Chapter 10 #2
MONICA STRODE INTO Grace Community’s nursery almost an hour early, her arms loaded with freshly laundered and folded receiving blankets, crib sheets, and other nursery essentials.
Part of being in charge meant the laundry for the area was her responsibility.
She placed her load on a small table and turned to survey the room.
The ladies had left it in immaculate shape after last week’s services, and she was incredibly grateful for their stewardship. It was one less thing on her plate.
She tucked the laundry into the corner cupboard, checked their supply of juice boxes and crackers, and made sure there was a stack of disposable diapers available. She did a cursory check of the first-aid kit and made a mental note to pick up a box of Band-Aids before next week.
Once everything was in place, she sat in one of the three rockers to await her first arrival. She wasn’t taking somebody’s place this morning, praise Jesus, it was just her turn on the schedule. As she rocked, her head rested against the back of the chair.
Would she see Sean today? If she did, how should she act? Should she pretend like last night hadn’t happened? Should she apologize for something she’d secretly longed for but hadn’t initiated? Great questions with no good answers.
“Monica?”
Her eyes snapped open.
Pastor Alex stood in the doorway holding Jace.
“Did I wake you?”
“No, I was just trying to...” Monica coughed to cover the break in her words. “Work something out in my head.” How would the woman react if she knew that the thing that needed to be worked out was her son? She crossed the room, her arms outstretched. “Hey, Jace. Do you want to come to Monica?”
The baby grinned and tilted into her arms.
Monica cuddled him close and spoke to her pastor’s wife. “How did you get stuck with baby duty this morning?”
“Sean’s running a little late. He asked if I could bring Jace with me. I’m afraid I’m a little early.”
Monica smiled to hide the sarcastic thoughts blooming in her brain. I’ll just bet he did. Coward. “No problem. I’ll enjoy my time alone with him.”
Alex reached around the edge of the door and hung Jace’s backpack and jacket on a hook. “You guys have fun. I need to run.”
Monica took the baby back to the chair and sat with him on her lap.
“Do you want to play a game?” As far as she could tell, the baby’s gibberish was a yes.
She reached out a finger and touched the tip of his nose.
“Jace’s nose.” She moved her finger to her own face.
“Monica’s nose.” She repeated the action and the words several times.
“Where’s Jace’s nose?” She lifted his hand and touched his finger to his nose.
“Where’s Monica’s nose?” She moved the little hand and touched his finger to her nose.
After several repetitions, the baby was pointing at the correct nose with no help.
“You’re such a smart little man. Monica loves you.”
“Ma,” Jace said, pointing to Monica.
Monica didn’t have time to react. Her nursery helper rushed through the door with her own baby.
“Am I late?”
“Nope.”
“You would not believe what this child did to a clean outfit just as I was ready to walk out the door.”
Monica laughed. “You’re fine, take a breath. I’ve got a feeling it’s going to be a busy morning.”
She was right. In the next few minutes, they checked in ten more babies, including six regular members and four Thanksgiving visitors.
Sage Tillis paused at the door on her way to service. “Wow, you two have your hands full this morning. I can stay and help if you think you need me.”
“Thanks,” Monica said. “I think we’ve got it, but if you want to sit toward the back in case we need to send out an SOS, I can tell the usher where to find you.”
“You got it.” Sage gave a hasty wave and hurried toward the sanctuary.
Neither Monica nor her helper sat for the next hour as they rushed from runny noses to diapers to spilled juice to tears.
As the clock crawled from the sermon’s official end time of noon to twelve fifteen, Monica began plotting to lock Pastor Hunter in this room with a dozen hangry babies to see how he liked it.
Before the idea became a full-fledged plan, parents began arriving at the door.
It wasn’t long until Monica and Jace were the last two people in the nursery.
They sat in the chair and continued their game from this morning. Monica looked up when somebody cleared a throat in the doorway. Sean stood there with an uncertain expression on his face.
“Looks like I’m a little late,” he said. “Sorry. I was catching up with old friends. They don’t always think about the fact that I have to get back here to pick up my son.” He took the backpack off the hook, shrugged into it, and held up his son’s jacket. “You ready to go, buddy?”
At a loss about what to say to Sean, Monica figured they could find common ground in Jace’s accomplishments.
She carried the baby to the door. “Before you go, we have something to show you.” She balanced the baby on a hip and turned him slightly to face her.
“Where is Jace’s nose?” The boy touched his own face.
Before she could get the next question out the baby touched her face.
“Ma.”
“Good job!” Monica said.
There was a moment of silence. And then Sean practically yanked the baby out of her arms. He leaned into her space, fury evident on his face. “How dare you?” he hissed.
Monica took a step back.
“You are not his mother. Stay away from me and stay away from my son.” Sean bundled the baby close and turned to leave.
In the blink of an eye, Monica understood what Sean thought the baby had said. She stepped to the door and yelled at his departing back. “He was saying Monica not Mama, you jerk.” She slammed the door, leaned against it, and let the tears fall.