Family Love

by Jeanne Mccann

  The doctor looked at the sleeping child between them. “How’s Melinda doing?”

  “She’s already had her first meal and if I’m not mistaken she will be in need of a diaper-changing.”

  “Good. Do you want me to send a nurse in?”

  “No, Payton and I can handle things.” Payton nodded her head, but the look of fright on her face made the doctor chuckle.

  “Payton, relax, you are doing fine, all of you are doing just fine.” The doctor patted her on the arm. “If you promise me that you will get up and go for a couple of walks Reina, I will sign you out around four-thirty.”

  “Great, we’ll take one now.”

  “I’ll check back later. Congratulations, you two.”

  “Thanks, Dr. Levine.”

  “You’re welcome.”

  “Okay, Payton, let’s change the baby’s diaper. There’s a washcloth and a diaper in the bassinette. Go wet the washcloth with warm water and bring everything over here.” Payton did as she was asked and rejoined Reina. “Okay, Melinda let’s change this wet diaper. She removed the newborn baby’s diaper and gently washed the little girl clean and dried her off while Payton watched fascinated. “Okay Pay-ton, you can put the new diaper on Melinda.”

  Payton hesitated for a moment and then slowly folded the minia¨ture diaper on the docile little girl. “There you go, Melinda, you’re all done,” Payton announced as she patted the little girl’s stomach.

  She heard the click of the camera and looked up to find Reina tak¨ing their picture. “I couldn’t miss your first diaper change.” Reina laughed.

  “Does she need to eat again?”

  “Soon. Why don’t you wrap her in her blanket and we’ll go for a walk.”

  “Are you sure?”

  “Yes, but you’ll have to carry the baby and let me lean on you.”

  “I can handle that.”

  “I thought you could.” Reina chuckled.

  Reina, Payton, and Melinda took a slow walk down the corridor and back. Reina was very uncomfortable but, with Payton’s assis¨tance, she made the trip. The three of them headed back to their room again after all the nurses took a peak at the content little girl nestled in Payton’s arms.

  “We need to take Melinda one more time to check her vitals, weigh her, and prepare her to go home,” The nurse announced as she entered the room. Reina and Payton hated to see the baby leave but the two of them crawled back on the bed intent on napping until they returned her.

  “Honey, I’m going to call home and check on Max and Molly.” It was a little after lunchtime.

  “Good, I want to talk to them.”

  “Okay, but then you’re going to sleep.”

  “I will, honey. I promise.”

  It was an excited Molly and Max that visited with them. They both wanted to see Melinda. “We’re bringing her home tonight, we prom¨ise. And you both can hold her,” Reina pledged. “Are you taking good care of Mrs. Lenahan?”

  “Yep, we took her swimming and floated with her.”

  “Good. We love you guys.”

  “We love you, Mom.”

  Both Payton and Reina found it difficult to hang up the telephone. They missed their kids. “Okay, now you go to sleep,” Payton demanded when she and Reina said goodbye to Max and Molly.

  “Can you hold me, please?”

  “My pleasure.” Again, Payton lay next to Reina and wrapped her arms around her. “I love you. Now, sleep.”

  “I love you, Payton.” Reina tucked her face against Payton’s neck, her arms sliding around her waist. Within minutes she was sound asleep. Payton was no longer tired but she relished the feeling of holding Reina while she slept. The nurse returned Melinda very qui¨etly about twenty minutes later, and placed the sleeping little girl in her bassinette right next to Payton. With her arm around Reina, Pay-ton placed her hand on the sleeping child’s back. She could now go to sleep.

  “Is this Reina Lander’s room?” Virginia asked the nurse, as she and Frank approached the nurses’ station.

  “Yes, it is. The three of them are in there sound asleep. Come with me.” The nurse opened the door of the very quiet room. “Aren’t they beautiful?”

  Frank and Virginia had to agree. Payton had picked Melinda up earlier when she became fussy so that Reina could feed her. After she was fed and burped she had fallen asleep on Payton’s stomach. Pay-ton had one arm protecting the baby and her other arm around Reina, who was asleep on her shoulder. Payton was also sound asleep, her head resting against Reina’s.

