Love Never Fails

by L. D. Harmison

  “Kelly I think that’s the smartest thing I’ve ever heard you say.” Monica giggles winking at her friend.

  “Shut up.” And before Kelly can call Monica a bitch, Lauren looks her way stopping her from continue to finish that sentence. Kelly smiles wide with all her teeth showing.

  “I’m hungry; can someone please bring me a cheeseburger, with large fries, and a large Dr. Pepper? I would get it myself, but I’m kind of stuck on this bed.”

  Jake doesn’t want to abandon his fiancé and daughter, so John and Lauren volunteer. Josh and Kelly decides to go home and promises to stop by tomorrow. Kelly gives her friend a hug, and pecks Ella on her forehead. She whispers I love into Monica’s ear, and they part ways.

  “Baby I love you so much.”

  “I love you too babe.”

  “Ella I love you so much also.”

  “I’m glad things happened the way it did.”

  “Yeah me too. I’m here with my beautiful fiancé and delicate angelic baby.”

  “Baby what are you going to do about school tomorrow?”

  “I’m not going.”

  “But you have finals.”

  “Well then I’ll have to make it up. I’m not going anywhere without you and Ella.”

  “Why does your mom act like she does? Shit why does your parents both act like that?”

  “Because they’re always miserable. Something good could happen, and they’ll find something negative about it. Like what they did today. That’s just how they are.”

  “You’re not going to be like them right?” Monica pouts her bottom lip.

  “Hell no. I want to be opposite of them. I want to be like your parents. They’re wonderful to you, to me, and I know they’ll be great to Ella.”

  “I know they will. They already fell in love with her the moment they set their eyes on her.”

  “Just like I did. The first time I saw you, you took my breath away. And now our baby girl is taking my breath away.”

  The nurse reenters the room and asks Monica if she’s ready to breastfeed the baby. It was evident Monica didn’t know how, so the nurse helps her. She places a pillow against Monica’s belly right underneath her breast. She steals Ella from Jake, and hands her to Monica. While Monica holds Ella, she instructs her to rest her arm on the pillow, and grabs Monica’s breast and tells Monica to hold her breast with her index and middle finger and place it in Ella’s mouth. Once Ella starts sucking on her nipple, Monica’s parents arrive with the food. Jake takes Ella’s baby blanket and covers Monica’s breast from John. While Ella eats, Monica stares at her beautiful daughter. Her feeding Ella is the first real connect she experienced and it feels great. Motherhood is the best thing that can happen to a person. Monica got the hang of breastfeeding, and the nurse leaves them.

  After Ella ate, Jake burps her while Monica grubs down the cheeseburger. John wants his turn holding Ella. Tears flow down John’s face as he watches his granddaughter sleep. She looks so peaceful.

  “Oh this is so amazing. You are going to be so loved. You’re going to be a grandpa’s girl. Do you know that?” He whispers softly.

  21

  As the nurse removes Monica’s IVs, Jake cradles his daughter in his arms; rocking her back and forth trying to put her to sleep. After John and Lauren finished putting the flowers, balloons, and teddy bears in the car, they wait while the nurse reads Monica her discharge procedures. Monica buckles Ella in her car seat, and Jake walks over making sure Ella’s snug. Jake helps Monica to the wheelchair, and the nurse plants the car seat on Monica’s lap. Jake wheels her to the car, while the parents and the nurse follow. John grabs the car seat and Monica tries to stand when they get to the car. Jake gently places his hand on her shoulder to sit her back down.

  “Baby, please don’t get up. We’ll help you.”

  “Babe, I can walk.”

  “Dear please listen to Jake. Let him help you.”

  Monica rolls her eyes. Once they get to the car, Jake lifts her off the wheelchair. They position Ella’s car seat them. John drives off, and Lauren occasionally reminds him to drive right, because their grandchild is in the car, like John didn’t notice. Monica’s in the backseat worn out from the last couples of days. She’s so tired, but she knows her tiredness is just starting. Now they will have plenty of sleepless nights. Ella starts to whimper, and it’s feeding time. Jake grabs the bottle in the diaper bag, places a burp cloth under Ella’s chin and feeds her. How are they going to burp her if the car is moving?

