The Swiss Family Watson - Chapter II
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#601:  Author: Nell, Location: London, England PostPosted: Fri Nov 11, 2005 10:14 am

Yay!!!! Now for Edgar's reaction...

Thank you Jo.

 

#602:  Author: Robin, Location: London PostPosted: Fri Nov 11, 2005 11:25 am

hope you're not going to make us wait 7 months for the baby! And that it all goes smoothly and Edgar says the right thing when she tells him.

Thanks Jo Very Happy

 

#603:  Author: Jennie, Location: Cambridgeshire PostPosted: Fri Nov 11, 2005 1:28 pm

I want to see how relieved Edgar is when he gets the news.

 

#604:  Author: Kat, Location: Swansea PostPosted: Fri Nov 11, 2005 2:43 pm

Very Happy Yay!! I really hope Evvy can carry this baby full term *fingers crossed*

Can't blame Edgar for thinking the worst, but he's going to be so happy when Evvy tells him the good news! Very Happy

Thanks Jo!

 

#605:  Author: Josie, Location: London PostPosted: Fri Nov 11, 2005 6:10 pm

If anyone wants to read Evvy actually breaking the news to Edgar, it was the last post of A Second Chance, which is in the archive (my Mac won't let me in there to get the link, stupid thing!)

(ETA Here is the link- Kathy)


Edgar couldn’t stop smiling. It was as if some invisible power was pulling back the sides of his mouth, curving them upwards as far as they would go. Not only were they having another baby, something he had convinced himself would never happen, but Evadne had allayed his fears. The relief he had felt when she told him that Ralph was in her past, and that he, Edgar, was her present and future was immense. Just the thought of it made him grin even wider than he already was.

"You look like you have a clothes hanger stuck in your mouth!" Evadne laughed, her grin almost as wide as his own, as she shovelled a spoonful of trifle into her mouth.

Thea glanced up at her father and frowned. "Why are you smiling like that?"

"Because I’m happy, that’s why. Nothing for you to worry your pretty little head about."

"You look like you’re mad!" Marcia put in, tipping her head to one side and observing her father with wide eyes.

"Well excuse me, young lady…"

"You do look like you’re mad, Daddy," Thea agreed.

"Well I like this!" Edgar looked thoroughly indignant. "Can’t a chap be happy without his children picking him to pieces?"

Evadne observed her husband with a grin. "Well I have to be honest, you do look a little touched!"

The two girls giggled as their father pushed aside his dignity and stuck his tongue out at his wife. Then rising out of her seat, Marcia leant across the table, her hands either side of her mouth, and whispered something to her sister.

Thea nodded, and Marcia turned to her father. "Daddy, please can we get down now?"

"Why do you want to?"

"Just ‘cause…"

"We’re playing a game we want to finish before bed," Thea added, by way of a better explanation.

Their parents looked at each other, slightly suspicious, and then Edgar peered into Marcia’s bowl.

"Well I suppose so then, seeing as you’ve both finished. But you’re to get into bed at nine. I don’t mind you reading for a while, but you’ve both got class trips tomorrow and you need to be up and awake early. Understand?"

"We understand!"

"Thanks Daddy!" and with that, the pair of them jumped down from their chairs and ran out of the room.

"What d’you suppose they're up to?" Evadne asked, grimacing as Marcia slammed the door behind her.

Edgar shrugged his shoulders. "Not sure I’m worried, as long as they don’t blow up themselves or the house!"

His wife laughed and got to her feet. "Come on, let’s clear the table. I let Guilia go early, so we can do the washing up and then relax."

"I might need to pay a visit to the little boys’ room, actually. I won’t be long," Edgar replied with an air of innocence, and getting to his feet, he hurried out of the room.

"Why am I not surprised?" Evadne called at his retreating back.

Muttering about ‘men’ and ‘lazy’, she piled the bowls one inside the other, and made her way through to the kitchen. The washing up was pretty much done by the time Edgar reappeared from his ‘bathroom break’, still grinning from ear to ear.

