How It Came To Be// Two Become Three Book 2

Hospital Visits

"Oh big stretch and a big yawn, have I got a sleepy baby?" Joe cooed, as he changed her nappy sat on the floor in the living room. Connie yawned again and started crying her high pitched shrill cry that Joe absolutely hated. It felt like it tore through his very soul and he was certain he'd do just about anything to get her to stop crying.

"Oh I know, I'm so mean I know, but we have to get you changed to see mumma, we do. Get you all dressed up to see mummy, we do baby girl, we do" he cooed, smoothing the summer dress out, making sure her cardigan was buttoned before picking her up and kissing her chubby cheek. Connie settled and tried to suck on his nose, crying when it didn't give her any milk in return.

"Ahh, so you're hungry too, well we can certainly sort that," Joe said, giving her his finger to suck, as he walked to the kitchen. He pulled a ready made bottle into the fridge, shaking it, as he walked over to his newest bit of baby tech- the bottle warmer. In the first few weeks he had been making Connie's bottles from scratch every time she had needed them, which of course was an issue when you were either A) dealing with a screaming baby B) holding a baby or C) both of the above. He had spoken to Zoe about this just over a week ago, after Louise had been sectioned and she had taken this to another Louise, her friend who had a one or two year old baby, who suggested a bottle warmer. So here he was, able to completely feed Connie without having to put her down or risk burning her.

"Ready steady," he was shaking the bottle one last time, watching Connie tilt her head to search for it again, "okay, here we go."

He walked over to the rocking chair and sat down, rocking, as she drank her milk, her big addictive eyes staring up at him. He was so thankful for the rocking chair, it had saved him a few times now and her was also certain it was the comfiest chair he had ever sat in.

He looked down at her again, having been distracted by an advert on the TV and beamed, meeting her big eyes once more. Joe's heart felt fit to burst when she erratically lifted her hand around and then when it hit his, her little fingers wraped around his pinky finger. "Pinky promise Connie, I will always love you."

Once Connie was burped, settled and in the carseat, Joe rushed to get ready. Visiting hours were short and he wanted to ensure Louise got enough time with her daughter as possible.

"Baby Connie all secure in the back and Daddy in the front. A picture for mummy to keep of you two and of just you and some more clothes for her Yep, okay I think, if you're settled and asleep, we're ready to go!" Joe said to Connie, well himself since she was fast asleep, checking he had everything he needed. Today he planned to take home Louise's old clothes and wash them by swapping them for new clothes. He also was hoping that she had made enough progress to hold Connie. The past few visits she had acknowledged Connie more and even held her hand. This had given him just a little hope that hey were moving in the right direction.

~~~

"No, no, do you remember when that kid, gosh erm, John, Jack yeah that was it, Jack Devlin went to you and was like 'can you get your fit friend to talk to me mate'." Louise laughed, they were reminiscing about a time that was simpler for the both of them. A time when they had no responsibilities.

"I do, do you remember how I replied?" Joe said, chuckling.

"I believe you said something along the lines of 'absolutely not, fuck off'."

"Ever the gentleman eh? Do you remember when I pretended to be your boyfriend to get that other creep to stop talking to you?"

Louise nodded and put her head on his shoulder, still laughing.

"I'm so glad I was left out of the game of football you know," She said eventually, they had fallen silent, both thinking back.

"Me too." Joe said, just as he saw the baby in her carseat on the floor next to him open her eyes.