Chapter 6 - Secrets and Challenges

Late January - 28 weeks

That morning there had been a rather difficult birth at the Maternity Home, luckily both Mrs Reilly and her baby were perfectly fine.

However was now late and had to rush to pick up the children from school.

He changed in a hurry while Nurse Crane took stock of the other hospitalized mothers on one side and on the other Miss Higgins updated him on the outcome of some phone calls, on the availability of substitutes for the weekend and last but not least she instructed, as she did every day, to send her regards to Mrs Turner.

He took the car and ran to school, where the children were waiting outside with May's teacher. He apologized to Miss Lewis for the delay and wished her a good weekend.

The kids knew that due to his work, this could happen, but they still enjoyed teasing him, remarking "You were late today too, dad!".

They knew that to make it up, he would buy them an ice cream.

They also knew that after paying for said ice cream, he would turn to them with the usual pointing finger saying "But don't tell your mother!".

And they would laugh.

Meanwhile Shelagh, accompanied by Sister Julienne, had gone to the Florrie for a routine checkup.

Patrick was sure that it would turn into an afternoon of conversation between friends and colleagues. Which he was very happy about because Shelagh was always the wife, the mother, the midwife...but she rarely allowed herself to be simply the woman.

So he took the opportunity for a walk with the kids.

Maybe for the first time, in the last months, he was fully enjoying the beauty of being a father and taking time out with his children.

With Timothy everything was completely different, the circumstances were different: although he had always been a good father, his profession came first.

After that there was his wife's disease, her passing away and he dived into work not to think about the pain of loss and the fear of being alone with a son to raise.

Then Shelagh came along and since the very first moment she had always been the pillar of their family, their backbone, the sun around which he and his children orbited like planets.

The arrival of this child changed his world. He was starting to see life from a new perspective.

He had thought many times about Shelagh's tears and what she said that night: What if I'm too tired? What if I'm too old to start all over again? What if we're not big enough?

She was right, she couldn't do it by herself... He had to do more, because he could do so much more for his family.

If it was true that there were many midwives, but he only had a wife, then the opposite was also true: there were many doctors, but he was the only husband Shelagh could count on. The only father his five children could rely on.

They arrived at the park. May and Angela immediately ran onto the swing while Teddy, strangely, continued to walk next to him with his head down.

"Teddy, why don't you go and play with your sisters?" Patrick asked.

"I do not feel like…"

Concerned by the unusual response and having already noticed that he was gloomy, he instinctively put a hand on his forehead and one behind his neck, fearing he had a fever. He immediately excluded this hypothesis.

"Are you angry about something that happened at school?"

"No."

In the meantime they had reached a bench and Patrick sat down, keeping an ever-vigilant eye on the girls who were playing on the playground.

"Well, would you like to sit here next to your old man?"

"Fine."

There was something bothering the kid and he was starting to understand what it could be.

"Are you perhaps worried about Number 5's arrival?"

"It's not called that anymore…" he replied.

"Oh. Really?" he exclaimed in surprise.

"Yes, we chose the real name." Teddy replied seriously.

Patrick had a hard time holding back a laugh, but he was equally curious to understand what the story was.

"And tell me…who exactly is 'we'?"

"Angela, May, Timothy and I."

"And when did it happen?"

"On Boxing Day, after we returned from dinner at Nonnatus, once you and mum went to sleep."

He remembered that evening, he also remembered that actually sleeping wasn't exactly what they had done. Wonders of the second trimester.

"Oh, I see. Interesting, I was convinced that Mom and I should do it…or at least that we should be involved."

"Timothy said we could do it and we did something called a lection, it's done with votes."

"Did you hold an election to choose your brother or sister's name?!" he wondered.

"Yes, that! Two names for a brother and two names for a sister," spelled out a very proud Teddy.

"Oh! You really thought of everything! And can I know those names?"

"I'm sorry dad. I can't tell you."

Patrick couldn't help himself this time, but tried to regain control and become serious again.

"And is there a reason why you can't?"

"Yes, because it's a secret." and getting closer to his father he added in a low voice "I don't know why dad, but they told me to keep my mouth shut and not say anything until the baby is born."

"I understand, don't worry. I won't ask you to break your promise. I know you care a lot." he told him, sincerely appreciating the seriousness and loyalty he showed towards his siblings.

"Anyway…to go back to the original point, you told me you are concerned about the baby."

"Yes. Also…"

"What else? You can tell me."

He sighed.

"I'm angry with mum."

Patrick was surprised.

"And why on earth? Did something happen?"

"Yes! She won't let me be a good big brother!"

A small part of him found that situation very funny. The other part instead felt an incredible tenderness for his little kid.

"Tell me more, I will try to help you. Do you want me to?"

Teddy nodded, proud to be treated like a big boy.

"Yesterday afternoon I was practicing with my mouth organ to play some lullabies for the baby, but she told me to stop or go to my room!"

"I understand. She was probably just tired, you know it's a stressful period for your mom. I will talk to her and we will find a solution. There are many things you can do as a big brother."

