"Well, I heard that there are some puppies down on the pier that just arrive from England." Alexander said as he walked in way too late for dinner. "Is that why you missed dinner?" I asked annoyed while I finished putting the dishes away.
"I went to the pier and I got to look at them." He said helping me. "I take it Philip is already asleep." Alexander asked as I served him his stew.
"About an hour ago Alexander." I said coldly as I put some glasses away. I felt him wrap his arms around my waist.
"What is going on with you?" Alexander asked as I shook my head.
"I'm sorry just I'm tired of you working all the time and I am just getting frustrated that's all…" I said sighing.
"I'm sorry…" He said kissing my shoulder.
"So, you found puppies?" I asked looking at him as I turned around with my back to the dishes.
"I did, they are small right now but the owner said that they will soon be large and mighty protectors." Alexander said smiling.
"Are you sure now is a good idea now to get a dog?" I asked as he nodded.
"I think it would keep Philip happy and busy." Alexander said as he kissed my lightly on the lips as he put a hand on my stomach. "So what did the doctor say today when he came by?" Alexander as I shrugged.
"Said the baby is growing strong and I should be delivering very soon." I said counting down the weeks.
"Well, how about tomorrow I stay home and set up the nursery then we can go pick out a puppy tomorrow evening." Alexander said as I nodded.
"Alright it is a deal." I said as he kissed me happy. "No go and eat." I said bopping his nose.
"Yes ma'am." He said as he smiled. "You better go get ready for bed then." He said as I kissed his lips gently.
"I will." I said and I walked upstairs before peeking into Philip's room. I smiled at my sleeping boy. I closed the door and I walked to the empty room that we were preparing for our newest arrival. I walked into the room and I ran my fingers around the spindles of the crib and I smiled at the quilt covering the mattress. I looked around the yellow and mint green painted room and I looked at the painted yellow stars on the wall near the window. I put my hand on my very large stomach and I walked to my room before locking the door behind me. I smiled at the large bathtub filled with very warm water and rose petals and candles lit around the room that I have set up for myself. I put the room divider up and started to slip my dress off along with my shift and my pregnancy corset before slipping my dressing gown over my bare body while I started to wipe all my make-up and let my hair down from its loose bun. I shook my hair out of my face and I gathered my soap and perfumes before I slipped off my dressing gowning and sunk into the bath. I sighed happy as I rested my neck on the edge. I closed my eyes and let the warm water lull me into a peaceful rest. I was scared to death by someone knocking on the door.
"Eliza?" Alexander called out as I rolled my eyes and got up from the bath and I wrapped a towel around myself. I unlocked the door as I walked away and I put my dressing gown on.
"I take it you were taking a bath?" He asked as I turned around and I saw his grin.
"I was taking a much needed one." I said kissing him while he cups my cheeks. He paws at the top of my robe and I gasped bashfully.
"Alexander. No!" I said laughing as I batted his hands playfully
"Come on Eliza, let's go to sleep." Alexander said wrapping his arms around my waist.
"Let me put my night gown first." I said pulling away from him to go to her chest. I pulled out a creamy pink color and slide it on before turning to face my husband. I reached out for him and he kissed my knuckles with a grin breaking out against his face.
"Alright let us name this little thing." Alexander said holding up the wiggly Bullmastiff puppy in his hands.
"He is about shinny as a copper penny." I said as Philip pulled on the puppy playfully. "How about Copper?" I said as he smiled.
"Copper it is." He said as he put the puppy down and it scampered around the parlor room with Philip. "I think he likes the puppy." Alexander said as he held onto my hand.
"He is going to be a big boy. His's paws are huge." I said pointing as Copper gnawed on Philip's chubby leg gently while Philip banged his fists on the puppy's back. "I think we should get these two babies into bed." I said smiling as Alexander nodded.
"Or we train our newest member of the family some tricks?" He asked like a child on Christmas Eve.
"Alright but just a few because these babies need to sleep." I said laughing as Alexander got on the floor with the boys and whistled. Copper turned his head and ran over to Alexander with his tail waving.
"Alright sit!" Alexander said giving him the command and Copper wags his tail before sitting down obediently. "Good boy Copper." Alexander said rubbing his ears. "Alright down." Alexander said pointing to the ground. Copper lays down and rolls on his back before Alexander rubs his belly.
"Alright, now go put Philip in bed while I feed Copper some left over stew meat." I said kissing the top of Alexander's head. "Come on Philip." Alexander said picking up our wiggly son.
"But Dada, Puppy!" Philip whined.
