Watching them leave Tasha felt more guilty, especially as Pippa stood and reluctantly prepared to leave with a kiss for her nephew and then one for her sister as she handed the baby back to his mother.
“Pippa, give it half an hour and you can come back, but not the motherly fonts of all knowledge,” called Jim as she reached the door and was rewarded with a huge grin from both Bailey sisters.
It was Sunday afternoon before Tasha and Connor had been given the green light to go home and after an uncomfortable conversation about contraception with the nurse and an appointment for her post baby check-up six weeks’ later Tasha was relieved to be going home. With just the three of them in the car she felt content and hoped Jim had ensured the house wasn't teaming with yet more visitors. She really just wanted to go home and settle in with her baby and to get on with the rest of her life.
The house was silent when they entered. Tasha was trying to carry something, a bag, flowers, balloons or her baby, but Jim was having none of it. He had Tasha's bags in one hand and Connor safely strapped into his car seat in the other.
“Jim, let me get the stuff out of the car.”
“Not necessary, we'll get you and Connor settled in here and then I'll get the other stuff.”
“If you insist.” Tasha released a long, loud sigh on an exhale.
Jim ignored it. “I do. As our son is asleep we'll get you a cup of tea and then bring his bassinet down before I get the other things from the car.”
“I'll make the tea, you get the basket and while I move Connor from his car seat you can get the things from the car.”
Jim smiled as he pulled her close against him. “See, we can do this, baby. You and me together, we can take on the world.”
Tasha looked up to gaze into her husband’s eyes and felt overwhelmed all over again in the knowledge that he was hers. “God, I love you.” She softened into his grip. Finding his lips with hers she wondered if it was normal for a new mother to be reacting so freely to her husband on such a basic level.
“And I love you too.” He tilted her head back to gaze down at her longingly. “What is in your head?” He wore a sexy half-smile.
“Seriously? I am thinking that there is no way I am going to get to six weeks without needing to feel you inside me.”
“Jeez, baby, you'll be lucky to get to six days if you keep talking that way, but I love that you're still so eager.”
The sound of the front door opening and closing ended their conversation, but still holding each other they turned to find Philip and Juan walking towards them.
“Hi Tash, Jim, how’re you all doing?” Juan was clearly embarrassed at walking in on them, Philip, not so much so.
“Yeah we're good. Where are my family? I'm not complaining, just curious.”
“Dad said you might like some peace when you got home, so Mom has taken them out and then was taking them back to hers for dinner, so they could be some time, although I reckon Lizzie will hitch a ride back here with them. Just a warning,” explained Philip.
“Thank you and Lizzie is welcome whenever, it's fine,” replied Tasha, wanting Lizzie to feel as welcome as she had before Connor was born. She headed into the kitchen. “Does anybody want a drink?”
“Not for us, we're heading out too. We just wanted to say hi,” replied Juan who was standing over Connor. “This is so weird because he looks like you, Tash, but also like Jim.”
“Thank you for calling my baby weird.” She smiled as she put the kettle on to boil while Jim headed back out to the car, laughing at his wife's quick retort to Juan's observation.
Philip followed his dad, leaving Juan with Tasha. “Are you okay? I know it was a shock to find yourself pregnant, but now he's here—”
“Yeah, I’m better than okay, thank you.” Instinctively she hugged her friend, loving him for caring enough about her to check that she wasokay.
“Everything’s out of the car, so let's move the little guy as far as his bassinet, once I've brought it down.” Jim smiled, heading for the stairs and returning a few minutes later with the baby basket that was placed in the corner, next to the far end of one of the sofas, but away from any draughts or direct sunlight, all points Jim talked through as he set it up.
Juan and Philip left and once they'd gone Tasha lifted Connor from his car seat making him wake briefly, but with a few whispered words and a kiss he was falling back to sleep in his mother's swaying arms. She gently placed him down in his basket, pulled a thin blanket over him and gazed down at him for a few seconds before taking a seat next to Jim.
“I'm not quite sure what we should do now,” admitted Tasha. “Although I quite enjoy just sitting and watching our son.”
Tasha moved again so she was looking over at Connor who was sleeping peacefully on his back. With one arm at his side and the other by his ear, she smiled at the image of him and then the little kitten like sound he seemed to make as he yawned. It was amazing to think that just a few days before he’d been safely tucked up inside her. It actually seemed infeasible that he’d ever fitted in there now that he was here. When Tasha had said she enjoyed watching him she hadn’t been lying or exaggerating, in fact, that was all she’d been doing since his birth. She was in total awe and utterly amazed that she had in any way been responsible for making him. That he was hers and was perfect in every way. Perfect, untainted by life and totally innocent and she knew she would do everything in her power to ensure he remained that way for as long as possible.
“Tasha.” It appeared Jim was repeating her name. “We can sleep, eat, take a bath, whatever you want, apart from sex.” He grinned.
“I'll drink my tea and then I might send some emails and texts.”
“Or you could sleep, eat or take a bath,” he repeated.
