "I am perfectly capable! I may be old, but I'm not infirm."
Elsie rolled her eyes. "If you insist. This old lady will go upstairs and check the damage. I don't know what Q was doing in the loft, he sounded like he was going to come through the ceiling. I told Jimmy he and Thomas need to loosen up a bit, he's a seven-year-old boy. And Ada's only ten. Too soon they'll be grown." She got up and went up to the top of the stairs, shaking her head ruefully at the mess in the loft.
After finding the missing pieces from the chess set, then placing books back onto the shelf, she sat folding sheets from the laundry she'd brought up earlier. The bathroom door opened, and Sybbie emerged in a cloud of steam.
"I didn't hear you come up," she said as the young woman kissed her cheek.
"You were busy, and I was dirty. I didn't want to stink through dinner," she explained. "Aunt Elsie, why didn't you call me earlier? I would have taken the kids home, and spared you the drive."
"Would you have spared them, I wonder?" Elsie raised an eyebrow, laughing. Sybbie pursed her lips. "You've got a bit of your Aunt Mary in you – Sebastian calls you the Mary-bot, did you know that? After what happened at Easter, I think Ada's afraid of you."
Sybbie sighed, holding her hand as they went back downstairs. "I didn't mean to yell at her like that. But she wasn't paying attention, and she splashed dye all over your kitchen! I was just tired of you and Uncle Carson always having to clean up after them!"
"Your father agreed, that's why he helped clean up the mess," Elsie reminded her gently. "As did you. And Miss Branson," she grinned, a glint in her eye, "need I remind you of when you and your cousins were younger? You made plenty of messes too." She ruffled Sybbie's wet hair fondly.
The three of them sat in the backyard as the sun went down. There was a slight breeze, which kept it from being too warm. Pepper sniffed around their feet.
"I'll put the sheets on the spare bed after dinner," Sybbie said. She yawned, covering her mouth with her hand.
Charles scraped his fork over his plate. "Why bother? We know you'll just end up sleeping in the window-seat upstairs." He and Elsie exchanged an amused glance.
"You're probably right," Sybbie said, looking sheepish. "I can't help it, though – it's so comfortable!"
"You'll never hear me say otherwise. I've fallen asleep there more times than I can count. Usually with a book in my lap," Elsie said, stacking the dirty dishes. "Oh! While I'm thinking of it, darling, can you go get those pictures? The ones we were looking at yesterday?"
"Of course," he went into the house and came back a few minutes later with the thick album. So old-fashioned, no one has these anymore. But it's so much better to have something tangible to see and touch, rather than a screen.
He sat back down and pushed the book across the table to Sybbie. "Go on, take a look."
She opened the cover, looking at them. "What is it?" she asked, before seeing the first one. "OH!" Her eyes bulged. "These are from your trip, right? Where was this one taken? Ireland?"
"That's right," Charles laughed, holding hands with Elsie. "We didn't think you had seen some of them. Yes, that one was taken in Ireland. Cork."
"And what about this one?" Sybbie turned the book, showing it to them like it was story-time. She pointed at a picture of Charles posing in front of an imposing house.
"I took that one, when we visited Highclere Castle. It's in Berkshire, west of London," Elsie said. "That's where Charlie's grandfather worked as a hall boy and a footman, until just after the First World War."
"Wow," Sybbie said, her eyebrows raised. "It looks huge! I've been in contact with some of the girls I'll be living with at UCD. We're planning on traveling to Britain in October. I'll have to see if we can get to Highclere as well."
"It's beautiful," Charles said softly. "I hope you get to see it someday. I'm glad we were able to go."
Sybbie continued flipping through the pages, stopping at some to ask questions, or to comment. There were a series of pictures of Elsie and Charles in Argyll.
"I never asked," Sybbie hesitated, "but did it make you homesick? Being in Scotland after so many years away?"
"No," Elsie said truthfully. "I hardly recognized it. We found the ancient church where my grandparents are buried. The house where I was born has long since gone – I don't know who owns the land now." She leaned her head on her hand. "But I'm not that farm girl anymore. I haven't been, not for many years. Where Charlie is, that's home." She smiled and winked at him.
"For better or worse, lass, you're stuck with me." He chuckled. Sybbie turned to the last page that had had pictures in it.
"Where did you get this?" she cried, her eyes darting from Elsie to Charles and back again. "I've never seen this-where did you get this!? This must have been taken when Dad and Mom went to Ireland after they married!" She put a hand to her mouth in wonder.
