by Emma Darcy
Together…
A family.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
FEELING raw and sore for a week was no exaggeration, Nina discovered. She could not have coped alone, even if she had wanted to. Going home with Jack proved to be the best solution to everything. It was a revelation in so many reassuring ways. Nina was constantly being shamed for having harboured any doubts and fears about a future with him.
He was kindness itself in looking after her and seeing to her needs. The community nurse visited every day to supervise her medication and recovery. Jack fed her, washed her, helped her do whatever she wanted and gave her loving company.
If she was awake he shared Charlotte’s feeding times with her. It was too painful for her to hold the baby, but she was happy to watch Jack handling their child, talking away as though Charlotte understood him perfectly and always including Nina in the conversation, welding them into a family unit. He’d put a rocking chair in the bedroom, and he’d sit for hours sometimes, beaming with love and pleasure in both of them.
When she had first seen Charlotte taking eagerly to the bottle, Nina had felt a deeply distressing confusion. Had she only imagined the special bonding between mother and child arising from the physical connection of breastfeeding? It hurt to feel she wasn’t necessary at all. Not even missed. Left fragile in every sense by the operation, she had been unable to block a rush of tears.
“It’s no different to her,” she blurted out in answer to Jack’s concern. “The bottle is just as good.”
“It might be now she’s got used to it, Nina, but let me tell you she gave us the rounds of the kitchen the first time up,” Jack said with an expressive roll of his eyes. “All of us were on tenterhooks, trying to please her with a substitute, and she knew jolly well she wasn’t getting mother’s milk.”
It distracted Nina from her sense of loss. “All of you? Who do you mean?”
“Gary and Ben and Spike. I talked Charlotte through it while they gave me backup support.”
Nina listened in amazement as he described his scientific method of trial and error, the assistance given by his apprentices, Charlotte’s reactions, the advice he had given her and the final acceptance of the third formula. She wished it had all been taped on video film, the three men handing bottles around, the dog getting in on the act, the baby the focus of all attention and efforts to please, missing her mother in no uncertain terms.
“You did wonderfully well, Jack,” Nina said in sincere admiration, immeasurably cheered by this story.
His smile gave her heart another lift. Everyone wanted approval, she thought. And praise. Recognition of what was given. Love and appreciation went hand in hand.
“Try not to be upset about the bottle-feeding, Nina,” he urged, his green eyes soft with warm sympathy. “I know it’s a disappointment to you, but next time we’ll know better. You’ll be able to breastfeed as long as you want to.”
“Next time?” she echoed uncertainly.
“Uh…” He looked discomfited and tried to dismiss it. “Just an idea I had. Bit premature. Forget it. The important thing is Charlotte’s okay. Nothing for you to worry about.”
“You’re not being honest with me, Jack,” she chided. “Why not play the idea past me?”
He shrugged and grimaced appealingly. “It sounds like I’m assuming too much. You said not to rush you. Let it go for now, Nina.”
“I’ve adopted an open-door policy. I’m listening, Jack,” she said persuasively, wanting to know his innermost thoughts and dreams.
He gave her the direct look that zinged straight into her heart. He hesitated for a few moments, needing to reassure himself he wasn’t about to make a mistake. She returned his gaze steadily, projecting her desire to share in every sense.
“I didn’t like being an only kid, Nina,” he said tentatively. “Since we’ve got Charlotte…I thought, maybe in a year or two…if you felt up to it…”
“We add to the family?”
“What do you think?” he asked warily. “If you’d prefer to leave it at one…It was just an idea. It’s been growing on me this past week. I mean, I can’t imagine life without Charlotte now. I really love this kid. If we had more, there’d be plenty of love around for everyone, wouldn’t there?”
Nina had a mad desire to laugh. She had been so hopelessly and wildly wrong about Jack, it was almost funny. But it wasn’t, really. It had very nearly been tragic. Again tears threatened. She struggled for control, then smiled to set him at ease.
“I was an only child, too. I know what you mean, Jack. It would be good for Charlotte to have a brother or sister.”
His face broke into a pleased grin. “Hear that, kid?” he asked Charlotte, who promptly stopped guzzling to give him her full attention. “You might rule the roost, but you’re going to have company.”
She blew him a raspberry.
“There you go, getting impertinent again. I’ll tell Spike on you if you don’t show proper respect.”
