During the night Lynne slept on and off, stirred when either Dr. Salters or Renee checked her, but at seven a.m. Lynne detected the distinct call of her newborn daughter. Jane’s whimper quickly turned into the wah-wah-wah of a tiny baby who knew nothing more than that she no longer rested in a warm, wet womb.
Lynne also felt somewhat displaced, finding herself in what eventually would be the nursery. Eric was sleeping in the chair, and it was Dr. Salters who collected Jane from her cot. Then Lynne began to sob, which woke Eric, who asked if everything was all right. The doctor smiled, handing the baby to Lynne. “Everything’s fine. Little Jane was just reminding us that she’s here.”
As the baby began to tug on Lynne’s nipple, the new mother tried to calm herself, but many emotions swirled within Lynne’s heart. Yesterday seemed like a blur, from making the pie, to napping, to her water breaking in the master bathroom. “What time was she born again?” Lynne said. “Or have I already asked that?”
The doctor took Lynne’s pulse, then chuckled. “Eleven forty-three, Wednesday the fourteenth. And no, you haven’t asked yet. You were sort of busy at the time.”
Lynne nodded as Eric stood, stretched, then slipped from the room. Lynne smiled, looking around. “Is Renee here?”
“She’s resting downstairs. I’ll be back later tonight, assuming there aren’t any complications. But your pulse is fine, your bleeding is normal, and you don’t have a fever. I don’t foresee any problems, and Miss Jane seems to understand her main role.”
Lynne wanted to giggle, but her whole body ached. “Yeah, she seems to know what to do.”
“We’re mammals, deep down, no different from other creatures when it comes to this.” The doctor gently touched Jane’s cap. “I’ve delivered hundreds of babies, and I’m always amazed how they seem to know what’s important. She’ll lose a little weight over the next week, but if she keeps up like this, she’ll be back to normal in no time. Now Lynne, as for you….”
Lynne smiled; the doctor would tell her to stay in bed, let everyone wait on her for days on end. The typical hospital stay for new mothers was one week, two if a cesarean had been performed. While Lynne didn’t feel at all like moving, she wanted to sleep in her own bed that night, with Eric beside her. Jane would rest in a bassinette near her mother, but while this room had been fine for the birth, now that part was over. “Dr. Salters, I know. Get plenty of rest and….”
The doctor sat on the bed, then patted Lynne’s hand. “What I was going to say was that if you felt able, you should try to walk, just a bit, later this morning. Maybe to the bathroom, with someone beside you, of course. And if you want to sleep in your own bed tonight, as long as you have a durable mattress protector on it, that should be fine as well.”
Lynne stared at her physician. “Really? I didn’t expect you to say that.”
Dr. Salters smiled. “I don’t think new mothers need to be turned into invalids. You’ll heal faster if you’re up on your feet, although not immediately. Plenty of rest, yes. Chained to bed, no.”
Lynne nodded. “Oh that’s wonderful to hear!”
“What’s wonderful?” Eric said, returning to the room.
“Just that in a few hours, I want your wife on her feet, but only as far as the house bathroom, and with someone right next to her. And if she’s looking well when I return, I think it would be fine for her to sleep in her own bedroom. You have a bathroom in there, correct?”
Eric smiled. “Yes we do. I can sleep in there with her, right?”
Dr. Salters chuckled. “Absolutely. She can’t be left alone for at least a week, and no driving for three weeks. But Lynne knows all those rules, I don’t need to belabor them.”
The doctor did one more check, but Jane was nursing well enough to aid in that part of the healing, the doctor said, as she grasped Lynne’s hand. “I’ll be back around six, but do call if you feel anything’s amiss. Renee knows what to watch for, and Lynne, when the baby sleeps, you sleep, no if’s, and’s, or but’s.”
“Yes ma’am,” Lynne said.
“Wonderful. All right, I’m off to catch forty winks before work calls. Hopefully you’ll be my only new mother today.” The doctor grabbed her bag, then left the room, Eric on her heels.
Lynne stroked Jane’s soft face, but the baby wasn’t disturbed. Lynne couldn’t remember how much she had nursed during the night; it seemed every time she woke, Jane was in this same spot. But as a former nurse, Lynne knew that was best. Nature had its own way of facilitating a mother’s healing, as well as a baby’s nourishment. As footsteps resounded along the hallway, Lynne hoped it was only Eric. Then she wondered if Sam had gone home.
