Molly-Jane Walter

Chapter Twenty-One

Weeks passed, and my stomach grew bigger and bigger as our baby grew inside of me. I must admit, I was getting more and more excited. By now it had been six months since I had found out I was with child. The doctor had informed me that I was not to wear any tight corsets or clothing, so I was wearing bigger corsets and new dresses that Laura and Mrs. Harding had ordered for me. Charlotte and Lillian liked to put their hands on my stomach and see if they could feel the baby kicking. It had by now been almost two years since I had first come to Woodland, and Charlotte and Lillian were growing up so fast. Charlotte was now almost eight, and Lillian was almost six. We were sitting out in the gardens one sunny afternoon drinking tea when the baby decided to give a really good kick. "OH!" I gasp in pain. "Molly? What is it?" Gilbert asked anxiously. "Oh, nothing serious, but this baby sure does have a good kick." everyone burst out laughing. "I say, I wouldn't at all be surprised if it grows up to like kicking a ball around!" I gasp again as I receive another sharp kick. "Good heavens, calm down will you?" I say to my stomach, gently poking it, which sets everyone laughing again. "Honestly, I don't know HOW you and Laura put up with this!" I say with fake annoyance to Mrs. Harding and Laura. They grin before telling me they had nine months of it. "Great! And to think I thought that this baby would be nice and gentle, oh no it has to go and kick the living daylights out of me!" I roll my eyes and grin. "Definitely got some fight in it, eh?" Mr. Harding chuckled. "Absolutely," I tell him. "Well, now, I'm not one to bet, but I say we place bets on the gender. What does everyone say?" Mr. Harding asked. Laura and Mrs. Harding bet on the baby being a girl, Gilbert bet it would be a boy, Mr. Harding bet it would be a girl. "Charlotte, Lillian, what do you think?" I ask them. They thought for a moment. "I think boy!" Lillian announced proudly. "Girl!" Charlotte said. I laugh. "I'm going with a girl too." I tell them. "Alright, so my wife, Laura, Charlotte and Molly bet on it being a girl. Gilbert, Lillian and I bet on it being a boy. Almost an even bet, hmm, not bad!" Mr. Harding chuckled. "Will Robert and the children be joining us soon?" I ask Laura. "They shouldn't be too far away now. They were packing a few essentials before they came to visit, although I swear my children think they'll be staying for a week." Laura shook her head and laughed. "Well, five days is close enough to a week," I smile. The baby starts kicking again, and I sigh in defeat. "Gilbert, will you come and put your hand on my stomach please? This little monster seems to like it when you comfort it." Gilbert grinned at his father when Mr. Harding chuckled. As Gilbert gently slid his hand onto my stomach, the kicking became less and less until it finally stopped. "Thank you," I say relieved. "I can see it will definitely be a favourite with you," I remark, trying not to laugh. "Oh, most definitely. I can tell you right now it will be learning to play the piano. Just like it's mother." Gilbert kissed the side of my head. "YUCK! DON'T LOOK LILLIAN!" Charlotte spluttered. We all laugh as she and Lillian covered their eyes and turned away. "I thought you two were hopeless romantics?" Laura grinned. "That was so long ago! We're adventurers now!" Lillian said. "Well then, you'll have quite the adventure helping me when the baby is born, don't you think?" I ask. Their faces lit up. "YES!" They shouted. I smile at their enthusiasm. 

That night, I am tossing and turning in bed, unable to sleep. Fed up with trying to sleep, I quietly get up and grab a candle from the wardrobe. Closing the bedroom door quietly, I slip out, lighting the candle with a match and go downstairs. I go to the Drawing Room and sit on the couch by the window. I sigh quietly, rubbing a hand over my stomach. "Darling, please try to get some sleep," I whisper, looking down at my stomach. "Your mama can't sleep if you are tossing and turning as well," I smile tiredly. The moonlight is shining through the window, bathing me in its beautiful glowing light. I feel calmer, but the baby keeps on moving around. It must be tiny inside my womb. I try to imagine what it would be like to be in some kind of womb-bubble, but cannot imagine it. The best that I can come up with is that it would be very tiny. I wonder if getting some fresh air would help. The baby kicks again, and it's decided. I'm going to get some fresh air. I quietly go back upstairs and grab my shawl. Making my way back downstairs, I blow out the candle and leave it on a small table beside the couch I was sitting on. As quietly as I can, I open the front door and slip out into the night. I immediately feel better. There is a gentle breeze blowing, and the moonlight is even more calming than it was through the window. I walk to the fountain in the garden and sit down on the edge of it. I glide my fingers softly through the water, watching as the water ripples. I do not know how long I stay at the fountain, but very soon I find myself feeling sleepy. "Time to head back inside, what do you think my little songbird?" I say to my stomach. A sharp kick made me think that that was a confirmation, and I couldn't help but laugh. Wrapping my shawl even tighter around me, I walk back towards Rosefield. Gilbert was still asleep when I got to the bedroom, and I quietly clean my feet from grass and mud and hop back into bed. Both baby and mother now peacefully slept.