Page 71 of Vincent
"My water just broke."
*****
"She's perfect." It was difficult for him to get past the lump that had taken up residence inside his throat, but he managed it. "Hi, baby girl," he whispered, touching her tiny, clenched fist. "You have the look of your brother on you." He lightly touched the soft cheek, admiring the creamy skin.
"And your mommy is pretty awesome." He glanced at his wife who was staring at them drowsily. "She did an excellent job."
"She's tiny." David stared at his baby sister with a frown. "Why is she so tiny?"
"She's not tiny. She weighs in at seven pounds." Vincent sat on the sofa and gestured for his son to sit next to him. "Want to hold her?"
He shook his head. "She's too tiny."
"She's perfect." Viola bustled into the room, with Jacklyn following behind her. "Why don't we take over now and you spend some time with your wife?"
"I'm finding it difficult to give her up." Bending, he kissed her forehead and then her cheeks before handing her over.
"I want to stay with Mommy and Daddy." The boy looked mutinous as if he was going to cause a scene.
"Darling, Mommy needs rest," Jacklyn told him as she reached for his hand. When he jerked away and raced toward the bed, Althea shook her head at her sister-in-law.
"I'm fine, and I guess David needs assurance that I'm okay, right, darling?" she asked him gently as he climbed in next to her.
"I want to stay," he mumbled tearfully.
"Then you'll stay."
"I think he's a little jealous," Viola said in an undertone.
"We'll take care of it." Vincent touched his daughter's cheek again, his touch lingering.
He waited until they had left before climbing in next to his son.
"Hey, buddy, want to tell me what's going on?"
"I don't like my baby sister," he mumbled, burrowing against Althea. "She's going to be pooping all the time and crying. And you and Mommy will be holding her."
"David-"
He stopped when Althea shook her head, indicating that she would take this one.
"That's what babies do, honey. But we will have a nanny for Danielle very soon and, in the meantime, we, all of us, will take turns seeing to her needs. That includes you." She stroked his unruly curls slowly. "You're her big brother and you promised to take care of her."
"She's little. I cannot take care of her."
"That's why she's going to need all of us. You're the big brother and think how exciting it will be when you get to boss her around."
He lifted his head to stare at her, eyes wide. "Really?"
She smiled at him and nodded. "Of course. That's what your dad does to Aunt Jack and what my brother does to me."
"I get to tell her what to do and make sure she does her chores."
"Of course."
He nodded solemnly. "I think I love my baby sister now and I will be taking care of her."
"Good boy." She kissed him on the forehead.
