A Walk in the Park

Laurence had a spot selected for his Birthday Picnic/Field Day in The Stray that he wanted to show his Mum and Kate. The weather was fine and they had decided to pack a lunch and have a family outing. Will was just home from university on his summer break so that made the day even more special for them all.

The boys had maneuvered the double stroller and now ubiquitous outsized baby bag to the street and seen the little ones installed into their carriage before they set off. Will carried the picnic hamper and Laurence a large thermos of lemonade. Once on The Stray the boys fell into step with one another, discussing the merits of various locations in the park for the proposed Birthday party.

The women, side by side pushing the wide stroller, watched the boys ahead of them, commenting on how they were maturing and what a pleasure they both were now that they'd almost stopped sniping at one another. Their texts and phone conversations as Laurence kept Will up to date on developments at home had served to bring them closer.

"Will seems to be doing well at university but I think he misses being at home. Especially with so much happening here in recent months."

"Yes, he's said as much to me." At Caroline's questioning look, "He was holding Callie yesterday while you and Laurence were shopping and he looked so wistful when he observed how much she had grown since he had last been home a few weeks ago. Then he said he was glad he had decided not to take a summer course this year."

They were exchanging a warm smile at the sweetness of their family when they were interrupted. "Dr. Elliot?"

"Mr. Amos. Hello. How are you?" Caroline straightened to full height and pulled her shoulders down as the tall man in workout clothing stopped running to take in the two women pushing the stroller.

"I thought it was you and then thought surely not…." Seeing the expression on Dr. Elliot's face, Amos sought to change the focus from himself and bent to inspect the babies, "Well, who have we here? Babysitting for the day?"

With a cool smile and a lift to her chin, "No. They're ours." Putting an arm around Kate's waist she looked Amos in the eye, "You'll remember Kate McKenzie from Sulgrave when Chet was there. We married in February. These are our babies."

Blinking for a moment, Mr. Amos recovered quickly, "I say, congratulations!" Smiling warmly, "Congratulations to you both. And congratulations on your newest arrivals." Going on to safer topics, "Chet is home from university, just this week. Is Will here?"

Looking ahead to see that the boys had rounded a bend and were out of sight. "Yes, he arrived yesterday. I'll tell him that Chet is at home, I'm sure they'll want to get together soon."

"Yes, I'm sure they will. Well, I won't keep you, say hello to the boys for me. It's been nice to see you both."

Starting on, Caroline put her hand on the push handle just inside Kate's grip so that her fingers overlapped Kate's, needing her touch. She looked up a trifle tentatively at Kate. She was getting better at this but always needed to see reassurance from Kate that she had done well enough.

Giving the endorsement that she knew Caroline needed, "Nicely done Dr. McKenzie-Elliot.

Relaxing then to grin, "It's becoming quite entertaining now that we have the babies. People don't know whether to be more surprised that we're married or that we have not one but two babies already. And then the fact that these two look nothing alike floors them again."

"Yes, and what about me? I have to look on with a straight face while you thrust out your chin and give them the haughty Dr. Elliot routine."

Indignantly, "I'm never haughty. It's simply self respect."

Tearing her eyes from Caroline to navigate the curve Kate suppresses a smile, "Right."

"Miss McKenzie! Dr. Elliot." A twenty something woman also pushing a stroller from an intersecting path approached the women. "It's Annette. Annette Barrow, well, it would have been Gates when I was at school."

"Annette, of course, the star soprano in my first choir at Sulgrave. How are you."

"Wonderful, I've just had a baby," squatting next to her stroller loving eyes on the sleeping infant, "Maggie," she said proudly. Then in the process of looking up she sees the two babies in the other stroller for the first time.

Seeing that she is speechless, Kate steps in, "These are our babies, Thomas and Callie. Maybe they'll be classmates with Maggie at Sulgrave one day."

Suddenly standing Annette looks at Kate then Caroline then back at Kate again, "Yours? The two of you? But… but."

Slightly amused but also somewhat haughty herself now, "Yes, Annette. Dr. Elliot and I were married this winter." When no response is forthcoming from the staring young woman, "Even decrepit elderly people like us can find love and have families."

Belatedly, "Oh please, I am sorry, I didn't mean to be rude. It's just surprising. One doesn't think of teachers as having lives outside of school." Looking truly embarrassed now, "Well, that's juvenile, isn't it? Of course you do." Regaining her balance a little, "I'm very happy for you." Looking at Caroline who is standing by quietly, her eyebrows raised well up into her fringe trying her best not to laugh. "Both of you." Looking down at the babies again, "And them." Knowing that she has not presented herself as the mature young matron that she had been trying for when she encountered her favorite teacher, "Better be getting on then, before she wakes from having her ride interrupted." Starting off, "Maybe I'll see you again. Bye."

