The conservatory : the most versatile and cosy room in the house : E-book serial episode 151

It was strange how she had not thought of the conservatory before, but this room had not had any use at all since they moved in, but now it would be Mary's haven.

Even though it was a Rachel day for the biggest shop of the week, her presence had caused little disruption as she was in and out in a flash and would be returning later with her purchases and efficiently putting them away in all of the right places but with a bit of luck Mary could see herself out here when that happened and need not interact with her at all.

Fortuitously her new playpen had arrived just on 10, before she had bathed the babies but was just about to. She'd dragged it outside, it was really more like a tent with a mattress at the bottom and leaving the triplets baths for the time being she had gathered together some blankets and sheets and pillow, various bits and pieces really to make the triplets new quarters cosy. There was not a cloud in the sky which was a vivid blue signalling a magnificently fine day, so Mary had little concern that rain would disrupt her well laid plans.

It had taken her all her time to keep the twins at bay while she made the "tent" comfortable, actually she felt as if she could do with a rest in there herself, it was looking cosy. The twins kept her busy as she endeavoured to keep them out, explaining as best she could to two now 16 month old toddlers that it was for their baby brothers and sister, not for them to play in.

Increasingly day by day she found herself indulging in more explanatory gibberish to two small children, having no idea just what they thought of her words let alone her intentions, that was why it had been so good to have Auty Glad there at least it was another adult to talk to.

As for Jim he was always full of his work, or his golf, or the tennis or some other sport on the TV in which Mary had little or no interest. How was it that no-one really informed you what marriage and a family was all about and by the time you'd worked that out for yourself, it was too late, the trap had been laid and you'd fallen straight in.

Well, little did everyone know it but Mary was going to make a nice life for HERSELF irrespective of marriage and a family. She would have her limitations of course but it was not the first time she had been confronted with that dilemma, that had been the story of her life so far but it was only in recent years that she had truly begun to discover herself, and that she liked, it felt so good.

But, for now, she was thinking ahead to accommodate all of them in this beautiful room and outside. she had placed the pen outside within full view of the chair she had chosen which was a very comfortable one and the cats and twins would be free to come in and go out as it suited them, her triplets would be secure from curious cats and little fingers, watched over in their zipped up playroom, not that they were ready for much play as yet but Aunty Glad had made a good point when she suggested the triplets needed to be part of the family, not left to sleep on their own most of the time.

She closed the door firmly so the twins could not get out while she went to bath the triplets, the twins following close behind.

Sleeping soundly they did not stir much in the bath, which made things quick and easy, Mary's skills were improving each and every day, and dressed for the day, she carried all three with her and with her elbow opened the conservatory door when cats came in and kids went out.

She soon had the triplets settled and managed to get the message across to the twins that the triplets were out of bounds whereupon they trotted around the garden and lawn, their walking was getting better and better all the time and Mary felt elated by the exposure to fresh air and sunshine and a view of the garden, it made her feel at peace with the world and thus far her day was going swimmingly (not of course that that activity was anything like a reality, not just yet anyway)

By this time it was gone 11 and she felt like something to eat so disappeared into the kitchen for hot chocolate and some slices still left from Aunty Glad's efforts. Not wishing to be gone long she had a quick look outside, the twins were still wandering around happily, and the triplets were secure and sleeping soundly. This was bliss, surely Heaven could not be any better and her drink and modest portion of food made her feel much better. Free, for now, at least to have some time to think.

There was plenty of food in the house and by this afternoon a lot more, but Mary wanted to do something a little different. Fish had not been on the menu lately and fresh fish demanded immediate attention and Jim had made no plans about that, so she thought about salmon rissoles with salad, she could do the salad and pop it back in the frig as soon as she found the time, and could keep checking on all the babies while she was doing it as it could be left in various stages of preparation, some hot potato bake would be nice to fill out the meal, she did not want everyone feeling hungry but that would require more attention but once in the oven it would cook itself. Th best time for all of this would be while the twins were sleeping this afternoon and with so much outdoor activity they would sleep quite well and for a good two hours, provided Mary herself was not required to feed triplets this would be a good time, and provided that she herself did not get too sleepy, but each day her energy was picking up even if just a little.

She spotted Michael heading for the triplets and raced outside to get there ahead of him as he was a determined little boy and liked having his own way, Kathryn was much more compliant, the boy/girl thing, just as it was with the cats.

He was trying to get inside and was fiddling with the zip but the opening was well beyond his reach and she did not want him falling against the frail walls and possible landing on one of the babies.

She picked him up, saying no, and once again trying to get the message across in baby talk, he pulled against her, determined to get back where he had been heading but with a resounding no, Mary set him down on the lawn facing Kathryn, he screeched out loud but after all Might was Right and Mary had the strength and will to defeat any 16 month old no matter how bold their intentions. Michael gave in and tried to distract his sister into joining him in his explorations but even she would not co-operate and Mary turned back inside. going through much the same process with the next half hour, and Mary wondered just how long this would go on for.

Calling the twins in, and after checking the babies once more, Mary closed the door firmly and taking each toddler by the hand took them in to get some toys to play with and with her on the watch now she could safely give them some hard toys instead of the soft ones they had had to make do over the last week. This brightened them up happily, and soon they were playing happily but independently with these brightly coloured toys, exploring as they went and happily alternating between the various toys available. Not having been seen for a week these toys suddenly became, yet once again, novel.

She enjoyed watching them and when the cats woke up, and anxious to get outside, she opened the door for them the twins not even noticing, they were so interested in their play.

