The pregnancy had been both a blessing and a curse as she had enjoyed every month knowing a little life was growing inside of her; something she and Jack had created through love even if the baby hadn’t been planned. She liked to think she was easy to put up with in the final months when her fake contractions had hit, when she would ask Jack for food during her strange cravings and gone through hormonal imbalances but those same wacky emotions would cause her to cry and ask for his forgiveness for being insufferable.
Seeing as how this was their second child didn’t make it any easier with a ball of energy that continued asking why mommy was getting fat and if she swallowed her toy ball. Sometimes their daughter would even throw fits demanding her ball returned to her or checking the toilet to see if she had released it.
Katelynn had tried explaining the best she could that what was in her stomach was a new baby for Gail to play with and it had prodded wonder at first before the small child stated she didn’t want to share her parents with a new baby.
“I’m da baby!” Gail had cried, running around the house.
Then the real contractions had begun and Katelynn couldn’t appease her daughter for longer as they rushed to the hospital. It had taken hours with Katelynn alternating between rest and pain before the little one had decided enough was enough – he wanted out.
And Ulric Ryu Maple had been born with a cry of pain and tears of joy, Katelynn gazing upon the new addition to the Maple family as he rested in her arms. A beautiful baby of blue who had shocked the doctor when he had come out but to the mother he was beautiful.
Her little bundle of joy – a quiet one who stopped crying once he was in his mother’s arms, opening his eyes after a few moments and simply staring at the woman he had been living inside as if recognizing her. That was the woman’s voice he had heard for 9 months, a loving voice that was now kissing his forehead and whispering more loving words.
“My little Ulric..” she had whispered with such love in her heart as she nuzzled him softly, excited to take him home and for Gail to finally see his face. How she hoped her daughter would love him upon seeing him but there was speck of worry in her heart at the kind of jealousy she might hold against him.
When the day came to take him home, they loaded him up in the car with such care – like a delicate present because truly that’s what he was.
“You’re going home now, little one,” she whispered during the ride, caressing his tiny hand between her fingers. “And you’ll meet your big sister and she’s going to love you…I hope..”
She stared up at her husband, worry swimming in the depths of her brown eyes.
Jack gazed back at the two of them, his green eyes soft and loving. Unlike his wife, he wasn’t at all worried about Gail liking the new baby. Maybe it was because he could remember how desperately he’d wanted a little sibling of his own, or maybe he was just blinded by love for his daughter, but either way, he couldn’t imagine Gail not loving Ulric.
Ulric … Jack still wasn’t crazy about that name. When they’d found out their second child was going to be a boy, Katelynn had read through a book of baby names, and fallen in love with the name’s meaning, “powerful heritage”. The blue man had tried to object; in a family with nice, normal names like ‘Jack’, ‘Katelynn’, and ‘Gail’, ‘Ulric’ would stand out like the proverbial sore thumb. Not to mention all the teasing he feared his son would get as he grew up – a fear that had only grown worse when the little boy came out as blue and bald as his father.
But Katelynn was determined – she wanted her son to be named Ulric. And because he loved his wife, Jack had finally given in. At least he can call himself ‘Rick’ if he wants to.
“Of course she’s going to love him.” He reached over and caressed the baby’s soft little cheek. Even if he feared for what Ulric would have to deal with because of his looks, Jack couldn’t help feeling a little pride at seeing his own features reflected in his child. “Look at him, he’s adorable. And when he’s a bit older, she’ll love having someone always at home to play with. You’ve seen how sad she is whenever Vycter and Maria have to go home.”
He hoped Gail wasn’t too upset at being left at home for the last few days. Since children under twelve weren’t allowed in the maternity ward (too much risk of spreading germs), Bonnie Maple had come over to stay with her granddaughter as soon as Katelynn had gone into labor. From what she’d told them, all was going well, but Jack was still anxious to get home.
Nuzzling her nose against her sleeping son’s cheek while she could get away with it, her lips stretched out into a smile. He smelled amazing – baby powder and something else that was sweet and purely him. “Well I suppose you do know her best since she always clings to your side. She just didn’t seem to happy when this little one was inside my stomach.”
It still gave her butterflies, having children and wondering if she was being a good mother. Taking care of Gail had been fine – one child to watch out for. But now she had two and would need to learn balance.
Sometimes she wondered if she was failing at taking care of Gail and giving her enough love.
Arriving at the apartment, the butterflies only doubled as they got Ulric out of the taxi, paid the man, and made their way into their home. “Here we go..” she whispered as she took Jack’s hand softly.
He pulled the suitcase out of the taxi after him, and gave Katelynn’s hand a comforting squeeze. “You don’t need to be nervous, love. It’ll be okay."
They didn’t even have to open the door, as it turned out. Knowing that the two (now three) would be coming home today, Bonnie had been up early and doing all she could to help get things ready. The older woman had never had the chance to raise a baby of her own, but she knew what needed to be done, and as soon as she saw her son and daughter-in-law arriving, she hurried to welcome them inside.
"Hey there!” She gave Jack and Katelynn both a beaming smile. “I’d hug you, but I can see you’ve already got your hands full.” Many grandmothers would have immediately hurried in to coo over the baby (or even grab it to cuddle for themselves), but Bonnie had enough respect for Katelynn not to push her.
Jack Maple 