“A little. The nurse said my nipples wouldn’t be used to the sucking.”
“Bollocks, I suck on them all the time.”
Jenna rolls her eyes. “It’s different.”
“Want me to suck on the other one to get it ready?”
Jenna gives me a dirty look, but I burst out laughing. “No, Jimmy. You have to be patient.”
“How patient?” I’m afraid to know the answer.
“At least six weeks.”
“Six weeks? But I just got you back yesterday.”
She shakes her head and pulls Little One away from one of my favourite parts of her body.
“How do you know she’s finished?”
Jenna shrugs. “My milk’s not in yet so right now she’s just getting my antibodies to help her fight any infections.”
“And that’s enough?”
“It is for right now.”
“Amazing.”
JENNA and I agreed that I’d take Little One out to the waiting room for everyone to meet her. She’s tired which is understandable and doesn’t want any company right now. Jenna places our daughter in my arms. A surge of warmth spreads through my body as I hold her to my chest. I wish her eyes would open so I could see her and she could see us. I know she’s going to be the most loved little girl ever. All in due time I suppose.
“I love you, wifey. I’ll be back soon.” I kiss her on the lips before taking our baby out of the room. I don’t want to be gone too long, but I know the importance of the group waiting to see her. They’re my family.
As soon as I open the door the two grandmothers meet me. How Jenna’s mum got here so quickly is beyond me, but she’ll be happy to know she’s here.
“Say hi to your nana and grandma,” I whisper into Little One’s ear. She doesn’t react, but the mums do. They both cover their mouths and allow the happy tears to flow freely.
“Oh Jimmy, she’s so beautiful,” my mum says.
I nod. “You should see her mum, she’s the most gorgeous woman in the world.”
Mrs. Hardy steps forward. “Can I?”
As much as I want to say no, I can’t. Her baby just had a baby and I can’t begin to imagine what she’s going through. I place Little One in her arms and watch in amazement as the woman who gave me Jenna coo’s over our daughter.
“She’s so perfect.”
Again, I’m not about to disagree with her on that one.
The mums take turns holding and gushing over the baby. I stand back and watch, wishing Jenna were witnessing this. But she wants to get some rest and I understand that more than anyone.
Finally, after a long torturous five minutes, they hand her back to me. The moment she’s in my arms, I’m both elated and calm. My heart is racing but in a good way. I’m breathing easily now and don’t feel like I’m going to struggle anytime soon. Did I need Little One to make me feel this way?
I walk into the waiting room and am met with a sea of eager faces. Josie and Katelyn are the first to stand up, but they keep their distance. Liam and Harrison stand behind their significant others and it dawns on me that I’m the only one that has witnessed their child being born. I can’t even begin to imagine what’s going through their minds right now.
I hold my arms up so they can see my daughter. The women, of course, gasp.
“I’d like to introduce Eden Davis who made her way into the world at 11:59 am weighing six pounds and eight ounces.”
“Eden?” my mum says.