"Oh dear, have you finished it all?"

Evadne tuned round to berate him, and then burst out laughing as she saw his beaming face. "You are aware how goofy you look?"

"I don’t care!" he said, crossing the room to stand behind her, as she rinsed down the sink. "I don’t care about anything tonight, other than you and the kids, and this little one in here which I am henceforth going to refer to as ‘Pebble’," and rubbing her tummy with one hand, he kissed her on the cheek.

Evadne chuckled. "Why ‘Pebble’?"

"Because we used ‘Baby’ for Henry, so we need something different, and he or she is the size of a pebble just now, if the experts are to be believed!"

Releasing her, he perched himself on the table, picked an apple out of the fruit bowl, and took a large bite. Evadne finished rinsing down the sink and turned around to face him, drying her hands on the teatowel.

"So which do you want, boy or girl?"

"Honestly?" Evadne nodded, and Edgar shrugged. "I don’t mind. How about you?"

"I don’t mind either. As long as it’s a baby, I’ll be happy!"

"As opposed to what?" he asked incredulously.

"Well I don’t know!" she giggled. "How do I know you’re not really one of those alien creatures that people keep talking about?"

"Maybe I am!" Edgar pulled a supposedly scary face, which merely served to make her laugh more. "My parents were a little bit strange and emotionless, after all, it might explain things!"

"Maybe it would!" Still chuckling, she put the teatowl down on the sideboard, and gazed across at him.

"What?"

Evadne stared at him a moment longer. Then shaking her head, she gave him a warm smile and crossed the small distance between them, wrapping her arms around his waist and laying her head on his shoulder. Placing what was left of the apple on the table next to him, Edgar hugged her back, and dropped a kiss on her fair, curly locks.

"You okay there?"

"Yes thanks."

Nestling closer to him, she lifted her head to kiss the underneath of his chin, and he tightened his arms around shoulders. They stood in silence for a while, just enjoying being alone together, running the past twenty-four hours over in their minds. Eventually, Evadne spoke.

"Edgar?"

"Hmmm?"

"About what you said earlier…"

"What did I say earlier?"

"About Ralph."

"Ignore me, I was being silly," he murmured, dropping another kiss on her hair.

She pulled her head back and looked up at his face. "What made you think that?"

"Evvy…"

"Honestly, please tell me."

Edgar sighed and loosened his hold on her. "Okay, well, I don’t suppose you remember this, but not long after I’d met you, before we were together, we had a conversation about whether we’d ever fall in love again. You said you’d never love anyone in the way that you’d loved Ralph, and would always feel pain of losing him." He smiled, looking slightly sheepish, as she stared blankly up at him. "I suppose that’s always stuck in my mind."

Evadne shook her head in amazement and then began to laugh. "Oh you soppy old fool!" she exclaimed, relieved that it wasn’t anything more. "Yes, I said that, but I was a complete mess back then, Edgar. And I was young and stupid…"

"You were thirty-one!"

"Okay, well stupid then!" She considered carefully before continuing. "Do you want to hear a vow I made to myself years and years ago?"

"Erm…" he hesitated, not entirely sure that he did. "Yes, okay."

"I vowed I would never, ever get married unless I met someone I loved as much as I loved Ralph. And yes, I didn’t think it possible at the time, but you know what? I’m married now, so I guess I was wrong!"

Edgar’s face broke into a warm smile, as he gazed down at her, and she placed her right hand on his chest.

"I’m gonna say this once, and then never make me say it again, ‘cause it’s disgustingly mushy and sentimental, and the fact that I’m even saying it now shows how much I care about you."

Edgar grinned. "Okay. This should be good."

She grimaced, and then ordered, "Look at me." Obeying her, Edgar stared down into her bright, blue eyes. Evadne took a deep breath, and then slowly said, "You are the love of my life."

Taken completely by surprise, Edgar’s eyes widened and shone as he gazed at her. Then lifting his hands to cup her face, he lowered his face towards hers.

"And you’re mine," he whispered, before he covered her lips with his own.