"Mama has to feed him then he will come up and go to sleep." Alexander said as he walked up the stairs. I got up from the couch and Copper followed after me. I reached up for the spare metal dish. I poured the leftover stew meat, gravy and cooked carrots into the metal bowl and setting it down on the floor. He started to eat out of the bowl sloppily before looking up at me. I sat down on a kitchen chair and started to clean up his messy face with a handkerchief.
"Alright, Copper come." I said as I patted my leg and I waddled towards the door to let him go relieve him in the back yard. I watched him run the steps and he run around in the grass as I felt Alexander wrap his arms around my stomach and rest his chin on my shoulder.
"Philip refuses to sleep till the puppy is upstairs in his room." Alexander said chuckling.
"Copper come here boy." I commanded and whistled and he ran up to Alexander and I. Alexander let him in and we all walked upstairs. I watched Alexander walk the puppy into Philip room and laid the puppy down next to Philip's crib.
"Look see puppy is right here." Alexander said as I walked in and pressed my lips on Philip's forehead.
"Now good night little lamb." I said as I before I walked out with Alexander.
"You are never going to believe what I heard and found out today." Alexander said as I heard Copper and Philip playing.
"What is it?" I asked as he smiled.
"Samuel Seabury was hung for his crimes." Alexander said and my heart stopped.
"What?" I asked in awe and Alexander nodded.
"He was hung for treason he was the martyr to show we are not going to take treason lightly. Our nightmare is finally over." Alexander said grabbing my hands. I laughed for joy as he pulled me close. I wiped tears of joys off my face and I felt someone pull on my skirt. I look down to see Philip and he looked up at me sad.
"What is wrong baby?" I asked picking him the best I could.
"Mama, why puppy sad?" Philip asked as I looked at him confused.
"What do you mean Philip?" I asked as he pointed to the parlor. We walked over to the parlor and saw Copper looking sad in his new bed.
"I think he just misses his momma Philip." I said sitting on the couch.
"But you puppy mama." Philip said looking up at me.
"I know but he has another mama too Philip. But now he will be okay. Why don't you go play with him?" I said as I felt the baby kicking hard in my stomach. I put him down and Philip toddles over to Copper and pats his back.
"Puppy." He said as Copper jumps up and bounces around. I jumped as I felt the baby kick hard and Alexander looked at me terrified.
"You alright?" Alexander asked as I nodded and I grabbed his hand to put it on my stomach. I smiled as he looked up at me and chuckled.
"Someone is getting feisty." I said as Philip runs over and puts his head on my stomach and jerks away.
"No baby! Bad baby!" He said poking my stomach as I laughed amused at my son. Alexander laughed and picked Philip up.
"Why is the baby bad?" Alexander asked as Philip poked at my stomach again.
"Baby hurting Mama!" He said as I laughed.
"No Philip, the baby is just kicking to tell me that they are still in there." I said as I took my son's small hand and put it on my stomach for him to feel the baby kick his hand. He jumps and looks up at me with a smile.
"Baby!" He shrieked happily before he yawned.
"I think someone needs to be getting to bed." I said as I felt someone nudge my leg. I look down to see Copper with his big ol' brown eyes looking up at me and my heart melted.
"Also someone must be hungry." Alexander said as he got up and helped me stand.
"I will go feed the big ol' baby." I said as I walked to the kitchen to grab Copper's dish to begin to fill it with some left chicken and potatoes before I watched him eat it all up. "Alright, come." I said following our normal routine. I let him go outside and waddle about outside. I whistled for him to come and he came running and sliding around. Copper runs upstairs and I walked slowly up the stairs to find him already lying down on his bed next to Philip's bed. "Good night my boys." I said while I kissed Philip's forehead and I rubbed Copper's reddish brown head before blowing out the candle to leave. I walk to my chambers and my excitement from earlier flooded back. "We are truly free… The reign of Seabury is over. The people who he tortured can finally rest in peace." I said excited and Alexander nodded before pulling me close.
"Come on now Liza we should get some sleep." Alexander said as I nodded and started to ready myself for bed.
"So, can you believe that in a few weeks that we will have another little baby in our home?" I asked excited as I moved the covers back to lay down.
"I know, soon you and I will be up all hours of the night." Alexander said and I laid my head on his chest.
"What do you think our little girl will look like?" I asked with a smile.
"She will be all of you in looks." He said with a smile. "Really?" I asked laughing softly.
"She will have your straight as a pin dark brown locks, your beautiful brown eyes, your wide smile." Alexander said going on and on while I blushed bright red in the pitch darkness.
"She will also have her daddy's brains, his stubborn wit, and his confidence." I said smiling before I yawned.
"Get some sleep my dear." Alexander said kissing my forehead and I drifted off to sleep happy that now I don't have to live in fear of Seabury taking me away from my family.