EMMA's POV :
I had only been a mother for a day now, but I felt so different already. Having a child really put the world into perspective. Everything else that wasn't necessary just disappeared out of my priority. All I cared about now was to put my baby's happiness and well being ahead of my own.
For instance, I slept for two hours last night. I couldn't put baby Florence down. I wanted to feel her in my arms and I kept trying to get her to breastfeed. Kristen and the nurses were very helpful. They gave me lots of great tips about breastfeeding and how to do it right. And when I finally felt Florence's soft mouth latching on and suckling on the milk, my heart melted into the ground. I felt such a connection with her. It was magical.
Kristen said that motherhood made her learn about strengths she didn't know she had, and deal with fears she never knew existed. I couldn't think of truer words. Because the moment I held baby Florence in my arms, I knew I'd do anything for this girl.
Ian was feeling a lot of what I was feeling too. The first time he held her in his arms, he was shaking so much, he had to sit down. He couldn't look at her and not get emotional. For the first few hours, he was crying at the sight of her. But after that, he couldn't stop smiling every time he looked at her tiny face.
She brought us so much joy. It's crazy. And it's only been 24 hours since we got her.
Kristen and Hailey had to go back today, but before she left, Kristen gave Ian and me this piece of advice, "Parenthood is the most amazing experience you'll ever have. Sometimes it's really hard. Sometimes it's incredible. And then it's everything in between. So, just hold onto the good, breathe through the bad, and welcome the most wonderful ride of your life,"
We thanked her and Hailey for coming, and they promised they would visit soon. After they left, I was left with Ian and Florence in the room. We couldn't go home right away and we had to stay another day in the hospital because Dr. Martin wanted to monitor the baby and me for the first day or so to make sure no problems develop.
About an hour later, Dr. Martin and Nurse Jackie came into my room to check on me and baby Florence.
"Everything's looking great so far," Dr. Martin said after she finished checking us.
"How soon can we go home?" I asked her eagerly.
"I'd still like to keep you here until tomorrow. You'll need to rest and wait for any anesthesia to wear off. So, tomorrow afternoon, how does that sound?"
"That sounds great,"
I was so excited to take baby Florence home and see her nursery. Ian did such an amazing job with it. The room was decorated like a fairytale kingdom, filled with all sorts of stuffed animals, baby books, and toys.
"Okay, we'll be checking up on you in a couple of hours. For now, you should take some time to rest," Dr. Martin said in a commanding tone.
"Yes, doctor," I nodded my head.
"Thank you," Ian said.
Once Dr. Martin and Nurse Jackie left the room, Ian turned to me and said, "Baby girl, maybe you should put her down, the doctor wants you to rest,"
Florence was sleeping peacefully in my arms. I just breastfed her about an hour ago, so she was probably still full.
"Fine..." I sighed softly.
"Here, I'll take her," Ian stretched out his arms and I handed Florence to him, slowly and carefully as to not wake her up.
A smile curved up his face when he saw the little baby sleeping in his arms. He sat down on the chair next to the bed, and very slowly, he leaned down to kiss Florence's forehead.
"What?" he asked me when he saw that I was gawking at him. "Why are you looking at me like that?"
"Nothing," I muttered and bit my bottom lip. "It's just that... you make a really sexy dad,"
Rolling his eyes at me, he shook his head and ordered, "Go to sleep,"
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
When I opened my eyes next, I saw baby Florence lying in her little crib and Ian wasn't anywhere in the room. I quickly went over to check on Florence. She was still asleep. I had been sleeping for three hours now, so it was about time for Florence's next meal.
Picking her up gently, she stirred in her blanket as I pressed her little face to my chest. Florence's soft lips found my nipple and she started sucking on it instinctively. She was hungry, I could tell. She was a fast learner too. We only started breastfeeding for a day and she already knew what to do. She was gonna be such a smart girl.
I was breastfeeding Florence for the next twenty minutes until she was full and she fell back to sleep. I was holding onto her in my arms, just staring at her cute little face, when suddenly I heard the door creak open. I whipped my head up to see Ian entering the room.
