Life at My Cottage was pure bliss and Benedict was thoroughly happy with his life. He had his beautiful little boy, who despite the fright, fear and panic he had put his parents through by arriving a little early and then not crying and taking time to become the healthy happy baby boy that he was now.
When they had brought little Charlie home it was amazing how much life at My Cottage had changed. It had been a home from the moment he and Sophie had come home after their honeymoon but now… the difference with a product of their love with them was just… magical.
Their first wedding anniversary had passed a few weeks ago and as Summer progressed, Benedict realised how much he loved being out in the country and away from the smog of London. Everything was just more beautiful and brighter away from the capital. Yes he was further away from his family than he had ever been, but it didn’t feel like it. Kate and Anthony had just been for a visit and they had left a few nights before, Violet was due in a week to spend some time with the family.
But right now, it was just the three of them and it had been a beautiful day, they had been down to the Lake for a family picnic, Charlie had been attached to Benedict in the leather carrier that Anthony and Kate had commissioned a replica of the one their father used to carry them around in, and when down at the lake he had lain on Sophie’s chest whilst Benedict drew and sketched. It was sheer bliss.
It was still warm when the sun started to set as they sat and had their dinner that night, Mrs Crabtree had taken Charlie off to bed so that Sophie and Benedict could eat their dinner without a fussy 5 month old baby to contend with.
They never had a traditional table and Sophie sat with her head resting against Benedict’s as they picked through their dessert. “It was such a lovely day, I can’t wait until Charlie is old enough to teach him to swim in the lake” she said wistfully.
Benedict grinned at her “with maybe a sibling or two to watch him and learn from him”
Sophie shrugged, after the difficulties of Charlie’s birth she wasn’t sure she could go through all of that again, she desperately wanted a bigger family, a few more smaller versions of themselves running around the house, but now… “maybe… let's wait til Charlie is a bit older first” she said almost trying to avoid the topic of conversation.