Chapter 6

CHAPTER SIX

OWEN

Just as I thought, there was a knock at the door around nine in the morning. Janie had just finished feeding and changing Michaela. I opened the door to see not only her parents but mine as well. I had made sure to mention that Janie was here and about the baby.

“Look who we ran into on the way here.” My mom said smiling as she came in and kissed my cheek. They all had packages with them. I glanced over at Janie, and she looked nervous. Her parents came in behind them and her mother ran over to hug her. I saw the relief on her face as she glanced at me from over her mother’s shoulder. Her father came over and hugged her as well.

“Where is our grandbaby?” Mrs. Saunders asked as she looked around. The bassinet was in the bedroom.

“I’ll get her Mama, she is sleeping.” Janie went to the bedroom to get our daughter. When she came back, she looked conflicted.

“How do we choose who holds her first?” she whispered looking at both sets of grandparents. My mother spoke up immediately.

“How about you let your parents hold her first then we will.” She suggested as Janie’s mother walked over to take the baby. She looked at her with tears in her eyes.

“Oh, would you look at that hair. So sweet just like her daddy’s.” my mom went and sat down beside my mother and the women cooed over the baby. Our fathers just chuckled. They all took turns holding her until she got fussy.

“Well, she seems hungry, we can’t help with that.” My dad handed her back to Janie who went to the bedroom to feed her. I looked at the bags they had brought over and shook my head. I mean really how much stuff does a little baby need.

“We are going to get out of your hair, how about if we all have Christmas together at the lodge. If that’s okay with you and your parents?” Mrs. Saunders looked from me to my parents, and we all nodded.

“There is plenty of room if anyone else is coming.” Mr. Saunders offered. “When the baby is back down, you can go through all this stuff. We will be back in a couple of days unless either of you need us before then.”

Janie came back in the room and sat down in the rocking chair. She looked ready for a nap. Her mother came over and gave her a hug. They left and Janie closed her eyes.

“Are you okay sweetheart?” I asked her as I pulled a couple of bags on the coffee table. “Would you like to nap or go through these bags to see what they brought?”

“I’ll go through a few of the bags. We can divide and conquer.” She opened the first bag and pulled out a couple packages of bottles, a bottle cleaner and pacifiers. I opened one that had more cloth diapers, receiving blankets and baby toiletries. Next, I opened a bag that had clothes for her.

“Baby, this bag is for you.” He said as he handed it to me. I reached inside pulling out packs of undies, a few bras as well as some leggings and sweatshirts. He opened another bag that had baby girl clothes, onsies and pajamas. I handed her another bag that she pulled out a pair of slippers, socks and boots for her. “Looks like they remembered you needed things too and might not feel like shopping yet.”

“There are a couple more bags in the corner.” I handed one to her and took one to open. There was a snowsuit for Michaela and some toiletries for Janie in the bag she opened. I opened the last one and there was a baby quilt inside.

“I can’t believe all of this. They missed all of the pregnancy stuff because I ran away and didn’t tell anyone.” She was crying again. I knew a lot of it was hormones. She was emotional right now. I moved the stuff and picked her up. She curled into me.

“How about you lay down for a nap while little bit is sleeping. You need all the rest you can get. I’ll fix dinner when you get up.” She nodded as I pulled back the covers and tucked her in. I turned off the light and cracked the blinds so she would have enough light to see the baby when she woke up. Pulling the door closed gently I left my girls to sleep.

I walked in the kitchen and found several bags of dried goods as well as a refrigerated, insulated bag with milk, cheese and butter. I put the food away and decided to make dinner. I had some meat thawed in the fridge, so I started to make some chili and cornbread. We could eat off that for a couple of meals. I was thankful my mother had taught me how to cook. I wanted to be able to take care of my family and Janie needed that right now.