31. Wombat #2
“Did you call Jim yet?”
I glanced at Honor. “Oh, whoops. I forgot. Maybe I should take pictures?”
Her chest shook. “Do it.”
I snapped at least a dozen of Mia, then added more including Honor and me cuddled up against each other.
In one, I lifted Mia’s tiny hand that she’d wrapped around my index finger.
As I lined up the shot, I snuck my thumb under her middle finger to raise it toward the camera. “Take that, Jimbo.” I smiled wide.
“You’re going to be a bad influence on her,” Honor complained.
“Me? Never.”
Speaking of bad influences, the room got more crowded as Kid and Walt joined the mix. They strutted in, flashing their vests to everyone.
“Didn’t anyone tell you to put a hospital gown on?” Sonnet jumped to her feet as if she could ward them off.
“Walt couldn’t find one that fit. How’s the little wombat doing? Is she pooping squares yet?” Kid leaned to see Mia tucked against us.
I shoved his face away. “Mask, you smell like whiskey.”
“Sierra gave us a head’s up seven hours ago. We started celebrating early. Everyone says hi.” Kid got into a gown and let Hal straighten a mask over his face. Then he held his arms out. “Lemme have her.”
“Mine.” I clutched my daughter closer.
“Nope, she’s the club’s. Did you name her yet?” Walt struggled to cover the ripped gown with another one as he pushed Kid to the side and held out his arms so he could hold my baby first.
“Mine.” I glanced at Honor seeing if she’d pick up the joke.
“I know that, what did you name her?”
Honor laughed. “Mine.”
He glanced at us both. “You’ve got to be kidding me. Random wasn’t bad enough?”
“Mia,” I whispered it with all the reverence I could infuse into the word.
“Aw. That’s beautiful. Hi, Mia.” He held his hands steady and cradled her head like a pro.
“Welcome to the club, Mia. Your uncle Kid and I are going to make sure nothing, and we mean nothing, hurts you. You’re really going to hate us for meddling in your shit.
But that’s because we love you. Got it?”
He handed her off to Kid who studied her with almost the same seriousness, but was a little less practiced holding her than Walt was. His eyes went soft. “Wow. She’s so... pretty.”
“Yeah, better keep your twins away from her,” Walt warned.
“My boys ain’t going to cause trouble.”
“Bullshit.” I coughed into my hand. “Walt’s right. Keep those terrorists far away from my little angel.”
“You say that now. Just wait. I bet this one leads them around by the nose. She looks like you, all full of mischief.”
“Take that back,” I said.
“You are,” Honor teased me with a poke to the arm.
“I’m a dad. I can’t possibly be that way anymore. I’m going to be serious from now on.”
Even Hal laughed at me.
“Traitors.”
Kid handed Mia back to me. “Good job, Momma and Daddy.”
I nodded my thanks. “When are you going for number three?”
He heaved out a shaky breath. “If Sierra has her way, tonight.”
“Ew.” Walt’s reaction echoed Hal’s.
“Too much information,” Honor muttered.
“You’re the one who asked. Anyways, we want a girl. Maybe yours and mine could be besties or something?”
I quietly conferred with Honor to make sure I wasn’t promising too much. She nodded. “I think Mia would like a best friend.”
Walt butted in. “Connery’ll be her best friend.”
“By the time Mia is old enough to have a best friend, Connery is going to be old enough to babysit,” Kid pointed out.
Walt was horrified. “The hell you say.”
“Do the math. Connery will be thirteen in less than eight years.” Kid teased.
I couldn’t resist pushing the line a bit further. “Sweet sixteen in eleven. Driving, dating...”
“My baby girl is not allowed to date,” Walt declared.
We all had a good laugh at that one.
Much later, after the families went home, I watched Mia in her little transparent bassinet. Honor was resting, and the room was quiet.
“I know your mother and I want to keep you all to ourselves. But that’s no way to live. So. I promise not to be too possessive. But I also don’t want you running wild like Auntie Hal. Maybe you can help me out by falling somewhere in between, okay?”
Of course, Mia didn’t answer. I pulled the chair closer, so I could watch her sleep. A thousand thoughts, dreams, and wishes spun through my head. Worries and fears and joy... it was too much to pin down.
But there was one thing that kept me grounded.
Honor and I had a future. I promised myself I wouldn’t let that slip from my fingers.
And I vowed every day from now until Mia stepped into her own future, I’d do my best to make sure she had balance, safety, and a home filled with joy and wonder. Just like her.
I’d protect her, but try not to crush her spirit.
I’d guard her and let her fly. Hell, I’d build her wings if necessary.
It was going to be rough trying to make all that happen at the same time.
No wonder people said parenting was the toughest job.
You couldn’t avoid trouble forever. Honor and I had made it through the first obstacle.
We were parents.
That was a miracle. One I wanted to hold on to forever. I stared at Mia until it was well after midnight, and the darkness settled in. The sounds and work of the hospital hushed into unsettled whispers.
The shadows grew thick. To let them know I was watching. I placed a hand over Mia’s basket and spoke aloud. “Mine.”
“You’re using your biker voice again,” Honor mumbled.
I slid over to keep our conversation from waking Mia. “I was scaring the ghoulies away.”
“Hum. That’s good. But she’s mine.”
I laughed quietly. “You heard that?”
Her uh-hum was gentle. She slid a hand out from under the blanket and waited for me to take it. Then she tugged me close.
In her best biker chick voice, she uttered one word. “Mine.”
To quote from one of my favorite movies,
The end is only the beginning...
If you’re like me, you want MORE…
[Looks around, puts a finger on her lips...]