"Ian? Where have you been?" I hissed softly under my breath, not wanting to raise my voice for fear that Florence might wake up.
Ian had a nervous look on his face as he said, "Emma... there are some people here to see you..."
He pushed the door further open and stepped aside, revealing my mom and dad standing in the doorway.
"Mom? Dad?" I gasped. My eyes shot back to Ian as I demanded, "What are they doing here?"
"I called them," he replied.
"You did what?"
"They deserve to know,"
"Why? They don't care-"
"Of course we care!" mom interjected suddenly. Pushing past Ian, she stepped inside the room and her mouth quivered when she saw the little baby I was holding in my arms. Her eyes glistened as she croaked, "You're still our baby, Emma... No matter what,"
My eyes were getting blurry too at the sight of my mom and dad, but I tried my best to hold the tears back.
"Why didn't you say that the last time we were at your house?" I asked her in a sharp tone. "Instead you threatened to put my baby's father in jail!"
"I'm so sorry," she shook her head in guilt. "I was so upset, Emma. I thought he was poisoning you... But now we know, we were wrong about him. We got it right the first time,"
"Do you really mean that?" my voice cracked.
"Yes..." she said firmly and took another step closer. "You're our only daughter. I'm sure you know what it feels like to want to give the best for your child. To want to protect her from any kind of harm. We thought we were protecting you from a monster... We were so blinded by our rage and our need to protect you, we didn't take into account your feelings... or the actual truth behind the events... We're so, so sorry,"
I couldn't hold the tears back any longer. Tears were streaming down my face and I couldn't even wipe them away. My hands were locked around Florence and I didn't wanna move.
"Emma..." mom tried to reach for me, but I flinched back in response.
Ian stepped closer and stood right next to me. I didn't flinch or pull away when he reached for me. He wiped the tears off my face and put a hand over the baby in a protective and loving manner.
"Emma... honey..." mom croaked again.
I looked up to see her and my dad looking right at us. Mom had a pleading look on her face and dad's eyes were filled with sadness.
"I... I don't know if I believe you. I want to, but I just don't know..." I told her.
"Emma-" she started again, but I cut her off.
"Please leave," I said curtly. "I need a moment to think,"
Mom and dad shared a look and they let out a long, defeated sigh.
"We'll be right outside... if you're ready to talk," she said. With reluctant faces, they turned around and headed for the door.
Ian was about to do the same thing too, but I grabbed his arm and stopped him. "Not you,"
Once my parents were out of the room and the door clicked shut, I glared at Ian and hissed, "What were you thinking? Bringing my mom and here? I don't want all this negativity around Florence. She doesn't deserve that,"
"Emma, I've talked to them," he grabbed my hand and gave it a gentle squeeze. "We talked for hours outside before I let them in. I told them about everything, every single thing, and they've listened. They've apologized to me and they meant it,"
"How do you know they meant it?" I asked him sharply.
"Because... I'm a dad now. And there's nothing I won't do for my daughter. Including accepting the monster that she loves," he said bitterly.
My eyes softened and I let out a sigh. I squeezed his hand back and said, "You're not a monster,"
"I was your teacher," he said matter-of-factly. "We downplayed that part a lot, but I know my place. I was a horrible person. I deserved everything your parents thought of me,"
"No, you're not!" I insisted, shaking my head from side to side. "You becoming my teacher is the best thing that's ever happened to me, don't you doubt that for one second, you hear me?"
Ian's eyes held a melancholic tone as he forced out a smile and nodded slightly.
"That and Florence, of course," I added. And this made him smile wider.
Placing a hand on the side of his face, I let my thumb caress his skin as I said, "I told you, I love our story, and I won't change a thing about it. Wrong or right, I still love you, Ian Hayes. Do you hear me?"
"I hear you," he whispered back. Leaning his face into my hand, he closed his eyes and said, "I love you so much, baby girl,"
Letting out a deep sigh, I paused for a moment before nodding my head at him and said, "Okay... you can call them back in now..."
