Yesterday they have heard the baby’s heartbeat for the first time. It was one of the best sounds in the world, Robert thought. Afterwards they had paid Martha a visit, to tell her the news.
Martha was happy for Cora and Robert, but true to her nature, she wasn’t excited about it. Her mother was never excited about something, that was something she had in common with his own mother. Violet always said: one must ration one’s excitement.
Harold had been his calm self but was truly happy for his little sister.
His own mother had only said that it was quite soon. Robert was glad he had told Rosamund before; she was full filled with the joy of becoming an auntie again. She had bought the first romper already.
Because in her book, she was there to spoil Robert’s children. She wasn’t able to get children herself. She and Marmaduke had tried, he knew, but unfortunately, they were never blessed with a little one.
Some days when he was playing with Mary and daydreaming about the new baby, he felt guilty. But Rosamund had made it very clear, she was happy for him. She said: My little brother will bring the children in my life.
+++
Robert followed the slight curve of Cora’s abdomen with his finger. It was just a small bump. Cora was 3 months pregnant, and the first trimester has gone smooth. Besides her morning sickness, but it wasn’t too bad Cora had said so herself.
Cora laid her hand on his, still sleepy: “Good morning, it is way too early to feel something.” Her voice sounded groggy.
“I know, I was just admiring how amazing a women’s body is. Just look at you. Your skin has that special glow, your breasts are already getting firmer, and inside here” He kissed her belly “Is a little human being growing, who will present itself in about 6 months.” Robert rested his head on Cora’s chest.
+++
Cora had one hand on Robert’s head and was playing with his hair. She knew Mary would soon wake up. She wondered when Mary would notice something was about to change. Mary was 10 months old, so with any luck the new baby introduction would go easy.
“Robert what are we going to do for Mary’s first birthday?”
“Hmmm, I haven’t really thought about that. What can you do for a one-year-old?”
“We could arrange a cake smash, and invite your mother, Rosamund and Marmaduke? My mother with Harold and his new girlfriend. Oh, what is her name already” Cora sighed annoyed, she was forgetting so much.
“Madeleine, Madeleine Allsopp.” Mary had woken up and was crying. “I will go” Robert said.
+++
“Cora, I will need four days in Brussels for the opening, but I don’t know how many days you need for the photos in Brussels and Rotterdam?” Robert had walked in Cora’s office.
“I think for Brussels I just need one day, only the opening night and for Rotterdam within a day I can have the pictures taken, the office isn’t that big right?”
“I will book 5 nights at the ‘Juliana Hotel’ in Brussels and 6 nights at the ‘Mainport hotel’ in Rotterdam, they have the spa suite available and this way we can have a little holiday.”
“As if we never go on holiday?” Cora laughed.
“Technically, all our trips recently were business trips.”
“The extra nights in Barcelona weren’t. But you are not hearing a complaint from me. Can we please take Mary with us? We have never been on a holiday with her, and I want to have that experience before the baby is born.”
“The opening in Brussels will be in 4 months, I don’t think it is a good idea to bring Mary.” He saw Cora’s face change. “You will be 7 months pregnant, the trip itself will be exhausting enough for you. You know what, we will go for a little break with Mary for her birthday. You pick the place.”
Cora’s face lit up. “Thank you, darling.”
Cora started searching and ended up booking. ‘Gleneagles’ in Scotland.
+++
It was the morning of Mary’s birthday. Cora had decorated the house with balloons. Mary’s face had lit up when Robert got her out of her room. She was dressed in a yellow dress and her hair was put up in two pigtails with yellow bows. Before it was eleven o’clock, Cora had already taken dozens of photos.
They had laid out a plastic sheet and in the middle, there was a giant cake. Violet, Rosamund, Marmaduke, Martha, Harold and Madeleine had all arrived on time. First Mary got to open her presents. She was extremely spoiled with all the gifts. But as normal for a toddler, she was more interested in the paper wrapping.
Robert had sat Mary down in front of the cake, and they all cheered her on to dive in the cake. Or at least touch it. But Mary was only looking at it. Cora was squatting next to her to make the perfect pictures.