  “Mom how are we supposed to burp her?”

  “Dear let her be. You can’t take her out of her car seat.”

  “What is she spits up?”

  “Just make sure there’s a cloth over her.”

  They do what Lauren tells them, and sure enough Ella spits up. Jake wipes her lightly afraid if he does it any harder, she will break. They arrive to the house, and Lauren takes Ella inside the house, while Jake and John help guide Monica. The men in her life are so overprotective. They act like Monica doesn’t or can’t walk by herself. She knows they’re just trying to help her out, and its good they are. With every step Monica takes, she shrinks with throbbing soreness from the episiotomy. When they finally get inside the house, Lauren has already transferred Ella from the car seat to the oval bassinet planted in the living room.

  “Dear since she’s still sleeping, I think its best you and Jake catch up on y’alls sleep because it will be a long night.”

  Her mom is the best. Jake and Monica head upstairs to her old room, and lay together on the bed, their arms crossing.

  “Baby thank you.”

  Confused, Monica questions, “Thank you for what?”

  “For loving me, believing in me and for giving me the best thing anybody can ever give me.”

  “I’m so glad things turned out this way. I mean deep down inside I know you will love her even if she wasn’t yours. But now it’s such a relief that we found out the truth, so we can move on with our lives and be even happier.”

  “I finally have a real family.” Jake touches her lips with endearment.

  Monica lightly kisses him. With that little kiss, he’s aroused. Since she is still sore, she decides to take care of his needs. Unzipping his jeans, she hovers over him. She licks her lips before planting her mouth over his dick.

  They lay their unaware they’ve been sleeping for hours. Jake slowly gets up trying not to wake Monica. Downstairs, he’s pleased to see his daughter in her grandpa’s arms.

  “We didn’t want to wake you guys up. We figured you guys needed to rest.”

  “Yeah we did. Thanks.”

  “I’m guessing you want your baby?”

  “Yes sir. That will be great.”

  John hands Ella over to Jake. He sits on the sofa watching Jake dance with his daughter, admiring the bond a father and daughter they display. Lauren hands Jake the bottle, she sits with John and observes the love beaming off Jake’s face.

  “You were made to do this Jake. She has a great father.” Lauren smiles.

  “Thank you ma’am.”

  Nobody notice Monica standing by the entrance way, and she adores how well Jake is being with Ella. He’s a natural at being a father. He braces her with no fear, no worries, and no concerns. Monica wobbles towards them, and John rushes to assist her to the couch.

  “Dear are you still in pain? Did you want me to get your medicine?”

  “No mom I’ll get it.” Monica tries to get up, but the medicine has already worn out. She hurts.

  Lauren comes back with Monica’s pain killer, glass of water, and a banana.

  “You need something in your system, so you won’t throw up from the medicine.”

  Monica takes the medicine, stuffs the banana, and holds out her arms for Ella. She wants to spend some time with her daughter before the medicine kicks in and makes her drowsy. She studies Ella from her body movements, face expressions, and the tiny noises she makes. She’s so much in love with this pee sized miracle.
This blessing. She’s the reason Jake and Monica are together. She’s the reason they’re so much in love.

  Rocking her baby back and forth, she smiles sweetly at Jake. “Baby are you going to school tomorrow?”

  “Well your dad and I talked about that.”

  Confused. “About what?”

  “I was thinking I finish my last two weeks at home, so I can help you out with Ella, and I can still graduate and get my diploma.”

  “But you won’t be able to walk at your graduation if you do that.”

  “Baby do you think I really care if I get to walk at my graduation? I want to spend time with you guys before I have to start working.”

  “Sweetheart, he will still be able to graduate high school.” John assures Monica of her worries.

  “But that’s not my point.” She focuses on Jake, “I didn’t get to finish school the right way. I don’t want you missing out on experiencing that feeling people get of walking on that stage.”