The pair walked on, stifling laughter until they were well out of Annette's hearing, once around the curve they both erupted. "You're right, Dear Heart, this is becoming quite entertaining."

Spotting the boys on the path beyond, "Did Laurence tell you what he is considering as a career?"

"Has he decided on something?"

Smiling proudly, "He wants to be a medical doctor. I suspect it has a good deal to do with your brother."

Just as pleased and proud, "Do you think so?"

"You know how taken he was with Kevin during the wedding week. He memorized the stories Kevin told about his travels and his work. Remember all the questions he asked? Apparently they've been emailing. And he joins us now to watch the news, you know."

Concerned now, Kate asked, "You don't think he wants to go into Doctors without Borders, do you?"

Reflecting for a moment, "It's certainly work that begs to be done. Would I like to see him in some of the places they go? Not really, but that's just my selfishness talking. Besides, the decision will be up to Laurence, won't it?"

Pressing their shoulders together in sympathy on this topic, for Kevin as well as future decisions on the part of Laurence. Caroline continued, "He wants to become a pediatrician." Smiling broadly, where do you think he got that idea?"

Pleased, "Does he?" Looking ahead at the back of the young man in question, "He'd make a good one. Laurence has been very good with these two." Glancing at Caroline, "I don't know what I'd do without him some afternoons. It really makes a difference to have him take one or another of them, sometimes he entertains both for a while."

With her face full of remorse, "Kate, I know I've let you down. Just when you need me most I've been pulled into the middle of the new school project. I know I promised you that everything would stay the same until I finished the summer term and even though at the time I thought it would, it didn't." Slowing their pace, not wanting to catch up to the boys yet, "I never meant to be working so long everyday the way I did." Turning worried eyes to Kate, "And now I'm working more than I thought would be necessary during the break."

Stopping them and turning to Kate, "I am sorry." Fixing Kate with earnest blue eyes, "After Monday, I realized what you face everyday." Putting up a finger to Kate's lips to stop her interrupting, "I know you love it." Smiling, "Being with the little ones," eyes twinkling, "being the pied piper of The Lion complex and den mother to Laurence's friends." Sobering then, "But it isn't fair for me to let you do everything, leave you on your own so much." Covering Kate's hand on the stroller handle, "I've told Gavin that he'll need to find someone else to consult with him on the design elements, Gloria Hammond in the Arts Department will do better than I could anyway." Giving Kate her timid smile, "So, I'll be home more this holiday as I'd originally planned. I will still have hiring to finish and training to do but Gavin will need to manage his own responsibilities."

Brown eyes, flecked with amber, scan the alabaster skin already taking on a shade of pink from the short time they've been walking in the sun. Kate's face was serious, "I do know you'd rather be home with us. I'd rather you were home with us too and not only because of the babies. I've missed our long leisurely evenings together." Smiling softly, "I'm sorry you're missing this time with Callie and Thomas, they seem to change everyday." Her face earnest now, "I do know that you're doing it for all of us. I realize that you are paying the price for my having the luxury of being home with them, seeing those changes. I know I don't say this often enough but I do appreciate that Caroline. I'm grateful for the gift that you're giving me."

"Kate, I promise to get better at guarding us, our time together. Keeping our family the priority and not getting drawn into what isn't my area of concern, I'm sorry I didn't realize sooner." Overcome with emotion Caroline leaned in and raised her contrite face to Kate's and was rewarded with a tender kiss. Thomas was becoming restive at this break in motion so they started off again, smiling and meeting one another's eyes as they went.

Laurence's newly deepening voice called out impatiently, "Come on, we're nearly there, don't stop now."

After Laurence gave them a guided tour of the advantages of 'his spot' they threw out blankets for the babies and the food under the shade of a grove a trees. Out of sight of the footpath they made themselves at home. Callie and Thomas were always the central entertainment at any gathering and they sprawled on the blanket to play with them until the babies tired, were fed and put down for naps.

The four chatted as they ate their picnic lunch, catching up on all the news since the last time Will was home. Then they took turns playing three-handed Frisbee, one of them always stationed near the little ones.

Soooo

Kate and Laurence had started off for home to begin the evening meal to which the extended family had been invited in honor of Will's homecoming. Caroline and Will had changed the babies before they set off, gathered baby toys, folded blankets and stowed everything back onto the double stroller before following at a sedate pace.

