“Babe, you’re carriage to visit your daughter awaits.” Jake wheels the chair into the room and runs over to me. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing. It’s silly, but I just feel completely ignored in my request for my parents not to come.”
“I swear I told them, but I didn’t know they’d turn up anyway. I think they handled it well. If they come back today, I’ll make sure they don’t get past that curtain. Let’s go meet our baby.”
He helps me into the chair and wheels me down the hall. I’m itching to see her and recognise her the moment I set eyes on her. I’m allowed to hold her while the nurses tell us what we’re supposed to do with her. We’re talked to about breastfeeding and shown how to get the colostrum out of my breasts for her.
“So are we still naming her Louisa Grace Thompson?” Jake asks as he snaps loads of photos.
I look down at her. “It’s perfect.” Lou coos in agreement.
Jake comes over and places a kiss on my forehead as he slides his finger into her fist. We only leave Lou when I start to feel tired again and get worried that I feel as if I’m going to drop her.
Jake helps me into bed, tucks me in and stays with me until I fall asleep. My dreams are full of Jake and Louisa. My family.
Chapter Thirty-Two
Stephanie
Finally, after ten long days in the hospital, we are allowed to take Lou home. She’s dressed in a gorgeous pink onesie. Jake picked it out. She has her new soft toy giraffe in her arms too as we drive down the road. I’m sitting in the back with Lou—who is sleeping soundly in her car seat—and just simply staring at her.
Lou has her small fist wrapped around her giraffe, holding it against the dummy in her mouth.
“How are you two doing back there?” Jake asks
“Great.”
Before I know it, we’re pulling up at the house. Toby and Sasha have parked on the road so we can park up the driveway. The street is full of cars, most of which I recognise.
“Babe, why is everyone here?” I ask.
“It’s just the families. They want to see all of us. They’ve postponed your baby shower until the weekend. I have however told everyone they’re to stay only an hour, and then they must leave.”
I smile. “Thanks, babe.”
“See, I have your back.” He chuckles. I get out of the car, and he comes to get Lou out. I stop to get some bags. “No, you go inside.”
The next thing I know, Toby, Simon, and my dad are all coming out of the house to help me inside and carry the items we brought home from the hospital.
I get inside and find Aria on the couch sitting with Natalia. I move over to sit beside them as Jake takes Lou from her car seat. He brings her over to me. Photos are taken in a flurry of us sitting together, then Jake and Simon join us.
“Steph, can we get you a real coffee? That hospital stuff must’ve been awful,” Toby asks.
“Could I have a wine?” I ask as Sasha brings one over to Aria.
“No. Toby, make her a coffee,” Jake growls. “No wine, beautiful, until you’re off the drugs.”
“She’s tiny compared to Natalia,” Aria says. I look around the room—everyone is here—our entire families. Well everyone except–
“Where are Riley and James, Paula and Bryan and the twins?” I ask.
“Well, your sister and the twins have the chickenpox, and they don’t want to risk the babies getting sick,” Mum says.
“Riley and James would’ve loved to be here, but they’re going through a rough time at the moment,” Simon replies.
“Are they okay?” Jake asks.
Simon shakes his head. “No, they had a miscarriage three days ago. They’re trying to get their heads around what’s happened and why. It doesn’t help her mum keeps asking why she’s not pregnant yet. They didn’t want to bring the mood down over here.”
“That sucks. If there’s anything we can do, please let us know,” Jake says. Lou squirms then turns red before starting to wail. Natalia does the same. “Feeding time,” Jake announces.
He and Simon both get up and begin making the bottles while Aria and I change their nappies.
“Are we having a race?” Jake chuckles.
“We’re winning.” I laugh. Once I finish changing Lou, I give her to my mum so that I can drink my coffee in peace. Taking a sip of the drink, it’s still nice, hot and deeply rich in flavour.
“How’s the coffee?” Aria asks.
“I’d much rather have the wine.”
Jake hands my mum the bottle for Lou and a burp cloth. Watching my mum in this moment with my daughter is special. It’s precious. She didn’t get the chance to feed her while we were in hospital, but we did see my mum every time she was on shift. She held me during the hard times, where I cried because I didn’t feel good enough to be a mother. She encouraged me to breastfeed, then supported me when I couldn’t.
Lou drinks the formula like it’s her last meal. Mum burps her and then brings her over to me. I wrap my hand across her back as she snuggles against my chest. Everyone slowly trickles out of the house with the promise they will all be back on Saturday for my baby shower.
“Anything you want to do now, sugar? Go for a nap, maybe?” Jake asks.
“I could do with a decent shower, but I really am enjoying these cuddles,” I say.
“I’ll take her if you like. You’ll get her back once you’re ready,” Sasha offers.
“Wait a minute,” Toby interjects, pointing at Sasha. “That’s why you weren’t interested in a cuddle when they first arrived home. You knew you’d get one now and a long one too. Sneaky Sasha, very sneaky.”
“Smart cookies don’t burn Tobias,” Sasha winks at him.
I get up and pass Lou over to her. I make my way upstairs and lying on the bed are my comfy pyjamas, robe and slippers. My man knows me well.
A noise behind me makes me turn, and I see Jake walking into the room. “Hey, you look like you could do with a hand in the shower.”
“I could do with a hand. Would you mind?” He waggles his eyebrows at me, and I know what he’s thinking. “Jake, I don’t exactly look sexy right now. I’ve still got a bandage over my stomach where I have one large incision, and I–”
He places two fingers over my lips, silencing me.
“You will always be sexy to me, Stephy. Always. You earned your future scar by carrying our daughter, and if that’s not the sexiest thing in this world, then I don’t know what is.” He bends down and carries me to the bathroom. He turns on the shower. “When you get out, there is a gift basket from my colleagues for you to go through when you’re ready.”
From head to toe, he tenderly takes care of me, being gentle around my incision. He hands me a towel and helps to dry the lower half of my body. He helps me dress and then eases me into bed.
“Can I get you anything?” he asks.
I give him a sly look. “A glass of wine and our daughter would be lovely.”
He arches an eyebrow and grins. “Nice try, gorgeous, but no chance on the wine. I can, however, get you a Sprite. The baby, on the other hand, I can also bring if her Auntie Sasha is finished with her.”