Why Lorie? Part I

Chapter 6: Lorelei

A little after 5:30 on the morning of April 15, 1906, Josette's baby entered the world with an angry shrill. It had been an exhausting delivery that lasted over eighteen hours. At times, Josette didn't think she was going to make it. The baby was as stubborn as its mother and refused to come out. That didn't make things easy for Josette who swore at the top of her lungs that she would never get pregnant again, at least twenty times over the course of her torment.

Throughout most of the day, Josette kept her eyes focused on a branch of the pink cherry tree that scraped the window of her second floor bedroom. That focus helped her through many of the more intense contractions she experienced. As she drifted between reality and a dream-like state, Josette thought she actually smelled and felt the cherry blossoms covering her like a soft pink blanket. But then, her eyes would open and she would glimpse her mother's worried face behind the sturdy, unsmiling midwife.

When it was finally over, the midwife took away the baby and cleaned it. She then wrapped it in a blanket and returned it to Josette who laid completely exhausted on top of the sweat and blood-drenched sheets.

"You have a beautiful daughter, Mademoiselle," the midwife said as she handed Josette the tiny white bundle.

"Oh, my dear!" Madame Foret leaned over to catch a better glimpse of her granddaughter.

Josette looked down at the wrinkled little face, the tiny nose, and the eyes that were scrunched shut, as in protest against the morning sun. She caressed her daughter's soft cheek with a finger. When she got close to the baby's rosebud mouth, the little one proceeded to open her lips. She grabbed a hold of Josette's fingertip and started to suckle it quite furiously. Josette gave a surprised gasp and then started to laugh.

"You're a greedy one, aren't you?" She withdrew her finger and her daughter immediately protested with a furious cry that turned her face completely red. "And you already know what you want!" Josette noted with a smile.

She placed her finger inside the baby's right palm. The baby closed her tiny fist around it and calmed down a bit. Josette beamed at the little creature that she had just brought into the world. She then looked up at her own mother, whose eyes were filled with tears.

"Isn't she beautiful, Maman?" Josette asked. "My little Lorelei."

"You have a name for her already?" Maman raised her eyebrows.

Josette nodded. "Yes. She is Lorelei Cerise Lafoure."

"A beautiful name, but quite unusual," Maman replied. "Especially the middle part. Why name her Cerise?"

"Because of that blossoming cherry tree that helped me give birth to her," Josette tilted her chin toward the window. "Cerise is a perfect middle name... I already know she will love everything pink!" Josette pressed her lips to the top of the baby's head, inhaling her scent.

"Look at all this blond hair," she told Maman. "She will be quite the heartbreaker, won't you my little Lorelei?"

"If she turns out anything like you, she will... for certain," Madame Foret agreed.

"So far, she has my hair color," Josette remarked. "As for her eyes... I suppose all babies have blue eyes when they are first born, isn't it so?"

"Yes. It is impossible to predict what color they will be when she is older," Maman said. "But there is a good chance they will be light... perhaps hazel, like yours."

Josette stopped listening to her mother's chatter. She was entirely captivated by Lorelei who was constantly making suckling motions with her mouth. Josette decided to experiment. She eased her loose nightgown off one shoulder, and placed the baby at her bare breast. The tiny lips immediately latched on and started sucking ravenously. Josette's eyes widened as she felt her milk starting to flow. She looked up at her mother.

"Maman! She knows what to do! This is extraordinary!" Josette exclaimed.

"My dear child... all babies know what to do when they are hungry," Madame Foret sat on the edge of the bed. "The question is - do you plan to breastfeed her yourself?"

"Of course," Josette answered firmly. "She is mine and mine alone. And I will be the only person who feeds her!"

"Very well," Madame Foret replied, placing her hands in front of her in a defensive gesture. "Then I shall tell the wet nurse we won't be needing her services."

"You found a wet nurse already?" Josette sounded incredulous. "But you didn't even discuss it with me."

"You already had so much on your mind, my dear," Maman said. "I didn't want to bother you with such details."

"Such details?" Josette raised her eyebrows. "I should think I would want to know who would be involved in feeding my baby." She frowned at her mother.

"Oh, dear," Madame Foret sighed resignedly. "I can tell you will be very much in control of this child," she said.

"As I told you already... she is mine!" Josette tightened her arms protectively around Lorelei, who squirmed trying to loosen her mother's grip.

"Very well," Madame Foret stood up. "I shall leave you two alone then."

She gestured to the midwife who followed her out of the room. "Let me know when you would like to have your sheets changed," Maman said before closing the door.

Josette leaned her head against the pillow and sighed. She had no intention of letting Maman take over raising her child. She knew she was young and inexperienced, but she wanted to be the most important person in Lorelei's life.

"Don't you worry, my pretty little girl," Josette told her daughter. "Nobody will ever come between us as long as I live. I promise you that."

Lorelei continued suckling for a while. After some time had passed, she finally let go and gave a tiny burp. Josette watched her closely, as her breathing slowed down and became even.

"You are so beautiful," Josette caressed her baby's cheek. "I will always protect you, ma petite fille." She kissed the soft crown of Lorelei's head, and closed her eyes.

Soon, they were both asleep, their hearts beating in concert. Outside, the cherry tree branch continued to gently scrape against the window pane, announcing a time of renewal in nature, and of new beginnings.