Sea Glass: Marie and Lauryn

Chapter 15

The mist still hadn't disappeared from the fields and the birds chirped as they rose from their slumber. Opening the window a bit further, Marie took a deep breath. 

The air is so calm and fresh here.

Turning back, she pushed a comfortable chair near the window before walking to the bed. Today they had a few activities planned with the family. Lauryn was asleep still, but Marie wanted to get her up and give her enough time to come out of her little headspace gently if she woke up still feeling that way. 

Lightly, she ran her fingernails up and down Lauryn's bare back and said, "Time to wake up, sweetheart. Mama wants to see that beautiful smile of yours." 

Lauryn yawned before turning over and putting her arms sleepily up to her. 

Definitely still little. 

Bending, Marie lifted her into her arms. Lauryn sleepily blushed as the state of her wet diaper made itself apparent as her bottom came to rest on Marie's forearms. Her embarrassment about her little predicaments, such as how she undeniably and uncontrollably wet during the night, was so cute to her.

"My baby is such a little girl, huh?" she said. 

Lauryn shook her head shyly before hiding her slightly face in her shoulder, thumb already in her mouth. She seemed less exhausted than she usually was in the mornings, which was nice. But, she still was quiet. She noticed that, while Lauryn had always been quiet in and out of her little headspace, since the accident, if she was still trying to wake up or was tired in the evenings, she tended to avoid words and talking altogether.

"Yes she is. Mama's little girl." 

Marie walked to the chair she had situated by the window before sitting and settling Lauryn in her lap. Her breasts were particularly full and uncomfortable since she hadn't nursed her the night before. 

"Time for some milk, baby," she said.

Supporting Lauryn's head, Marie sighed in relief as she started to nurse. Lauryn's eyes drifted closed again, but she nursed steadily, curling up a bit more in her lap. 

"That's it, princess." 

Running her fingers through Lauryn's hair, she looked again out the window. 

So peaceful here.

The sound of a woodpecker at work echoed over the silent, misty fields beyond their window. A buck wandered out of the woods. The slow awakening of the world unfurling before her.

Why do we even bother with London?

Marie had thought many times about raising her children outside of London. Her father had done that. Until boarding school, they had been raised at the family home in Oxfordshire. He had kept an apartment near the office in London, coming home for the weekends. And, her mother aside, she had loved her childhood there fishing, riding horses, hunting, finding nature's surprises in the forest. 

But then life had taken her away from all that. Away from who she was, away from her connection with the real world. 

Lauryn even slept better than usual last night in this peaceful space. She hadn't woken up with her usual nightmares and looked much less exhausted than she usually did in the mornings. Now she was calmly nursing, the early morning breeze drifting over her little body. She just seemed much more at peace.

Probably the lack of noisy city to invade her head...instead she has birds and fresh air here.

Maybe it's time to leave London?