When Jeannine was told that her baby was a little girl, she had to admit that she'd been a bit disappointed. She'd built up her baby boy in her mind so much, and now he didn't exist. She almost felt like crying.
That all disappeared as soon as Jeannine held her child in her arms. The baby opened her mouth and closed it a few times. Her little arms waved back and forth and Jeannine's heart was lost. It all went into the tiny amber eyes that alternated from staring openly at everything and squeezing shut, and the soft baby noises that came from a mouth still not used to making sounds.
Jeannine named the child Emilie after one of her favourite composers.
Calvin had made it to the hospital in time, and though Jeannine's fantasy image of him waiting anxiously in the waiting room hadn't come true, it did make her feel better to see him sitting on a bench outside the hospital. The three got into the car, and while the ride back to Jeannine's place was awkward, she feared that it might be more her fault than anything. After all, how could she make small talk when the only thing in her head was that this might be the only time they would be together as mother, father, and baby?
Once they got home, Jeannine laid Emilie into the crib. For a moment, she just watched her infant daughter. Her daughter. Every time she thought those words, Jeannine's chest filled with warmth. Then she heard Calvin's footstep behind her, and she pulled away. They needed to talk.
"I'm sorry," Jeannine began, "I didn't know that I was that close to giving birth."
"Jeannine, it's okay," Calvin assured her. "Everything I said before still holds. I freaked out, but I'm fine now. I want to be here for you." But not Emilie. His silence spoke louder than all of his words. Jeannine understood perfectly. He'd wanted kids. He'd wanted a family and a normal family life, but the world just kept throwing stuff at him that he couldn't deal with. He had to raise his siblings. He had a kid with his girlfriend. He wasn't married. He was still stuck in a part-time job.
As much as she wanted to give Emilie a father, Jeannine couldn't ask him to have more responsibility.
"I understand," she said, "We're going to be perfectly fine. I promise. Just -" she took a breath "- just promise me something back, okay?"
"Anything," Calvin vowed.
"Come over for Emilie's birthdays?"
He nodded. They didn't exactly have much to say after that, and he left without once looking at his daughter.
Once he left, Jeannine picked up Emilie again. "I will never let you down," she whispered, even though the newborn couldn't understand. "I will make sure you never feel like your life is lessened just because your father isn't part of it."
Jeannine quickly found that the love she'd felt for her daughter was not a passing thing. She loved Emilie. She loved playing music for her - even if Emilie couldn't really appreciate it.
She loved seeing Emilie's little arms wiggle when Jeannine pulled out the bottle.
She loved watching her little bundle lie still as she slept.
And while waking up in the middle of the night to Emilie's crying wasn't Jeannine's favourite thing in the world,
the knowledge that Emilie was unhappy and knew that the only person who could fix it was her Mommy was the best feeling in the world.
One day, when Jeannine was out getting the mail, she found a present for Emilie. It said it was from Calvin's Aunt Eugenia, and while Jeannine had never heard of such a person, she gladly accepted the gift.
It was an odd little toy that Jeannine put in Emilie's crib.
Not long after Great-Aunt Eugenia's toy arrived, Jeannine made up enough money to build onto the house.
The new room housed the crib, and a few toys that Emilie would grow into. The wallpaper was clouds over blue that Jeannine hoped would trick Emilie into thinking it was the sky. She knew that most kids spent a lot of time inside, and didn't want to start her daughter on that path.
Eventually, the baby times would have to end, and Jeannine found herself calling Calvin to let him know that there was going to be a birthday party for Emilie.
Once she got dressed, Jeannine went to hold her daughter. It would be the last time she would hold Emilie like this, and she wanted to savor every second of it.
The doorbell rang, announcing the first guest. Things were still a little awkward between Jeannine and Calvin, but it was better than just after Emilie was born.
Zac Whipsnake crashed the party, which Jeannine thought was odd, but he brought PB&J sandwiches, so he was allowed to stay. She wasn't really going to throw anyone out of her daughter's first birthday party, after all.
Jeannine's boss, Johnny Johnson, also showed up. Jeannine felt a bit guilty at using her daughter's birthday as an opportunity to schmooze, but she needed to make Johnny like her.
Not long after all the guests arrived, Jeannine brought Emilie to the cake. The only person to celebrate with her was Calvin, but she didn't really expect any differently. Either way, she was excited, if not a bit nervous. This was a huge step in Emilie's young life, and Jeannine was taking it with her. There was so much that was going to happen, and so much that Emilie was going to participate in, and Jeannine wanted to be there every step of the way.
One of the first things Emilie did was play with her toy from Great-Aunt Eugenia. She made toddler noises at the thing and kept touching its triangle nose.
All the guests dispersed pretty quickly after that. Except for Calvin. While Emilie played on the floor, their parents talked. And flirted.
And did other things in the shower that are not what showers were designed for. All in the name of cementing their relationship.
That night, after even Calvin had left, Jeannine held her daughter in much the same way she'd held her that morning. Even though things had changed, there were some things that were the same.
"I think we're going to do alright, don't you, Emilie?" Jeannine said. Emilie just waved her arms around and made happy sounds, but Jeannine took that as a 'yes'.
Third chapter done!
Emilie is the heir. The composer she's named after is Emilie Simon, whose music I just love (though Jeannine probably wouldn't, actually, but I like the name too, so whatever).
Emilie's traits are Genius and Excitable, and her roll is:
Couple
1 Kid
Astronomer (Astrophysicist)
Farmer
Hobby, or Obsession
Runs in the Family
I'll probably mention that again when she takes over, which will not be for a while. Her hair being blond instead of any normal colour that would result from her parents genetics is actually a thing that happens to me way too much. Like, more than what I think should be normal.
Thanks for reading!
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