My Name is NOT Cupcake

Chapter Seven

The next morning, I woke to the sound of a baby. Confused, I yawned and looked around confused. I brushed my teeth and hair before I followed the crying to a room down the hall from me. I saw a baby that couldn't be older than eight months old. I looked around but it was just this baby boy. My need to nurture kicked in and I picked the baby out of the crib and cradled him. There was an embroidered pillow with the name 'Rhett' on it. I cooed him as I started bouncing him gently.

"Aw, Rhett. What's the matter, pretty boy?" I asked in a baby voice. I shushed him and tried to get him to calm down. Eventually, he did.

"Who are you?" I heard from behind me. I turned to see a woman with blonde hair and tired brown eyes. Her eyes held bags and her demeanor just looked tired. She must have been Rhett's mother.

"Oh, I'm Novalyn, or Nova. You must be Rhett's mother. Sorry, I heard him crying and couldn't help myself," I blushed embarrassed. She sighed and collapsed in the rocker.

"No, it's okay. I should be thanking you. I'm so exhausted. I'm Jasmine but everyone just calls me Minnie," she smiled tiredly. "He's probably hungry," she sighed.

"I can take care of him if you want to sleep more and I'm really good with kids," I offered. She smiled gratefully.

"Thank you, Luna. His bottles are downstairs in the refrigerator," she said before she scurried out of the room. Luna?

"My name is Nova," I called after her. I looked down at the curious little thing and couldn't help but to smile. "Let's go get you some food," I cooed at the baby. He smiled and kicked his legs happily. I chuckled as I took him down to the kitchen. I pulled open the fridge and saw the bottles with Rhett's name on it. I popped it in the microwave for just a little bit before I tested it and fed the bottle to Rhett. I sat with him in the living room as the TV droned on numbly. I noticed that Rhett's skin felt a little hot.

"Nova, what are you doing?" Elias' voice reached me. I turned my head slightly to see him walking in with Taylor. Taylor looked shocked and amused.

"And what are you doing with my baby?" Taylor added. I shrugged and turned my attention back to Rhett.

"I found him. He was crying and... that's how I ended up here with him," I shrugged. Taylor chuckled.

"He likes you. You know, I'm surprised Minnie didn't grab him. She can be a little overprotective sometimes," he said sitting next to me as Elias took the open seat on my other side.

"Minnie seems nice. Tired, but a genuine person," I smiled.

"She saw you holding Rhett and she didn't freak out?" Taylor asked surprised. I shrugged.

"She said to take him and she left," I explained. He chuckled.

"I can't believe it. She must really be tired," Taylor smiled, shaking his head.

"I don't mind. Rhett is a cutie," I said as he finished the bottle. Taylor held his hands out for Rhett.

"Just burp him," I instructed. Taylor chuckled.

"I know how to take care of my baby," Taylor rolled his eyes.

"He has a fever, though," I added. "When's the last time he saw a doctor?" I asked. Taylor began burping Rhett as he turned back to me.

"Never. We had a home birth and then he was fine so we never went to the hospital," Taylor explained.

"You should take him to get seen and get his immunizations. It's important for newborns and if he hasn't gotten them yet, he's defenseless against hundreds of sicknesses and diseases," I said. Taylor nodded as a small smile graced his lips.