Clawen • What comes next

|| CHAPTER 52 ||

           

Neither of them was aware of the time they spend with their eyes glued to Charlie. They were in their own little bubble, those three against the world. That was until Owen whispered, "Hey Charlie, do you want to meet your sister?". Claire knew he was asking her for permission to go get the two people waiting just outside. She smiled at the question before telling him to go get them. And with that, he stood up with a smile on his face, to go introduce his new daughter to the others.

Maisie was almost asleep against Karen's shoulder, when Owen opened the door to let them in. It only took half a second for Maisie to realize that it was her dad standing in the door, and another sec before she stood up and launched herself at him. Karen stood up from the chair she had spend an hour in already. She looked him in the eyes in search of answer to how it went, before they went in there. His smile tugged further up in the corner, before he gestured for Karen to go to Claire. She walked past him with a pad on his shoulder and a whispered congratulations.

Maisie was still clinging to him, so he carefully pulled her away to get a better look at her. "You alright?" He asked as he held on to both her shoulders. She nodded. "How's mom?" She then asked, peeking inside the room to find Karen by Claire's side, blocking the view of the baby. "Mom's good" Owen answered. He was about to walk Maisie into the room, but got the feeling that something was off with Maisie. Like her nod didn't tell the truth. "Maisie, honey? Are you sure you are okay?" He asked, bending down to get rid of the uncomfortable height difference. She shook her shoulders, looking at the floor to avoid his worried eyes. "Maisie, I understand how strange this probably is for you. I get it if you're scared or uncomfortable. Hell, I would even respect it if you don't want to go see mom right now" He said, making Maisie slowly look up at him.

That was when he saw her glassy eyes, threatening to spill all over her cheeks. He quickly pulled her into a tight hug, feeling like he was squeezing the life out of her in the process. The only reassurance that she wasn't bothered, was the sobs escaping her mouth and the tight fingers holding on to his shirt for dear life. "Maisie honey, tell me what's wrong" He begged, standing up to walk her over to the chairs. She sat down, wiping her nose in the process. "It's not...not that I don't want to see mom...or the baby" She said looking up at him for reassurance. He nodded at her with understanding eyes, urging her to continue. "I'm just scared...I've never been close to a baby and I know how fragile they are...I know...how much att...attention they need" She stuttered through sobs, wiping her nose again with the other sleeve this time.

Owen nodded, understanding what this was about. The actual baby, terrified Maisie. He understood it, one hundred percent, all the way through. He stood up and reached a hand out for her to take. "Come on, lets get you in there to meet your new sister, and you decide the speed of that introduction of course" He said, hoping for a smile at the mention of the gender. And a smile was what he got. Her head shot up to look at him and a big grin appeared on her face. "It's a girl?" She asked, not able to contain the happiness. He nodded, wearing the same grin as her, not being able to stop it. "Come on" He said, pulling her inside the room.

Karen quickly moved aside and walked around the bed to give Maisie some space. Claire noticed how scared and nervous Maisie looked and couldn't help the sympathetic smile that crossed her lips with the tilt of her head. "Hey sweetie" She whispered when Maisie got close enough. The girl was trying to seem calm and collected. Like the little thing her mom was holding, didn't terrify the life out of her.

Maisie swallowed once as she looked between her mom and her new sister. She had stopped a couple steps away from the bed, obviously too scared to get too close. Owen noticed though and walked up behind her, urging her to walk closer. "It's okay Maisie" He said, carefully giving her back a small push. Claire let go of Charlie with one hand, to reach out for Maisie. "Come here sweetheart" She said, taking a hold of Maisie's hand, who seemed to hesitate for a minute. Like this new baby coming into their life, had changed everything she had come to know in the past 10 months. "Maisie, there's no reason to be scared. It's just me" Claire told her, trying to get the girl to look her in the eyes. Eventually she did and gave Claire a small nod. That's when Claire noticed the glassy eyes as well and felt like crying herself. "Oh, Maisie sweetie" Claire half whispered and half cried. She looked up at Owen and asked "Can you hold her for a second" As she carefully held out Charlie for Owen to take. He did and walked over to sit next to Karen on the other bed.

As soon as Charlie was out of Claire's arms, she sat up properly and reached her other arm out for Maisie. Pulling her into a hug that made both of them cry. Silent sobs escaping them both, as their arms tightened around the other by the second.

The instant comfort that hit Maisie, made the tears go wild. She had only been without her mom for a couple of hours. But knowing what was happening and not being able to get any information as to how it was going, was not something Maisie wanted to experience again.

Claire wasn't sure of the reason for Maisie's tears but knew that her own was because she couldn't bear to see Maisie this distressed. "What's wrong sweetheart?" Claire whispered against the girl's ear as one of her hands carefully stroked the hair flowing down her small back. Maisie sniffled and shook her head. "Nothing" She whispered, but even though Claire barely heard it, Owen heard it clear as day. His head snapped up and he said. "Maisie that's not true". The girl sniffled and pulled back from Claire a bit. "I'm scared" She whispered, wiping her nose yet again. Claire's head tilted at the mention of that word. "Of what sweetie?" She asked tilting her head, as she waited for an answer. "The..." Maisie sniffled a couple times more before she managed to get the words out. "The...The baby" She said, looking down at her feet as the words left her mouth.

Now it was Claire's time to sniffle and wipe her nose, even though that probably did her face no good, imagining how it looked after it all. "I get it" Claire then whispered and wiped a tear off Maisie's cheek. "I really do sweetie, but you shouldn't be" She said, looking sincerely into Maisie's eyes to make her believe her words. The girl sniffled and wiped the remaining falling tears away before she looked Claire dead in the eyes. "Okay...I'll try" She said, trying to sound as confident and strong as she could in the situation. Claire smiled at her and reached a hand out to stroke a strand of hair behind the girl's ear. "You want to meet your sister then?" She asked, loud enough for the others to hear, incase Maisie said yes, so Owen could bring Charlie to them.

Maisie hesitated for a second, really wanting to not rush into it, before she decided to face the fear head on. It was a little baby; how scary could it be. She wouldn't have to touch it or hold it or anything.

Owen brought Charlie over and placed her carefully into Claire's arms again. The baby seemed to relax at the touch of her mother instantly, helping Maisie on the way to get a better look. Her hands were tucked into the pockets of her hoodie, holding on to the insides, in fear that if she let go, she would end up doing something wrong or hurt the baby. Claire tilted Charlie slightly so Maisie could get a better look at her. Maisie couldn't help her curiosity when she peaked her head closer. "So...Is she still called Charlie?" She asked, tilting her head to inspect her new baby sister. Claire nodded with a yes.

Maisie seemed okay to both Claire and Owen. Both of them having noticed how she had locked her hands in her pockets, afraid of them escaping. Neither wanting to say anything or pressure the girl into anything she wasn't ready for. They let Maisie say hi to her sister at distance.

Maisie was grateful for ending up with such understanding parents. And promised herself to thank the lucky stars before she went to sleep tonight.

I had plans for this, but then it changed and ended up this way. I don't know what you think. Maybe you wanted Maisie to be all excited and happy about Charlie. I just didn't feel it.

With everything Maisie has been through and how isolated she has been her whole life. This seemed like the type of reaction you would get from her.

Correct me if I'm wrong but I know a little about fear and anxiety and I could feel how Maisie felt, as I wrote this. It felt right!