Ophélie

Part 58

"Julie, please, calm down," I whisper, rocking her back and forth.

Charles is at the track and Julie has been screaming for the better part of an hour.

I've tried feeding her, changing her diaper, rocking her, bouncing her, and just putting her down, but that's the worst, as soon as I put her down she screams louder.

'Maybe she's hot.'

I grab her changing mat and drop to the floor, placing her gently on the mat, I unwrap her blanket and strip her of her clothes, leaving her just in her diaper.

I put my hand gently on her belly, talking calmly to her. "It's okay my love, it's okay, I'll figure it out and you're going to be okay."

I lift her up and pull my breast out, she immediately starts searching for it with her head, I help her latch and then lean my head back against the bed, letting out a sigh.

She suddenly let's go and starts screaming again.

"Noooo," I whisper, frustrated tears now filling my eyes.

I lift her up, her head on my shoulder and tap her back gently.

I stand up and gently lay her down in the middle of the bed, then go to the bathroom and fill the basin with lukewarm water, placing her bath stuff on the side.

I lift her off of the bed and then gently place her in the water, splashing some water over her belly.

She immediately calms down, her little body shaking with the little aftershocks of her sobs.

"It's okay baby. It's okay. Mommy's here. You're okay. I grab the thermometer next to the sink and take her temperature, I breathe a sigh of relief when it comes back normal.

When the water starts getting too cold I wrap her up in a towel and carry her into the bedroom.

I dress her and then leave the blanket off, I hold her against my chest and climb onto the bed, resting against the headboard.

I put her pacifier in her mouth and rub my hand gently up and down her back.

I look down at her as her eyes start fluttering and she slowly falls asleep.

I lean my head against the headboard, allowing the tears to run down my cheeks.

I still don't know why she was so upset, she just started screaming and wouldn't stop. It's so hard.

I hear a noise at the door and then Charles comes around the corner, he's grinning widely but then his face falls when he sees the tears on my cheeks.

"What's wrong? Is Julie ok? Are you ok?" he rushes over, his hands hovering over us.

"Shhh," I whisper, placing my finger to my lips.

He steps back, a confused look on his face.

I wipe my tears and then slowly stand up and place her in the bassinet, I hold my breath as I step away from the bassinet and sit on the edge of the bed, breathing out a sigh of relief when she doesn't wake up again.

I take Charles' hand and pull him into the bathroom.

"What's going on? Are you ok? Why were you crying?" he holds my face in his hands.

I shake my head. "She was screaming, like blood-curdling screaming for over an hour. I couldn't get her to calm down. I eventually bathed her and she calmed down. She had only been asleep for a few minutes when you came in. It was hard, I thought I was never going to get her to calm down." I whisper, I feel my bottom lip tremble and bite it.