It was beautiful at the river. The sun reflected upon the lazily flowing water, like dapples of bright light being carried along. The scent of the flowers, warmed by the late summer sun, was heady as she sat among them, the tiny child sat upright in front of her. A dragon fly hovered close by, much to the babys interest, it's peacock coloured hues like a floating gem as it moved amongst the white blooms.
"Boo!" Jackie parted her hands from infront of her face, grinning at the child. The game of peekaboo making the baby give her one gummy grin after the next. It was only interrupted on occasion by Dahlia, who cuddled her sleeping son Pete, a boisterous five year old who had tired himself out and was having a much needed rest.
"You can borrow her if you like, and this one, I've been run off my feet what with the triplets and malcom falling ill."
"Don't be daft, what would I do with little kiddies?"
Dahlia brushed a lock of hair away from her sons face, the child scrunching up his features in his sleep
"You seem to be doing alright, Daisy likes you, and you exhausted Malcom by playing chase, besides, it'll be practice"
Jackilyn continued to make funny peekaboo faces at the baby inbetween her replies
"Practice? Shouldn't you be saying these things to Alys?"
"Don't be silly, my sister doesn't need encouraging, but mark my words Jacki, you'll be next! If it isn't your doctor, it'll be another lad, how many did you say it was?"
"Now you're the one being daft. I'm not like Jack, they just all showed up."
Dahlia gave a rather unconvinced Mhm, followed with another question
"What are their names? and the ones that kissed you?"
Jackilyn suddenly stopped playing with Daisy, the child seemingly alright about it as her focus fell upon a nearby butterfly.
"How do you know about all that? Wait, don't tell me. Alys, she's been snooping at my writing again!"
Dahlias smile gave away the confirmation Jackilyn needed
"Just so you know, I did not kiss them, they kissed me!"
"While the cats away the mice will play, as mother says"
"I am not encouraging, nor am I asking for any of it, but, aye, you are probably right. This did all start happening when Elias left."
The older woman continued to smile at her, as if that act alone would bring out more words from Jackis lips, though when she wasn't forthcoming she gave some of her own.
"Don't be so hard on yourself. You're pretty, and right now alone, it was bound to happen that lads would come and talk to you. Though I stand by my words, it wont be that long before you'll have a family of your own. I know our mothers talk about it a good bit, just be glad they aren't the type to go matchmaking!"
Daisy crawled forward and attempted to climb into Jackilyns lap. Instinctively the woman supported her so she wouldn't fall.
"It's funny you know. My ma were only a bit older than I when she had me, and your Ma younger when she had Charlie and Evan. Some of the lads, they have been a fair bit older than I, others, not so much. Elias treats me at times like I be as young as Alys, and he's only a bit older than meself. Age be not important if you love someone aye?"
"How old were they?! Not grandpas I hope! Dirty buggers!"
Jackilyn shook her head, the reaction making her grin
"Just older."
"Have you thought about what you'll do when he comes back?"
"Aye. If things be odd between us, I'll just say to him what I did before. That I want him to be happy, if that be with or without me."
"...but what about making you happy? You shouldn't go giving all the time and not taking for yourself."
"I never want to be with someone who don't want me back. I mean, look at you and Lenny, six kiddies? Mad about one another? At the end of the day, it don't matter how I feel if the other person don't want to be with me"
"Well..you have plenty of alternatives! Though if I were you? go for the prettiest one, I mean, you'd have to look at him every day!"
At that, Jackilyn laughed, the motion rocking the baby that sat in her lap, a very curious baby who had no idea why her cushion was laughing, but decided to join in regardless. A wide, gummy grin, that served to make Jackilyn very happy when looking upon it, very happy indeed.
