The Outbreak (The Nursery Nurse)

Thirty Five

Charlotte was sitting outside of Autumn's bedroom door, it was shut.

She was leaning against the wall, her legs drawn into her chest as she toyed with one of her curls to try and calm her mind.

It was as if Autumn wasn't giving birth at all on the other side, it was so quiet it put her on edge.

She had stayed calm whilst bringing Autumn back to the house, so calm that it made Winter angry.

"You need to do something." He shouted towards Charlotte, he was so pale she thought he might need to lie down.

"I know." She replied calmly as she aided his wife, helping her take off her boots.

"We need Matilda."

"Yes."

"We need to get the others now."

"I know."

"We need to get her upstairs."

"I know."

"Stop agreeing with me."

Charlotte exhaled sharply, it had been about an hour now, the only sound heard from time to time was Matilda's voice, muffled and faint.

Charlotte gasped in relief when a wailed cry broke the deafening silence, she felt her chest heave slightly in relief and didn't even fight the tears as they fell.

-

Autumn's eyes were wide when a wet squirming bundle was deposited upon her bare chest.

She gave a small gasp at her daughters tiny scrunched up face as she nuzzled into her sternum.

Her head was matted with dark wet curls.

She sobbed in relief.

Winter was next to her, he let go of her hand to cover his mouth, happiness overwhelming him.

Autumn was shaking, she gently held her baby closer to her chest, afraid to let go.

The baby looked up towards Autumn's face, her mouth twisting as a vibrating wail emerged forcefully from her mouth.

Matilda and Marjorie were speaking yet it fell on death ears.

Autumn was at a loss for words.

She always felt as if she were floating through life, as if she never really had any purpose.

But as she looked down at her daughter she became brutally aware that this was the reason.

This was her purpose, it was if her whole world had suddenly been centred.

Winter was placing gentle kisses on his wife's forehead, he was a mess of tears as he held his baby's palm.

"I think she's going to have my hair, poor thing." Winter said through his tears.

It was as if Autumn had suddenly taken her first breath after unknowingly drowning for so long.

She looked up to Winter and began to weep tears of joy.

After a while Autumn finally let Marjorie hold her.

Marjorie was silent as she took her niece. She looked over her with wide eyes, taking deep breaths as she tried to compose herself.

"Oh he would of loved you." She whispered, the tears were hot as they streamed down her face.

-

When Charlotte was finally allowed to see Autumn she stepped into the room eagerly.

Autumn was asleep on the bed whilst the baby rested in Winter's arms.

Marjorie was sitting on a chair nearby, staring intently, a soft glow in her eyes.

"Oh my goodness." Charlotte whispered as she stepped towards Winter.

The baby's matted brown hair was beginning to dry and stand in little tuffs about her head, she was sleeping soundlessly.

"She's beautiful." Charlotte whispered.

Winter looked up briefly, "Thankyou Charlotte." He said gently.

Charlotte looked back to Marjorie who was sniffling, "She did amazing." Marjorie whispered as she looked over Autumn.

"I bet she did." Charlotte whispered.

"Would you like to hold her?" Winter offered gently.

Charlotte stiffened as she looked over the precious girl she calculated.

"I don't know." She whispered.

Charlotte has spent a lot of time preparing herself for the arrival of her best friend's baby.

She couldn't let herself break just because she had lost her own. But she didn't know if she even remembered how to hold one.

Winter studied her for a moment his eyes glossing over, "It's okay Charlotte, you're okay."

Charlotte inhaled deeply, her hands began to shake as the baby stirred slightly in her fathers arms.

She sharply exhaled before nodding, she cringed internally as the baby's weight now rested in her arms.

It was strange at first until it was familiar.

Charlotte was in complete shock, she forgot how it felt to hold a baby, how it felt to love something so much.

The yearning for her daughters pounded forcefully throughout her, she shook slightly yet swallowed back her grief and concentrated on the little girl she was currently holding.

"Any sign of Mia?" Marjorie asked gently.

The question didn't register in Charlotte's mind for a second until it did, "She and Carly are still out." She barely whispered.

Marjorie hummed in approval.

"Would you like to know her name?" Winter asked after a moment.

Charlotte looked up at him and nodded quickly.

"Nova Reece Fortune-Knight."