  “Baby there’s no better feeling than this.” Jake plants a kiss on Ella’s forehead.

  If that’s what Jake wants to do, then Monica will stand by his decision. She doesn’t want him having any resentment towards her. Lauren fixes their plates, and they gather in the living room, enjoying their meals while Ella sleeps again.

  “Is that all they do?” Monica rests her chin on her knuckles.

  “Yes dear. She’ll sleep, and sleep, and sleep.”

  “How often will she wake up at night?”

  “I say every two to three hours; she’ll wake up for feeding time.”

  “Baby I’ll get up when she wakes up. That way you don’t have to walk around, with you being in pain.”

  “Jake if you want, you guys can sleep in the room downstairs. That way you guys don’t have to keep going up and down those stairs. You and I can rotate feeding her? And whenever Monica isn’t hurting anymore, then we all three can rotate.”

  “Mom you are awesome. Thank you.” Monica leans over Lauren, gives her a hug.

  “Anytime dear.”

  Everyone crashes around nine in the evening, and a couple hours later, Ella starts to cry. Jake gets up, picks Ella up from her crib, and soothes her, while he warms up a bottle on the stove. In the kitchen, he bounces her singing lullabies, waiting for the bottle to warm. Once it does, he sits on the rocking chair, props his feet on the ottoman, and feeds his daughter. Still singing lullabies, she eats and sleeps in his arm.

  After she burps, he returns her to her crib. He sits there, staring at his peaceful angelic baby girl. Thankful to be blessed with such a healthy baby. Monica being her stubborn self is standing watching Jake marvel at his daughter. She leans into Jake giving him a kiss on his lips, and she rubs her thumb over Ella’s cheeks. Kissing her thump, she plants it on Ella.

  “I thought you were asleep? You’re supposed to be resting.”

  “Now what kind of mother would I be if I didn’t take care of my baby?” Monica jokes.

  “Baby you’re the best mommy.”

  Monica smitten with Jake’s answer leans in for another kiss. Jake lays Ella in her crib, and they go back to bed. As Jake spoons Monica, she bumps her butt against him, and notices he’s hard. She turns to face him, and he smiles. With stitches still not healed, so she takes care of him with her mouth.

  “Thank you baby.” Jake lies in bed with his limps sprawled. Satisfied.

  “No problem.” Monica arches her brows. “You needed it.”

  22

  The first couple of weeks was filled with diaper changing, bottle feeding, mouth burping, arm cradling, and baby crying days. The sleepless nights leave them with puffy bags under their eyes. Lauren has been such a big help for Jake and Monica. She has done everything from waking up in the middle of the night to feed Ella, to changing her diaper, to dancing her to sleep, and even lets Jake and Monica catch up on their sleep when she notices they’re having a hard time functioning throughout the day.

  Jake received his diploma, and will start working for Jo-Wills tomorrow. He’s excited. Sad to be leaving his family, but happy that he will be able to support them.

  Monica senses Jake’s having withdrawals. “You’ll be alright baby. You can see her when you get home.”

  “I know. It’ll take some time getting used to. I’m going to miss her and you, but mainly her.”

  “Hey.”

  “Baby I love you, but I have to admit. I love her more.”

  Monica understands how Jake is feeling. Because she too loves Jake very much, but she loves Ella more. Parents should always love their kids more than life itself. They moved back into the guest house, and with there being two bedrooms, Ella gets her own room, giving Jake and Monica the privacy they need to make love to each other. The doctor has instructed Monica to wait at least six weeks before she has sex, but she’s been really horny. She can’t wait any longer and has sex after her first week. And they’ve been having sex every night since. They are making up for lost times. Since Jake will start working tomorrow, Monica and Lauren agreed to rotate with the midnight feeding.

  On his first day at work, he fills out all his papers and starts working right away. John didn’t give him a chance to settle in. The first couple of hours, he made phone calls ordering rig parts. Then he enters data into the computer, and finishes the first half of his work day with getting lunch for the office. During lunch, he calls Monica checking to make sure her and Ella are alright.

