Romeo And Juliet Part III

Chapter 2

"She's really growing up fast." Treves smiled as Mary Anne sat on his lap.

"She is. And before we know it this one will be grown up too." John said, putting a hand on his wife's stomach.

"I can't believe you're on your second child already. It seems hardly any time ago when Mary Anne was a little baby." Anne said.

"Mother you've been taking about the baby for the past two hours." the sixteen year old David said, sulking with boredom.

"Hush David." she frowned at him.

"We'll need to get this one married off next." Treves teased his son.

"Father please." he scowled.

"As I was saying, it hardly feels like any time has passed." Anne said.

"Well, times flies." Evelyn said, gently stroking her baby bump.

"I do worry we got lucky the first time." John's cheerful mood vanished.

"Oh John, let's not have a repeat of before." she looked scoldingly at him.

Suddenly there was a trickling sound and everyone turned to Evelyn in mutual apprehension.

"Oh my, my water's broken." she said as she stood up, seeing the wet patch she had left on the sofa.

"This is exactly what happened last time." Treves joked.

"Oh dear, I should get Miss Williams to clean that up." she said.

"Never mind that Evelyn! You're in labour!" John exclaimed.

"Mr Treves, fetch the midwife!" John said, helping his wife down onto the sofa as her contractions began.

"I certainly don't miss this part." she said as pain coursed through her abdomen.

****

John sat in tears with Mary Anne on his lap as Evelyn cried out in pain. He definitely hadn't got over the fright of hearing his wife in agony.

"Why are you crying Daddy?" Mary Anne looked at her father with concern.

"Oh don't mind me. I'm just worried for your mother." he said, wiping away his tears.

"Why? Is something wrong with her?" she said, worry in her eyes.

"No, she's just in a lot of pain trying to bring your little brother or sister into the world." he said.

"Oh. Why is it painful?" she asked.

"Never mind dear." he said, veering them away from an unpleasant conversation.

After a good few hours they all heard a hearty baby's cry from through the wall.

"Mr Merrick, come and meet your son." the midwife said with a warm smile.

"Oh, I have a little boy!" John said gleefully as he walked over to his newly born baby.

"He's wonderful isn't he?" Evelyn gestured to John to come closer.

"Yes, I love him already." he marvelled at his son with as much of a smile as possible.

"Are there any names you've been thinking of?" he asked.

"Well, I really like the name Edward. I think it suits him rather well." she said.

"Yes, Edward." he pondered for a moment, "A fine name for a fine boy." he said, putting his arm around his wife.

"Here, hold him." Evelyn passed him John.

"Hello little Edward." he cooed at his son, rocking him gently in his arms.

"I want to see." Mary Anne tugged at his trouser leg.

"Mary Anne, meet your little brother, Edward." John knelt down.

She looked in wonder at the tiny baby before her.

"I'm a big sister." she said joyfully.

"Yes you are my dear." John stroked her hair, before lifting her to sit on the bed.

"Are you okay now Mummy? Daddy said it was painful." she said.

"Yes I'm fine dear." she said, raising a brow of confusion at John who looked away surreptitiously.

"Are you excited to be a big sister?" she asked her daughter.

"Yes, as long as I don't have to share my room."

"Don't worry, he'll have a room of his own." Evelyn laughed.

"It would have been better if he was a girl so we can play with my dolls. Can you have another baby and make it a girl." she said.

"I don't know about that dear." she chuckled.

"Mother, Father, come and meet your grandson." Evelyn called them in.

"Oh isn't he wonderful!" Anne smiled.

"What a fine lad." Treves said as he admired his grandson.

"You have a nephew David." Treves ushered his son into the circle around the baby.

"I hope you won't expect me to babysit." David said, to which they all laughed.

****

"My my, what an eventful day." John said as he prepared himself for bed.

"It certainly was." Evelyn said, holding her newborn.

"All I need now is to sleep." she added.

"I don't think that's going to happen with a baby in our room all night." John climbed into bed next to his wife.

She got up and gently placed her son in his cot, "there you go little one."

"I don't know about you but I'm going straight to sleep." she tucked herself into the bed.

"I should think so after the day you've endured." he said.

"Goodnight dear." she said.

"Goodnight my darling." he kissed his wife goodnight.