The Butchers Love

Chapter 53

I watched from the sette, I watched my wife smile and laugh with her father and brother. Although this illness would take me from her, I had accepted it. Although I would be leaving her, my son and future child, I knew that it was my punishment for my actions during the war. Hopefully God will find room for me at his table. Hopefully I would meet my mother and sister again. But deep down I knew that I would join my father in the depths of hell.

I glanced down at Edward, he was messing around with an old blanket on the floor. I looked at my wife and counted the freckles on her face, how I wished there was more to count.

"William" I was snapped out of my thoughts when Peter swatted my shoulder blade "how's my favourite brother in law?" he asked and sat next to me.

"Well I'm still dying" I smiled weakly and picked Edward off the carpet "But your sister, my wife, is an absolute treasure"

Peter smiled and rubbed Edward's head "Something is wrong, my sister is smart but completely oblivious"

I shook my head before coughing into my arm "I know that one day Mable will be alone, I promised that I would be there" a few tears threatened to escape my eyes "On our wedding day, I swore that I'd always be there for her!" I wasn't angry, I was in pain, Physically and mentally "I wish that I could trade my happiness for a few more years so I could witness my son grow and watch my other child be born" In response Peter shook his head and put his hand on my shoulder "I don't want to die but I'm so tired from fighting, I'm staying alive for Mable. I want her to be happy"

"she is happy, she has you and Edward" his sentence was cut short when Mable came into the living room alongside her father.

"Can you two stop traumatising my grandson?" her father asked in joking manner. I just nodded and put him back on the floor.

"Father, leave them be" Mable chuckled and cams to sit next to me, ushering Peter to the other side of the settee "Move snotrag"

I cracked a smile and wrapped an arm around her "I have always loved your insults"

She smiled and nuzzled into my side "And I have always loved your cuddles"

Mine and Mable's relationship was never about duty or responsibility, we found each other at the right time. We were both ready for marriage it seemed. somehow she accepted my proposal and the woman I love is now my wife and the mother to our children.

I was a bastard, a result of a rape, but my mother loved me non the less. But if I didn't turn out like my dreaded father, would I have met Mable? If I didn't become the famed 'butcher' would I have met her on that dirt road? I always had a dream of dying a hero, now all I want to do is die in a warm bed with my wife holding my hand.

"So William, I plan on someday teaching you how to ride and shoot properly"

I smiled slightly and nodded "If I'm well enough pa-" before anyone noticed what I said, I coughed into my arm "Dammed cough"

Mable tilted her head in confusion before tapping my arm. I lowered my eyes and shook my head, looking down at my son on the floor "he's already a half decent shot and he's amazing at riding horses, don't forget papa, he was a cavalry Colonel"

A hard lump began to form in my throat and all I could do was shake my head "My wife flatters me, I wasn't as good as she describes" my voice broke and I concealed it by clearing my throat "Your daughter is a-absolutely amazing..."

Mable took my hand into hers and brushed her fingers across my knuckles "I'm terribly sorry to intrude" A servant spoke and we all looked towards us all "But dinner is ready"

"Peter, papa, I'll meet you both in there" Mable smiled as they both exited the room. She looked up at me and shook her head "What's wrong Will?"

I said nothing and just picked up Edward "Nothing is wrong, my chest just hurts"

"Will, come on" she mumbled and took Eddie from my arms "You called my father pa-"

"It was a mistake, I didn't mean to" I quickly defended myself "I've never had a father, no one to teach me to ride or shoot, it slipped out"

"I'm not angry, I'm proud of you" She spoke and cradled Edward, what could she mean by that? "If you truly think of him as a father figure, that means you are starting to move on from what your father did to you"

Obviously she was right, her father was the closest thing I had to one "Come on, you need to eat, you're eating for two again" I smiled and kissed her temple.

When we were all seated in the dining room, I silently said grace and started eating. That being a slice of beef and a few carrots, I wasn't hungry at all. Mable was eating well, that made me feel a lot better. She was my strength.

"So when is that one due?" her father asked, referring to our unborn child.

"Around July, maybe early August" As Mable spoke, she took my hand and squeezed it gently "Edward will finally have a sibling"

But I'd be dead by then...

"Have you thought of any names?" Peter asked and took a sip of whiskey.

"William and Serena" She spoke and brushed her fingers over my knuckles.

"Congratulations to you both, you both make wonderful parents"

No Mable was the parent, I was more of a patient. Someone who was burden on her. And giving her more children was a blessing and a curse in disguise, A reminder that I was there. A reminder that I died and couldn't perform my duty. I glanced at Mable and counted her freckles once again, thirty-two, thirty-two wonderful marks on her porcelain face. She was a picture of beauty in my eyes. And I'd love to grow old with her, see her every smile and comfort her when she cried. Later that evening when we were both getting ready for bed, we shared a gaze, a silent one. She smiled and adjusted the strings on her nightdress. I swallowed the hard lump that had formed in my throat and dipped my head down.

"Are you feeling better Will?"

"A little, It just aches" I lied, in reality it hurt like hell "C-can you promise me something?"

"Of course" she smiled and walked up to me, tilting my chin up.

"when I'm gone, I want you to be happy even that means you want to marry another-"

"I couldn't imagine giving myself to another, you're my one" She muttered and kissed my cheek "You'll always own my heart Will, it will hurt when you're gone but I know that you would be waiting for me"

"I'd wait for fifty years, just so I can see you again"

"I'm forever faithful to you, even in death"

"Dance with me?" I asked out of the blue. Although I was in pain, it felt right in that moment. We hadn't danced since our wedding day.

"are you well enough?"

"I'll be alright, please?" In response she took my right hand and rested her other on my shoulder "Do I need to fight Daniel for your hand again?"

"I'd chose you over him any day" Mable muttered as tears started to form in her eyes "Because I love you..."

"Don't cry my love..." I mumbled and brought her into an embrace.

"It isn't that I don't want you to live, I do, but I hate seeing you suffer..." she finally revealed the truth, I was proud of her. So very proud.

"Well tomorrow no matter how I feel, I'm taking you to a play"

"a play?"

"our favourite, Romeo and Juliet"