Page 97 of Mia Amata

“No need to thank me. You have a strong little girl there. I’ve set up an appointment for her in a couple of days with the pediatrician on file for her. It is important she follow up then.”

Jacob nodded, “I’ll make sure she is there.”

“The nurse has all the paperwork for you to sign, you should be able to leave soon.” The doctor turned, starting to walk away, when he looked back and said, “Take care of yourself Jacob, and that little girl. If you ever need anything…” He trailed off, turned after a moment, and walked away.

Jacob smiled, Jayden seemed to have the doctor wrapped around her little finger, just like everyone else. He turned, entering the NICU for the last time. After some car seat training and signing a bunch of paperwork, he finally walked out of the hospital with his daughter.

The car ride home was uneventful. He kept looking back, seeing the car seat. He couldn’t believe he had a daughter. Oh, Mia Amata, he thought. I wish you were here to see how beautiful she is.

He pulled up to the house, walked around to get Jayden out and also grabbed the diaper bag. They went into the house, where he sat her seat on the table. He was surprised to see that she was wide awake. They had told him when she would need her next bottle, and she was freshly changed before she left the hospital. She wasn’t fussy, she was just awake. He unbuckled her, taking her out of the seat. He walked over to the couch with her, sitting down.

“Hey, baby girl,” he said softly. “It’s just you and I now.” He unwrapped the blanket from her.

She stretched her little arms above her head. He examined her hands and fingers. She grasped his finger in hers, letting out a huge yawn. When she let go of his finger, he slipped off her little socks, examining her little feet and toes. She was so perfect, he thought.

He put her socks back on and realized that the newborn outfit was too big for her. He should probably get her a few preemie outfits since she was so small. The hospital sent home some smaller diapers for her, but they won’t last him very long. He wrapped her back up in the blanket. She appeared sleepy, so he took her back, lying her in the crib.

She looked at him, then closed her eyes, falling to sleep. He stared at her for a while, watching her sleep, then remembered he needed to text Josh. He walked out, shutting the light off after making sure the monitor was on. He walked out to the living room, sat down, and turned on the baby monitor. He made sure to set it up where he could see Jayden.

Pulling out his cell phone, even though he was exhausted, he sent his family a text message, letting them know he was home. He called his supervisor who told him he could start his FMLA, after his bereavement time off. That meant he had several weeks at home with Jayden before he had to go back to work. He then sent Randy a text, asking her if she would possibly have time the following day to pick up some smaller outfits and diapers. She replied that she would be happy to, asking him if he wanted help tonight since it was his first night home with Jayden.

He thanked her, saying he thought they would be fine, but promised if he needed anything he would let them know. He invited them to come over in the morning, to bring Lucky home. He looked at the live video on the baby monitor, smiling as he watched his new daughter sleep. She was sleeping so peacefully. He decided he would try to nap while she did, she would want a bottle soon. He lay down on the couch, soon falling asleep watching his daughter as she slept in her crib.

Jacob woke up a couple of hours later to Jayden fussing in her crib. He got up and walked into the nursery, turning on a small lamp, so he could see. “Hey, baby girl,” he said. “What’s wrong?”

He picked her up, taking her to the changing table. He changed her diaper, swaddled her, then took her out with him to get a bottle. She stopped fussing but was trying to fit her fist into her mouth like she could eat that. “Hang on,” He smiled at her, “I’m going as fast as I can!”

He followed the nurse’s instructions, made a bottle, then walked to the couch and sat down. He gave her the bottle, and she ate hungrily. “Well, you take after your dad in one way at least! You have a good appetite. Your mom ate like a bird.” His heart hurt when he mentioned Mia, but he was determined that their daughter would get to know her through him.

***

Jacob and Jayden survived their first night together without much trouble at all. He was able to get some sleep in between feedings and diaper changes. He was up the next morning, sitting at the table drinking coffee and eating toast when someone knocked at the door. He opened it, letting Randy and Josh in.

They brought Lucky with them. “Hey, Lucky,” Jacob said, leaning down to scratch his head. He wagged his tail, then promptly went straight back to the nursery, limping on his sore leg. Everyone watched him go, then quietly followed him back to see what he was up to. They entered the nursery to see him with his paws on the rail, standing on his back legs, looking in the crib at Jayden.

Jacob started to say something, but Josh grabbed his arm, motioning for him to stay quiet. Lucky soon got down, lying down beside the crib, promptly falling asleep. They all backed out, heading back out to the table.

Josh spoke first, “Lucky is something else. He didn’t sleep the best last night; we could hear him whining in the living room. Checked on him a couple of times but couldn’t find any reason for it, he seemed fine. He was waiting at the garage door for us this morning, ready to come home. It’s like he knew Jayden was home.”

Randy said, “I noticed he didn’t look for Mattie like he used to do.”

Jacob nodded, “He is a smart dog. Mia and I came to the conclusion a few weeks ago that he was not her dog, he was Jayden’s dog.”

Josh and Randy agreed with that, there was too much they had witnessed not to believe it. They finished their coffee and left. Josh was taking Randy into town to pick up a few things for Jacob. Jacob had given her a small list of things he needed, along with his credit card.

About mid-morning, when Jacob had just put Jayden down after feeding her again, this time lying her in the cradle he brought out to the living room, his cell phone rang. “Hello?” he said. “Mr.Jacob Vance?” a man’s voice asked.

“Yes,” he replied.

“My name is Harry Wilkens. I was your wife’s lawyer.”

Jacob was surprised. “My wife’s lawyer? I didn’t know she had one.”

“She came to see me right after the two of you married. I was sorry to hear of her death.”

Jacob thanked him, then asked, “Why did she come see you?”

“To make a will. She asked that I get a hold of you right away after her death to read the will with you. I was wondering if I could swing by today? Maybe in about an hour?”

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