Chapter Fifty-Four
Jessica
We picked Alan’s parents up before heading back to the farmhouse. My dad’s Sunday shifts ended at two, so he was home when we arrived at three.
My dad came out on the porch when we pulled up and had come down the steps by the time we opened the doors of the minivan.
After we all got it, he stuck his hand out toward Hank and said, “Ed Bradbury. Good to meet you.”
“Hank Callahan.” He put his arm around Mrs. Callahan and said, “And this is my wife, Denise.”
Papa gave her a head nod. “Ma’am,” before shaking her hand. Then he turned his attention to Alan. “Carol said you showed up in a minivan this morning.”
“Yeah. I thought a minivan would be the easiest to transport Ruthie in.”
“Especially with the Ina car seat he bought,” I added.
My dad’s eyebrows went up. “Oh yeah?”
Alan replied, “I ordered you and Carol a base, too. It should be here next week.”
“Wow, Alan. Thank you. I’m sure Carol will appreciate that.”
I saw Denise open her mouth, like she was about to speak and Alan told her, “Don’t worry. I got you guys one, too.”
A smile formed on her face, and she simply murmured, “Good.”
Mama walked onto the porch with a crying Ruthie in her arms, and called, “Someone just woke up.”
My mother never got Ruthie when she was crying. Instead, she’d usually announce, “The baby’s awake,”—as if my daughter’s cries hadn’t already told me.
Alan looked at me anxiously. “Can we try her bottle again?”
****
Alan
Ruthie once again held firm in her refusal to take a bottle, and I came downstairs defeated while Jess nursed her in her room.
After making sure the baby monitor was turned off, Jess suggested I go check on how our parents were behaving.
“Who do you think’s going to win the Grandma Games today?” I quipped.
“Your guess is as good as mine.”
All the parents were in the living room drinking lemonade when I walked in. As I approached, I’d been happy to hear they were conversing and not sitting in silence.
“How’d it go?” my mom asked anxiously.
I shook my head. “No dice.”
“Maybe you should try waking her up in a couple of hours,” Mom suggested. “She might be more willing to try if she’s not starving.”
“That’s a great idea.”
She winked with a smile. “I had to get two stubborn boys to take a bottle. I know a few tricks.”
“She’s going to need help while I’m gone. I read it should be someone else offering the bottle, since she might be able to smell Jess’s milk and be confused why she’s being given a bottle instead.”
My mother immediately spoke up. “We are happy to help.”
Carol responded, “Of course. It will be easy for me to help since they’re living here.”
Ah, let the Grandma Games begin.
Point—Carol.
Denise evened the score after dinner when we woke Ruthie, and she took a bottle from me.
I felt ten feet tall as I fed my baby girl. I couldn’t stop staring at her perfect face as she made little noises while she ate.
My mother clasped my shoulder and whispered, “You’re going to be an amazing dad.”
Damn right I am.