When they finally pulled apart, he wrapped his arms around her again, holding her as closely as he could. After a few seconds, Evadne began to giggle.

"You taste of apple!"

Edgar laughed and pulled back, picking the apple up from next to him. "Want some?"

"Yes please!" She took a huge bite, and then pulling out of his arms, she jumped up to sit on the sideboard behind her. "We’ll have to think of a name, you know."

"Any ideas?"

"A few. If it’s a girl, I’d quite like Momma’s name in there somewhere, if that’s okay with you?"

"I’m sure we can do that," he replied with a grin. "We should ask the children too, see what they come up with!"

Evadne raised a cynical eyebrow. "Are you sure that’s wise?"

"Why not?"

"Well, Thea may be okay, but Ned’ll want it named after some obscure rugby player or cricketer, and Henry’s pretty much gonna say ‘Babi’ or "Viva’, and I still have no clue what that last one’s supposed to mean!"

Edgar laughed. "Yes, I see your point. And I don’t think I’d want to burden the poor child with any name Marcia might come up with!"

"No, definitely not! Hey, when should we tell them?"

"Summer holidays I think," he decided, after some consideration. "It’s only just over a month away anyhow, and then Ned’ll be here too."

"Sounds good to me." She started slightly, as Pickle suddenly jumped up onto the sideboard next to her, and reaching out, she pulled the kitten into her arms. "What are you doing up here, cheeky?" she asked, caressing his head as the cat purred with contentment. Then turning back to Edgar, "I know, we’ll have to have another painting party! Which room shall we make into the nursery?"

"No idea!" her husband replied, chortling. "We’ve seven months to sort that out!"

"Okay point taken!" she retorted, pulling a rather unbecoming face. She watched as Edgar passed his apple core down to Scrabble, and then placing Pickle back on the sideboard, she jumped down herself. " Fancy a mug of cocoa?"

"Yes please!"

Bending down, she went to retrieve the pan from the cupboard, but it was nowhere to be seen. "Where’s Guilia put it?"

Edgar shrugged, as he stood up and brushed himself down. "No idea."

"Hmph." She stood up, looking rather disgruntled. "I’ll have to use this one instead, I guess. Remind me to ask Guilia about it tomorrow."

"Will do," came the disinterested reply. "I’m just going to let Scrabble out to spend a penny and tell girls to go to bed, okay? I’ll see you out there. Come on boy!" and calling Scrabble after him, he turned to leave the room




An hour or so later, Thea peered down the stairs, looking round as far as she could without being seen.

"Can you hear them?" her sister hissed from behind her.

Turning round to face her, Thea shook her head. "They’re outside, I think, so they won’t hear us!"

"Yippee!" Marcia jumped up, and held out her hand to pull her sister to her feet. "Come on then, let’s start!"

"Where shall we do it?"

Marcia screwed her face up in thought and considered this for a moment. "Come to my room, there’s more space."

"Okay, we have to get my drawer then," and the two of them crept down the corridor towards Thea’s room.

Making her way to her dressing table, Thea pulled out the large bottom drawer, struggling slightly as she heaved it up in her arms. Then walking across to the door, she tried to get out of the room, only to discover that she couldn’t.

"It’s too wide!"

"Go sideways then!" Marcia hissed back.

Shuffling around so that she was sideways on to the landing, Thea tried to do as her sister suggested. She made it halfway, before both she and the drawer became wedged in the doorframe.

"Good idea! I’m stuck now!" she exclaimed, as Marcia dissolved into a fit of giggles. "Stop laughing, you ninny and help me!"

Grabbing her sister’s arm, Marcia pulled as hard as she could, and suddenly both Thea and the drawer came loose, landing on the rug with a crash.

"Shhh!"

A loud barking sounded from downstairs, as Scrabble came into the hall, and they both lay flat on the carpet, trying to be as quiet as possible. The next moment, they heard their father’s voice.

"Come on, boy, there’s nothing there. Come back outside with your mistress and I."