  “We keep coming in to look at the three of them, they’re so cute. We took several pictures with their camera. Isn’t it just perfect?”

  “It is.” Frank hugged his wife to him. He felt the prick of tears as he stared at his daughter, Payton, and his new granddaughter. When Reina first told her parents years earlier that she was gay, it had bro¨ken their hearts. Not because they were ashamed of her, but because it was not an easy life to live and they wanted her life to be perfect. At that moment Frank knew his daughter had found her perfect life, and it made him profoundly humble. Virginia hugged him tightly knowing exactly how he was feeling as she smiled at the sleeping trio.

  “I hate to disturb them, they look so peaceful.”

  “We need to wake them up. They’re going home in an hour and the doctor will be here any moment.”

  “Virginia, you wake them up,” Frank suggested.

  Virginia approached the bed and kissed Payton’s cheek and then Reina’s. “Girls, wake up.”

  Payton’s eyes blinked open and she smiled when she saw Virginia and Frank. “Hi, Grandpa and Grandma. You want to meet Melinda?”

  She pulled her arm away from Reina and picked up the baby. “Here is your Grandma Virginia, Melinda.” She handed Melinda to Virginia, who hugged the little girl to her chest.

  “She’s beautiful, Payton.” Virginia turned to show Frank his granddaughter.

  “Just like Reina,” Payton agreed as she gently woke her up. “Sweetie, your parents are here.”

  Reina snuggled closer to Payton and then opened her eyes. “Hi Mom and Dad. Did you just get here?”

  “Yes, honey. How are you feeling?”

  “Good. In fact, I feel so good I just might think about having another baby.” She grinned. Payton’s look of astonishment made Frank and Virginia laugh out loud.

  “Relax, honey, I was just teasing.” Reina kissed her on the cheek. “Payton needs time to recuperate,” She explained as she gathered Payton’s hand in her own and gazed lovingly at her.

  “Grandpa, here, it’s your turn.” Virginia started to hand the baby to Frank.

  “Wait. I need to take some pictures.” Payton scrambled for the camera.

  After taking several pictures of Virginia holding the baby, she took a few of Frank. He held the very cooperative, sleeping child while they all quietly visited until the doctor arrived.

  “Reina, are you ready to go home?’ The doctor asked after she was introduced to the proud grandparents.

  “Yes, please.”

  “Okay, you know the drill. Stay off your feet, no heavy lifting, and Payton is to wait on you hand and foot.”

  “She will.” Reina chuckled.

  “You and the baby need to come see me next Thursday morning at nine.”

  “We’ll be there.”

  “If you have any questions, call me any time.”

  “We will. And thank you, Dr. Levine.”

  “My pleasure. Now I’ll let you get ready to leave. The nurse will bring the wheelchair in after I sign the papers. Probably in about twenty minutes.”

  “Mom, can you and Dad help Payton and me by watching the baby for a moment while I get dressed? You can take her in the hall.”

  “Okay, sweetie.” Frank and Virginia did as she asked.

  “Payton, you’re going to have to help me put my sweats on. I’m afraid I can’t bend over too far.”

  “No problem, honey.” It took awhile for Reina to be fully dressed sinc
e she found it hard to move at all. Payton put her shoes on and packed her things.

  “I look a mess,” Reina grumbled as she sat back on the bed.

  “You couldn’t look more beautiful to me.” Payton promised, hug¨ging her gently.

  “Is everything packed?”

  “Yes, honey.”

  “Good. You want to go let Grandma and Grandpa back in.”

  Within half an hour, Reina was being wheeled down the hall with the baby in her arms. Frank and Virginia had already left and would meet them at home. They’d taken the flowers and the teddy bear with them, leaving Payton to carry Reina and the baby’s things. Her arms were full but she was still managing to take pictures.

  “I’m going to destroy that camera when I get my hands on it,” Reina warned Payton teasingly.

  “You won’t feel that way when you see the pictures.”

  “Payton, go get the car before I kill you.” Reina grinned.

  “Okay, honey.” Payton took off.

  “She’s pretty excited.” The orderly remarked.

