Tide of Tenderness (OBX)

Chapter 7

The morning sun streamed through the windows of the Chateau, casting a warm glow over the cozy living room. John B and Sarah were up early, sipping coffee and enjoying a rare moment of quiet before the day began in earnest. Madi was still asleep in her crib, and they cherished these peaceful moments together.

"Ready for today?" John B asked, looking at Sarah over the rim of his coffee mug.

Sarah nodded, a mix of excitement and nerves evident on her face. "Yeah, but it's going to be a long one. The gallery wants to discuss potential buyers and future projects."

John B reached across the table, taking her hand. "You're going to do great. Just remember to breathe and take it one step at a time."

Sarah smiled, squeezing his hand. "Thanks, John B. I don't know what I'd do without you."

Their quiet moment was interrupted by the sound of Madi stirring in her crib, her soft whimpers escalating into cries. Sarah set her coffee down and stood up. "I'll get her."

She found Madi standing in her crib, clutching her favorite plushie—a well-worn bunny. Her face was scrunched up, tears streaming down her cheeks.

"Hey there, sweet girl," Sarah cooed, lifting Madi into her arms. "What's the matter?"

Madi continued to cry, her tiny fists clenched tightly around the bunny. Sarah rocked her gently, whispering soothing words, but it was clear that Madi was in a fussy mood.

John B appeared in the doorway, concern etched on his face. "Everything okay?"

Sarah sighed, bouncing Madi gently. "I think she's just having one of those mornings."

John B nodded, stepping forward to take Madi from Sarah. "Come here, Madi. Let's see if Daddy can make you feel better."

He walked around the living room, softly humming a lullaby, but Madi's cries didn't subside. Her fussiness was unusual; she was generally a happy, easy-going baby. Sarah watched them, a frown creasing her forehead.

"Maybe she's teething," Sarah suggested, reaching out to touch Madi's cheek. "Or she could be coming down with something."

"Could be," John B agreed, concern in his voice. "We'll keep an eye on her today."

The morning passed slowly, Madi's fussiness casting a shadow over their usual routine. John B tried everything to soothe her—rocking, singing, playing her favorite songs—but nothing seemed to help. Sarah took over when John B had to leave for the marina, her heart aching as Madi continued to cry.

Sarah's meeting at the gallery was fast approaching, and she was torn between her professional obligations and her desire to stay with Madi. She called Kiara, hoping her friend could lend a hand.

"Hey, Kie, I hate to ask, but could you come over and help with Madi? She's been really fussy, and I have this meeting at the gallery."

"Of course, Sarah," Kiara replied without hesitation. "I'll be there in ten minutes."

True to her word, Kiara arrived quickly, her presence a welcome relief. She took Madi from Sarah, cooing softly to the upset toddler.

"Hey, Madi. Let's see if Auntie Kie can make you feel better."

Madi's cries lessened slightly, but she was still fussy, her discomfort evident. Sarah watched them for a moment, her heart heavy with worry, before heading to her meeting. She trusted Kiara implicitly, but it was still hard to leave Madi when she was upset.

The gallery meeting was a whirlwind of discussions about Sarah's exhibition, potential buyers, and future projects. Despite her distracted state, Sarah managed to hold her own, impressing the gallery owners with her professionalism and vision.

By the time she returned to the Chateau, she was exhausted, her mind spinning with all the information and decisions that needed to be made. She found Kiara in the living room, holding a now-sleeping Madi in her arms.

"She finally fell asleep about twenty minutes ago," Kiara whispered, carefully transferring Madi to her crib. "I think she might be teething. She was gnawing on her bunny pretty hard."

Sarah sighed, relief flooding through her. "Thanks, Kie. I don't know what I'd do without you."

Kiara smiled, wrapping an arm around Sarah's shoulders. "Anytime, Sarah. You know I'm here for you guys."

John B returned from the marina shortly after, his expression brightening when he saw Madi peacefully asleep in her crib. "How'd it go at the gallery?" he asked, wrapping his arms around Sarah from behind.

"It went well," Sarah replied, leaning into his embrace. "They loved the exhibition and want to discuss future projects. But I couldn't stop thinking about Madi."

"She's okay now," John B said, kissing her cheek. "Kiara said she might be teething."

"Yeah, that makes sense," Sarah said, her worry easing slightly. "She's been chewing on everything lately."

The next few days were challenging as Madi's teething pain persisted. John B and Sarah took turns comforting her, using every trick they knew—teething rings, cold washcloths, gentle massages—to alleviate her discomfort. The nights were the hardest, with Madi waking frequently, her cries piercing the stillness of the house.

Despite the sleepless nights and the constant worry, John B and Sarah remained a united front. They supported each other, taking turns so the other could rest, finding solace in their shared love for Madi and each other.

One particularly difficult night, Sarah found herself awake at 3 a.m., rocking a crying Madi in the living room. The exhaustion was bone-deep, but she kept going, driven by the need to comfort her daughter.

John B appeared in the doorway, his hair disheveled, eyes heavy with sleep. "Let me take her, Sarah. You need to rest."

Sarah shook her head, her voice thick with fatigue. "It's okay. I've got her."

John B gently took Madi from her arms, his touch tender. "You need to rest, Sarah. We're in this together, remember?"

Tears filled Sarah's eyes as she nodded, grateful for his unwavering support. She stumbled back to bed, her body sinking into the mattress with a sigh of relief. John B stayed up with Madi, rocking her gently, whispering soothing words until she finally fell asleep.

The days turned into a blur of sleepless nights and long, exhausting days, but slowly, Madi's teething pain began to subside. Her cries lessened, replaced by her usual giggles and smiles. John B and Sarah found themselves able to breathe a little easier, the weight of worry lifting.

One afternoon, as they sat in the backyard watching Madi play with her plushies, Sarah leaned against John B, her heart full of gratitude.

"We're doing okay, aren't we?" she asked, her voice soft.

John B nodded, wrapping an arm around her. "Yeah, we are. We've got this, Sarah. We're a team."

Sarah smiled, feeling the truth of his words. They had faced so many challenges together, and they would continue to face whatever came their way. With Madi by their side and the support of their friends, they knew they could handle anything.

As the sun set over the Outer Banks, casting a golden glow over their home, they felt a deep sense of peace. The future was uncertain, but they were ready for whatever it held, united by love, resilience, and the unbreakable bond of family.