Robert started working at the office again, he had taken leave to be with Cora, Mary and Edith. He loved spending time with his family. He adored his little girls and couldn’t be prouder of his wife.
2,5 years ago, he was meant to be married to Susan. He was very lucky he met Cora before his mother could arrange that marriage. Cora made him truly happy. He felt all warm inside, just thinking about her. He looked at the picture frames on his desk. Cora in her pink dress, Cora with Mary, Cora with Edith, Cora with both her girls and Mary with Edith together.
That last picture was a hard one to make, Mary didn’t want to hold the baby and she was throwing a tantrum. Robert had promised her an ice cream if she just held Edith for a minute. Cora had been really fast with her camera, and it turned out to be an amazing picture.
Mary was having a hard time with Edith in the house. Robert and Cora hoped she would start loving her, or at least accept the fact she had a sister. For now, she was battling for attention.
+++
Cora had just sat down with Mary to have lunch, Edith was in her crib, Cora hoped she would sleep. She made pancakes, one of Mary’s favourite foods. Mary was learning so many words. And she was having full conversation(s) with them. For Cora most of it didn’t make sense, but she was happily chatting back. Mary loved getting one on one attention and Cora gave it to her when possible.
“Mama, play, me, mama, lalala” Mary said.
“Darling, first eat your pancakes then we will play songs on the guitar.” She brushed Mary’s dark brown hair.
After cleaning up the table she sat down with Mary and the instrument. Mary listened to her mother’s singing and then tried to pluck the strings. She was too young to know what she was doing, but she loved music. Cora had bought an older guitar to use when she played with Mary.
Edith started crying in her room. Cora tried to get up, but Mary was hanging on her neck.
“Darling, mama needs to get up, your sister is crying, I am right back.” She took Mary’s little arms off of her neck and stood up. Mary instead wrapped her arms around her leg, so with every move Cora made, she dragged Mary with her.
She bent down in the crib to stroke Edith’s hair. “Are you hungry? You didn’t sleep I think.” She picked her up and laid her on her shoulder. Edith formed her body against that from Cora. Cora loved this feeling; with Mary it had been different. Mary always had a tensed back when Cora held her. With Edith it was different. But maybe the answer for that was that Cora was more relaxed this time.
In the meantime, Mary was crying at her feet. With her free hand she touched Mary’s head. “We will play some more when Edith is fed.” She freed her leg and sat down with Edith. Pulled out her breast and helped Edith latch on. Mary tried to get on her lap, she shifted Edith a bit, so that her left leg would be free. She cupped Mary’s bottom and pulled her up. Mary snuggled against Cora; her crying settled down. It was unique (that) Mary did this.
Cora was rocking the chair; Edith had fallen asleep and also Mary started to feel heavy. She could use some sleep herself. She wrapped her arms snuck around both body’s and rested her head. Before she could think about sleep, she was asleep.
+++
Robert got home early; he had an appointment with the contractor at their new home. He found his family in Edith’s room, Cora and Mary, fast asleep in the rocking chair. He shot a picture of the scene with his phone. Edith was awake and looking around. Robert was amazed by how easy going she was. She slept through the night and during the day had her naps regularly. When he came close and Edith noticed him, she started squirming, so he carefully took her out of Cora’s arms and rocked her a little. Cora’s free arm instantly moved to Mary, but she didn’t wake.
“Do you want to come with me, darling, do you?” He brushed his nose against Edith’s cheek. “We are going to look at your new bedroom.” He wrote a note for Cora. Picked up Edith’s bag and got in the car.
He loved living in the middle of the city and seeing the city from his terrace, but now, every time he parked the car in front of their new house, he felt so much peace. It was quiet around here and so peaceful. He put Edith in her stroller and walked up to the house. It was almost finished. Today the new kitchen would be installed.
Robert stood in the kitchen, watching the guys who installed the last cupboard. It was a luxurious kitchen, with an enormous stove, Cora would be able to cook like a real chef. From the kitchen he walked into the conservatory, the walls had a light green colour. As if the garden was also inside. He opened the big sliding doors and walked into the garden. He had Edith on his arm. He pointed at every animal he saw, knowing Edith wouldn’t notice. He enjoyed his time alone with his little girl. It was the first time since she was born, that they were together.
He was talking with the contractor about the last bathroom that would be finished this week. The next project would be the room above the garage and the garages itself, but they could move in within two weeks. Robert chuckled: “moving will cost as a little bit more time, but I will let the furniture shop know, when they can deliver.
Hours had gone by, and Edith started crying. She was clearly hungry. Robert opened her bag and discovered he didn’t bring Cora’s pumped milk. He apologised to the contractor and rushed home with a crying Edith on the backseat.
+++
Cora was pacing around the living room, Mary was playing with her toys. Where was Robert, he wrote a note he had gone out with Edith, but he didn’t say where to. She had also noticed he didn’t bring milk for Edith. Her breasts were telling her, it was time to feed for a while now. Should she just start pumping, or was Robert almost home? Edith must be very upset by now she thought.
She heard Edith’s hysterical crying before the front door opened and she rushed over. A panicked Robert stood there with Edith in his arms. She was bright red from crying. Without a word Cora took Edith from him, didn’t even sit down, and offered Edith her breast. Her little girl was eagerly latching on. She looked at Robert. :” Where have you been?”
“I wrote you a note, didn’t I?”
Cora smirked: “A very helpful one. Dearest, I took Edith with me, be back soon. You didn’t write where you went and coming back home wasn’t soon.”
“I was at the house, going over the last details for the bathroom in the extra room and what we were going to do with the studio above the garages. I thought I brought Edith’s milk, but I must have forgotten. So, when she started crying, I rushed back home. I am so sorry if I worried you.”
Cora gave Robert a quick kiss. “Don’t you worry, all is ok. Edith is drinking and I am glad you are back home. How is the new kitchen?” She sat down on the couch.
“Oh darling, it is amazing. I can’t wait to eat our first meal there. The conservatory is looking fabulous already, even without furniture. And the dining room, has a glamorous feel with that dark brown wall bordered with gold.” He sat down next to her.
Cora turned her body, so she was resting against Robert, Edith was very contently drinking in her arms. “I can’t wait to open the front door for the first time when we have moved.”
Robert stroked her neck with his fingers and planted a kiss on her collarbone. “I can’t wait to spend the first night there.” His other hand went to her waist and gave her a quick squeeze.
Cora just nestled a little bit more against him, Mary was looking at them and walked over to climb on the couch. She tried to squirm between Cora and Robert. But Robert took her and sat her next to him. “Don’t steal your mother’s place, dear.” He jokingly said.
Cora turned her head and kissed him. “I am starting dinner as soon as Edith is done. What do you want to eat tonight?”
“I would love a good Beef Wellington.”
“Darling, I need to know that earlier, there isn’t enough time to make that. Can I delight you with just bangers and mash? Or isn’t that posh enough?” She chuckled.
Verhalen van Traan 