Kimily’s whole countenance changed as if a switch had been flipped. Jen recognized it as business mode. She was ready to work.
“Get up,” she said to Jen, pulling her to her feet as Kimily, too, stood. “Have a seat on one of those dinette chairs. Tell me what’s going on while I examine you.”
Jen obeyed. She glanced at Peri and whispered, “You found her?”
Peri shook her head and pointed to Jacque.Sneaky redhead.
Jen promised herself to remember to make sure and let her friends know how extremely grateful she was. Then a thought hit her. “Did you flash here?” she asked Peri.
The fae nodded, looking utterly bored.
“So Kimily knows about us?”
“No,” Sally and Jacque said at the same time.
“Peri is working her fae mojo,” Sally offered.
“Or you could just call it my power. I’m using my power,” Peri said, looking slightly perturbed.
“Good to know,” Jen said and then looked up at Kimily, who had simply been listening to the conversation.
“Ready?” Kimily asked.
“I was ready twenty-four hours ago,” Jen said. “Ignore me. I’m nangry. That’s when you’re angry at your nipples.”
“Of course it is,” Jacque said, shaking her head at Jen.
Jen shrugged. “What? It’s a thing. I’m literally experiencing it right now.”
Kimily let out a sigh and then looked at Jacque. “Could you all please wait out in the hall? Give us some privacy while I do her exam and talk with her.”
Jacque nodded and grabbed Peri and Sally’s arms. “Let’s go, you two.”
As the door closed, Kimily pulled up another chair and sat close to Jen. “How many days postpartum are you?”
“Two,” Jen answered. “My milk finally came in.”
“Okay, good. Little boy or girl?”
“Girl. Does that matter?” Jen said thickly.
Kimily grinned. “Not really, but I have found girls can be a little more stubborn when it comes to latching. Boys seems to know instinctively where to suck.”
“It never goes away,” Jen deadpanned, casting a glance at her mate.
Kimily ignored the comment and said, “Now, tell me what problems you’re having.”
“Maybe I should just show you,” Jen said and then pulled down the strap of her gown and unclasped one of the maternity bra cups. She lowered it, wincing as the leak pad tugged away from the dried blood on her nipple.
“Oh, honey,” Kimily said gently. “I am so sorry. She’s chewing instead of sucking. This is not uncommon. It can be caused by a few things. She might be tongue tied, which is when there’s too much muscle beneath the tongue, which causes an incorrect sucking motion. Also, she might chew if the nipple isn’t far enough back in her throat. Or she may simply just be a chewer. Pure bad luck. Giving her a pacifier to suck will help encourage the sucking motion and reduce the chewing. I need to take a look at her and then observe her nursing. I’m going to wash my hands. Please, bring your little girl and we’ll get started.”
Jen watched as Decebel went and got Thia out of her basinet. She looked so small in his big arms. It amazed Jen how something so small could cause such huge changes in their lives.
Decebel handed her to Jen, and she pulled Thia close to her chest and pressed a kiss to her forehead. “Little hell raiser, you,” she whispered to her daughter.
Kimily chuckled as she again took her seat. “What’s her name?”
“Thia.”
