Emergent

Chapter Twelve

"Come in." I here a soft voice say. Christina wanders in first, slowly, then motions me to walk in behind her. I can just make out a frail blond figure sitting in a rocking chair, Susan, cradling a bundle of blankets that I assume has the baby wrapped in them. The lighting is dim, and I can't see more than ten feet beyond me, so I am careful where I step, especially after Christina steps on a cat. As I make my way in, I can just see Caleb sitting in a chair across from Susan. He catches my eye, rises, and saunters to me.

"There is something I have to t-" he starts, but I put a hand on his shoulder to cut him off.

"I know." I whisper and smile. He nervously smiles back.

"Do you want to meet her?" Caleb asks quietly. I nod. He walks me to Susan, and taps her shoulder. Susan looks up at him, then me, and grins. I've never seen her smile this much before.

"Beatrice!" She whispers, and hands the baby to Caleb. She wraps me in a hug, an awkward one, only because she is fairly new to the hugging concept.

Caleb wanders to her side, and hands me the blanket bundle. Inside I see a small face, with petite features. She sleeps soundly, even though she has been moved three times in this short amount of time. Caleb places a hand to my shoulder and mutters, "Beatrice, meet Elizabeth."

Elizabeth. I have never before heard a name fit so perfectly to a person. I'm not sure what it is, her small lips the are parted slightly, or the gentle snore they let out, or her eyelids that already give away she has big eyes. Her name just suits her so well. She doesn't move, other than when she breathes. I wonder what she is dreaming about. Possibly her parents, or maybe Christina. Maybe some sort of fantasy she has somewhere in the small head of hers, like the small teddy bear she is holding coming to life.

Her peaceful slumber ends when Christina trips over a leg of a bar stool and knocks it over, creating a few loud thumps. Elizabeth's eyes shoot open, and I am ready for her to cry. Not only has she been awoken from a deep rest, but some stranger is holding her.

She opens her mouth to, but her gaze softens. She meets my eye once, but as babies do she curiously looks around, and her tense body relaxes. I smile and play with her a bit, talking in a high-pitched voice and touching her nose every now and then. She doesn't giggle much, but when she does a warm feeling enters my chest. I then start to sway her back to sleep, when the door opens.

Tobias slowly walks in, and smiles when he spots me with Elizabeth. He walks to my side and places a hand on my shoulder. "I thought you would be here." he murmurs into my ear. I turn and smile at him. I have sudden flashes of what could be, Tobias and I standing side by side, cradling a newborn in my arms. Maybe even having one or two more running around at the time.

Suddenly though, the thought turns from warm to horrifying. I haven't been with Tobias, or any of the others, for even five hours yet. Now I'm thinking about our future together? Elizabeth must've felt my sudden tension, because she tenses too and begins to cry. I pace, sort of run to Caleb and hand her back. I then turn and bound without looking at anyone.