Jenalyn: Disconnected (#5) [Complete]

Chapter 53: Hayden

Sat. 1/31/09 • 6:52 P.M. PST

Harper rushes out of Mama G's front door even before I can fully get out of Ivan's truck, Mama G following behind her though without the urgency Harper had. I can see McKaiden wailing in her arms.  

Panic rises in my chest.

"Thank goodness!" Harper sighs with a small laugh, meeting me right outside of the truck door. "Mad- McKaiden is going cuh-razy in there, Hayden! Mom and I were about to lose it! I think she missed you!" 

I try to calm the panic in my chest, but McKaiden's ear piercing squeals as Mama G continues to walk her over us won't allow it. 

I've never heard her cry like that before...

"Take your daughter, Hayden," Mama G exhales, her eyes wide but exhausted. "I don't know what else to do! She's been like this for about an hour now! I've tried everything! She's just getting more and more upset! You take her!"

Ivan makes his way to our side of the truck, his face scrunched up in mock disgust. 

I take McKaiden from Mama G, automatically placing over my shoulder to rub her back and rock her while I try to process everything happening right now. Mama G has raised two children; I feel like she shouldn't be frazzled right now. Don't babies cry?

"What's wrong with her?" I ask, unable to keep the panic from my voice. I feel like I'm going to throw up. "What do I do?! Why is she screaming like that?!"

Mama G rushes over to console me, her eyes wide as if she's done something wrong. "She's okay! She's okay!" she tries to console me, but again, McKaiden's shrieks in my ear are quick to tell me otherwise. "You just have to... deal with it! I've had my share, love! I'm done for the day! Get on with it!" 

McKaiden pulls her head off of my shoulder, bumping me on my jaw in the process. She let's out a long wail as she turns to me, her eyes welled with tears. 

"You guys scared me!" I yell, the frustration in my voice apparent. I switch McKaiden to my other arm before propping her up on my hip. Her tiny body flails uncontrollably as she let's out a few more cries. "How do you know there isn't something wrong with her? Why would you run out here like this if-"

Harper and Ivan both begin to laugh, cutting me off in confusion. Mama G let's out a sigh of relief with an eyeroll before she let's out a laugh too. 

"Sometimes babies just miss their mamas!" Harper exclaims, pointing to McKaiden, who has calmed down quite quickly considering how worked up she was. "Seriously, Kaidy? You almost had Aunt Harpie jumping off the roof with that show! So dramatic, aren't you?!"

McKaiden clings to me as Harper moves in to snuggle her. I can't help a warm feeling from forming in my chest, although... something odd also sits there. 

"She's a drama queen!" Ivan's boisterous voice booms over all of us. "Just like her mama!"

Both Mama G and Harper laugh, chiming in on my supposed "dramatic" tendencies. I laugh along with them jokingly, but can't quite seem to keep my head straight. 

What was wrong with McKaiden?

She's never screamed like that before... she's never acted like that before! I seriously thought something was wrong! It was like she was in pain or something!

"How do you know there isn't something wrong?" I ask after a few moments, watching as McKaiden slowly but surely calms her breathing. I grab her cloth from Mama G's shoulder to wipe her eyes. 

"I've raised two children, Hayden," Mama G says with a smile. "-not one as stubborn as this little stink pot!" she pauses to gently bop Kaiden's nose with her knuckle. "But believe me, babies cry. She doesn't have a fever, her bowel movements are normal, she's eating plenty, and wriggly as ever... just a cranky little thing today! It happens. I've just done my time, and now it is time for you to do yours!"