This was such a happy room Mary decided they'd have a sort of picnic and outside would be nice so taking the twins off to the kitchen with her, she packed a basket with food suitable for toddlers and a nice sandwich for herself and still with the twins in tow managed to find the picnic blanket which she spread outside, the twins happy to be out again, and for now at least, Michael had rather forfeited the idea of eploring the pen, or should I say, tent. Mary stretched out on the lawn, enjoying the sun's raise and noticing small eyes beginning to close, she picked both toddlers up and took them into their cots where they were asleep in seconds.

On her return she found both cats circling the tent with curiosity, but they weren't doing any harm so she left them to it, noticing that after a while, they just turned their explorations elsewhere and she didn't see them for the rest of the day. She sat down once more in the sun, finding herself becoming sleepy but soon babies started to wake and first two and then one could be fed out here, it was completely private, and with a change of nappies, returned to their cribs so that Mary could get on with her preparations for dinner.

Rachel had already been and gone, leaving her dockets and change for Jim, after taking her own pay and Jim's little system seemed to be working quite well, she had to hand it to him, she would never have thought of it herself. Things were going well, if not always to plan

In between other things she had already made the salad and it was a good one with lots of salad vegetables, very fresh as Rachel had bought them just that very day, but Mary missed having her own vegetable patch and as soon as she had the opportunity she'd see what the old gardener could do and meanwhile she had her own tomatoes and what a thrill it was to pick them.

She put potatoes on to boil for the hot potato bake and then turned her mind to the rissoles. she had a good brand of wild red salmon, perhaps a little too good for rissoles and the flavour could be a bit overpowering but she added various other substances such as sweet corn and parsley and some onion of course and soon she had those rissoles just the way she wanted therm and she placed them on a plate with some wrap ready to be cooked freshly and quickly on Jim's arrival home, given the disruptions of family matters and her need to go for her own walk, but somehow they would manage but with hungry little mouths waiting to be fed she'd need to use a few tricks to get the timing just right.

It was really getting too late to make much in the way of dessert so she settled for the idea of ice cream with some hot chocolate sauce, followed by some fresh fruit.

The twins were waking and she soon had them up, nappies changed and out in the garden again but it was not for long and so she decided to bring the triplets pen inside and lock up for the rest of the day. The pen did look ridiculous inside but couldn't be left out for fear of any sudden rain, it would not do for those things inside to get wet. Perhaps Jim could come up with a different solution. The twins played a bit more with their 'new toys' but it was not long before the novelty wore off and their interest in the 'tent' increased once more. There was no TV out here so they went into the sitting room, with soft toys Mary closing the conservatory door quite firmly, with the thought of Michael bashing his sister over the head just too hard to bare and put on the "Wiggles" and the twins jumped and clapped and danced and sang in their own inimitable way which was not too structured at present, their barely being able to maintain their balance at the best of times, but it was happy music and happy things to watch and they loved it, young as they were and it was not long before Mary joined in that way managing to keep tiredness at bay. It would be early to bed for her that night.

Came 5 and with Jim not yet home Mary realised the twins needed their dinner and she was feeling decidedly hungry too. She gave them their milk and began her final cooking which was soon done, in view of the previous preparation. It had been a happy day and their was peace while everyone but Jim ate and Mary put Jim's dinner on a plate all ready for the microwave and left the salad out as he could not be relied upon to look in the frig and would miss out on the salad without its staring him in the face, as soon as he was home she would be off in a flash for her walk, time and to spare to relax and feed later, she really did need to stick to her walking and this seemed the only time of day suitable.

Once more, just as Jim arrived, she took off simply waving good-bye and leaving him to discover everything new himself, including his dinner. He wanted to get out of his suit so he said hello briefly to the twins, dashed upstairs, this time leaving the door firmly closed, hung up his suit carefully and dashed back down again finding the twins trying to get into the conservatory. Opening the door he was amazed by what he saw, closed the door firmly, put his dinner in the microwave, keeping his eyes firmly on the twins, then took his dinner inside to eat on his lap. It was not long before the twins bath time so he took them off to play daddy after his hard day's work, and taking some time to play with them in the bath. Soon dry once more, freshly changed for bed he was able to get them down with very little effort and went back to the kitchen to see what was for dessert but as he couldn't see anything other than some chocolatey stuff in the bottom of a saucepan, left for the dish washer he heated up some garlic bread and munched away happily awaiting Mary's return, he did not hear her come back but soon she was at his side with ice cream and some freshly cooked hot chocolate sauce and with fruit on a plate, already sliced for after.

"What's with the conservatory and the tent, some new furnishing idea is it?"

Mary laughed loudly and beside herself at his confusion she recounted the day's happenings, before kissing him sweetly declaring she was off to bed.

"Time for a swim", thought Jim, going out to turn the pool heater on, looking forward to some exercise now he was free of domestic duties. Sitting there all alone, if it weren't for the toys and two cats now feeding rather late in the kitchen he would wonder if he had any family at all.

Of course, he had wanted a family, but so little sex, he felt quite cheated, one child at a time would have been ample and a family of two children had seemed at first to be beyond their wildest dreams, how wrong they had all been.

Sometimes it was hard being a man, but it was not often that anyone voiced that view, and men just simply seemed to drink off their troubles.

He found the swim so refreshing he knew he was going to be in for a late night and peeked in at Mary, she was fast asleep, so he joined her on the bed, but she didn't stir. He sighed, such things are dreams made of.