Sometimes I think Murphy's Law of "If anything can go wrong it will",on Saturday when I woke up it was raining,I groaned; normally,I'm an optimist,but still rain was never any good pulling my robe on I went downstairs to find Katherine and Peter in the kitchen staring at something.
"Good morning" I say pouring my self a cup of coffe and grabbing a muffin from the basket.
"They delivered the wrong cake"Katherine says mournfully.
"Really,what did they deliver " I ask
"Vanilla with strawberry filling,we were supposed to get chocolate no filling and look!" Katherine gestured to the cake.
I went over and looked instead of the words Happy Anniversary Mum and Dad it spelled out Happy Anniversary
"Well" I say they have the" P" part right" I say attempting to cheer her up
"That's what I've been trying to tell her"Peter speaks up "We could scrape off the arker and put evensie "
"Auntie Lulu!" an excited voice shrieks.
I look up and smile as my nieces and nephew barrel down the stairs clamoring for hugs and kissed.
"Can you make french toast ,Auntie Lulu,you make the bestest french toast ever" Sarah asks,she's five and a half
"Yeah,can you" Four year old Naomi and three year old David beg.
I turn to Peter and Katherine"I think the bakery down the street is open ,why don't you go and see if can't make the cake we need,I'll get the kids fed and dressed" I tie on an apron and take down a bowl
Katherine looks at Peter,he nods"Okay " he says ,Katherine gives me a quick hug
"You're a lifesaver" she says
I and Katherine head out.
Ten minutes later the children and I are sitting down to breakfast when the phone rings I get up to answer it ,it's Edmund
"She's sick" he says without even saying hello
"Good morning,Ed,who's sick" I ask
"Desiree's aunt she can't cater the party,which means we have no food" he says
"Oh" I say a bit disappointed,but my disappointment is short lived,"Is Desiree there yet" I ask
"Yes" Edmund says passing on to her.
I quickly tell her my plan of doing potluck,I'm pretty sre I can get Jill ,Susan ,Katherine and Aunt Polly to cook some dishes too.
Two hours later the kitchen is filled with the smell of meatballs simmering in marinara three little helpers are garbed in aprons standing on chairs generously sprinkling parmesan cheese on the meatballs cooling on two cookie sheets.
The kitchen door opens and Peter and Katherine come in carrying a pink box .
"What's all this" Katherine asks.
"Edmund called,Desiree's Aunt is sick so she won't be able to cater the food,so I thought why don't we do potluck,I called Jill,Susan and Aunt Polly,they're all making something and I found this recipe in one of your cookbooks and decided to give it a try and you have all the ingredients " I say all in one breath.
Katherine looked at Peter,"Does she always explain things like that in one breath"
"Pretty much" Peter shrugs,I stick my tongue out at him and turn back to the stove.
Despite the cloudy morning the sun decided to come out around noon.
"That's good" Katherine says as she tries to wrestle David into his suit.
"Don't you want to look handsome for Gramma and Grampa"
"I can't believe Mum and Daddy are Grandparents" I say shaking my head .
"And I can't believe you're an aunt " Peter says passing by the couch and ruffling my hair."And in college"
"I've been going for several months" I say
"Auntie Lulu's the bestest Aunt we have" Sarah and Naomi say hugging me.
"Don't you like your Aunt Susan" Katherine asks tying David's shoes
"No! she's boring " they cry
Peter shrugs,"Can't argue with that logic,shall we go"
Katherine doesn't look pleased,"Peter,your daughters just called their Aunt your sister boring are you going to let that slide"
"Kathy,even I think my sister is boring sometimes" Peter says
"She's never boring around me" Katherine insists.
"Try playing a dictionary game with her" I say
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Everything is going perfectly even if David did eat six slices of cake before anyone could stop him and throw up on Eustace before Katherine whisked him away .luckily Aunt Polly managed to find Eustace a new 's hovering over Susan she's expected to go into labour any day .
Suddenly everythings silent and in the stillness Naomi points at Susan and cries out
"Auntie Susan went weewee!" Edmund crams a slice of cake in her mouth .
"I think she's going into labour" Aunt Polly says calmly as she and Mum lead Susan into the house.
Peter runs into the house to call the hospital.
An hour later,I don't know how but we all manage to get to the hospital.
I feel sorry for Mark ,Susan is not her sweet calm logical self now; it seems like every pregnant woman decided to go into labour today and as of now the obstrecian can't see Susan,so she's out here in the lobby with us.
"Hon,just breathe" Mark says leaning down next to her wheelchair
Susan grabs Mark by the collar,"Don't tell me to breathe! I know how to breathe!damnit!" she yells."This is your fault"
"Su,I think you need to calm down and let go of Mark,you're choking him"Peter says
Susan turns on him now"And you why can't you get me into a room so I can deliver this baby"
"I'm working on it" Peter says
"Oh sure Magnificent one" Susan snaps
"When I have a child will I be this grouchy" I ask Mum
"More than likely,maybe not,you're a sweet girl by nature it takes alot to get you riled" Mum says as a cheerful smiling nurse comes over
"Were ready for you,"
she says wheeling Susan away ,"She's in good hands" she tells the rest of us.
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It's only been a few hours,but it feels like forever since the nurse wheeled Susan away,Mark is pacing the lobby and making me dizzy as I watch him,Peter goes over to him.
"Mum" I say while adjusting a sleeping Naomi on my lap,"Does it hurt to give birth" Mum looks at me
"It does,but the result is well worth the pain" Mum says "Daddy and I couldn't be more proud of the four of you" she assures me as Daddy comes over handing Mum a cup of tea
Two hours later the nurse comes out she's smiling even wider than before"Congratulations the birth was a success and she gave birth to twins,you can go into see her" she says
Susan is sitting propped up by several pillows,she looks completely happy in each arm she cradles a pink and blue bundle.
"Aren't they perfect" she smiles as we come in "Mark Jr. and Esther Grace Thompson"
"You know what "Katherine says suddenly,"Now we have three things to celabrate,a birth,engagement and reunion" she whips out several cups .
In her purse she pulls out a bottle of fizzy lemonade and pours us each a cup .
"Do you always carry abottle of fizzy lemonade in your purse" Eustace asks accepting his glass
"Shut up and drink Eustace" I say ,I can't wait to start babysitting my new niece and nephew and tell them about their Mummy who was once a queen,how their uncles saved an entire land .