The dog, who had squatted beside the rocking chair, leapt up to check what was going on. He looked at Charlotte. Charlotte looked him straight in the eye, as though imparting the message that he needn’t think he could be interfering between her and her father, then lifted her gaze to Jack and opened her mouth for the teat again.
It was enough to make Nina start wondering if there was more to instinctive communication than she had credited.
Over the next few days, it became very evident that Jack had an innate talent for family. He called his apprentices “his boys”, giving them a strong sense of being on the team, and they looked up to him as though he was a second father to them. Spike dogged his footsteps everywhere and was naturally included in practically every activity. Charlotte, “the kid” or, Nina suspected, “the pup” in Spike’s mind—was adopted by all of them.
Eventually the community nurse declared Nina healed. Having accompanied her to the front door, thanking her for the help and advice given, Nina went in search of Jack and Charlotte to give them the good news. She heard voices coming from the rumpus room, where Jack did his final polish on whatever he was working on. As she approached she remembered he had an appointment with Maurice Larosa, the antique dealer. She paused, loath to interrupt a business talk.
Their conversation drifted through the open door, holding her riveted.
“She’s a champion kid, Maurice,” Jack declared with pride. “Sleeps through the night. No worries at all. You’d better have a daughter next time.”
“I guess boys are noisier,” came the rueful reply. “She’s got your chin, Jack.”
“Chip off the old block. Though her eyes are just like Nina’s.”
“The fair hair must come from you.”
“I guess so. She’s going to be a stunner, Maurice. Blonde hair and big brown eyes.”
“Sounds like she’s got you wrapped around her little finger already,” Maurice remarked in amusement.
Jack laughed. “That’s my daughter. You’d better warn your son not to mess with her. I’m riding shotgun on this kid.”
Nina couldn’t help smiling. If there had still been any question about Jack’s attitude towards Charlotte, it was more than answered by the doting expressions she was hearing.
“Well, I must be going,” Maurice said, dragging his mind back to business. “Great job on the desk, Jack. My client will be delighted with it.”
“I’ll get Gary to deliver it this afternoon. I’ll show you out through the workshop, Maurice. Something else I want you to see.”
Self-conscious about eavesdropping, Nina moved beyond their sight as the two men started out of the room. “Mind Charlotte, Spike,” Jack called over his shoulder. “Won’t be long.”
This cavalier instruction to his dog piqued Nina’s curiosity. As soon as the coast was clear she returned to the doorway into the rumpus room. Spike was sitting on his haunches beside the capsule, cocking his head attentively as Charlotte waved her fists and burbled. An inquiring whine came from his thro
at. Charlotte raised her voice in a peremptory manner. Spike squatted down, dropping his head over the side of the capsule. Charlotte crooned at him.
Nina had the weird feeling Charlotte had this huge, intimidating animal wrapped around her little finger, too. Certainly she wasn’t the least bit frightened of the dog. She grabbed a fistful of shaggy hair. Spike’s huge lolloping tongue came out and gently swatted her chin. Charlotte crowed in delight. Having sensed Nina’s presence, Spike turned his head and gave her a look as if to say, “Well, she asked for it.”
“That’s fine, as long as you don’t eat her,” Nina heard herself say indulgently, and wondered if she had taken leave of all common sense. But the dog settled down contentedly and let Charlotte play with his hair, not so much as twitching an ear as the baby cooed her pleasure, obviously thinking it a great game.
“Don’t worry. Spike thinks he’s her stand-in mum.”
She half-jumped as Jack’s arms slid around her waist then relaxed as he gently pulled her against him.
“He’s such a big dog.” She sighed.
“All the better to keep her safe. Spike would lay his life on the line for her, Nina. But if you want a smaller dog for her…”
“No.” It was obvious that dog and baby had bonded in some perfectly natural way that both were comfortable with. Jack undoubtedly had something to do with it, and she trusted his judgment. “I suspect you’re losing your dog to Charlotte,” she warned good-humouredly.
“Mmm.” He nibbled her ear. “There’s something very seductive about little beings, babies and pups and kittens and chicks. I think this might be the first time Spike’s been in at the beginning, and he’s not going to miss out on knowing how things develop.”
She knew intuitively Jack was really speaking for himself. He didn’t want to miss out on anything, either. Next time he would be with her throughout her pregnancy. There would be nothing lonely about it. Nothing lonely at all.
“The nurse said I’ve healed very well,” she informed him. “And quickly, thanks to you taking every possible strain off me. I can get back to work now.”