Robert took Mary’s hands and he pushed them in the cake, they all laughed, until Mary started to scream. She was flapping her hands around, clearly hating the cake on them. Quickly Cora scooted her up and rushed to the kitchen to clean her hands. Meanwhile speaking in a soft voice to calm Mary down, but she wasn’t having any of it, and throwing a tantrum.
“Robert! Can you come and help” Cora yelled back to the living room. She was only 5,5 months pregnant, but Mary was getting quite heavy.
Robert took Mary out of her arms and started dancing around with her, while singing silly songs. He was bouncing up and down and it did the trick.
+++
Cora got back in the living room apologising, she started to clean up, but Rosamund took her by the shoulders. “I will do that, just sit down”. The only one with a look of disapproval on her face was Violet, but Cora just ignored it.
The rest of the afternoon had gone better, Mary was being entertained by Harold and Madeleine.
She was a nice woman, Cora thought, this was the fourth time she met her. Harold had really brightened up since he was with Madeleine. Cora was happy for him.
+++
Cora had taken the next day off to pack their bags, tomorrow they would fly to Scotland for four days. Gleneagles had special family rooms and they promised to bring out the wooden cars and a Ferris-wheel toys.
When Robert returned home, Mary came crawling towards the door. Just before she reached Robert, she stopped and got up, since a few weeks she was standing alone. Robert crouched and spread his arms, encouraging her to take a step. And she did! She took two steps, before falling over. Robert exclaimed in excitement: “Cora! Cora where are you? Cora, Mary took her first steps. Cora?” He took Mary in his arms. Cora wasn’t in the kitchen, not in the bedroom, he checked the bathroom. Where could she be, she never left Mary alone.
He walked in the living room and saw a dark figure on the ground outside on the terrace. He rushed outside, to find Cora sitting on the floor with a bird in her hands, crying. He put Mary in her playpen back inside and got next to Cora, pulling her close.
“Darling, what happened?”
Cora sniffed: “This little one…… didn’t see our window…… and it smashed into it.” Tears were dripping on the bird.
“Can I take a look?” He took the bird in his hands and felt that it was cold. Clearly it was dead for a while now. Why did this upset Cora so much. “Darling, I will bury him in the park, but come inside.” He helped her of the ground.
Back inside, Cora brushed her tears away: “Sorry Robert, I don’t know why I reacted this emotional. I am sorry.”
“Darling, don’t worry, your hormones are all over the place, but that’s quite normal.” He decided not to say, Mary had been out of her playpen, it would only upset her. When Cora had been pregnant with Mary, she was forgetting little things, but this time, it was even worse. The doctor had said that it was totally normal, and would go away once the baby was born, he called it pregnancy dementia.
He took Mary out of her playpen and placed her, just out of reach, in front of Cora. “Just wait, darling.”
Mary was standing on her little feet, a little bit wobbly, but took a step towards Cora. She almost screamed. “Robert! She is walking.”
+++
Gleneagles turned out to be a very luxurious hotel in Auchterarder. It was a really good idea of Cora to go away with just them three. Mary was soaking up all the attention she was getting. Although she was little, she was quite a diva. She hated to get her hands dirty. Robert had suggested to go to a petting farm, but Mary had screamed so loud, they had hurried back to the rental car.
Robert enjoyed seeing Cora on the swing with Mary in her lap. He was amazed how Cora was handling it. Her bump was clearly visible, but she did everything with Mary. He noticed that lifting her up was getting harder and he tried to be faster once he noticed Mary needed to be picked up.
At night he fell asleep with his hand on her belly, the baby was very active at night, and he loved the little kicks he could feel. Cora was sometimes complaining that her hips felt like goalposts, but she always had a blissful smile on her face when she said it.
+++
Cora had scooted over to Robert, who was laying on his side, and had her hand on his chest. “Good morning, my darling, our last day here.” while she pressed her body against his. “Mary is still asleep in the other room.” Robert didn’t need any more encouraging.
Verhalen van Traan 