Scrabble's feet pattered back across the floorboards, and the two girls lay as still as they could for another couple of minutes, until they were certain all was clear. Then kneeling down, they slowly edged their way along the landing, pushing the drawer in front of them. When they finally made it to Marcia’s room, they dragged it into the middle of the floor, and then both plumped down cross-legged in front of it.

"I’ve never had a midnight feast before. What do we do now?" Marcia asked.

"Eat, of course!"

"I know that, stupid!" she retorted, sticking out her tongue.

Thea grinned and then furrowed her brow. "Why don’t you start taking the food out and I’ll have a look in the book," and as Marcia did as she was told, her sister picked up a copy of ‘Summer Term at St Clare’s’ and began to flick through.

"Do you think it matters that we’re not having it at midnight?" Marcia queried, as she piled the food in front of her on the floor.

Thea shook her head. "I don’t think so. It’s only a practice." She quickly scanned a couple of pages and then closed her book. "I don’t think we do anything special. Just eat it all." Observing the food for a minute, she bent and picked up the cocoa saucepan she had sneaked up from downstairs. "I’ll make the cocoa, shall I? Did you get some milk?"

"Here!" Marcia passed over a jug and the cocoa powder, and then grimaced as she watched her sister tip the contents into the pan and begin to stir. "Isn’t it going to be all yucky if it’s cold?"

"Well we can’t heat it up, can we?" Thea finished stirring, and poured the murky, brown liquid into two mugs, trying to ignore the huge lumps of powder that were floating on top. Then passing one down to Marcia, she squatted on the floor again. "What have we got then?"

Marcia surveyed the eclectic array of food in front of her. "We’ve got chocolate biscuits, ginger cake, Spam, oranges, Emmenthal, another cheese…"

"Which other cheese?’"

"Don’t know. It’s smelly and all blue though! Then we’ve got dried figs, chocolate…"

"Where did you get them?" Thea asked, eyeing the box of chocolates suspiciously.

"Mummy’s draw. She has lots, she won’t miss them." Marcia pushed them aside and carried on looking around her. "Oh, and whatever’s in the packet there."

Thea picked it up and pulled back the paper, then hastily shut it again. "Marcia, we can’t eat raw fish! And it’s so smelly! Why did you get it?"

"Well I didn’t know what was in there, did I?" Marcia muttered, sounding injured. "What did you get, anyway?"

"Tomatoes, apples, pilchards, glace cherries, lemon curd, golly jam, left over…something that Guilia made, a tin of rice pudding and some bread!" her sister replied proudly.

"Well that’s lots!" Marcia beamed. "Let’s start eating!"

Taking her sister at her word, Thea grabbed the bread, cutting herself an uneven slice with her penknife and then layering it with cheese and a few of the pilchards. Then cutting a second slice, she made it into a sandwich and took a huge bite.

"This is fun!"

"I know!"

Thea took another bite and looked up at her sister with a smile. "We should…what are you doing?" she exclaimed, her grin turning to a look of disgust. "That’s horrid!"

Marcia put the finishing touch to her food and then grinned. "It’s chocolate biscuit with jam, Spam, tomato and a glace cherry!" she announced proudly.

"How can you eat that?"

"I’ve never tried it! I thought it might be fun," and opening her mouth wide, she put the whole lot in in one go.

"What’s it like?" Thea asked, pulling a face.

"Yummy!" Marcia muttered, spraying her sister with crumbs.

"I bet it’s not!"

"Is too!"

"Is not!"

"Is too!" Marcia shouted back.

"Shhhh! The window's open!"



Down on the patio, Evadne heard their daughters’ voices floating through the open window, and glanced at her husband with a frown.

"Did you hear that?"

Edgar nodded and looked at his watch. "It’s ten o’clock. I suppose I’d better find out what they’re up to. Won’t be a moment," and he disappeared in through the french doors.

A minute later he was back, almost doubled-up with mirth. "Evvy, quick," he gasped. "Come and have a look at this!"

The pair of them crept up the stairs and along the landing to Thea’s room. They arrived just in time to hear Thea hiss "You ninny!"