His head lifted. She felt his chest expand, and a long breath wavered through her hair. “Nina, the boys have been making you the perfect table to suit your working needs. We could turn the sunroom into a professional sewing room for you. It’s only a fifteen-minute drive to Sally’s for appointments.”
“I must call Sally,” she said, smiling over his plan.
“I’m sure she wouldn’t mind.”
Nina turned in his embrace to let him see the happiness and certainty glowing in her eyes. “I want to call her about a date for our wedding. If you still want to marry me.”
“Want to…” He laughed, unable to contain his joy. “We’re going to have all the frills Sally can think of.”
“Her charges are high, Jack,” she warned, laughing with him.
“Who cares? It’ll be the best day of our lives. Charlotte can be a flower baby.”
She arched an eyebrow. “Maybe we should have a flower dog, as well.”
He shook his head, his eyes adoring her. “I love you, Nina Brady.”
She looked at him with all the brimming emotion in her heart, this incredibly caring man, her lover, her partner in life, the father of her future family. “I love you, Jack Gulliver,” she answered with vibrant passion, and went up on tiptoe to kiss him.
It was a kiss of promise, of absolute commitment, but most of all, of love and trust and deep pleasure in their togetherness. It was the beginning of the song of belonging.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
JACK slowly surfaced from deep sleep, feeling decidedly groggy. He recollected it had been a big night, a superb dinner and lots of champagne, he and Nina celebrating with Sally, riding a high from the great spread Nina had been given in a bride magazine, beautiful photographs of her best designs. Then he realised what had woken him. The kid was yelling.
He struggled out of bed, trying not to disturb Nina, who hadn’t budged. Big night. A well-deserved big night. He didn’t want the kid waking her up and spoiling sweet dreams of success and recognition of her talent. She’d worked hard for it. A special night for her.
Everything had been peaceful when they’d arrived home. Ben, who’d volunteered to baby-sit, had assured them there’d been no problems. The kid was six months old now. Shouldn’t be yelling at this hour. Jack frowned at the numbers illuminated on the bedside clock radio. Four-seventeen.
The night-light in the hall gave a dim glow, guiding him out of the bedroom. He frowned as he saw a brighter light coming from the kid’s bedroom. Someone must have left the touch-lamp on. The yelling stopped, but Jack kept going, deciding he might as well see if something was wrong. Switch the lamp off, as well.
He reached the doorway and halted in his tracks. His three-year-old daughter, along with her ever-faithful friend and companion, Spike, were lined up beside the cot, eyeballing the baby. Charlotte planted her hands on her hips and held forth to her little brother.
“Listen up, kid! You and I need to come to a ’commodation. I don’t like being woke when it’s still dark. Spike doesn’t, neither.”
Spike dutifully whined his displeasure.
“Now I’m going to teach you what’s what.” She stepped over to the lamp and tapped it until it went off. “This is dark. Have you got that, kid? Dark,” she repeated for good measure. “You keep quiet when it’s dark.”
A raspberry from the cot.
The lamp came on again. “This is light. You can start yelling when it’s light—” she wagged an authoritative finger at the baby “—but not before. And don’t blow raspberries at me. Show some respeck. This is your big sister talking.”
A becoming silence from the cot.
“That’s better,” Charlotte declared with satisfaction. “You’ve got to be a fast learner in this family, kid. Give him a lick for being a good boy, Spike.”
Spike’s tongue reached through the slats of the cot and swatted Patrick’s hand.
“Right! Now I’m going to give you dark, and Spike and I are going back to bed. You might as well go to sleep again. You can wake up when it’s light.”
The lamp went off. Jack scooted to his bedroom before the education brigade marched into the hall and to their bedroom. He listened for a while to make sure everything was all right. Silence reigned. He slid into bed and lay there with a huge grin on his face. Charlotte was definitely a champion kid.
Nina rolled against him and snuggled, sleepily mumbling, “Love you.”
“Love you, too,” he murmured, kissing her forehead.
He had a great wife, a smart daughter, a fast-learning son, an obliging dog.
What more could a man want?
Maybe another kid. When and if Nina felt up to it. After all, Patrick needed a younger brother or sister to pass the family lore onto. Fatherhood, Jack decided, was addictive. Especially with a family like his. On that contented thought, he closed his eyes and went back to sleep, serene in the knowledge all was well with his world.
ISBN: 978-1-4592-8119-6
JACK’S BABY
First North American Publication 1997.
Copyright © 1997 by Emma Darcy.
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