Everyone had been beyond excited when they brought the baby home. None of them were used to having a baby around. Kat was still so tired from child birth so Stretch carried the car seat in and sat it down on the kitchen table.
She sat down at the table and smiled down at her new born baby girl. She still couldn't believe she was a mother. The full force of it hadn't hit her yet.
Erin eyes were trying to open but the tiny infant didn't have the strength. She gave a little whimper.
"Aw," Casper said leaning over the car seat. "I'm Casper. I'm your cousin. I never thought I'd ever have any cousins."
Stretch unsnapped the bindings that held the child in to the car seat and took the little on into his arms.
"I'll put her to bed Kat," he said smiling at her. "Casper come with me and you can help."
Casper and he had never been close when he was a ghost but as a human he was letting go of his hard feelings for the boy. The young ghost smiled and followed his uncle out of the kitchen. They went up to the bedroom Kat and Stretch shared.
The baby would remain in the bedroom with them in a bassinet until she was a little bigger. He couldn't stand the thought of being away from his daughter.
"She is so cute," Casper said sitting down on the bed.
Stretch retrieved an extra blanket and tucked little Erin in.
"Casper," he said picking up one of the baby monitors from the beside table. "I wanted to talk to you."
"Is this about the way I've been acting?" he asked looking away from his Uncle.
"Sorta," Stretch said playing the settings on the device. "I know why you've been so upset."
"I really am sorry," Casper said. "I guess I just took it really hard. I always thought of Kat as mine and I guess I really wasn't ready to give her up."
"How do you feel now?" Stretch asked turning on the baby monitor.
"I'm glad she has you," he said looking at the baby. "There is no way I'm ready to take care of a baby. It looks like a lot of work."
"Yea it is," he said picking up the other part of the baby monitor. "She is only three days and Kat is so tired."
"I just hope you are good to her," Casper said narrowing his eyes at his uncle. "You can't ever hurt her."
"I wouldn't do that," he said turning off the light in the bedroom. "I do love her Casper."
The two of them walked back down to the kitchen. Kat was sitting at the table with her head in her hands asleep. Stretch sat the baby monitor down on the kitchen table. His brothers were gone but Dr. Harvey was cooking lunch.
"She asleep?" the doctor asked.
"Yes," Stretch said sitting down at the table. "I do hope she sleeps for a little while. She was up half the night last night. She wasn't crying but she just wouldn't sleep."
When lunch was ready Casper was started to wake Kat but Stretch didn't allow it. He knew he had to return to work in the morning so he wanted Kat to get his rest. It was two days until Christmas. He had to work tomorrow and part of Christmas eve.
Crying slowly became heard over the baby monitor. Stretch wished he didn't have to wake her up but he had to as she hadn't pumped any milk.
"Darling," he said shaking her shoulder gently. "Erin is awake. I'm sure she needs to eat."
"Oh yes," Kat said getting to her feet. "Thank you."
Kat yawned and headed upstairs. Within a few minutes the crying stopped.
–
Work had been miserable. The place had been packed with a bunch of spoiled rotten teenagers on Christmas break. He barely knew how to drive the car back and forth. He wasn't good at it and decided he needed more practice before he drove in the snow.
To get to work he had to walk half a mile to the bus stop and he took the bus back at night. The half mile always seemed longer after a hard day at work.
He was dead on his feet on Christmas eve as he reached the gates to the house. He knew Dr. Harvey would have picked him up but he hated to ask. He was a proud man. He gave a loud sneeze as he walked into the house.
He hoped he wasn't getting a cold. That was the last thing he needed. He needed dinner.
Stretch made his way to the kitchen. Christmas dinner was already on the table. He was late again. Kat was sitting at the table with little Erin in her arms. He kissed her and the baby.
"Are you alright?" she asked looking at him. "You look sick."
"I'm fine," he said sitting at the table. "Weather is bad."
"I'll give you a ride next time," Dr. Harvey said. "You have no business out there walking in the snow."
Stretch knew the man was right but he wasn't going to admit it out load. He was about ready to say something when Erin let out a chilling scream.
"What's wrong?" Kat asked looking down at the baby in surprise. "Are you OK?"
Stretch jumped up at once. It wasn't like Erin to cry. She had never screamed like that.
"Oh Erin," he said taking her from her mother. "Do you want Dad? Is that what's wrong?"
The infant didn't try to get away from him but she didn't stop crying. He held the child close and walked around a little with her. Nothing would calm the child.
"I'm going to take her upstairs," he said to Kat. "Maybe she doesn't like the crowd."
Stretch headed out of the kitchen. The second he was out of the kitchen she stopped crying. He turned and looked in confusion at the doorway.
"What's got into her?" Kat asked.
"I don't know," he said looking at the child. "She looks tired. I'm going to try and get her to sleep."
Stretch carried his daughter up to his bedroom and laid her down in the bassinet. She went to sleep right away. He looked down at his daughter in confusion. He had no idea what had upset her so.
He walked out of the room and headed downstairs unaware that something was watching his daughter.