"Well I didn’t know!"

"You don’t eat pilchards with lemon curd anyway!" Thea giggled. "Sit still!"

"S'not funny! Just get it out."

"I can’t!"

Peering through the door, Edgar and Evvy were almost undone by the sight of their daughters, who were lit up in the moonlight that streamed through the window.

"Should we tell them off?" Evadne mouthed, trying desperately not to giggle.

Edgar choked down a laugh. "Of course! We have to get a photo first though! Go and get camera, quick."

Evadne ran off and returned thirty seconds later, camera in hand.

"Ready?"

Edgar nodded. Then throwing open the door, he switched on the light and shouted "Surprise!" and his wife took the picture.

==

Looking down at the photograph, Evadne wiped away her tears of mirth. Both girls were staring at the camera. Marcia had a pilchard hanging from her curly locks, and Thea was trying valiantly to remove it, half a sandwich crammed into her mouth.

Still chuckling, Evvy shut the book and took a sip of her coffee. That was one of their favourite pictures. Edgar had always made a point of getting it out to show the girls’ friends, much their chagrin.

A gentle padding sounded from behind her, and she turned around to see Scrabble, now fourteen years old, making his way towards her. As she held out her hand towards him, he walked around her chair and nestled his head in her lap.

"That was a long time ago, wasn’t it old boy?" she asked, scratching behind his ears as he gazed up at her. "What do you reckon? Should I make a start on Year three?"

Thanks to anyone I roped in at any point to beta, and thank you even more for reading, everyone. Very Happy Chapter 3 will appear anon.

Last edited by Josie on Mon Nov 14, 2005 11:18 am; edited 10 times in total

 

#606:  Author: Vikki, Location: Sitting on an iceberg, freezing to death!!! PostPosted: Fri Nov 11, 2005 6:59 pm

*Giggles like a fool*


Jo, that was FAB! LOVE the midnight feast (and especially the pilchard!)

*settles down to wait for part 3!*

 

#607:  Author: patmac, Location: Yorkshire England PostPosted: Fri Nov 11, 2005 7:39 pm

Lovely Jo! Poor kids! I'll bet they had tummy ache. Rolling Eyes

Can't wait for part 3!

 

#608:  Author: Ally, Location: Jack Maynard's Dressing Room!! PostPosted: Fri Nov 11, 2005 7:44 pm

*giggles at the girls* Interesting food combinations!!

I had to go back and read the news of the baby, and it's just reminded me of what an amazing story you have weaved for us Jo. Thank you Very Happy

 

#609:  Author: Trinka,  PostPosted: Fri Nov 11, 2005 7:52 pm

I absolutely LOVE this drabble! Can't wait to see what happened in Year 3 ... and when the girls go to the Chalet!

 

#610:  Author: Gem, Location: Saltash/Aberystwyth PostPosted: Fri Nov 11, 2005 8:36 pm

Thank you, Jo - am still sniffing at Evvy and Edgar's words, but can't quite stop laughing at the girls!! Very Happy Have really enjoyed this latest installment, and am looking forward to Part Three. Might have to re-read them all in the interim... Laughing

ETA: Also went and re-read, and went back to Ralph's letter to Evvy. I am now crying all over my essay... EmbarassedEmbarassedEmbarassed

Last edited by Gem on Fri Nov 11, 2005 9:09 pm; edited 2 times in total

 

#611:  Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent PostPosted: Fri Nov 11, 2005 8:47 pm

Another here that had to go back to read the bit where Evvy tells Edgar. Wonderful story, Jo, wonderful tapestry of stories.

Thanks you. Laughing

 

#612:  Author: LizB, Location: Oxon, England PostPosted: Fri Nov 11, 2005 11:12 pm

Wonderful ending - thank you Jo

Thank you for taking me right into the Watson family and making me feel like I'm there with them all Smile

Liz

 

#613:  Author: Kat, Location: Swansea PostPosted: Sat Nov 12, 2005 12:05 am

Brilliant drabble Jo! Loved it from start to finish, as usual, but the ending was definitely the best Very Happy

Can't wait for the next part Wink Laughing

 

#614:  Author: Elder in Ontario, Location: Ontario, Canada PostPosted: Sat Nov 12, 2005 1:01 am

Josie, I apologise for not having had time to comment on this before - it's from sheer lack of time, nothing else.

