Chapter 34
ALEC
Our daughter.
Two words I’d never in a million years thought I’d be saying those words, even to myself, this soon in my life. I wasn’t sorry they were true, even if the timing and how my cousin had gone about having us adopt her daughter could have been better. A helluva lot better, but it was what it was.
The shuttle came down for a landing with a gentle thump, and then our parents and Aunt Lucy were there with our little sweetheart in tow, sitting in her stroller, looking like the absolute little angel she was.
“What’s this?” Carl asked after we disembarked and oohed and ahhed over the adorable outfit they’d dressed her in, a T-shirt dress that read ‘Daddy’s Little Princess’. He was looking at a car seat that definitely was not the one that had been left on the front porch.
“It’s a rear facing to age five airline and surface shuttle approved car seat, developed with Mylos technology,” Carl’s dad informed him hastily.
I’m sure your pilot can show you how to fit it.
If not, instructions are in the pocket in the back.
We pooled together to buy it as we couldn’t let our granddaughter ride around in anything but the safest on the planet. ”
“I see she has a new rag doll too,” I said, unfastening her from her harness and picking both her and the doll up.
“Yes. No yarn hair or strings, it’s safety rated for her age,” Mom said. “It reminded me of Holly Hobby with its patchwork dress and bonnet.”
“Only in purple and pink,” Aunt Lucy added. “They have another one in yellow and green, which we’ll get her later. We didn’t want to overwhelm her with too much all at once.”
“Oh, also the ladies at church rounded up a whole bunch of vintage Fisher Price toys, along with some new ones their grandkids have outgrown. There are Weebles and a Hickory Dickory Clock toy you can later use to teach her time, and a whole bunch more we’ll keep back for when she’s a little older, but the Rocking Saucer and Jumperoo in your dad’s car I thought you’d like to take with you up to the ship, as well as the chime ball and the Sesame Street baby gym and tummy time play mat. ”
“Thanks, Mom.”
“I’ll load it up and make sure it gets to your quarters,” our pilot said with a grin.
Kittinir and Carl took the car seat on board and followed the instructions to fit it to the shuttle seat, then I placed her in it and strapped her in.
“She suddenly looks even smaller sitting in that.”
“Well, it is made to fit up to age five rearwards and up to age twelve forwards. Let’s use the baby headrest. There. That’s better. Now her head is supported better, and it won’t flop sideways if she falls asleep.”
The pilot finished loading the rest of the things they’d brought.
“Have fun, sweetheart,” Mom said, kissing me on the cheek. “Take lots of pictures so we can show everyone how much fun you’re all having and how adorable my new grandbaby is.”
“I will, Mom,” I laughed.
“I’m sure he sent you an email already or whatever, but the doc gave her a clean bill of health.
He confirmed the lack of any heart abnormalities, said the lower muscle tone is pretty par for the course and something to be worked on as she grows, but not to worry a whole lot about it.
She ran a little fever and was grumpy an hour after her shots, but slept like a log and woke up hungry and back to her happy little self.
” Dad let out a little sniff. “She’s the purest soul I’ve ever met, including you as a baby.
She’s going to be one of the biggest blessings we’ve ever been privileged to enjoy. ”
“Make sure when you get back to the ship, to see about baby swimming classes. When you boys come down with her to the Keys, I want to let her enjoy my pool and be safe around it. There’s a gate and a cover, but while we’re all barbecuing and enjoying a swim, she should get to as well and not just be confined full time to a floaty seat thingmajig. ”
“Understood,” I smiled at my father-in-law. “I think it’s a good idea for general safety concerns.”
He gave me a nod, looking satisfied that I was taking him seriously.
“How was Floof with her?” I asked, as we’d arranged for Winchell to put her in her carrier and bring her to the shuttle this morning, as he’d cat sat for us the night after the wedding.
“He was fine. Gave her a sniff and then climbed into the pack and play with her. Curled right up against her, started purring, and they went to sleep together.” Aunt Lucy held up her phone. “Look, I took a photo. I’ll email it to you along with the others I took.”
“Thanks, Aunt Lucy.“
“Aww, they are so cute together. I bet they become best friends,” Carl said, melting at the sight.
“I think your pilot is waiting on you,” Dad said, and after another quick round of good-byes, we were off.