Trauma of the Forest (Meadema)

~ Chapter 82: Getting Baby-Proof ~

31 weeks pregnant, another week later, another week further into the pregnancy, another week closer to the arrival of their baby. And especially for Beth, a week full of tiredness. By now she was huge, she only felt the need to walk around in Viv's oversized trracksuits, to crawl under a blanket with Viv and to sleep in a sitting position against her. Lying down was uncomfortable, standing for too long was uncomfortable, just sitting with Viv on the couch, leaning against her, was about the only comfortbale. 

Despite being incredibly grateful for the fact that she was pregnant, that she could carry mini-Viv with her, it just became heavy, the weight of their baby that she had to carry every day, the fear for Peter that was always there. She cried a lot, just from tiredness in Viv's arms. But finally there was a high again, last night the supplies were delivered, the furniture for their little one was here, so finally the house would really be ready for the arrival of their baby.

With nothing else to do, they decided to just start slowly and then spend the rest of the day assembling furniture, for as long as Beth could keep it up of course. The division of tasks had already been made clear, Beth would give the instructions while sitting in a chair and Viv would actually assemble the furniture. Luckily the suppliers had been kind enough to bring the boxes to the appropriate floor, so it saved a lot of lugging.

'So liefje, ready to start baby-proofing the house?'. Beth nodded, the smile on her face spread wide, her eyes sparkling with enthusiasm. 'Shall we assemble the nursing chair first? Then you can sit a bit more comfortably and secretly practice for when you'll be sitting in it with our little one in your arms'. 

Beth felt the butterflies coming, could already picture it. In a few weeks she would be sitting in the chair they were now going to put together, with Viv and a tiny baby in their arms. 'Hmmm, I can't wait till the baby is here'. In an automatic reflex she rubbed her belly, which Viv noticed. She immediately stood up, left the box there and put her arms around Beth from behind and lifted her belly. 'Hmmm, Vivi. Can you do this forever?'. Viv pressed a soft kiss on Beth's temple. 'I would love to hold you and the baby all day long, sweetheart, but I think we better get some stuff together. You ready for it?'. Beth nodded.

Viv opened the box, immediately gave the booklet and the bag of screws to Beth so that she could already read the instructions and sort the screws, while she herself put the other stuff down on the floor. 'Okay Vivi, you need these things and then you have to put this thing in here'. It went smoothly, it could hardly have been otherwise with their sublime collaboration, what their relationship was based on, being together, working together.

In no time the chair was there, exactly as they had expected. The light grey cushions were put in and Beth immediately sat down in the chair, Viv next to her, because the chair was indeed that big. Beth placed her head against Viv's shoulder. 'Hmmm Vivi, just a little while and then we'll be sitting here with our little one in our arms'. Beth looked up at an angle, getting no reaction from Viv, who was clearly lost in her thoughts.

Although Viv had just said the same things to Beth, she couldn't quite imagine it yet, that in three months' time she would be sitting here with Beth and that there would be a little one in Beth's arms that needed to be fed. That the three of them would be sitting here snugly, she and Beth staring at how their little one was drinking from Beth. 

It felt strange to suddenly be able to think so positively, to suddenly find herself in a different world. Just over a week ago she was still sleeping in that cold room at the police station in St Albans. And now, just a week later, she was making preparations with her wife to make sure that everything was ready for the arrival of their baby. They were just going to be mothers? Suddenly it seemed like that actual realization had only just hit.