I've loved every bit of this drabble which has alternately made me giggle madly, brought lumps to my throat, and just been plain enjoyable. It's lovely to watch Evvy become such an integral part of Edgar's family - no wicked stepmother here, thanks be - and just how much the 3 kids adore her in return. Then Henry has had his own role in uniting them - and now, the hope of a new baby to add to their happiness.

Will be looking forward to the next Chapter whenever you are ready to post it - I can't promise to comment too often, but don't take silence to mean disapproval, please.

 

#615:  Author: BethC, Location: Worcester, UK PostPosted: Sat Nov 12, 2005 2:58 am

Thank you, Josie - I've really enjoyed this. Such a good range of family scenes and emotions.
*waits patiently(ish) for the next chapter*

 

#616:  Author: Cath V-P, Location: Newcastle NSW PostPosted: Sat Nov 12, 2005 5:01 am

Josie, this whole thing was wonderful....and I am now waiting patiently.

Know what you mean about the Mac/Archive interface. We're MAc users, and it was only when we got the new Mac Mini a month ago that I was able to read anything in the archive other than the stuff that had been posted on the Lycos site. Have no idea why this was and am still puzzled....

 

#617:  Author: Mia, Location: London PostPosted: Sat Nov 12, 2005 11:32 am

Thanks Josie, that was just fantastic! I am really looking forward to Part 3.
Very Happy Very Happy

 

#618:  Author: Becky, Location: Newport, South Wales, UK PostPosted: Sat Nov 12, 2005 12:11 pm

Can only echo everyone else - this was fantastic and can't wait for Part 3!

Becky

 

#619:  Author: Jennie, Location: Cambridgeshire PostPosted: Sat Nov 12, 2005 3:44 pm

Thanks, Josie. I'm looking forward to Part 3.

 

#620:  Author: aitchemelle, Location: West Sussex PostPosted: Sat Nov 12, 2005 4:36 pm

Thank you Jo! I have just caught up with the last three posts and YAY for just the sheer loveliness of the story!

HannahX

(Also looking forward to the next part!)

 

#621:  Author: Chair, Location: Rochester, Kent, England PostPosted: Sat Nov 12, 2005 4:52 pm

Thanks, Josie. I started reading this drabble during Chapter II, so it feels like the end of an era having it come to an end. I am definitely looking forward to Chapter III though! I enjoyed reading about Marcia and Thea's feast and I look forward to the arrival of the new baby.

 

#622:  Author: francesn, Location: away with the faeries PostPosted: Sat Nov 12, 2005 7:06 pm

Thank you Josie - I'm so sorry to see it come to an end but I'm definitely looking forward to next year. Seems all sorts of interesting things might happen!

It's been a very eventful year for them, thank you for sharing it with us.

 

#623:  Author: Kathy_S, Location: midwestern US PostPosted: Sun Nov 13, 2005 7:32 am

Can't add anything except another big thank you!

(giggling at the moment over Scrabble coming to look at the fish-in-hair picture, but the whole drabble has been marvelous-and-all-those-other-synonyms)

 

#624:  Author: Robin, Location: London PostPosted: Mon Nov 14, 2005 10:52 am

great ending. I'm so impressed by how you're weaving the whole thing together and linking it back to the earlier posts. How many words has the 'Evvy' saga reached now?

Like others, looking forward to Chapter III!

Thanks so much Jo Very Happy

 

#625:  Author: Nell, Location: London, England PostPosted: Mon Nov 14, 2005 12:41 pm

Thank you Jo. A lovely ending I also had to go back and re-read Evvy telling Edgar. Am looking forward to Chapter 3 when you're ready to post!

 

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