“She said to call if anything’s wrong, especially if you get feverish.” Eric pushed his chair close to the bed, then sat down. “I’m supposed to check your temperature every hour. My goodness, this nursing gig’s a lot of work.”
His voice was light, and Lynne smiled. “I’ll trade you.”
Eric leaned toward her, then kissed her nose. “I bet you wouldn’t.”
Immediately Lynne shook her head. Despite the discomfort and exhaustion, she was ready to have another baby, which made her chuckle, then grimace.
“What?” Eric asked.
“I’m crazy, that’s what.”
“You’d have to be a little touched to remain my wife.”
Lynne gazed at her husband, then she glanced at their baby. She had borne Eric a daughter, who seemed only to care about her mother’s breasts. Lynne smiled, that didn’t cause any pain, nor did Jane’s gummy little mouth, although the lower half of Lynne’s body throbbed. But this wasn’t similar to yesterday’s agony, which at times had scared Lynne for its level of intensity. Childbirth had hurt terribly. But the sweetness she now felt somehow overruled all that anguish, to the point that she could consider doing it again. “Eric, if I told you, right now, that I can’t wait to have another baby with you, what would you think?”
He flinched, then stared at her. Then he smiled, chuckled, then had to restrain himself, but laughter spilled from him, making Jane jerk from Lynne’s breast. The baby looked around, blinking in the light. Lynne pressed her nipple against Jane’s cheek and within seconds the newborn went right back to work.
“Lynne, I think last night you altered as much as I have in the past. It was unbelievable feeling how strong you were, even when the pain was extreme. So for you to tell me that now, I guess I have to shrug and say women, they’re nuts!” He grinned, throwing up his hands. “Thank God I love you.”
“I prayed last night, when it was really bad.” Lynne stared at the baby, who had started to slow down. “I wasn’t sure if I could do it, and I don’t mean with the gas or if Dr. Salters had needed forceps. I just didn’t know if I had the strength, but then I’d pray, and suddenly there I went, and now, oh Eric, now I just wanna….”
She wept a little, then wiped her eyes. “She’s so perfect, so beautiful, so everything I ever thought motherhood would be. And this’s only the first day!” Lynne spoke quietly, then she looked at the door. “Renee’s asleep right?”
“Out like a light, and Sam went home a few hours ago, that’s what the doctor said.”
Lynne nodded. “Eric, I wanted to tell her, Renee I mean, that I wanted her to come with me. It felt like a journey, like a train ride, but only for women, although now it feels like you’re there too.” She reached for his hand, and he grasped hers gently. “But last night it was me and Renee, but she couldn’t come along, no matter how much I wanted her to.”
Eric sighed, then squeezed his wife’s hand. “She was so happy to be there honey, Sam too. Something happened when he held her, something changed in him.”
“Well, she’s done now, so you can hold her, see if you get a burp from her.” Lynne took a deep breath. “I just felt so far away from Renee, it’s strange. Even though she was right there, we’ve been separated somehow, but not like when I quit work. This’s different.”
Yet, Eric was correct; Lynne had d
etected no hint of jealousy from Renee or Sam, only a tremendous sense of bliss. Still, Lynne wanted Renee to climb aboard the Mommy Train, how she thought of it. For the rest of their lives, Lynne and Renee would travel on different paths, no matter how many times Eric transformed, or if they had named Jane for Lynne’s best friend. Lynne was now a mother, but Renee never would be.
That was the only dark part of what was otherwise a fabulous day. There was nothing Lynne could do about it, other than ask for peace, for all of them. Then she smiled, as Jane released a rather large burp, then another. Eric had perched the baby over his shoulder, but the sound resonated. Then quiet emerged, as Eric placed Jane in the crook of his elbow. “Now that was a burp,” he smiled. “She’s not gonna let us forget she’s here.”
Lynne nodded, then observed how tenderly Eric held their daughter, and how much love poured over that baby. “No, she won’t let us forget for a moment. But Dr. Salters told me to sleep when she does, and I’m so tired, I could nod off now.”
“Well, you go right ahead. She’s got a full belly, and I’ll be happy to just sit and hold her and watch you. You are so beautiful, Mama Snyder.”
“Oh Eric….” Closing her eyes, Lynne cried, those words music to her ears. The next thing she knew was Eric softly telling her how much he loved her and their baby. Then Lynne was fast asleep, dreaming she was back on that train, but with a guest in tow.
