He reaches for the front.“See?There’s a flap on both sides, so you don’t have to take it off to pump or nurse.”
I start crying.It’s like I’m a faucet lately.
He doesn’t even mention my emotional state.He simply cups my face and kisses me gently on the lips.“You need to sleep, honey.Drink some more water and rest.I’ll be right here beside you.”He turns off the lights, leaving us in the dim illumination from the nightlight, and settles on his side next to me.“Sleep, sunshine.”He wipes the tears from my cheeks, causing more to fall, but it doesn’t take long for me to fall asleep.
Thirteen
Aaric
My wife is an angel.I love her to pieces.She’s so much stronger than she thinks.She’s a goddess.It’s been five days, and she’s doing so well.She rests when I tell her to and eats and drinks every time I put food or water in front of her.
I’ve only let her get out of bed to use the bathroom so far, and I help her.I still don’t like the stool.It’s too small.I’m having my brothers make a bigger one that will have two steps and extend the length of the bed, so we don’t run the risk of her missing the step and falling.
The best thing about having five brothers is that they all have me covered, keeping the family business ventures going.Normally, Adam and I work closely.He has taken care of everything that would involve me and hasn’t even brought a single detail to my attention.
Adam and Rebekah come over several times a day.I love how close the sisters are.I suspect they’re closer now than they’ve been since they were children.They’re bonding.
I couldn’t have predicted I would be such a hands-on dad when I had a kid, but it comes naturally to me.I want to take care of everything, so Hannah doesn’t have to worry.She needs to focus on resting, eating, and getting her strength back, not just from giving birth but from four days of walking before that.Not to mention the two years of working her butt off to take care of an old man who worked her to the bone.
I’m a pro at changing Eve.I feed her a few bottles a day, bathe her, dress her, and return her to her mama.
We have an unspoken agreement that I take care of my wife’s breasts.She’s never argued with me.I think she likes knowing she doesn’t have to make decisions or worry about having so much milk that the pressure makes her wince.
Every time she finishes nursing, I settle Eve in the bassinet and pump Hannah’s full breasts before rubbing ointment on them and tucking them into her bra.I know they aren’t particularly sexual right now.They ache, and they’re a source of food, but I swear Hannah enjoys me milking her.Her breath hitches when I rub them, and the tips harden further.
She’s gotten used to me caring for her in every way.She even lets me help her into the bathroom and onto the toilet.She says nothing and no longer blushes when I change her pad and put clean underwear on her.
I often carry her in my arms to and from the bathroom.Yesterday, I lowered her into the bath and washed her while she leaned back and relaxed in the warm water.
There is nothing better in the world than caring for my girls.Heaven looked down on me and sent me the universe a week ago, and I’m beyond grateful.
Adam and Rebekah are at the door, and I let them in when they knock softly.I knew they were coming over.
Rebekah waves at me and skips past me to get to the bedroom, leaving me chuckling.“She’s still a firecracker,” I tell my brother.
“That she is.”He follows me over to the kitchen and points at the pot of coffee.“Can I have some of that, or do you need it all?”he teases.
“I’ll share.”I pour him a mug.It’s true, I’ve been drinking a lot of coffee.I’m not getting a lot of sleep, either.I get less than Hannah.
We sit at the kitchen table, and I glance toward the open bedroom door before speaking.My voice low, I ask, “Any word about Presley Vanguard?”
“Adrian has a guy checking on him.Vanguard hasn’t left his house since we located him.Adrian’s guy put a pressure-sensitive strip on the road just down from Vanguard’s house, which will alert Adrian if anyone drives over it.”
“Good.Hopefully, he’ll cut his losses and stay there.”
“Don’t bet on it.He lost his slave.”
I wince.Adam is right.“I wonder if at some point he will care about his grandchild.”
“I wouldn’t bet on that, either,” Adam responds, repeating my words.“He’s a curmudgeon.He doesn’t care about anyone but himself.I know this because I’ve done some snooping around in town.The only reason the man has come down the mountain in years is to get supplies.I don’t think anyone even knew he was keeping Hannah as a slave on his homestead.”
“Where’d he get the money to buy her and pay for supplies?Doesn’t sound like he works.”
Adam nods.“His wife had a life-insurance policy.It was something she took out before the two of them were even married.Apparently, it was substantial.”
“Bizarre.”What sort of person living in the mountains has a large life-insurance policy?One that would keep their spouse afloat for years after their death.I don’t like it.
“He also got some money when his son died.”