"Yes, it was taken when they went to Ireland, about six months after they got married," Elsie said, moving over to sit next to Sybbie. Charles leaned forward to get a better look. Tom and Sybil had their arms around each other, both clearly laughing hard. Tom was leaning forward, while Sybil's head was thrown back.
"They were very young," Charles commented, smiling. "I often forget how young they were. Both in their twenties. Not much older than you are now."
Sybbie pulled the picture carefully out of the sleeve, touching her mother's face. "She lived her life to the fullest. Dad always says she held nothing back, that's what he says got him through after-after she died. He knew she had no regrets." She looked up, her expression almost fierce. "It makes me proud," she said, a slight tremble in her voice, "that I stuck to my decision to go to Dublin to university. I've only got one life, and I want to do as much as possible with it." She sighed, setting the picture down. "Dad's been fantastic. He's supported me totally, even after Grandpa and Aunt Mary-not to mention most of my friends-tried to convince me to go somewhere closer to home." She ran a hand through her ponytail. "I'm sure you'd prefer it if I stayed close, but you both have encouraged me to follow my dreams. I can't thank you enough."
"We're proud of you," Elsie said, giving the girl a warm hug. "Of course we'll miss you-" she choked back a sob.
"Oh, don't cry!" Sybbie exclaimed, holding on to her. "I caught Dad crying earlier this week!" She looked at Charles over Elsie's shoulder. "Please promise me you'll look after him when I'm away," she whispered. "I know he's got all the Bransons and Crawleys to look after him, but ask him to dinner, get him to walk Pepper. Something. I'll feel better knowing he's got you two."
"Absolutely," Charles said. "We won't forget about him."
"Never," Elsie agreed, wiping her eyes. "I'm sorry for crying, Sybbie."
"That's life," Sybbie grinned. "I'm sure I'll do a lot of it myself before I leave – which won't be until after your birthday, Uncle Carson. I'm not missing the big event!"
"I'm glad to hear it," he said, standing up. She got up and gave him a big hug.
"Will there be dancing? I can't imagine a Carson occasion without dancing."
"Of course, though with my knees, I might have to yield the floor after just one song," he joked, giving her a kiss on the forehead. They both knew he'd refuse to sit down until he'd danced with his wife, then her.
"Why don't I turn on the record player? You can practice with Aunt Carson," she gave Elsie a cheeky grin.
"You haven't called me that for a long time," Elsie said, getting up and grabbing Charles's hand. "That is a good idea, you pick the record."
"Isn't that dangerous?" Charles mock-grumbled. "She'll probably play something I've never heard of. And what about Pepper?" The dog was whining at their feet. "Whenever Elsie gets my attention, she wants some, too."
"Considering this is your record collection, I can hardly play something you've never heard of," Sybbie's voice echoed from inside as she fiddled with the old record player. "And don't worry about the little princess, I'll dance with her. She likes it." She placed the record and called to the backyard. "Come here, Pepper!" She scooped up the dog, swaying to the beat.
Oh, my love, my darling
I've hungered for your touch
A long, lonely time
Time goes by so slowly
And time can do so much
Are you still mine?
I need your love
I need your love
God speed your love to me
Elsie smiled at the sound of his voice as he hummed along with the tune. She hummed herself when he bent his head and kissed her softly on the lips. She pulled on his arms lightly, drawing him closer. He smiled as he deepened their kiss. His mouth opened, and his heart pumped faster. He tasted her, his love.
Lonely rivers flow to the sea, to the sea
To the open arms of the sea
Lonely rivers sigh, "Wait for me, wait for me
I'll be coming home, wait for me"…
Sybbie watched them turn slowly in the fading light of the sunset. The Tiki torches flickered, casting their shadows on the ground. She jumped as the player crackled, and she hastily turned it off so as not to disturb them. She rubbed Pepper's belly, holding the small dog in one arm. "Mummy and Daddy have forgotten anyone else is home right now," she whispered. She stole another glance outside. The couple had stopped dancing altogether, and were lost in each other.
"You see, Pepper? That's what they are. That's what they've always been. Together," Sybbie murmured, tucking the memory safe inside her heart. "I will never forget you, no matter how far away I am, or how much time goes by. I won't forget, Uncle and Aunt Carson."
A/N: The song is "Unchained Melody", from the Righteous Brothers.