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
"Who's the cutest baby in the world? Who's the cutest baby in the world? That's you, you're the cutest baby in the world!"
Mom and dad were playing with baby Florence, tickling, hugging, and kissing her. Ian sat next to me on the hospital bed as we watched my parents showered the baby with love and attention.
After I let them back inside, I told them that I've forgiven them and I asked if they wanted to hold the baby. It didn't take them a second to answer yes. Since I gave them Florence about half an hour ago, they hadn't stopped holding and talking to her.
"They're not gonna kidnap my baby, are they?" I said lowly so only Ian could hear me.
"Emma," he hissed.
"Just kidding," I replied.
"Is everyone hungry? I'm gonna go outside for a quick takeout run. Anyone want anything?" dad said suddenly, catching my attention.
"Takeout sounds really good right now. I hate the hospital food," I replied.
"I'll go with him," Ian said as he pulled his jacket from the couch. "Thai?"
"Yes, please,"
"Okay, we'll be back in a jiffy," dad said to us before heading for the door.
Ian gave me a quick kiss on the cheek before giving baby Florence a kiss as well and he followed dad out the door.
"He's an amazing dad, huh?" mom giggled after the door was shut.
"Ian? Yeah, he totally is," I smiled knowingly.
Mom smiled a sad smiled and said, "Honey... I'm really sorry-"
"You've apologized enough, mom. It's okay. I forgave you," I cut her off.
She shook her head from side to side and said, "I failed you as a mom. I should've never doubted you or your choices. I was a bad mother,"
"No, mom..." I scoffed. "I haven't made it exactly easy for you either,"
Tears pooled around her eyes again as she gazed down at baby Florence in her arms. Then she looked up at me and said, "You're gonna be a much better mom to Florence than I was with you,"
"Don't say that. You weren't a bad mother. You were only looking out for me..." I said, pausing for a beat before continuing, "I remember when I was in high school, you came to school looking for Tyler because you thought he was the guy I was seeing that got me pregnant. You yelled at him, you tried to set him straight. That was so embarrassing, but also, I was thankful that I have a mom who's willing to do anything to fight for her daughter. But this time around, mom, instead of fighting for me, just fight with me,"
A small smile curved up her face and she nodded her head. Walking closer to me, she sat on the bed in front of me and we shared a smile, an 'I love you' smile. Meanwhile, baby Florence was putting both her hands out as if she was reaching for something, so I put my finger to her hand and she grabbed it, and she grabbed my mom's finger with her other hand. She went to sleep holding on to her mommy and grandmommy's finger that night.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
"Hey, we're back," dad announced as he walked into the room bringing a bag of takeout food.
"Sorry it took a while. The place was packed," Ian added, following right behind him.
"That's okay," I muttered. As they put the takeout bags on the table, I noticed that Ian and dad weren't awkward with each other. They were back like buddies again. It was sort of heartwarming to see.
"Honey, I uh, saw this on a store window and I thought you might like it..." dad strode over towards me and handed me something wrapped in brown paper.
I gave him a quizzical look and took the thing from him. I peeled the brown paper away and saw a light brown leather bound journal with my initials on it.
"Dad!" I gasped.
"Ian told me you've enjoyed writing lately... and I know you're also running out of pages on your old diary..." he shuffled awkwardly on his feet. "You know? I think you'd make a great writer someday..." he said again.
Tears pooled around my eyes, but for the first time today, they were happy tears.
"Thanks, dad. It means a lot," I said as I jumped to hug him. He was taken aback at first, but he quickly recovered and hugged me back. We were just clinging onto each other for the longest time, and I whispered to his ear, "Dad, you know that I love you, right?"
"Of course. And I love you too, sweet pea," he whispered back.
As I pulled away from him, I saw my mom and Ian were also embracing each other. Baby Florence was in the middle of us all.
I couldn't stop the smile from forming on my face. I felt so full and happy. So beyond happy. Because now I knew that baby Florence was going to have so much love in her life from so many people. And it was the kind of love that would never run out.
*
*
*
- - - - - To Be Continued - - - - -