10 Wedding and a baby arrives.
Why on earth do I have to wear a bow tie, the ordinary type is bad enough but the bow one is impossible to tie into a bow when its around your neck. I was struggling with it and as I was alone in the library so I allowed myself a few oaths and whatnots but they had absolutely no effect in creating a decent bow and my white shirt was getting creased up. Then Maise, bless her soul, came in bearing my cup of coffee and asked if I needed help, so I nodded and she undid the knotty cloth and retied it perfectly before I could say another oath! I thanked her most profusely and Dulcie came in with my suit coat, recently ironed by Cook. So both of them helped me with it and I just had to sit in my chair exhausted. Maise passed me my coffee cup and left to get herself ready, whilst my dear wife pranced and swirled in front of me so I could not miss that expensive dress and shoes to match. I was going to ask her which she bought first, but I guessed it was the shoes! So I slurped my coffee instead.
I rested there until I heard the shrill voice of my grandson followed by the sound of boots coming into my presence.
'Who were you shouting at Robroy.' I inquired gently, finally finishing my drink.
“Father.”
'Why.'
“He won't wear his tie properly he refuses to do a Windsor knot and has such a scrawny scraggy knot you would not believe,” Robroy's voice rising to a pitch so I suspected his father was close by.
'Order both my boys to come here if you please.'
“Why?”
'None of your business, please do it.' Robroy went back outside and was soon followed by Nick and Robin both dressed to the tees but I had to agree the ties was awful.
'Windsor knot both of you. Your Mother bought those beautiful ties at great expense so please do them up properly. Robroy pop out and ask Maise to come here please.'
Maise came after a few minutes so I pointed to both my sons and asked her to tie up both their ties. Both backed off but she caught them and now I know who used to be the leader of their school gang. I had thought it might have been Frobisher's young brother, but now I knew the truth of the matter. When Maise's mum was our housekeeper her daughter was always here in the castle often following her mother about and teasing my boys.
Now we were all ready Tom drove Dulcie, I and the boys down to the church then returned for Mr and Mrs Evans. Robin had organised a coach as I had wanted, but his coach turned out to be the local school bus so Maise locked up and she, Tom, Cook, Finlay and the children came first, then the bus picked up the estate workers and families and travelled to the church in a vehicle full of bubble gum and god knows what!
Eventually we were all seated in our respective pews. There were a lot on our side but only a few on the other. So I suggested several of the villagers should follow Miss Frobisher and join her on that side to balance up the audience. Lots of scrapping of pews and an unearthly wait for the bride to arrive. Which she and her father did after a half an hour. I managed to pass around my bag of humbugs to keep the children sane. At least I hoped the sucking of sweets was not forbidden in the auditorium though I noticed a sharp look from the vicar to the Dean but he glanced at my malignant eye just in time, and put his nose in another direction.
Well they did get married the second time? For Dulcie's sake, I might add, and Yes she had a little cry on my arm as we left to have photographs taken. And all I said was,
'Dry your eyes please and don't smudge your mascara, we are not sad we are pleased to be rid of our remaining son. I was beginning to wonder if anyone would take him!' Well that cheered Dulcie up no end and she had developed a quite little smile for the photographs. Now I wonder how much they would cost and had we to invite the photographer to join the party for a meal? Well if you follow my reasoning he would take a dozen or more during the speeches, all of which would cost more, knowing Dulcie she would buy the lot. So I asked her and since she organised the chap she said Yes he was invited, so I groaned. I'm sure you all have been to a wedding at least once so I intend to leave the rest to your imagination. Suffice to say after the luncheon I thanked everybody and hastened up that staircase to my bedroom. I fell asleep to the sound of dance music far below. Strange as I write this I made no mention of the bride Miss Louisa James, another daughter in law, but she seemed happy enough, and being a teacher she should be most able to bring her own children up. Well lets hope so.
It was some months after that family do that Edith's tummy had began to grow enormously large so she had stop her secretarial work. I found that out by going into the library one day with coffee in hand only to find my grandson sitting at his mothers desk and looking at the computer screen as if mesmerised.
'Where is your mother then,' I asked.
“Lying down Grand-papa, she is both tired and now retired, I have taken over and I presume my salary will commence now, if you please.” Robroy all pumped and precious.
'Oh I am sorry to here that, but what about school?'
“What about school! Its Saturday, and anyway I am off to high school next term, what did you mean you are sorry. You are sorry to have me as your employee or what!”
'No I will miss your mother she was a really a capable secretary, I shall be pleased to have my only grandson by my side.'
“Won't be for long Grand-papa.”
'Why on earth not?'
“Mother might have another boy and Uncle Robin and Aunt Louis might have one in a couple of months.”
'Really, Oh that was quick.'
“No mothers is due soon but Aunt Laura will be some months away.”
