Settling in Seattle

Chapter 20- Back Home

Mike placed the car seat onto the wooden floor of the living room, stretching out his arms. He was happy to be on home turf again. Rosalie was asleep, with a little pink hat and matching sleeper on, tucked up in a fluffy purple blanket. She was adorable, her little button nose flaring as she slept. 

"Hey, Mike, can you just help me with these bags?" He was caught out of his daydream by Rachel who called from the doorway.

"Oh, yeah, sorry, I'll do that, you can try and get Rosy out of her car seat without waking her!" Rachel walked in to the living room, the car seat rested near the rug. She pulled down the hood and carefully unclipped her from the car seat. She'd read online that you shouldn't keep them in their car seats for too long. Rachel untangled her from the straps and slid her hands through to pick her up and out of the car seat. Adjusting her grip so that Rosalie was comfortable in her arms, Rachel went towards the stairs, she knew there was a new bouncer in the storage room.

"I'm so proud of you." Mike kissed the top of his wife's head, squeezing her closer into the crook of his body. They were sat on the sofa, Rachel was led in between the back of the sofa and Mike, and Rosalie was quietly asleep in the bouncer.

"As you keep informing me. I'm proud of you too you know, it's not easy for you to do this, but you've taken to being a dad like a duck to water. To tell you the truth, seeing you with her makes my heart melt." Rachel leant in, relaxing, but still keeping an eye on the bouncer in the corner of her eye.

"The thirtieth of November, not a bad day to have a birthday." Mike thought out loud.

"Nope, not at all," Rachel joked, slightly confused, "Hey, Mike, do you want her to be baptised?" She asked him with a concerned look on her face. He looked up at the ceiling and made an almost growling sound, "Bullshit, now tell me what you think."

"Why would you bring it up?" Mike sat up, he wanted this to be serious.

"Only because my dad asked me, and I didn't know. I mean, we've never really talked about it," Mike still looked uncomfortable and he was being defensive, but Rachel continued, "Mike, I know you don't like talking about this stuff, but we need to decide what we're going to do, and pretty soon. Please just tell me what you think."

He sighed. "I don't know," His hands suddenly started moving in all different places.

"What's up? Mike what's going on?"

"Nothing. Nothing's going on." Mike stood up and walked into the kitchen.

"Well it's clearly not, Mike you have to open up to me about things like this. Mike, come on!" Rachel told him as he was walking out, and by that point, Rosalie had woken up and was whimpering. She was hungry, and so Rachel picked her out of the bouncer and set her down, beginning to feed her.

Mike was sat at the breakfast bar in the kitchen holding a big mug of coffee, scrolling on his phone. He could hear Rachel talking to Rosalie and smiled. Once she had finished and Rosalie was settled she called Mike.

"Mike, can you come in here, so we can talk it through." She called him and heard footsteps.

"Okay, but please, I don't want to be held for anything that I say unless it's the decision."

"See this is what I don't get, I'm not going to do that." Rachel softly rubbed the baby's legs as they rested on her thighs.

"Okay, but you know that I can't help that I think you might. I think anyone might."

"I'm not anyone." She seemed slightly hurt, but Mike immediately backtracked and tried to explain himself.

"I know. I know, and I'm sorry. I need to work on that..." he was interrupted by Rosalie fussing again, "Do you want me to take her?"

"Yes please." Rachel passed her to Mike, and she soon stopped whining. "Wow, what a pro dad." She managed to smile.

"I just don't want you to be upset with what I say. Okay?"

"Yes. Now tell me, what's wrong."

"It's nothing, it really isn't. I just feel like they should be here with us on this amazing journey." Mike looked at the top of the small head that was resting on his chest.

"Mike, they are with us. They're always with us. Do you think that you want to get her christened to feel closer to your parents?"

"I thought about it. If we were to it'd be by Father Walker, yes?"

"Of course!"

"Rachel, are you okay with this? Because I'm undecided. I don't know. We don't go to church, I don't want to chain her to anything."

"Mike, it's your decision. I'm happy with whatever. I'm just saying your parents are smiling and are happy for you no matter what, they are always with you, even if she isn't baptised."

"Yes, you're right, and right now, I don't think it's a good idea."

"Okay. See, that wasn't so bad, was it?"

"For you maybe."

"Yeah well she was cheering you on, look, her fists are in the air." Rosalie was outstretched on Mike.

"Did you burp her?" Mike asked, remembering, maybe that was why she was a bit fidgety.

"Yeah," Rachel looked at him, "I think it's normal. She'll calm down in a minute. In the meantime, come on, you can hold her and keep me company. I want a good bowl of homemade pasta."