“I’ll have to ask Tom and Mel, but thank you so much, Brian.” Then the tears started again and my brother got another wet shoulder. He stayed on for another hour or so, fixing me up with one of those ridiculously expensive phone and TV cards for my stay in hospital.
Trish phoned me later that evening and seemed very concerned about me. I assured her I was going to be OK and she confirmed Brian’s offer, in fact she was just as enthusiastic as her husband and looked forward to having us all. “This big old house needs some kids around,” she said, “and don’t worry about your salary; we’ll claim most of it back as ‘business expenses’ but you’d all be welcome anyway.”
My children were pretty keen on the idea when they called in to see me next day so I contacted Louise and arranged with her to give my notice in to the council: she agreed to sort out any unfinished business I had in this area. The doctors decided I was well enough to leave after four days. Brian picked me up from hospital and drove me to my old home.
Outside the house stood a large white van with Brian and Trish’s company logo painted on the side. Tom and Mel were already there sorting through their own things and packing what they wanted to keep into the van. Brian helped me look through my meagre possessions. What I didn’t want went into the two skips Brian had hired and the rest went into the van.
When all was done Brian, I and the kids piled into his car for the long journey south, leaving the van driver to follow in his own time. We made good time, stopping once for a snack on the way and Trish greeted us all with big hugs when we arrived at their place. She showed us to our rooms: she and Brian had decided to give the whole of the top floor of the house to us, the middle floor was theirs and the ground floor was the communal living area.
My children loved their new home and soon we had Tom enrolled in a 6th form college which had an outstanding reputation and Mel was taken on at a nearby school. Both of them settled down to their respective studies quickly and we all explored the surrounding countryside in our spare time. My housekeeping duties were not onerous and I had a dream kitchen in which to work. Brian bought me a small car for my own use so life was so very much better for us all.
Brian and Trish also seemed very happy with the arrangements: since neither now had household chores to worry about they were free to share their spare time together and do the things together they never had had time for in the past.
One afternoon, maybe two months after we had moved in, I was making myself a pot of tea, my chores all finished, when Trish arrived home. She asked me to pour her a cup and we sat at the kitchen table sipping at the tea and thinking our own thoughts. Trish seemed to get a little preoccupied at one stage and I asked her if anything was wrong.
“No,” she replied, but I could tell something was bothering her. I didn’t push it and we sat in silence again for a couple of minutes, then Trish took a deep breath and sighed heavily. “Steph,” she said, somewhat hesitantly. She paused, “You know Brian and I can’t have children together?” I nodded my confirmation. “We both want children. I want his baby and he wants a child from my womb.” Trish sighed again then almost blurted out, “Will you carry Brian’s child for me?”