Page 52 of Babies at Coconuts

Reaching for her phone, Vanessa’s voice broke. “I agree. I-I want them to meet Violet Grace today. If I hear their voice, I’ll probably blubber the entire time. I’ll text them now.”

~ ~ ~

After Vanessa and Violet were discharged, Jon gathered her belongings, Fernando carried the flowers, and Vanessa held Violet Grace in a wheelchair. Before they got through the revolving door, the sky darkened and sheets of rain pelted the windows.

“What timing. I hope Mom has an umbrella in her car. She should be here any minute.” As if on cue, Suzy pulled up to the front entrance.

Drenched, Jon helped Vanessa into the car. Fernando held an umbrella over the baby while Jon struggled to secure the infant car seat. “I guess we should have practiced.” After fumbling with the seatbelt, facing it forward in the wrong direction, he turned the seat around. “Car seats are no joke.”

Fernando stifled a chuckle. “I’ve got faith in you, Jon.” Rain dripped off Fernando’s umbrella as Vanessa hopped back out of the car. “Let me help. I learned how to do this in a pre-natal class.” Within seconds, she placed the baby in the seat as if she had done it all her life.

When he heard the latch of the safety belt to secure the car seat, Fernando rushed around to the other side, stepped in a huge puddle, swore, and jumped inside.

Once everyone was in the car, Suzy twisted to admire the baby, patted Vanessa’s leg, and turned the wipers on full speed. “Morning, everyone. Pretty flowers. I wish I had remembered to send some.”

“You’ve been a little busy.” Vanessa rubbed her belly, obviously from habit. “Guess who they’re from.”

“Who?” Suzy asked.

“My parents.”

Suzy gasped. “They came around. That’s wonderful. I’m so glad. I hope you invited them to my house.”

“I did. Thanks for . . . everything.”

“Violet has plenty of grandparents.” Smiling, Suzy said, “You can never have too many. And we have tons of food leftover from the wedding.” As she rounded the corner to her house, Suzy said, “I have a surprise. Before the wedding, I ordered a bassinet and diapers for the homecoming. They arrived early this morning.”

“You think of everything, Mom. Fernando and I have a lot to learn.” Jon rubbed the fog off the glass window. “Man, this rain won’t let up.”

As they parked, Fernando’s family appeared. His three brothers jumped out of their rental car and ran for the house, hopping over mud puddles. Mama Gia put her giant purse over her head and nearly slipped on the wet grass, swearing in Italian.

Suzy grinned. “The gang’s all here. Well, except for my girlfriends and Ken, who are working. Izzy’s at school.”

Jon rubbed his hands together. “More food for us.”

Once inside, Mama Gia insisted on holding the baby while Vinny, Frankie, and Luigi fought for the remote.

Vanessa sat in a rocking chair beside the white wicker bassinet while Jon, Fernando, and Suzy placed mounds of food on the counter.

Jon rubbed his belly. “My stomach’s growling.”

Fernando clucked his tongue. “We just had breakfast.”

“Hospital food doesn’t count. What can I do, Mom?” Jon flipped a switch to brew the coffee and made a pitcher of tea.

“You’re doing it. How about some lemonade too?”

Mama Gia pressed her nose to Violet’s cheek. “I love the way babies smell.” Reluctantly, she handed her back to Vanessa. “Dibs on holding her later.”

Vanessa grinned. “Right after my parents get to hold her.”

Mama Gia’s eyebrows shot up. “Your parents? I never heard the story with all of the fuss yesterday.”

Suzy winked at Vanessa. “Nothing to tell. In fact, they’re on their way here, right? Did you give them my address?”

Nodding, Vanessa cuddled her baby and rocked. “I imagine they’ll be here any minute.”

“Good.” Suzy tied her apron. “Now, who’s hungry?”

Frankie, Luigi, and Vinny hustled toward the kitchen with a chorus of “Me.”

Fernando and Jon fell into line but the brothers insisted the newlyweds go first.

Mama Gia smiled. “That’s my boys. Let’s use paper plates, Suzy. We might as well make it easy on ourselves.”

Suzy reached for plates and napkins and handed them to Mama Gia to place on the end of the counter. Grabbing forks, spoons, and knives, she said, “Eat,” then hesitated. “Vanessa, would you rather we wait until your parents get here?”

“No, go ahead. They’re used to free-for-all potluck church suppers.” She glanced at her watch. “They’ll be here soon. According to Mom’s text, they left twenty minutes ago.”

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