Maggie sat on the window ledge and looked down at the field below. In moonlight, the ground appeared even and lush with seedlings in careful rows. She heard a soft knock at the door. Maggie glanced into the cot, saw the angelic, sleeping face of baby Jo and tiptoed to the door.
'Hello- Oh Davis!' she whispered, throwing her arms about his neck and feeling the hessian bag roughness of his uniform against her cheek. Davis held her firmly in his long, sinewy arms.
'Hullo Maggie' he said then held her back and roamed her face with deep green eyes. 'You grew up these last twelve months.' Maggie laughed with more air than noise, casting a look over her shoulder.
'I'm a mother now, cousin'. He gave a sombre nod.
'May I look at him?' he asked. She stepped back into the darkened room and watched as her tall cousin walked with an uneven limp, leaned over the side of the crib and lowered his hand.
'He's beautiful' he whispered. She joined him and laid an arm over his lower back.
'Yes; when he sleeps all night' she said. Davis straightened.
'Has it been hard on your own Maggie?' he asked holding her shoulders. Maggie shrugged.
'Lonely' she said, 'and exhausting, but if he sleeps through the night, tonight will be his third'. She leaned down, away from Davy's hold and stroked Joe's warm cheek with the back of her finger. When she turned, Davis was sitting on her bed.
Maggie sat beside Davis and rubbed one full breast with an absent forearm.
'How long are you on leave?' she asked. Davis shrugged then let out a slow breath.
'Till my ankle is stronger' he said.
'Hard to believe a war going on when you're out here' Maggie said. Davis put his arm around her waist.
'They're dropping bombs on London every few days' he said. Maggie looked into his eyes.
'Feels like home here' she said.
'Has been often enough' he replied. They stared out the window where light pricked the sky in pinpoints between misted clouds.
'Maria looked everywhere for that crib' Davis said after a moment.
'She did?' said Maggie. Davis nodded. 'She's been lovely but I still need to win your Father over'. Davis snorted.
'He'll fall in love with the little chap; you'll see' he said. Maggie sighed.
'I missed you Davis' she said, and took his hand. 'I thought of you when Robert left me barefoot and ripe as a melon'. Davis squeezed her hand.
'Couldn't believe when I heard' he said, 'broke my ten year old heart'. Maggie leaned her head on the firm shoulder.
'Cousins can't marry' she said, 'even ones that aren't blood'. Davis stroked a strand of hair where it had fallen over Maggie's forehead. 'Anyway' she added, inhaling, 'I'm nineteen now; a mother and you're already a soldier'. She felt Davis press his lips against her forehead. She closed her eyes.
'You will always be my first love Maggie' he said. A wash of emotion caused Maggie's breasts to leak. She cupped them and pressed her palms against the nipples. Davis went still beside her.
'What's wrong; won't I always be your first too?' Maggie murmured in the affirmative.
'Of course' she said. 'It's just these breasts get full then leak like anything when Jo sleeps through'. Davis gave Maggie a sideways glance and she could see the intensity in his moonlit face.
'Oh' he said. He took a deep breath. 'So will you find a husband to take care of the two of you?' Maggie shrugged and eased her arm off her front but felt the damp. She stood.
'Who knows,' she said. 'Now turn your face while I change'. Maggie searched the draw she had only filled the previous morning and pulled out a fresh, cotton night dress.
