Characters involved or mentioned in this story are:-
Patrick; dead, possible suicide?
Sandra his profligate wife and her baby (little Patrick)
Helen, mother, and grandmother
Padraig, Patrick's younger brother and his mother's second favourite.
They stood together in the cemetery as the headstone was unveiled, Mother and son, they were the only two there, the widow had cried off.
Mom read the words, "much loved son, father and husband."
'Everyone in this graveyard has the same or similar epitaph, it means so much and yet so little, where's Sandra do you think?'
I grunted a response, I disliked my sister-in-law intensely, I hoped one day to chisel the word husband of the headstone.
'She's asked me to mind baby Patrick of an afternoon.'
I looked at mother, 'she'll take advantage of you, you know that don't you?'
'I don't see how she can, if it doesn't work out, I'll just stop.'
I snorted a rebuttal, 'yes, I'm sure,' I made it sound as disapproving as I could, 'anyway, when I've finished my latest project, I'll be doing some consultancy, working from home, you know.'
'From my home, you mean?'
'Yes, if you don't object, I intend to do some of those repairs that you keep talking about, choice is yours.'
She raised her hands and almost clapped with joy, then remembered where she was and resumed her sombre demeanour.
'I take it Sandra is in need of money, has she a job?'
'Just afternoons.'
I spoke tersely, 'you've loaned her money, haven't you?'
'Yes, for my grandson, what would you do?'
'I wouldn't lend that money grabbing....' I left off the final word, 'she virtually bankrupted Patrick with her overspending, you know that, and, if you're not careful, she'll do the same to you.' I now realised I needed to protect my mother, she was putty in Sandra's hands, 'I'll finish of my work and return as soon as I can, if she asks you for anything tell me and hold out, okay?'
'I'll tell you everything, I promise.'
And so, I left, but within two weeks I was back, while I was away mother had been uncommunicative, so I feared the worst, I wasn't disappointed.
My mother stood at the door as I drove up the driveway, at least she looked pleased to see me, I placed my bags and files in the hall and went back to the car for more, mother took everything into my room, she lived in a three bed-room bungalow, so I had the smallest bedroom as an office.
'It's good to see you' I said, giving her a hug, I stood back and held her at arm's length, 'you look a bit frazzled, have you started the baby-sitting?'
'Yes, and little Patrick does nothing but cry, she's breast-feeding him but is late every day and he just cries and cries,' she shrugged, looking totally defeated.
'Sandra, is breast-feeding, what's she after, mother-of the-year?'
'It's a long story, come on the kitchen, I've got tea brewing and there's some cake I made. Sandra has talked me into taking pills, they allow a woman to produce milk, you know, breast milk.'
I nodded, I'd heard about these pills, 'you breast fed me and Patrick.'
'Yes, you were two years apart, I produced milk for almost four years.'
I nodded for her to proceed, though I didn't really like were this was going.
'Anyway, this latest method allows Granny's to breast feed a grandchild while the mother goes to work, she then takes over, the baby never needs to have Formula Milk Powder.'
I noticed her breasts were slightly larger than the last time I was home, 'so you're taking these pills and feeding little Patrick.'
'The trouble is I am producing more than he needs, I don't like to express my milk into a bowl, it goes everywhere, and I don't have a breast pump,' she gave a sigh, smacking of self-pity.
'As luck would have it, she'll be here in a couple of hours, and you can see the problems I have.'
I felt a bit nonplussed; how could I help a breastfeeding woman?
'I've got money, you only have to ask,' I told her, but she shook her head.
'It could just be teething trouble, in a week's time everything could be working fine.'
I agreed but didn't hold out much hope, she'd fed two healthy, lusty sons for almost four years, I figured she should cope with one grandchild but......?
I went for a nap, waking when Sandra arrived, the baby was asleep, 'well hell, if it isn't Padraic, long time no see?'
'Yes, er, it's good to see you, you're looking well.'
'I could say the same for you, are you here long?'
'Hard to tell but for the foreseeable future I'll be working from home, this home of course.'
'Mom says you're working, just afternoons I believe?'
She was quiet for a moment, 'er, yes, temporary work, temping, you know.'
She seemed unsure which surprised me, 'so, you're temping?'
'Yes, as I said, just temporary stuff.'
'Does it pay well?'
She didn't look too pleased, she knew mother now had someone who would look after her interests, she appeared distinctly uncomfortable.
'Varies.'
Mother took the carry cot and put it in front of the fire in the spare room, but a safe distance away. Sandra was in a rush, she couldn't wait to get away, hasty goodbyes and she was gone.