  “She is very excited, and if I don’t strangle her first I’m going to enjoy watching her deal with all of this.” She laughed as they headed out the front door. She loved how Payton was reacting. Payton pulled the car around and was waiting by the open front door.

  “Payton, put the baby in the car seat while this nice gentleman helps me into the car,” Reina instructed.

  Payton took the baby and set her in the waiting car seat. By the time she had her strapped in, Reina was in the car ready to leave.

  “Good luck.”

  “Thank you.”

  “Reina, are you ready to go home?” Payton faced her and grasped her hand.

  “Yes, are you?”

  “All three of us are.”

  Payton’s drive home was nerve wracking, knowing her car carried not only Reina but also Melinda, and she was overly cautious. She had never paid more attention to her driving. She sighed with relief when they pulled into the garage.

  “How about I help you into the house and come back for Melinda?”

  “No, you carry her. I can lean on your arm.”

  Payton un-strapped the sound asleep little girl and helped Reina out of the car. Slowly, they made the trip into the house.

  “Here, honey, let your old dad help.” Frank took Reina’s arm and assisted her down the hall to her bedroom.

  “Where are Max and Molly?”

  “They went with Mrs. Lenahan to get you and the baby a card. We thought you might want to get comfortable before they see you.”

  “Thanks, Dad. Payton, can you help me, please?”

  “Sure, honey. Virginia, will you take Melinda for me?”

  “Sure, Payton. Come on, Frank.”

  “Reina, honey, I have to tell you. I’ve never been more pleased or happy to have you as a daughter. You and Payton make me proud when I see how wonderful you are. I think all three of your children are lucky to have you as parents.”

  Reina was surprised and moved by her father’s words and burst into tears, while her father hugged her. “Thanks, Dad.”

  “You’re welcome, sweetie. Now, Grandma and I are going to check out Melinda. You let Payton take care of you.”

  “I love you, Dad.”

  “I love you, honey.”

  “Thanks, Frank.” Payton hugged him before he left the room, her face streaked with tears.

  “Payton, I should be thanking you. You have brought love and joy into all of our lives. We love you, honey.”

  Payton turned to Reina, crying like mad. “Damn it. I can’t seem to stop crying today.”

  “Payton, come here.” Reina hugged her tightly. “He’s right, you made my life perfect.”

  “I’m the one who’s lucky.” Payton kissed her softly. “Now, let’s get you comfortable and in bed.”

  “Can I take a quick shower, please?”

  “Is it okay to?”

  “I think so, but you’ll have to help me.”

  “I love showering with you.” Payton grinned.

  “Come on, you.” Reina laughed. She loved the fact that Payton still thought of her as her lover. With Payton’s help, Reina stripped herself of her clothes and wrapped a towel around her body. She was a little embarrassed to have Payton see her naked.

  “Reina, I have turned the shower on.”

  “Thanks, honey. I’ll only be a few minutes.”

  Payton walked up to Reina and slipped her arms around her, slid¨ing the towel from her body. Reina, you are so beautiful right this minute.” Payton’s eyes glistened with tears. “This gorgeous body was part of a miracle. I will spend the rest of my life thanking you for lov¨ing me, and sharing this day with me.”

  Reina cried while Payton gazed at her, she was too overwhelmed to speak. Payton’s hands traveled over Reina’s stomach and breasts. “I want to memorize you and this moment.”

  Kneeling in front of Reina, Payton laid her face on Reina’s stom¨ach and kissed her reverently, her arms around Reina’s hips. “Payton, kiss me, please.” Reina whispered, tugging Payton to her feet.

  Payton did as Reina asked, kissing her with a heart full of love and passion. They stood in each other’s arms for several moments before either one spoke. “Honey, you go climb in the shower, while I get you a clean nightgown.”

  “Payton, you are my heart. I love you so much.”

  “I love you, too.”

  Twenty minutes later, Reina was once again comfortable in her own bed, the baby in her arms, nursing. “When I get done feeding her, can you braid my hair? It’s driving me crazy.”

  “Of course,” Payton agreed as she watched the two of them. “I don’t think I will ever get over how beautiful you look when you’re nursing.”

