~ Juli's P.O.V. ~
At about ten, I get a text from El.
We're on our way. Just landed. Should be there in about twenty minutes. See you and my little goddaughter soon!
I smile at her message. The doctor released me from the hospital earlier than expected, so I got to leave there early this morning. Seeing Eleanor will brighten my mood by a lot.
I go to check on Maddie. Her sweet little face rests in the little crib my Grandma bought a few weeks back. I take the time advantage to get ready before El gets here.
All of a sudden, a light switch goes off in me brain.
We?
What other person is with her? I specifically said that this needed to stay top secret.
I run my fingers through my hair and breathe out slowly. "Calm down, Juli." I say to myself. "She probably just meant that her and the cab driver are coming."
I settle with that and continue getting dressed. Instead of wearing something tighter and more sophisticated, I settle for a pair of sweats and one of my brother's old t-shirts. I smooth the shirt over my stomach. It feels weird for me not having a bump there. The last time that I could actually look straight down and see my feet was months ago.
I check the clock and see it's almost time for El to get here. Instead on running around like a maniac, I decide to sit in the front window and wait for them to come. I fed Maddie earlier this morning, and she was down for her nap now. I didn't expect her to wake up any time soon.
After sitting there gazing at the streets for more than ten minutes, I eventually get up and go into my room to pick up Maddie. Her delicate body feels like a feather in my arms. I smile as she whines a bit. With a blessing like her in my life, I grin all the time.
While I'm gazing down at my daughter, I hear a faint knock coming from the front door. In a rush to answer the door, I don't set Maddie back down. When I reach the door, I see the silhouette of El behind the warped glass. Making sure I have a secure arm under Maddie, I open the door.
A smile forms on my face as I meet Eleanor's familiar eyes, but my jaw drops to the floor at my next sight. Behind her, Louis stands staring at the ground, as if he was cowering to me. I guess I was right about the "we" thing.
"Louis," I say, trying to hide my boiling anger. "What are you doing here?"
"I, um... I just, uh-" He stutters, then El cuts him off.
"He kinda figured it out. I thought that if he knew, I might as well bring him with. You know him, he'd end up spilling if I left him home."
She's right. Although Louis is like a new big brother to me, I couldn't trust him with a big secret.
I shrug and smirk. "Well, I guess if he knows... he can stay."
El's cheeks scrunch up as she smiles and she jumps up and down, screeching as she starts to talk again.
I pull my index finger up to my lip signaling her to be quiet and point down to the baby in my arms. She gasps as if she didn't realize I had been holding her the whole time.
"Oh my gosh, Juli, she looks just like you." El gushes.
I smile. "Do you want to hold her?" I say.
Her eyes light up. "Could I?" She asks and I nod. Her arms open to form a nest as I hand Maddie to her.
"Let's go inside; we can grab your bags in a few minutes." I say. El slowly begins walking inside, making sure Maddie is safe in her arms. I look up to Louis, who is still looking down to the floor. "You know, you can talk if you want to." I joke.