'By the way Robroy.'
“No your Grace, you must use my secretarial name please.”
'Which is, excuse me you called me Grand-papa a minute ago!'
“I apologise your Grace, my name is Master Nicholas Robin, or perhaps Mr. Secretary might be more appropriate.”
'Who in the devil has been teaching you these long words!'
“Miss Frobisher, she takes the top class.”
'Very well, please take this letter, best write it down then you can type it up later.'
'Buts that's double the work your Grace, far better for me to type it on the computer if you dictate it slowly please, and don't gable.”
'I don't gamble, never saw the point of it, and anyway why is the computer quicker than writing?'
“Because as one types in the beginning of the word it offers a choice and fills in the one you select. Secondly I have discovered a very useful feature that you speak into the microphone and the words appear on the screen.”
'By magic?'
“By computing software. If you come over here you can speak and I will show you how it works.”
'Thank you but No, I prefer it here at my desk, So take this message down please. To Miss Frobisher (Frob), will you please stop teaching my grandson long words I can barely understand them, Heir.' A pause as his little fingers did their magic.
“That all your Grace, I'll print it out so you can check it.”
'Why, if that machine is any good it would have heard what I said.”
“No your Grace you are too far away, I had to type it myself!” He obviously pressed the print button for the printer whirred into life, and then it was delivered to my desk.
I read it twice and looked for errors, there weren't any so I signed it.
I have been ill these past two months, I slipped on the frost covered path. I was only going past the Cafe on my way to the lake. I knew the Cafe was shut it being winter turning to spring but an early frost had chilled the daffs and the flagstones up to the Cafe. I knew the Evans were away on holiday and due back today ready to help their daughter so as I was passing I peeked inside in case they had returned. And that's when I slipped on the stone flag missed the door handle and darn well broke something as I fell. Luckily enough the Evans had come home and heard the noise outside and Mr. Evans with a large lump of timber appeared on the doorstep ready to plonk the would be burglar. After quickly checking me over he rang for the town ambulance whilst Mrs Evans washed the scrape I had on the side of my head with a tea towel. So I was laid low with an itching plaster and no way of getting out of my bedroom so Dulcie arranged for me to sleep in the East wing and at least walk about on some aluminium sticks. As far as writing was concerned I was not the least bit interested. Robroy said he would arrange the computer and microphone close to my bed downstairs but I said not interested. But thank you for the thought.
And then there was panic with both Dulcie and Mrs Evans gone quite off their heads and an ambulance for Edith had arrived. Nick waved as he escorted his wife outside and I yelled to take the car, how on earth was he getting back but he was gone. I had been sitting in my comfortable chair by the Bay window with my blasted leg resting on a small chair. I could see everything happening quite clearly. Thankfully all the children were safety at school and at last those two women had subsided down to the kitchen to sit with Maise and Cook. Well that left poor old Evans himself at a loose end so he joined me in the library for a glass or two of Sherry. When the children arrived back in the late afternoon Robroy was beside himself with worry for his mother and demanded to be taken to the hospital this instant.
“Just take this mobile and ring your father, I'm pretty sure they would not allow you in the ward to see my daughter.” Evans handed the mobile to Robroy who rang his father.
'Not too well pleased then Robroy,' said I to a rather grumpy little grandson who glared at me as if I was the culprit keeping him away from his beloved mother.
“Nick, just pop down the the kitchen your grand mothers are both there.” Evans.
“Doing what!” Robroy.
'Drinking tea and eating cake no doubt.' Said I.
“What's in that bottle then Grand-papa?”
'Sherry.'
“Is that the lovely sweet one you like, I'm feeling a bit faint you see.” Robroy brushed his own brow with the back of his hand.
'Just the one, a half one then.' I poured a half measure in my glass and handed it over.
I have never seen half a small glass of liquid shoot so fast down a boys throat, peace was instant and a glimmer of a smile crossed his face. He was still holding on to his Grandpa's phone and it suddenly rang, he listened for a few moments and then handed it to Mr Evans.
“Its a wee girl grand papa and Mother is delighted, I'm to ask you if Tom will drive me in later at visitor times, may I take Grandpa and Granny with me as well?”
'Of course you better go and round up both your Granny's and tell Tom so he can get the car ready.'
Well he was off like a rocket so Mr Evans and I had another glass before the boy wonder returned and demand the other half. The bottle had just enough for we three to celebrate before our two wives suddenly appeared and asked for a new bottle to be opened. I was getting quite giddy with all this dashing about so Dulcie said she had decided to accompany little Nicolas Robin to the hospital as well, so when they bring my son, his son and the Evans back it will be a very full car.
'Ask Tom to pump up the tyres please Dulcie.' Was all I could think of, then I retired to the East Wing for a sleep.