His Estranged Mate

Chapter 2: Ignored

CATRINA

(A few months later)

"Here, Mrs. Ivanov, I'll put baby Aiden in his crib," I say taking the baby from the new obviously tired but joyous mother. She smiles at me before landing a soft kiss on the baby's head and handing him over to me.

"Thank you, you have been very helpful in handling my son when I've been resting," she whispers as I cuddle the baby close to my chest. One of the perks of being a maternity nurse is that you get to be around lots of babies. However, it is very sad to watch those babies go home with their parents after a few days but I don't let it get in my way of bonding with the newborn.

There's just something irresistible in the scent of a newborn that I can't keep from cuddling them.

"So how many years have you been working here?" she asks me.

"Oh no, I completed six months just a few days ago. I am a trainee nurse only," I explain.

"Oh, really? But you handle the baby so well. Also, during my labour you were so calm and quick. I thought you have been working here for a long time," she compliments and I can't help but feel good. I have loved babies and working to bring a baby into this world is like my dream job.

However, I don't think of it like that. Having past experiences of all good things turning into a disaster, I refrain from acknowledging the good things in my life. I just let it happen and cross my fingers so that I don't jinx it.

"Thank you, ma'am. I just love my job," I explain. She laughs.

"I just bet that you are going be the best mother whenever you have your own kids," she says and I can't stop my heart from skipping a beat. How I long to be a mother but I know after that after Connor so carelessly dumped me, I will never experience that happiness.

A very sharp pain in my chest makes my eyes water but I blink back my tears not wanting a new mother to see my distress. It's better to keep all those emotions buried.

We talk for a few more minutes when baby Aiden wakes up and Mrs. Ivanov raises her arms to feed the baby.

"Baby Aiden seems to have a healthy appetite," I say and Mrs. Ivanov chuckles as her son, eagerly latches on to suck his food.

The new mother seems to be very tired and it's obvious after going through labour for 10 hours but still delivering the baby in a C-section. She's bound to be tired and that's why I am here, as a maternity nurse to help the mother in taking care of the baby and assist in her health care.

After burping the baby, she hands him over to me and I look at the baby who is sleeping in my arms. The sight of the sleeping baby only makes me realise what I don't have, what I could have had but lost it. Again, tears threaten to roll down my cheeks but I somehow manage to control my urge.

Mr. Ivanov enters the medical room, distracting me from my thoughts and makes a beeline to his wife, his love and adoration clearly shining in his gaze. I look away feeling like an intruder in their private moment.

"How's Mommy?" he asks and I watch Mrs. Ivanov blush at her husband's words. He only chuckles and plants a kiss on his wife's lips before turning to look at me. I look at them like a deer caught in front of headlights and vaguely realise that he's actually looking for his son and not at all focused on me.

Sighing in relief, I show the couple that their baby is sleeping and he tells me that he'll hold their son later so I quickly walk out of the room after putting the baby in his crib and give the couple some privacy. I do not even for a moment let my envious thoughts burst my bubble. No, I can't let any thoughts of what ifs ruin my day.