Post by Sir Phillip Crane on May 26, 2021 18:21:09 GMT
i would merely
BE DOING MY DUTY
The pregnancy had been different from Marina's. So, very different. As was the case when the baby was actually born. They had a beautiful baby girl whom they had named after a dear friend of Eloise's, and her sister in law as well. But was set it apart was the way Phillip saw Eloise with the baby. She was . . . a mother. Not just by birthing a child, but by the maternal way she cared for it. Phillip had truly never seen such a sight. Never having his own mother and Marina . . . she had been quite emotionally removed from the children. There were moments where she tried, but her internal struggles had been too great.
Seeing Eloise with the twins had assured Phillip that she was a good mother indeed, but witnessing it with a new born baby opened up an entirely new world. She was so involved with Penelope; so attached. So . . . nurturing. And he found himself learning from her. Wanting to be a better father in the early years of Penelope's life . . . where he had not been for Oliver and Amanda. That fear was still there, that he may fail and make mistakes . . . but it was not as crippling now. For he found strength with Eloise at his side. He'd spent the morning in the greenhouse, his time spent here becoming more out of necessity rather than avoidance. The time he was able to spend with his family was precious and he cherished every moment.
Ordinarily, he would have spent most of the day in here but instead . . . when afternoon came, he decided to check on the others. Amanda and Oliver were engaged in their lessons which he would not disrupt, so he entered the home and made his way upstairs to see what Eloise was doing. To see how Penelope was. When he entered their room, he was pleasantly surprised to see both of them, Penelope cradled in her mother's arms. Eloise truly seemed like such a natural. How fortunate he was, that she was in his life. That she was the mother to his children. That she was his wife. "Have you rested?" He asked her, making his way further into the room towards her and the baby. If she was not rested, then surely they could give Penelope to her maid.
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Seeing Eloise with the twins had assured Phillip that she was a good mother indeed, but witnessing it with a new born baby opened up an entirely new world. She was so involved with Penelope; so attached. So . . . nurturing. And he found himself learning from her. Wanting to be a better father in the early years of Penelope's life . . . where he had not been for Oliver and Amanda. That fear was still there, that he may fail and make mistakes . . . but it was not as crippling now. For he found strength with Eloise at his side. He'd spent the morning in the greenhouse, his time spent here becoming more out of necessity rather than avoidance. The time he was able to spend with his family was precious and he cherished every moment.
❖ ❖ ❖ ❖ ❖ ❖ ❖
Ordinarily, he would have spent most of the day in here but instead . . . when afternoon came, he decided to check on the others. Amanda and Oliver were engaged in their lessons which he would not disrupt, so he entered the home and made his way upstairs to see what Eloise was doing. To see how Penelope was. When he entered their room, he was pleasantly surprised to see both of them, Penelope cradled in her mother's arms. Eloise truly seemed like such a natural. How fortunate he was, that she was in his life. That she was the mother to his children. That she was his wife. "Have you rested?" He asked her, making his way further into the room towards her and the baby. If she was not rested, then surely they could give Penelope to her maid.