“Just lucky, I guess,” I reply, knowing that it’s the truth.
Jane is nice enough to keep Margo while we spend another two days in the hospital. Finally, everyone is free and clear to go home. I load William into the car as carefully as I can and climb behind the wheel.
“You don’t think he’s too warm back there, do you?”
I shake my head. “I think he’s fine, honey. Just relax. Babies are pretty resilient.”
“Easy for you to say. You’ve had one before. He’s my first, and I’m terrified that I’m going to forget to feed him or something,” she jokes.
“Trust me, he won’t let you forget that,” I remind her, picking up her hand and pressing a kiss to the back. “Don’t forget, my parents are going to be coming in this week. They miss Margo and want to meet you and William.”
“Oh, first time meeting the parents. Now I’m nervous.”
“Don’t be. They’ll love you,” I promise, “and they already love William. I’ve been sending them pictures.”
The drive home is long since we didn’t go to the hospital in town. Violet and I were away when she went into labor, and we had to rush to the closest hospital. She ends up falling asleep on the ride home, and I try to drive slowly and smoothly as to not wake either of them up. We finally make it home, and I press a kiss to her forehead. “We’re home. Wake up, sleepy head.”
Her eyes flutter open. “Oh, that didn’t take long at all,” she says, wiping the sleep from her eyes.
“You need help in?”
“I’m fine. Just get Will for me, please.”
I take his seat out of the truck and carry it into the house with all the bags. We only make it to the living room before he’s crying, ready to eat again. Violet sits on the couch as I take him out of the seat. I hand him over, and she’s already got her top opened and is feeding him.
“See, I told you he’d remind you.”
She smiles up at me as she leans back on the couch. “Can I get something to drink and a snack? I swear, you’d think I wouldn’t be as hungry now that he’s out.”
I laugh. “Your body lost a lot in delivery. You need to build it back up so you heal. What sounds good?”
“Hm…peanut butter and jelly sandwich and a glass of milk.”
I kiss the top of her head from the back of the couch and turn on my heel.
“Oh, and a sliced apple, too, please.”
I make her snack and take everything back into the living room. I hold her plate in my lap and hand her what she wants to eat as she feeds William. Moments after they’re both done eating, the door flies open, and Margo comes running in.
“Finally home! How far did you have to go to pick him up? Geez.”
“Well, we missed you, too, Margo.”
“Yeah, I missed my toys!” Without another word, she goes running for the stairs.
“Well, I think it’s safe to say that I’ve now become an old toy to Margo,” Violet says.
I smile. “Don’t worry. So have I.”
“Can I hold him?” Jane asks.
“Of course,” Violet agrees, handing him over.
Jane sits in the recliner, holding the baby and watching him like he might do a trick. “He’s amazing. So, you’re finally moved in?” she asks, looking up at Violet.
Violet nods. “Yeah, only took him eight months to talk me into it, but all my stuff is finally here and he’s sharing a bed with me.” She smiles over at me.
“What are you going to do with your place here in town?”
She shrugs. “I don’t know. Keep it, sell it. We haven’t talked about it yet.”
“Well, I have an idea.” Her brows raise.
We both look at her, waiting for her idea.
“You could rent it to me. The lease on my apartment is about up, and I’ve been looking but haven’t found anything that’s caught my eye yet.”
“Oh,” Violet says. “Yeah, Jane. I think that would be a good idea. Then I can keep it, but you’ll be there to take care of it.”
“Really?”
Violet nods. “Absolutely. I wouldn’t trust anyone else with my house anyway.”
“We can hammer out the details after you’ve gotten your rest.”
“Yes, next week. I’ll be busy this week with a newborn baby and meeting the parents.”
“You haven’t met yet?”
“Not yet…” she says, but I can hear the worry in her voice.
Later in the week, my parents finally make it. The three of us greet them at the door. Margo jumps into their arms, hugging and kissing them. Finally, I get to introduce Violet.
“Mom, Dad, this is Violet.”
They both bust open and gush love everywhere just like I knew they would.
“You’re so beautiful,” Mom says. “Now, where’s my grandson?”
“Right this way. Come on, Dad. I’ll help you with the bags.”
Violet leads Mom into the living room where Will is asleep in his bassinet. I help Dad get the rest of their luggage in.
Mom is already leaning over the baby, tears in her eyes.
“Do you want to hold him?” Violet asks.
“Haven’t you ever heard you’re not supposed to wake a sleeping baby?” Mom says. “I don’t want to disturb him. I’ll wait for him to wake up.”
Violet laughs. “If you wait for that, you’ll be waiting a long time. All this kid does is eat, sleep, and poop.” She picks him up and sets him in Mom’s awaiting arms. He doesn’t even stir.
“Well, he’s a good sleeper now, isn’t he?”
Violet nods. “He really is. Unless you’re feeding him or changing him, he wants to be left alone to sleep. I’m probably the only mother who can’t complain about her newborn baby’s sleeping habits.”
Mom sits on the couch with William, and Dad goes to sit beside her. He looks over at his grandson fondly. “Well, he sure is something,” he says.
“He’s perfect,” Mom gushes.
“Do you have any special requests for dinner? I was just planning on getting started.”
Mom’s head pops up. “You mean, you cook too?”
Violet laughs. “I love to cook. I own a bakery in town.”
“That’s right. Carson told me that. Whatever you want to prepare, dear, is fine with me. I’ll eat anything.”
Violet smiles and goes into the kitchen with me following behind her. I put my hands on her hips and spin her around to face me.
“See, they love you.”
She smiles and her face flushes with color. “I don’t know. They may just be being polite.”
I snort. “If my mother doesn’t like someone, she lets them know. And she loves you.” I lean in and press my lips to hers.
“Alright, go away so I can start on dinner.”
I laugh but leave her alone to create her masterpiece while I go catch up with my parents.
When I get back into the living room, Margo is sitting in the floor at Mom and Dad’s feet. She’s rolling a car up Dad’s leg, and he’s pretending that it tickles by putting on a fake laugh, which only makes her laugh. Mom is holding William, still completely engrossed with him. I sit in the recliner at their side. While I catch up with my parents, Margo goes to help Violet in the kitchen with dinner. Their favorite thing to do together is cook, and I feel extremely lucky that Violet can cook and bake and that Margo loves helping her as much as she does.