Jane Renee Snyder’s first day was spent mostly within the arms of others. If Lynne wasn’t breastfeeding her, Jane was being snuggled by her father or her Aunt Renee. When not cooking, Uncle Sam took his turn, and by the time Dr. Salters stopped in, Jane was asleep in Eric’s grasp. Lynne was napping too, but she stirred for the doctor, who pronounced the new mother in fine health. By then Lynne had moved into the master bedroom, where she found herself inundated with fresh flowers. Eric had ordered several dozen roses, which were scattered in vases all over the house. Sam had added a large bouquet, plus Laurie and Stanford had sent batches of tulips. Even Stanford’s father Michael had made sure an arrangement arrived with his name on the card, but not that of Stanford’s mother. Eric was the only one to notice, as the rest were too taken with the baby, or too weary to inquire.
The doctor noted that she would be back tomorrow around lunchtime, and that by then, Lynne would probably enjoy a bath. Renee nodded to that, while Sam asked if Lynne had any dietary restrictions. “None, other than anything which seems to bother the baby. But you’ll know if Lynne’s eaten something that Jane doesn’t approve of. I’ll also stop in over the weekend. By then, you’ll all be used to the new schedule.”
“And what’s that?” Eric asked.
The doctor smiled. “Whatever Miss Jane decides. But you’ll learn that soon enough.” The doctor patted Lynne’s leg, then headed toward the landing. Then she turned around, facing everyone. “Did I hear you’re having guests this weekend?”
Eric nodded. “My art dealer and a friend of his. They’ll be here on Saturday.”
The doctor shook her head. “That might be a bit much for a new mother.”
“Actually, they wanna be put to work,” Eric chuckled. “They’re only staying through Tuesday, unless Jane gets feisty and sends them on their way early.”
Dr. Salters nodded. “Well, that might be the case. Time will tell.” She smiled, then left the room.
Renee walked her out, then returned, finding Jane in Lynne’s arms. “I assured her that Laurie and Stanford won’t be a problem. Actually, I’m looking forward to seeing them. I’ll catch up on sleep while they’re here, then be rested for next week.”
“Oh Renee, you don’t need to do that.” Lynne stroked Jane’s cheek, then smiled. “I’ll be feeling much better by then and…”
“And nothing! I’ve already taken the days off. You’re gonna be my patient, thank you very much.”
The men smiled as Lynne gaped at Renee. “Nonsense! You can’t take that much time from work.”
“What else do I have to do? Besides, you’re forgetting one thing.”
“And that is?” Lynne smirked.
“That Eric’s gonna be very busy next week.”
“Doing what?” Lynne asked.
“Painting the two of you. I can see it now, he’ll have an easel set up in here, and you’ll be napping, or nursing the baby, and who’s gonna make sure you’re well fed and the house’s in order and….”
Eric laughed as Sam rolled his eyes. Lynne smiled, then patted the middle of the bed. “C’mre Auntie Renee.”
Slowly Renee walked to the open side of the bed. But she remained standing, crossing her arms. “What?”
“Sit down Renee,” Lynne said softly.
“Go on honey, park your behind for a minute.”
Renee glared at Sam, then she huffed. “Lynne, there’s plenty for me to do.”
“But the most important job is right here,” Lynne said gently.
Renee flashed those stoplight eyes, then sat on the edge of the mattress. Again Lynne patted the middle. “Please Renee?”
The room was quiet as Renee nodded, then scooted next to Lynne. Lynne handed the sleeping bundle to Renee, who grasped the baby, then placed her over her shoulder. “If you’re gonna be here,” Lynne smiled, “it’s not to clean my house or warm up whatever Sam makes.” Lynne smiled at him, then gazed at Renee. “It’s gonna be to hold this little girl, or help me take a bath. You’re right, we will need you, because I can see Eric’s already thinking about what he’s gonna paint next.” Lynne nodded at him, then patted Renee’s leg. “But we’ll also need you so Jane learns all about her Auntie Renee. Because sometimes I’m gonna fall asleep when she’s not sleeping. And Eric will need to paint you and your namesake, I can see that in his eyes too.”
Lynne didn’t mention Sam and Jane in a painting, but it was implied, as Renee began to cry. Eric took the baby from Renee’s hands, then the women embraced, both weeping hard. Jane Renee never stirred from her mother and aunt’s tears, nestled in her father’s secure, loving arms.
Chapter 56