  After lunch, Johns sends him to the warehouse which is two hours away to get parts that are ready to be picked up. By the time he gets there, loads the parts, drives back, unload the parts; it’s time for him to get off work.

  Even though he’s tired, he’s excited to see his family. Monica greets him with a kiss by the door with Ella in her arms. He throws his suit on the couch, and steals Ella from Monica.

  “How was your first day?”

  “It was pretty easy. I ordered parts. Then I had to enter some information in the computer. I had to get the offices’ lunch.”

  “Your dad made you get his lunch?”

  “No not him. I had to get the office managers’ lunches.”

  “Oh ok. What else did you do?”

  “Well after lunch, your dad wanted me to drive to Beaumont to pick up some parts.”

  “Sounds fun.”

  “How was your day?”

  “I spent my day with our baby girl.” Monica bends over Ella, holding her face with both hands.

  Jake sits on the couch, holding Ella like a football. “So when are you going to start planning the wedding?”

  Monica grins. “Well I didn’t know if you were ready to start planning. With Ella, and you working, I figured you wanted to wait.”

  “I don’t want to wait. I want you to be my wife ASAP.”

  “Well then that’s what Ella and I will do tomorrow then.”

  Monica’s cellphone rings, and it’s her mother telling her dinner is ready. While Jake continues to hold his baby, they walk over to the house.

  Nine months go by, and everyone is starting to get used to their daily routines. Ella no longer wakes up in the middle of the night, so Monica and Lauren are pretty well rested during the day. John has Jake working different departments every day, giving him the opportunity to experience hands on what each department does for the company. Monica, Kelly, and Lauren have been planning for the wedding. Whenever Jake isn’t so tired from work, he voices his suggestions for the wedding. Monica loves hearing his ideas because that lets her know this is what he really wants.

  He gets home, greets Monica and Ella, and as he’s carrying Ella, she fights with him to get down. She can play with her toys.

  “Man the older she gets, the more she doesn’t want me anymore. The only thing she wants is her toys.” Jake laughs. “How was y’alls day?

  “It’s was good. We did some more wedding planning, and then had lunch with Kelly.”

  “How are she and Josh doing?”

  “They’re actually doi
ng great. I’m amazed Kelly stayed with him this long. She doesn’t date anyone for more than six months.”

  “Yeah when your dad and I had lunch, we saw Josh with his boss at the restaurant.”

  “Oh really. Did he rent his tuxedo yet?”

  “I didn’t ask.” Jake looked disgusted. “You aren’t going to invite your cousin right?”

  “Who Reese?”

  “Yeah Reese.”

  “Why not?”

  “I just don’t want drama on our big day. Shit if my mom wasn’t my mom, I wouldn’t want her to go. The two of them are so much alike. Drama. Drama. Drama.”

  “I didn’t want to invite Reese. But my aunt called begging me and my mom to invite her. So I did. Sorry.”

  “It’s your funeral. I mean your wedding.” Jake laughs.

  “Ah, our wedding.”

  “You know what I mean. She’s going to be messy. She’s going to say something stupid, intentionally trying to piss you off, Kelly will say something to her, and there goes another fight.”

  “Kelly promise to behave. She said if Reese does something that day, she’ll just fight her the next day.” Monica titters.

  “Can we order our cake from Sarah’s?”

  “Duh babe. You already know the answer to that question.”

  “What kind of cake are you going to get?”

  “Well you like carrot cake, and I like neiman marcus cake, so we just do both.”

  “Sounds good to me.”

  “We only have six more months till August.”

  “And you’ll be Mrs. Harris.”

  “Yup. Are you sure this is what you want? There’s no turning back.” Monica jokes.

  “Are you crazy? I’ve wanted you to be my wife since we bumped into each other.”

  “Ah, as I do recall you bumped into me. First you cut me off on the road, and then you bump into me. You sure like bumping into me.”

  “I can’t wait to see you in your dress, so I can bump you with something else while you’re in it.”

  “Babe.”

  “Well it’s the truth.”