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It took her a whole five minutes to get the thing in and the baby fastened in safely.
“See, you know what you’re doing.” I gave her a smile.
She rolled her eyes and climbed inside the passenger seat. I closed her door behind her and made my way to the driver’s side.
As it turned out, Emma didn’t like car rides. We had an hour drive home and she had screamed for at least half of it. Finally, Lennox climbed into the backseat and sat beside her. I listened as she sang to the baby. Emma finally calmed down.
“She just missed you,” I said looking into the rearview mirror.
Lennox held her tiny hand and sang every song she could think of on our way home. We pulled into the driveway a little while later and I led them inside.
“Are you ready?” I asked standing outside the nursery door.
“Yes, open it. I want to see.” Lennox held Emma close.
I opened the door and flipped on the light. She stepped in and placed Emma in her white crib before turning around to look around the light pink room.
“How did you know to paint it pink?” she asked spinning in circles trying to look at everything.
“I don’t know, just had a feeling.” I wrapped my arms around her. “Do you like it?”
“I love it, it’s beautiful. Did you do all of this alone?”
I nodded.
“When? When did you have time for all of this?”
“After you went to sleep, I would come in here and work on it.” I looked around the light pink walls and hardwood floor. There were light pink curtains with tiny lambs on them. There was a wooden rocking chair in the corner of the room, a small dresser, and changing table. I built shelves and placed stuffed animals on them, along with pictures of Lennox and I. I also cut her name out of wood, painted them white, and placed them on the walls. I put a lot of work into the room and I was beyond happy that Lennox liked it.
“No wonder you’ve been so tired.” She spun in my arms and placed a kiss to my lips.
We peeked over the edge of the crib to see a sleeping Emma.
“She looks so warm and cozy,” Lennox said rubbing her tiny foot.
“What do you say to taking a nap while she’s sleeping?”
“Should we leave her alone?” she asked, turning around at the door.
“The baby monitor is already hooked up. She will be okay.” I nudged her out of the room.
Two hours later, Emma was awake and starving. I made her a bottle and went into her room to feed her while Lennox slept a little longer.
I sat down with her in my arms and rocked back and forth while she sipped and slurped on her bottle. I looked at her tiny hands and wondered how hands so small could already hold my heart. I felt her warmth and it seeped into my soul. I had a whole new reason to live, to be thankful every day that Lennox came back to me.
“You don’t know it yet, but I love you so much, Emma. You and your mommy are the best thing that’s ever happened to me. I promise to love you, and spoil you, and to keep mama in check when she’s grumpy because she’s tired. You are my whole world,” I whispered in the dark.
Like she knew what I was saying, she whimpered. I felt a tear slide down my cheek from feeling all the love I had for this little girl and her mommy. I thought letting Lennox go would’ve killed me, but I knew I would never be able to let this little baby go.
Years before, I thought my life was over when I lost out on my scholarship. Lennox came into my life and tipped my world upside down. I thought I would die when she left, but I didn’t. I understood why, the minute I held Emma in my arms. That was the plan the whole time. I wasn’t meant to go off and become some famous soccer star. I was meant to be Lennox’s husband and have this beautiful angel in my arms. I was right where I belonged.
After Emma finished her bottle, I patted her back and changed her diaper. I rocked her to sleep and laid her down gently in her crib, before making my way back to Lennox. My heart was so full, I was sure it was going to bust.
I don’t know what I did for me to get to where I am now, but I did something right.
Life was tipped upside downthe moment Emma was born. Daily life was gone. Lennox and I used to wake up in each other’s arms, take a shower together, and have a quiet breakfast before starting our day. Once Emma was born, I didn’t know when one day ended and the next began. We slept weird hours, ate at even weirder hours, and Emma kept us on our toes nonstop.
We slept in shifts, lived off cereal and take out, and never seemed to be alone together. If Emma was asleep, we were asleep. If I was feeding Emma, Lennox was eating or taking a shower. If Lennox was taking care of Emma, I was busy checking on the shop or running to the store for diapers, formula, or stuff we needed around the house.
