Blue Heaven

Part 14

30 April 1982

Friday 9:30pm

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Paul had come home from work a while ago. He was still in his suit, though his tie was loosened, his top buttons undone, sleeves rolled up to his elbows. He was tired from the week, though in a pleasant mood.

You were glad he came home in good spirits. In his field, a fellow could easily come home bitter and annoyed, no patience or desire to interact with his family back home. Paul seemed to genuinely like coming home to see you both. It was wearing away on your cynical nature.

This first week back, he would come home, sometimes worn out, but with fresh energy. He was already excitable. He often came back half past five, and gave you a kiss at the door. After your attention, if you weren't holding her already, he'd shout "Mary! Mary!" to a response of squeals. If you were holding her, he'd snatch her from you, giving her wet kisses.

Dinner would be done, or nearly done. Rosemary had her last nap from 6pm-6:30pm, and you would eat.

It was 9:30pm now. You were both on the sofa, winding down from the day.

You were holding Rosemary, who was rather excited at the moment. She wasn't the sleepy newborn she used to be. The Paul side of her was coming through. You raised her up and down, and she giggled through it.

She should've been asleep at the moment. You would usually have her down by 9:15. It was getting late, yet she seemed full of energy.

She shouted more than babbled. If you spoke to her, she'd just stare transfixed, not caring to contribute. She had the same stupid look Paul had, with the wide doe eyes and parted moth.

It seemed the only way to get sounds out of her was to get her excited enough to shriek and shout. You blamed Paul for that. He'd been doing that since she was born to get a rise out of her.

At least she was smiling now. She looked just like her father, with the baby face at least. She had no teeth yet, though.

You raised her up. Her arms stuck out. She was wearing a lavender gown for the night, with a peter pan collar, ruffled front, and puff sleeves. She really was cute, like a little princess. Her dark hair came to a curl on her forehead.

She was making sounds, gurgling, almost word fragments. She was drooling with the excitement, rosy cheeks and cute baby mouth, bright brown eyes. She was looking right at you.

She was the only child between Paul and you. You hadn't meant to have her, but she was here now.

"Do you really want six of these things?" You murmured, slipping through.

Paul put a finger on his chin, quickly brightening, as if getting the sense you were coming around.

"Well, yes!" He said. "Why not? I'm not fussed on the number, as long as the house is full of them."

"Yeech." You said, stickling out your tongue. Rosemary squealed in glee.

"Mary! Mary!" Paul shouted, making you jolt, nearly dropping her onto your lap. She shrieked back.

You rubbed your dizzy head, passing her to him to lift up and down.

You had taken her for a check up shortly upon returning from the cottage. Paul had signed her up with a paediatrician. It was her first since taking her home from the hospital after giving birth.

It was new to you, sort of like taking a cat to the vet. You set her on a table, and the doctor checked up on her heartbeat, then weighed her. She had been 6lbs 6oz at birth, but had gained another ten!