Chapter 52 Ligaya
LIGAYA
The gifts arrive in waves.
First, a modest vase from Centerstone High School, sweet and thoughtful with a card signed by my colleagues. Toby brings it along with two enormous teddy bears that will need their own bedroom.
Then, a massive gift basket from the Mavericks takes up half the ledge counter spanning the window. Propped over the fancy goodies are two tiny jerseys with the team logo. They are the cutest things I’ve ever seen!
A third basket shows up, brightly wrapped, from the WAGs, loaded with the things all new moms desperately need: lanolin cream, soft pajamas, a lavender heating pad, fancy teas, and Belgian chocolate.
Once the babies are cleared from NICU, I ask for them to be moved to my room so I can have unlimited access to their rounded cheeks and count their tiny fingers and kiss their perfect heads. I love the tender weight of them curled against me.
The feeding doesn’t go as well as the cuddling.
Every time they try to latch, I feel raw and pinched and incompetent.
Feeding hurts more than I thought it would.
The lactation specialists help me, and there’s a split second of blissful warmth when Orlando finds his rhythm.
Olivia doesn’t seem inclined to feed at all, opting to assess the world with her gorgeous light brown eyes.
When Tristan takes over, I get the best view in the world.
He strips off his shirt for skin-to-skin contact. It’s like he was born for this, easily nestling two infants against his wide chest and cradling their bodies over two impressive forearms.
He’s never been more gorgeous than he is right now.
Tristan kisses the tops of their heads, hums some tuneless little song, and is already an amazing father.