I looked over to mom who was sat on the sofa, 'what now?'
'I just sit here and wait for him to wake up, the sooner the better.'
We sat in the warm room, she did nothing, just waiting, I read a book, I thought how awful she must feel, waiting for a baby to wake and howl for milk.
I had just reached the end of a chapter when the baby began to snuffle around, not quite awake, 'do you want me to get him,' I asked?
She shook her head, 'could be a false alarm.'
I reached for my book, but two little arms appeared, waving in the air then a wail, mother sat up straight, 'can you lift him up for me,' she asked, reaching with one hand to undo the buttons on her blouse, her breasts appeared, full, rounded and inviting, 'aren't you supposed to wear a special bra,' I asked, embarrassed by her breasts being on display.
'Yes, Sandra promised to buy me one but didn't, and I don't see why I should spend my own money, I could spend a fortune, what with breast pumps, special containers, etc etc.''
'I'll go into the office, leave you in privacy.'
'I'll call you if I need you,' so with that she walked into the spare room placed him over her left breast and grasped the nipple between thumb and index finger and pushed it into his little mouth.
'I carried on reading my book, I'll let you know when I need a hand.'
I reached for the book but couldn't concentrate. After a few minutes she called out.
'He's full, I think' can you take him and put him over your shoulder, he might need to get his wind up.' I went into the spare room and patted his back, and he burped.
'You're good with babies Padraic,' she said complimenting me, I noticed both breasts were still poking against her blouse, 'how do you know he's full?'
'He was using my nipple as a dummy; Sandra doesn't want him to have a dummy, but I let him use me sometimes when he doesn't settle down.'
I nodded my understanding, I was slightly discomfited, she spoke so casually for a woman discussing such an intimate act, the shape of her breasts clearly visible through the thin material of her blouse, and worse of all I had an erection.
'You're wondering why I haven't dressed, it's because he sometimes wants seconds, is he restless do you think?'
I noticed his eyes were shut, 'I think he wants to sleep, that's what having a full tummy does I suppose.' It was difficult not to stare at my mother's breasts, especially when in conversation. 'Should I lay him down?'
'No, I always leave him semi-upright after a feed, I'm scared of him being sick, here, put this behind him,' and so saying she reached across for a cushion.
I was sat on the floor by the carry cot and had a magnificent view of her stockings, white thighs and panties, she had a flared skirt on, not particularly short. She was struggling to reach the heavy cushion, and it seemed ages before she turned to me with the cushion in hand. If anything, my erection was even more noticeable. I took the cushion and positioned it behind little Patrick's back, he made a few snuffling noises then went back to sleep.
'Doesn't look like he wants seconds,' I said.
'No, damn it he doesn't, I've got two heavy breasts full of milk, and.... damn it, I don't want to stop babysitting and feeding him, I wouldn't see him very often, if at all.'
'Sounds to me like you're stuck between a rock and a hard place, the answer is a breast pump, I'll buy you one, honestly it's the only way.'
'I breastfed you two boys, and never once needed a breast pump, I'm not going to start now,' she said this with some vehemence, her breasts moving as she spoke.
'I needed to stop this conversation; it was doing nothing to help my erection subside.
'I'm going back to my reading,' I told her and went to walk out
Just then the baby cried, his arms waving, 'hah, he decided he wants seconds, problem solved,' mom rejoiced, 'pass him up.'
I held him close to me and shuffled on my knees to hand him over, she opened her legs so I could get close and hand him over.
After a while she came into the living room and spoke again, 'using me as a dummy.' She sounded exasperated.
'Is he asleep?' I asked, 'if so just give him a bit more time.
I sat opposite to her, she yawned, then spoke, 'I know you think Patrick was my favourite, but, you see, I had problems getting pregnant, and when I found out I was pregnant, and Patrick was born I was so grateful you see.'
This came out in a rush.
This brought back unpleasant memories of my feeling second best.
She continued, breaking the silence, 'so I was told that there would be no more babies, so I made the most of Patrick, but then you came along, trouble is I was set in my ways and still treated Patrick as my favourite, That wasn't fair on you and I'm sorry about that,' she started to cry.
'I can understand your sadness, you've lost... we've lost Patrick, and now you're worried you're going to lose little Patrick.'
She dried her eyes, 'I can never make it up to you.'
'Don't worry about it.'
'If you forgive me, you can help me out?'
'Yeh, sure what do you want me to do?'
'I've got two breasts overloaded with milk and I'm hurting, I need to get rid of it.'