Before Baby

For earlier entries please go to:  The Fiction Page

Before Bruce was born, Nicole had a full rich life. She loved being a mother; however she missed her freedom. Another baby was not something she had planned for, but after she found out she was pregnant she embraced the idea. The new baby would arrive right around Bruce's second birthday.

Nicole found herself much tireder than she had been with her first pregnancy. By the time Nick returned home after work, she was ready for bed. Nicole and Nick became virtual ships that pass in the night, they would see each other in the mornings before Nick went to work, and they would see each other when he returned after work. When he traveled Nicole asked her mother to come help her.

Bruce required full time attention. He was walking and running anywhere he could. He would only entertain himself for short periods of time. Nicole tried to get to the park every day; but as the Nebraska winter settled around her it became much more difficult.

By mid-April life had again settled into a routine. Nick was traveling one week per month and Nicole's exhaustion had diminished. Bruce loved to point at her belly and say, "My baby."  Together the little family prepared for their new arrival.

July 14, Bruce's second birthday, Nicole went into labor. Her parents came over to take care of Bruce and Nick took his wife to the hospital. Together they witnessed the birth of their daughter. Nick wept and knelt by his wife's bedside. "I am eternally grateful to you for allowing me to witness this. I will never forgive myself for missing Bruce's birth. This has truly been the most remarkable event of my life."

The day Adriana went home was the day Bruce fell in love. He loved his new baby sister and was never far from her side. If she cried, he was right there, stroking her head letting her know everything would be OK. He shared his favorite animals with her; gave her his blanket; played by her side and never left her alone.

Before she arrived Bruce would not sit still for very long, but after she came he would spend hours just sitting next to her. He would talk incessantly, although he was the only one who really knew what he was saying.


To be continued.....



Linking up with my friend Josie at Two Shoes Tuesday where today's prompts are before and after.