Who Loves You, Pretty Baby

No place I'd Rather Be

"Lydia! My god! You can't carry him and that bloody bag in those heels! You're gonna’ throw your back out! Give him to me!” Roger reprimanded me, taking Robbie from my arms as we made our disheveled way across the parking lot.

 "I thought it was a good idea at the time. Besides, flats wouldn’t go with this skirt.” I said, referring to my glittery Louboutins and struggling to hand Robbie over.

 "Yeah, well, neither does a two year old!" Roger laughed as Robbie clung to me. "Although, I gotta' say babe, you look like one of those hip mums! You know? The kind that reads Vogue in a pediatrician office!" Roger laughed again. I sighed as the mid-summer breeze blew my hair everywhere.

 "I would read Vogue in a pediatrician office!" I said, conveniently spilling the diaper bag with had all of Robbie's stuff in it, a change of clothes for John and Veronica and a load of things for new baby Michael. It went all around me...and all over this fuckin' parking lot. Bottle lids, fucking snacks, a couple binkies, toys, bibs, clothes, the kitchen sink...all of it. I stopped in my tracks watching the breeze blow crap around even more and sighed heavily as Robert babbled to Roger.

 “See? I was right…you didn’t have it zipped. Remember? It took us like forty-five minutes to load this stupid thing and then you couldn’t get it zipped and you left it open and…” I stopped him.

 "Go! Just go! Take Robbie the hell, I mean fuck, I mean..." I closed my eyes and put my hands out to my sides. "Roger...go. I'll be up in a minute." I told him. My stupid husband couldn’t hide his smile as he and Robert made fun of me in the parking lot scooping everything up. At least I did it in style. “Go!” I repeated.

 “Alright, alright. We’ll meet you upstairs.” Roger said, taking off with Robert as I continued to pick all this stuff up. I mumbled a string of obscenities under my breath. I couldn’t believe that I seriously dropped all of this stuff. After seeing the Deacon family, Roger and I were going to return home, grab some things and head to the yacht for a couple days. I tended to pack better for Roger and I instead of a family of four.

 Once I finally got everything picked up, I headed into the hospital, the same one in which Chrissie delivered, and made my way to their room. Upon entering their room, there was Veronica all perched up in her bed and Roger holding on to Robert at the foot of it. “Robbie! Did you tell your mummy hello!?” I asked, walking up to Roger and stroking Robert’s arm.  “Here’s your stuff. I spilt it everywhere in the parking lot so if something is missing I’m sorry.” I said, looking over to Veronica who was holding baby Michael in her arms. She had that new mum glow that was inescapable. She looked so very complete in this moment and John couldn’t stop smiling.

 “Thank you. For watching him. It really meant a lot to us. Come here, Robbie! Come to daddy and tell me all about your time with your auntie and uncle!” John coaxed him, holding out his arms for Roger to hand him over. Veronica handed Michael to me as I sat on the edge of her bed and Roger handed Robert over to John.

 “Guess who’s stopping by tomorrow?” Veronica asked me with light in her eyes. She didn’t even wait for me to inquire.

 “Chrissie and Jimmy! I can’t wait to see how big he’s gotten! Can you believe he’s a month old?” Veronica asked as I held on to Michael, pulling the blanket from his face. “Did Robert give you any trouble?”

 “I think we gave him more trouble than he gave us.” I laughed at her. “And no, I can’t imagine how big Jimmy must be now. I’m sure he’s getting cuter by the day.” She and I were quiet for a moment as I pushed the hair behind her ear and rested my palm on her cheek. I sighed. “Ooooh, Veronica. You’re such a good mum.” I said, shaking my head. “Robert’s the happiest little boy.”