CHAPTER
SIXTEEN
Mindy
Thank goodness Dr. Takagi was on today. While her associate, Dr. Martine, was in with Jolie, I had her and even though it was a bit unorthodox, our husbands had us on FaceTime with each other once we had our little girls.
“She’s beautiful, Mindy,” Jolie says, sobbing. “And I love the name, we can call her Vivi.”
“So is Antoinette,” I reply, crying just as hard as she is right now. “Toni and Vivi, the dynamic duo.”
“Could also be the terrible twosome,” Dex calls out. I hear a slap and know that my bestie just smacked him.
“Guess we’ll have to wait and see,” Cruz adds.
Right now, we’re in separate rooms, but Dr. Takagi and her staff have some clout in this hospital, so we’re being moved to the biggest suite available on the maternity ward since we share a lot of the same family. Because found family is still family asfar as we’re concerned. In the meantime, Jolie and I just had to FaceTime each other since we couldn’t be together.
“Maybe the next baby, we try to coordinate better,” Jolie suggests.
“Can we get through today first?” Dex asks, earning him another smack.
I look at Cruz and smile. “I think we should enjoy these girls for a little while, my friend, before we start planning the next one.”
Jolie sighs then says, “You’re right. Okay, they’re bringing Toni in so I’ll let you go for now. Gotta see if I can figure out this latching stuff.”
I snicker once the call’s been disconnected. I was somewhat ambivalent about whether or not to breastfeed, and Cruz said it was ultimately my decision. Looking over at him, I declare, “I think I’d like to try.”
“Just remember, fed is best, kitten. If you try it and it doesn’t work, no harm, no foul,” he says. “Did you see the head of hair on her?”
I nod and reply, “I hope she doesn’t go bald, but I think they lose some of it.”
“Didn’t you read the book I got you?” he asks.
“Okay, so hear me out. Some of the things in there were scary and sent me spiraling, so I stopped,” I admit. “I didn’t get that far.”
“How far did you get?” he asks, his voice now suspicious.
“I got to the chapter about hemorrhoids. The pictures did me in, Cruz, and sorry, but there was no damn way if one showed up I was going to have you checking it out. I’d rather die,” I retort.
“I presume none did,” he teases. “Because, kitten, you’ve had me check out every little thing that popped up.”
Wrinkling my nose at him, I say, “I asked Nonna how to prevent them and followed her instructions very carefully.”
“Which were?” he asks.
“Lots of water and fiber. Oh look who’s coming in!” I say, eager to change the subject.
The nurse walks in, pushing the bassinet with our daughter inside. “She’s ready to eat, Momma.”
Cruz helps get her settled and even though it takes a few tries, Violet finally latches on as the nurse oversees. “It’ll be a few days before your milk fully comes in, but what she’s getting now is beneficial to her. I’ll be back in about thirty minutes or so to move you to the new room, then we’ll let your family invade.”
“I’m sure they’re chomping at the bit right now,” Cruz murmurs, totally enraptured by the little noises our daughter is currently making as she roots at my breast. “But this is our time.”
“Ay, yi, yi!” Nonna exclaims as our family finally comes into the suite that Jolie and I now share. “Two beautiful little girls, we are surely blessed.”
“We are, indeed,” Abuela adds, looking down at the bassinets that hold our respective daughters.
“Look at those bows on their heads!” Cruz’s mom interjects. “I didn’t eventhinkabout getting any of those!”
