It was the morning of Cora’s 27th birthday, Robert didn’t plan something big. He wanted to go out for dinner, but Cora said she didn’t want to leave Edith, she was just 1,5 months old, so he arranged for a chef to come and cook at their house, lunch and dinner He got up from the bed, Cora was still asleep with Mary in her arms, he hadn’t noticed that she got in their bed.
Robert took a quick shower and he snuck out of the room to get her present. He made some fresh orange juice and toast. They would eat a proper breakfast later, but for now this was enough. Back in the bedroom he heard Cora’s little snores and he didn’t want to wake her. He put down her juice and toast and laid the present on his side of the bed. He sat down on the settee and just watched this beautiful picture of his wife with his eldest daughter in her arms.
Edith had woken up and started crying, Robert rushed out the room to go get her, before she could wake up Cora. He was rocking Edith, but she was hungry. Back in the bedroom, Cora had woken up and took Edith from him to feed her.
Robert bent down: “Happy birthday, my princess.” He kissed her, and she answered back, cupping his cheek with her free hand. Mary was still fast asleep against Cora’s side. He brushed her hair and gave her a kiss to try to wake her up.
“Let her sleep darling, she had a rough night, just let her sleep.”
Robert gave her a puzzled look.
“You didn’t notice, but I have been in Mary’s room for quite some time last night, but I couldn’t get her to settle down. So, I took her into our own bed, hoping she would sleep next to me. It worked, but please let her sleep a little bit more. She will be easier to handle when she has enough sleep.”
Robert took Cora’s head in his hands. “You are an amazing mother.” He kissed her forehead. “I have a present for you, when Edith is done, you can open it.”
Cora looked at the big cardboard box on the bed. “What is it?”
“You will find out, once you open it.” He winked. He sat down on the bed next to her, and wrapped one arm around her. She snuggled against him.
“I love waking up this way. With you next to me and our two little wonders content in our bed.” She rested her head against his neck and smelled his lemony smell, that he always had after he took a shower.
Edith was finally done drinking and Robert took her from Cora’s arms. “You need both arms, to open your present” he said. Mary had woken up and was playing on the bed.
Cora got on her knees to pull the box close. She couldn’t figure out what it was by just looking at it. Excited as a little kid she opened the box. Inside there was a big black case, with golden clasps. Cora looked at Robert with her deep blue eyes wide open. “You didn’t? Darling, are you for real?” She picked up the case and Robert removed the cardboard box. She held it in her arms in disbelief.
“Come on, open it.” Robert encouraged her.
Cora was looking at a mahogany rosewood, steel-string Gibson guitar. She clasped her hands in front of her. “You are a treasure.” She slid across the bed towards Robert. She nearly crushed Edith in his arms with her embrace and kissed his whole face.
Robert’s cheeks coloured. “You really like it?”
“Of course I like it, it is amazing, darling, I wanted to have an instrument like this since I was a young girl.” She started kissing him again.
Robert shrunk back a little bit. “Darling, our little one is looking at us.” Nodding towards Mary.
“She is allowed to know how much I love you” as she ran her hand through his hair.
+++
Robert had invited the family over; Cora had asked Maja to come too. They had a wonderful afternoon, the lunch was exquisite, and Cora couldn’t wait for dinner.
Harold and Madeleine arrived late in the afternoon.
“Harold what’s wrong? You have a weird look on your face.” Cora asked when she opened the door.
Harold took Madeleine’s hand and showed it to Cora.
“Darling brother congratulations.” Cora was looking at a beautiful engagement ring on Madeleine’s hand. She hugged Madeleine and Harold. “I want to hear everything.”
The rest of the afternoon they had talked about the engagement and when they wanted to get married.
+++
Cora and Robert were walking in ‘Hyde Park’. Mary on her balance bike, Edith close to Cora in the sling and Robert had Isis on the leash. She was growing fast and sometimes she could be hyperactive. This was one of those days, Robert had a hard time handling her.
On the grass on the other side of the path was a squirrel. Isis ran over towards it. Robert lost his grip on the leash, and it slipped out of his hand. Isis flew across the gravel, not seeing where she was going.
“Isis, ISIS, watch out.” Robert yelled.
“Mary!!!!” Cora exclaimed when Isis ran over her. Smashing Mary with her face in the ground. Cora ran towards her. Mary was crying hysterical and there was blood on her face.
Cora scooped her up as best as she could with Edith in the sling. She took Mary’s face in her hands to see where the blood was coming from. It looked like her nose was bleeding and her lip.
People had gathered around her, while Robert still chased Isis.
Cora was offered a handkerchief to clean Mary’s face. Edith had started crying with her sister.
Mary’s nose kept bleeding and Cora tried to stop it as good as she could. In the meantime rocking her body, to calm Edith down.
Robert returned with Isis back on her leash. He picked Mary up, and started walking ,Cora following behind him, thanking the people who helped her. He stopped a taxi and said “St. Mary’s hospital”
“Robert, I don’t think we need to go the hospital, it is only a bleeding nose. Look it is stopping.”
“I want to know for sure there isn’t something broken, she made a hard tumble.”
It turned out Cora was right. There wasn’t anything broken, her lip would heal. At home Robert gave her ice-cream and cuddled her all afternoon.
That evening, in bed Cora said: “What happened, wasn’t your fault.”
Robert sighed: “In a way it was. I wasn’t holding on tight enough and I need to go on puppy training with Isis. We can’t have this behaviour.”
Cora turned on her side, rested her hand on Robert’s chest. “Don’t eat yourself up about this, Mary is fine. Accidents happen. Try to get some sleep.”
Verhalen van Traan 