"I want to be as good as Timothy, daddy!"

"And you will be! You already are, I mean it! I don't know many children of your age who feel so responsible for their unborn brother or sister!"

He sat him on his lap and looked him in the eyes saying: "Son, your mother and I are extremely proud of you because every day you show us that you are such an attentive, intelligent, thoughtful and careful child."

"But mum says I'm too perky."

Patrick laughed again.

"Yes, mum is right but at your age it is allowed. I was like that too, you know?"

"Really?!" Teddy asked in excitement.

"Sure! But please, don't take it as an excuse. You still need to behave if mum says so."

"Fine…"

"That's my boy"

"Dad…"

"Tell me son"

"I like talking to you, you're the best dad in the world!"

"Thank you Teddy, I'm glad to know! How about we call your sisters back, stop by for some fish and chips to take away, and we go home? Mum should be back by now..."

"Sounds great to me!"


After dinner Patrick had let Shelagh go onto the sofa and lie down, as she stood for a long time, her feet were now slightly swollen.

"Please girls, go with your mother and give her feet a massage with this pomade" he instructed Angela and May who, proud and eager to play midwives like their mother, diligently carried out what had been asked.

"You and I, my boy, we'll clear the table and wash the dishes. OK?"

"OK dad!" the child replied enthusiastically.

When they had finished, the whole family went upstairs.

The kids, with their father, accompanied Shelagh to bed and wished her goodnight. Her belly was now visibly prominent and she tired very easily.

Patrick supervised the kids' night ritual: brushing teeth, washing hands, arguing one more time and wearing pajamas then tucked them in.

The children were exhausted and collapsed without even needing to read a story.

After getting ready for the night, he finally joined Shelagh under the covers.

"How did it go today?"

"Besides the fact that I gained two more pounds since last time, everything is good. Nurse Crane confirmed that Number 5 is already turned upside down...even the latest tests were fine, but of course you already know that."

"Of course my love. What you don't know, however, is that our son (or daughter) is no longer called Number 5."

"What do you mean?"

"Apparently our children, including the one who lives in Edinburgh and who I will call tomorrow, had a sort of election day to choose the names for the baby," he announced to her.

"And what names did they choose?" she asked, stunned.

"I don't know, Teddy said it's a secret and, I quote, they told him to keep his mouth shut until the baby is born."

They laughed together.

"Oh Patrick…and what did you tell him?"

"Shelagh! I tried to say as little as possible because I was focused on staying serious! You should have seen the look on his face! However, tomorrow I will talk to Timothy and try to understand better what they have been up to."

"Oh Patrick, don't blame him... it could be a good thing after all. We haven't even touched the topic... We are totally ignoring the fact that we are just over two months away from the arrival of this baby. I haven't even bought him a shirt, we have just some things from Teddy and Angela that I left as keepsake!"

"Shelagh, don't worry. We still have some time, we will think of everything..."

"Or maybe our children will do it for us…" she added, giggling.

"There's another thing we need to talk about: we've to find a way to involve the kids to help us when the baby will be born, they are old enough to do it and Teddy has already asked me how he can be a good big brother…since playing lullabies with his harmonica could actually be a little too much."

"He told you?"

"He was still a little hurt, but he will be ok"

"Poor Teddy, tomorrow I will apologize to him"

Shelagh made an expression of pain.

"What's happened?" Patrick asked her worriedly.

"...He's trying to get into my ribs again!" Shelagh complained, touching her belly.

"Oh Patrick! Look!" she said.

Untying the top of the pajamas she had borrowed from her husband, with the belly now exposed, they could clearly see the baby's movements.

Patrick was enchanted every time. He smiled and caressed what was most likely a little foot.

He gently placed his face on it and began to sing a song, their song, while she ran her fingers through his hair.

That dream was coming true...now she was starting to believe it.

He kissed her belly, then moved up to close her lips.

They exchanged a tender and passionate kiss. Shelagh immediately felt ignited by her desire, that little bundle of nerves between her legs was already throbbing in anticipation.

They couldn't give themselves much time, no exceptions to the rule of not getting tired.

Patrick's hands, however, knew what to do and were already at work.

The kiss had become more intense and the breathing more strained, with only one hand he had hardly managed to free both of them from their underwear while the other hand was busy brushing and stimulating her clit. The effects of his touching were not long in coming, a few seconds later Shelagh reached the climax, suffocating the pleasure in Patrick's kiss.

She then turned on one side, with a pillow under her belly to relieve the weight. Patrick hugged her from behind, continuing to kiss her neck. She was in ecstasy, her moans echoing in the room like a chant. He slightly lifted her leg to have better access and slid into her with a growl before starting to move in and out, straight towards pleasure. It didn't take long, Shelagh was rocked by another orgasm and moments later he followed her.

They let the numbness resulting from that rush of hormones relax every muscle in their bodies.

There was still room to share caresses and small pecks, until they fell asleep still naked in each other's arms.