Cold All the Way Through, But Warming

Volunteering

A week later found me loading the children and dog into my car and then slowly driving over to Sylvie. The boys seemed excited to be going home, even if it was more to see their mother rather than their new sister. Mavis seemed of the same mind, even as I tried to encourage them about their sister. Nana pouted a bit, she had grown quite fond of Rigel and it had taken most of my strength to haul her away.

But she was the first one to demand an inspection of the new baby, sniffing the bundle and wagging her tail quickly. Sylvie was sat in a rocking chair, the midwife she had hired still living with her to ensure the health of the baby. She looked well, if a bit tired. Roger and Trevor were next to see the baby, although they seemed a bit more focused on hugging her. Trevor sniffed loudly, and Sylvie wiped his eyes and kissed his cheeks when he stepped back. "Oh, come now, it's all right. Now, let your Aunt come up."

I stepped closer, surprised when she handed me the bundle. I drew back the blankets, thinking I would see a cherub with dark curls. Instead what I saw was nothing more than a scrunched up red face, a wisp of brown hair on her head. Her face was rather red too, and I must have given some indication of my thoughts for Sylvie laughed. "Now what you were expecting?"

"Oh," I started. "Oh, she's beautiful!"

"She's a potato," Sylvie chuckled, accepting the baby back. "She'll look better in a few weeks, they're always a bit pinched the first few weeks."

"Well, she's a pretty potato at least." I sat down, watching as Sylvie cuddled her daughter to her breast. "And she's not the only baby I've had news about." Sylvie looked over, glancing down at my stomach and raising an eyebrow. I blushed and shook my head, "Two of my friends in New York wrote me, they're both pregnant."

"Ah, Mrs. Moody I assume?"

"Yes, and Sophie." I smirked, remembering Sophie's letter. "Although thankfully we won't be having another of Zachary's spawn to deal with. She's extremely confident that this is her lover's child."

Sophie laughed so loudly that Doreen, I assumed she would be like most Lightoller children and be known by her middle name, began to cry. Sophie shushed her, rocking her in her arms. "Oh, now that is good news. God, I wish I could be there to see everything."

"So do I." I mumbled, feeling a pang. I wanted to be back with Liz, helping sew clothes for the baby and pick out nursery colors. I wanted to make snide remarks at Zachary about how he had better pray that his next child looked nothing like him, the world was cursed enough with his face already.

Sophie sighed, "Anna, you can't go home."

"I know, I won't abandon Will." I rubbed my hand across my eyes. "I just, tending to the business is fine, and I'm going back up to Scotland in a few weeks to look at houses, but it's just." I could feel tears pricking at my eyes, "Without the children everything is going to be so quiet at the house, and it's not like I'll have any of my own soon enough."

"Anna," Sophie rolled her eyes. "We've talked about this, it will happen! It may take a bit since Will is gone, but it will. Just a few days of leave with Bertie were enough to saddle me with this one," She bounced Doreen, now quiet. "More than likely William will leave you in a similar condition, until then you need to find something to do."

"Well the business-"

"Not business related." Sophie snorted, "Find something to do that takes you out of the house and away from the docks."

I bit my lip, remembering what Mr. Welton had said his daughters were doing. "Do you think I could nurse? I know a lot of women are volunteering."

"I think you could learn." Sophie reached over, patting my hand. "All you have to do is go to some hospital and ask." I gave her hand a squeeze, thankful for her words. In fact, after assuring myself that the boys were not going to light the house on fire in their excitement to be home, I got back in the car and drove around the city. I knew there were hospitals all over, many of them full of men from the Front. The nurses on the Front got them well enough to send them back over and the doctors here finished what they could.