Molly-Jane Walter

Chapter Twenty-Six

"Gilbert? Gilbert what is it? What's wrong?" I ask him, exhaustion taking me over. His face is pale as he looked at the doctor. Laura grabbed the baby and began breathing air into her tiny mouth. "She isn't breathing?" I gasp and begin to panic. "Gilbert! Why isn't she breathing?" I wail. Laura continued to breathe air into her lungs. I cover my face with my hands. She can't be dead. She can't be. She was doing so well, wasn't she? I didn't have any problems during the whole nine months! Why did this have to happen? Why couldn't she have-- my thoughts are interrupted by a long wail. I realise it's coming from her. It's coming from Catherine. "She's alive!" I gasp. The doctor looked at me and smiled. I grab Gilbert and bury my face in his chest, sobbing with relief. The doctor wrapped Catherine in a blanket and handed her to Gilbert after checking she was healthy and that nothing else was wrong. "Molly, I'm so proud of you. My darling, look how beautiful our daughter is!" I sob with happiness. Catherine is a tiny pink baby, screaming at the top of her lungs. "I can't believe it. You scared us, Catherine," I gently scold her, laughing through my tears. "And to think you would have made me suffer through all those months only to give up now," I continue to laugh, tears sliding down my cheeks. Gilbert stroked the back of Catherine's hand very gently. I cradle her in my arms, gazing down at her with wonder. "You know, I can definitely see that Albert is taking after you. He's always up so early. Perhaphs our daughter might follow my example," Gilbert chuckled. "We'll just have to wait and see, won't we?" "Indeed, we shall," I press my lips to his. 

I refuse to let Catherine leave my side for the entire week. Gilbert keeps Albert busy, and had insisted that he looked after our son while I look after our daughter. I make him promise that we would take it in turns, so that Albert would not miss his Mama too much. As Albert is still quite young, neither Gilbert or I expect that he will remember meeting his little sister, but decide that they should meet, regardless of whether either of them will remember their first meeting. Gilbert held Albert while I hold Catherine on our bed one morning. Albert's bright blue eyes looked questioningly at Catherine, his face a canvas of wonder. Catherine, on the other hand, was more interested in sleeping, than getting to know her older brother. Albert, now a couple of months old, almost one, tried to crawl towards Catherine. "Careful there, little champ," Gilbert chuckled as Albert began to make his way towards the baby and I. "You see? He already knows that this is his little sister!" I say smugly. "I doubt he'll remember any of this, but at least he knows!" I laugh as Gilbert shook his head and smiled. Albert began babbling his baby talk, which hadn't exactly started to make any sense to us yet. He wasn't exactly at the point of beginning to form small words yet, so Gilbert and I had to interpret his babble as best we could. "Yes, that's Catherine, your little sister," Gilbert grinned at our son. Albert replied with more babble. Gilbert and I threw back our heads and laughed. There came a knock at the door, and in came Mrs. Harding, followed by three maids, and lastly Laura. "Molly, darling, the children wanted to see the new baby," Laura grinned. "Of course, let them come in," I reply as three maids tend to me, and Mrs. Harding watched Gilbert and Albert. All four children come racing in. "Slowly and quietly," Laura told them, and they obeyed. I hold Catherine for the children to see, and they gasp and coo over her. "Excuse me, Molly? I was just wondering, I mean if it's alright, might I, could I cuddle her?" Jack asked. "Of course, darling," I smile gently. I pat the bed beside me and Jack climbed up. "Now, if you sit on my lap, then I'll give her to you and help you hold her, how does that sound?" Jack nodded eagerly. "Just be careful, Jack, and be very gentle," Robert warned. Jack nodded his head madly, and promised his parents he would take care. "I want a turn too!" Susan piped up. "And us!" Charlotte said. We all laugh at the children's enthusiasm. "Please keep in mind that Molly has just had a baby, and she is exhausted. Do not annoy her," Mrs. Harding told the children sternly. "It's alright, Mrs. Harding, I don't mind at all," I tell her. The children huddle together beside me on the bed, and I help them to hold Catherine. "She's so little," Lillian whispered. "I know," I reply, smiling. "Aren't we lucky?" Gilbert laughed. "I want a baby just like Albert and Catherine!" Charlotte told us. "Well you have many years before that happens, so just enjoy life for the time being, alright?" Gilbert chuckled at his sister. "And besides, Charlotte, you'll be leaving for Lancaster in two years' time, and Lillian won't be far behind you," Mrs. Harding reminded her daughters. "Oh, yes! I cannot wait to go to Lancaster! It's going to be simply splendid!" Charlotte clapped her hands together. "I wish I was old enough to go right now! How am I going to get through two more years?" She sighed dramatically. "You'll get through it because I'll keep you too busy to think about how much longer until you get to go," Laura assured her.