  “Ha, I know you. You just like my overly large breasts.” Reina chuckled.

  “That, too.” Payton colored as she blushed.

  “I love that about you.”

  “What?”

  “That you still find me physically appealing.”

  “You aren’t going to like it when I start whining about not being able to touch you.”

  “We’ll work something out.” Reina’s eyes twinkled. “I think this little doll is done. Okay Payton, do your job.”

  Payton took the satisfied baby and sat in the rocking chair to hold her. “I hear Max and Molly,” Payton said as she burped her daughter.

  “Mom, Mom, where are you?” Max burst through the bedroom doorway.

  “Right here, Max. Come, give me a hug.”

  Max ran immediately to his mother and smothered her with little boy kisses. Molly entered the room much more sedately.

  “Hi, Mom.”

  “Molly, I missed you.” Reina held her arms open for Molly.

  “I missed you, too.” Molly clung to her mother, obviously a little scared.

  “How’s my perfect little girl?” Reina held her and soothed her as Max stood by Payton and the baby.

  “Hi, Payton. I missed you.”

  “Hi, little man. I missed you gobs. Can I have a kiss?”

  Max kissed Payton and then stared at the sleeping baby. “Is that my sister?”

  “Yep. You want to hold her? She wants to meet her older brother and sister. She is pretty little, she needs you and Molly to take care of her.”

  “Can I hold her?”

  “Sure you can. You go sit next to your mom and Molly on the bed. You and Molly can both hold her.”

  Molly still sat in her mother’s arms, her eyes as big as saucers, as she watched Payton place the baby in Max’s arms after he sat down. Grandma, Grandpa, and Mrs. Lenahan watched from the doorway.

  “She’s asleep,” Molly remarked as Max held very still.

  “Yes, she is. She will sleep a lot until she gets bigger,” Reina explained. “But wait until you hear her cry. She’s as loud as Max.”

  Molly giggled as she listened. “Does she have hair?”

  “Yes. Payton, take her hat off. Little babies ge
t cold very easily so they wear hats.”

  “Look Max, her hair is like Payton’s!” Molly exclaimed.

  “I told you she looked like you,” Reina gloated.

  “Molly, would you like to hold your younger sister?’

  “Yes, please.”

  Payton started to take Melinda from Max but he protested. “Wait, Payton. I have to kiss her,” Max explained as he leaned over and kissed Melinda on her lips. “I love you gobs, Melinda.”

  Payton sighed loudly knowing she was going to cry again. She gently lifted Melinda out of Max’s lap. Melinda very conveniently slept through everything. “Molly, here is your little sister Melinda.” Payton placed the baby in Molly’s arms.

  “She’s little.”

  “Yes, she is. That’s why she needs an older sister and brother to take care of her.”

  “We will, won’t we Max?”

  Max vigorously bobbed his head up and down. As Molly held her sister, Reina and Payton smiled at each other. “Love you,” Reina mouthed to her, and Payton responded with the same words as she struggled unsuccessfully to keep from crying.

  After Molly held her for a while, the baby woke up and began to fuss, so Reina suggested they show her to Mrs. Lenahan and then she feed Melinda. While Reina fed Melinda, Molly and Max helped Grandma and Grandpa fix dinner. Payton attempted to get some laundry done but between the two very excited children and her own nerves she didn’t get a whole lot accomplished. Reina joined all of them for dinner, bringing the baby monitor with her. Max and Molly were still full of questions about the baby and Payton and Reina patiently answered them all.

  Frank and Virginia watched a movie with Max and Molly while Reina climbed back into bed and Payton cleaned up the kitchen. After the movie, Max and Molly went in and kissed their mother and Melinda goodnight and Payton put them both to bed.

  “I think we’re going to take Max and Molly to the aquarium tomorrow. That’ll give you and Reina a break,” Virginia suggested, while she and Payton folded the last of the laundry.

  “Max and Molly will love that.”

  “Good, now you go to bed. You’re exhausted.”

  “I think I will go to bed. You and Frank make yourself at home. How do you like your new bedroom?”

  “We love it. They did a nice job with the remodel, and the nursery is fantastic.”