Magnolia

Saturday

The whirlwind week was finally over. Josh was going over some of the papers the physical and occupational therapist had given him, the advice and diet for Maggie from the nutritionist and the exercises from the speech therapist.

He sipped at his coffee and nibbled on some toast while he watched Maggie sitting on the floor, chasing Jim. She'd scoot around on her bum, using her feet and hands.

She was a little more comfortable not being in Josh's arms 24/7, but still needed the reassurance that Josh was nearby. And she had warmed up to Jim.

"Uff uff!" Maggie said to Jim. Jim licked her face. Maggie made a face and looked at Josh.

Josh smiled down at her.

"Did Jim kiss you, Peanut?"

Maggie wiped her face. Josh laughed. Jim rolled onto his side and Maggie lay her head on Jim's side. Jim's big paw went over Maggie as though he were protecting her. Josh took a picture.

Tyler and Jenna were coming over in a little while with Rosie. They'd have dinner and let the girls meet.

The doorbell rang and Josh got up. Maggie followed him by scooting along on her bum.

Tyler and Jenna came in, Jenna holding Rosie.

"Oh. She's so adorable!" Jenna said. "I mean, her pictures are cute but she's precious in person!"  Jenna knelt in front of Maggie and said hi.

"Hi there, Maggie. I'm Jenna. This is Rosie,"

Maggie looked at Jenna and scooted over to Josh and tugged on his jeans. She put her hands up to be picked up.

"Okay, Peanut. But Jenna's nice. You'll see."  He went over to Jenna with Maggie in his arms. Maggie looked at Jenna, while her head was on Josh's shoulder.

"Okay sweet girl. You're okay," Jenna said. Rosie looked at Maggie and smiled.

"Baby," Rosie said.

"That's Maggie. Can you say hi?"

"Mabby," Rosie said.

"Maggie, can you say hi to Rosie?" Josh said, lifting her arm and making her wave to Rosie. Maggie hid her face in Josh's shoulder.

"She takes some time to warm up," Josh said, rubbing Maggie's back.

Josh, Jenna and Tyler went into the living room. Jenna put Rosie down to play with some of the toys Josh had out. Josh tried to put Maggie down, but she wasn't ready.

The three adults talked. Josh told them about Maggie's appointments, what the therapists had said. They were all cautiously optimistic.

It was obvious, they'd said, and the doctor had said, that Maggie's family had neglected her enough that she hadn't yet developed language or the ability to walk. They'd fed her, but not enough and not enough nutritionally dense foods, which were on her diet recommendations.

Josh was told to encourage Maggie to stand by holding her up in a standing position for as long as she could handle it. He was doing it a few times a day, letting her hold his legs while she stood between them and held on. He also had some exercises to do with her to get her legs strengthened. She'd never been taught to walk or feed herself with cutlery.  She hadn't been taught really, to talk. But she was starting to vocalize. So far she had 'umm umm' which Josh took to mean "yum" and 'uff uff', which was dog.

Josh placed Maggie on the floor between his legs as he'd been doing, letting her stand on the soft carpet. She leaned on his leg while watching Rosie with her toys.

He knew her legs would tire out quickly, since they'd already done this exercise a few times today, but Josh would push her, just a bit.

Josh took Maggie's hands and had her hold on to his while holding her up. Her knees would bend and Josh would pull her up to straighten her legs to stand. When she was getting fussy, and obviously fatigued, Josh picked her up and put her in his lap.

"Want to go play with Rosie?" He asked. Maggie pointed at her toys. Josh put her down and she scooted over to the toys. She picked up a book and opened it.

"Uff uff," she said, pointing to the Dalmatian on the page.

"That's a dog. Very good," Josh smiled. She flipped the page and looked at another animal.

"Moo," she said at a cow.

Josh was stunned. He'd been doing these sounds with her every night.

"Right, cow!" Josh smiled.

Maggie turned a page again.

"M-ow," she pointed at the cat. Josh tried to hold back tears.

"This is the most she's done. It's been a week. We read that book every night," Josh said. Jenna smiled at him.

"She just needs some love and encouragement. And that's what you're giving her," she smiled.

Maggie looked up at Josh and picked up the book.

"KAK!" She said at the duck. Josh jumped up and picked Maggie up.

"Duck!! That's right my darling girl. That's a duck! And the duck says Quack!"  He kissed Maggie on the cheek. Then Maggie did something she hadn't done for as long as Josh had known her.  She smiled.