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.
Katelynn couldn’t stop expressing the gratitude she felt over having Bonnie there to watch Gail as her face brightened further upon seeing the older woman. “Hello Bonnie!” she whispered as they made their way into the apartment. “Do you want to meet your grandson?”
She lifted the carrier so he was eye level to the woman, his face in complete peace from sleep as the pillow of the carrier supported him. Soft padding from another room came bounding toward them, probably having heard their voices as Katelynn turned to watch her daughter latch onto her father’s leg.
“Dadda!” a three year old Gail cried and became like a leg brace around his leg. “You home!”
It was enough to stir Ulric who fussed in his car seat, his tiny blue fists raising in protest of the noise.
“Gail,” Katelynn scolded gently as he tried humming to the baby to get him back to sleep.
The little girl, keeping herself wrapped around her father’s leg, peeked around it toward the carrier with curiosity. “Baby here?”
Jack smiled, and knelt down to pick his daughter up for a hug. “Yes, the baby’s here. So what do you say, sweetie? You want to come see your new brother?”
“I think you’re gonna like him,” Bonnie said with a little grin. She was standing by Katelynn’s side, gently stroking Ulric’s blue head in a soothing way. “See? He looks like your daddy.” She smiled warmly at her son. “So now you’ve got one of each."
The blue man chuckled awkward – he still wasn’t sure how to feel about Ulric taking so strongly after him in looks. "I suppose so.” He carried Gail over to the car seat, and crouched down to give her a good view.
Jack Maple 