"I thought you were spending most of the break getting the new school ready for the autumn term."

"I was. I am. Well, after Monday I've made some adjustments."

"What happened Monday?"

"The first week of break Beverley and I spent packing up our offices to move to Leeds. It wasn't until this Monday that I was home for the day. Then Edie called and asked Kate to go with her to see Alistair. So, I volunteered to stay home with the babies while she went with Edie."

Impressed, "On your own?"

Giving him a look, "Et tu Brute?"

Grinning, "Why? What happened?"

"Kate and Mum didn't have much confidence in me either. I did manage it in the end but it could easily have been a disaster. They can be quite a handful, these two. Even when Roger is there to help her in the mornings, I have a new respect for what Kate manages every day."

"So, that's all fine then, isn't it?"

Caroline confided, "God, William, I felt like such a… a… a husband."

Blinking at her for a moment, William burst into laughter. Then seeing the hurt on his Mum's face, he quickly apologized, "Sorry Mum. I am sorry. It's just… I've never seen anyone who looked less like a husband than you."

Still nettled from being laughed at, "Well, it isn't about appearance is it?"

Sobering, "No, I suppose not. Soooo…"

"So I've realized that I've let myself get too caught up in the new school project. Don't get me wrong there is work I'll need to attend to this summer but I'd let Gavin pull me into what was supposed to be his responsibility, namely overseeing the renovations." Defending herself now, "He was just so hopeless at the design part of it. The whole place would have been garish if I hadn't… Well, anyway that's mostly decided now. I want to spend some time with my family this summer, even if I do have administrative and faculty training sessions to do now that the hiring is almost complete."

Admiration for her shining in his eyes, "At least you've realized in time to make changes. From what I understand, that's more than many husbands get around to doing."

Looking at him quickly to see if he's making fun of her, she saw that he was sincere. "Was I…? Did I…? When you were a boy is that what I did? Is this what drove your Dad away, do you think?"

Meeting her gaze, William said softly, "You had to do it all then, didn't you? Dad made more messes than he cleaned up as I recall." Looking into the distance for a minute, remembering his boyhood, then back to meet her eyes, "What I remember is that you were always there for us. Always patient, always helpful, always loving." Putting an arm around her and pulling her to him briefly, "You've been a good Mum to Laurence and I. You'll be a good Mum to Callie and Thomas too."

Smiling lovingly up into his face, "You're very kind to say so but I made plenty of mistakes." Looking away, a little embarrassed to be talking about this to her son, "And being a good Mum is not the same as being a good wife."

"You know what Kate says to me?" Seeing his Mum's head snap around to look at him, "She's worried that you're trying to take on too much. You work such long hours then you come home and start right in caring for the babies, helping Laurence with his homework, cooking, doing laundry. She's afraid she isn't keeping up her end and its going to all be too much on you."

"Oh but William, that part is all joy. It's what I love, to be at home with all of you doing those things. That's what energizes me to be able to do the rest. Working is… well, I love that too but without Kate and all of you children its… nothing." Looking away and speaking softly, almost to herself, "I learned that last summer."

Putting his arm around her shoulders again as they walked on, "I only hope I find someone who makes me feel that way one day."

Watching his face, "Roxy?"

Smiling ruefully, "Roxy is very ambitious. She should be. She's very smart and has so much to offer the world." Looking into Caroline's face, "But I'm beginning to think we want different things from life."

"What do you want, William?"

"I'm thinking of teaching, like you and Kate. It seems like such an opportunity to make a difference in people's lives. Roxy is interested in politics and that method of making a difference. I don't think I want to live that life. I think I'd like to come back here to live. Find someone to love, the way you and Kate love one another. That would be my ideal."

"Oh, William. You know nothing would make me happier if that's what you really want."

"Of course, that's a couple of years away yet. In the meantime, I love coming back here to be with all of you." Then regretfully, "Only, it seems like I'm crowding everyone when I'm here."

Immediately apologetic, "I'm so sorry for that, William. Everything with Thomas happened so quickly this spring and now we seem to be overflowing the flat. Kate and I are talking about looking for a house. The Lion was a great choice at the time but it just isn't enough anymore. I promise we'll have more space soon."

"You don't need to do that for me…"

"No. It's what we want. A family home, space for everyone."

Grinning, "Sounds like a tall order."

Confidentially, "I've just learned about a house that might be just the thing for us. I haven't said anything to Kate yet. I'd like to surprise her when it becomes available. You won't say anything?"

Eyes twinkling, "I wouldn't want to spoil a surprise."