Eric

Chapter VII

Well Adjusted

The past eleven weeks had been a blur but this is what I remember. Lilly's first month home reminded me of college without the fun of drinking and partying. It consisted of all the sleeplessness and the feelings of a hangover the next day. Add her spitting up; the stench of her diaper; my passing out in the rocking chair in the nursery and we could have been a pair of frat kids. Oddly enough it was not the most difficult part.

The hardest thing to deal with was the crying. Never in all my life would I have thought something so miniature could be so loud. When Lilly cried it began much like an engine revving up. When she got past that stage her wails sounded like a car alarm. The sound jolted me every time I heard it. I gave up on the crib despite what the doctor advised. She slept in my bed in my arms. It worked wonders for us both. By wonders I mean I was less like a zombie and more like a mindless troll. It was a vast improvement.

If all that wasn't enough I was adjusting to life in the house. It was an alien concept. Pam did what she could to help. The work she put into the nursery was nothing short of a miracle given the time constraints. All the furniture was dark cherry and handcrafted. Everything was beautifully coordinated from the area rug to the curtains to the bedding in the crib. The room was stocked with everything I needed and something's I didn't, like a full designer wardrobe. Pam refused to have her in anything except the latest. I didn't care because Lilly puked on them all the same.

The only person I left my child with was my sister and my house keeper Octavia Fant. She has been with me for a long time. She was delighted with the addition to the household. She seemed more than happy at the extra work. Before Lilly was rarely in this house and so she had little to do. Having her as an immense help but sadly she only worked weekdays. During the weekends I was on my own.

Without Annabelle I would have been lost. I may have gone crazy. She was a guru of sorts she was very popular and came highly recommended. There was nothing baby related she did not have an answer to. She showed me how to do everything from learning the meaning behind my daughter's cries to infant CPR. I was no longer afraid. With her guidance I became confident that I really could do this. That wasn't entirely true I knew it would only be a matter of time before I had to go back to work. There was the inevitability that I would have to trust someone other than myself or Octavia with Lilly. I wasn't that confident yet and I feared I never would be.

In my absence Pam had to ensure no one got the wrong idea about our company. It was more important than ever that we remained and looked strong. Instead of just disappearing Pam decided we should come out and make a big production of Lilly joining our family. It would explain my absence and it would boost overall popularity with shareholders. There weren't a lot of people that could relate to a multi millionaire. Countless men could relate to being a father. I was a single father but I had jumped up in the polls of the country's most eligible bachelors. Needless to say Pam was a genius. Not that I would ever make the mistake of mentioning such a thing to her. Her ego would die of an overdose.

Coming on the third month of fatherhood I was falling into a comfortable rhythm with my duties. Thankfully Lilly was sleeping at longer intervals and so was I. I got another upgrade; from mindless troll to dimwitted human. Still I felt like I had a good grip on the whole thing. So much so I began working from home a few hours a day. It felt good to do familiar things.

A selfish thought I had in the beginning was that my style would be cramped by a baby. I didn't really miss any of it. During the day and most nights I was at work. When I wasn't there I was in a crowded room full of empty faces. Surrounded by people but feeling completely alone. Everybody wanted a piece of me for one reason or another. I prided myself on being able to keep everyone at arm's length and beating them at their own game. The biggest perk was the never ending supply of superficial interchangeable women.

Now nothing else mattered. At the moment I was sitting at the beach with Lilly. Her head was resting in my chest. I could feel her little heart fluttering against mine. I could hear her deep breaths. I hadn't taken inventory but my life had been empty, so was Dawn's. I understood that now. Holding our daughter like this it was hard to find any satisfaction life before her had provided. Looking back I was never dead set against marriage or children and the whole nine. I had just given up on finding the right woman. The more successful I became the less likely that all became until i let it go without realizing it.

I just let my thoughts drift with the tides. I always loved the water. Something about the push and pull of the tides was lulling. I enjoyed the salty air and light breeze. It was the early hours of the morning the sun had barely bathe the world in its light. I was enjoying the quiet of the world. I spoke to Lillian about the beaches of Sweden. The images were very clear in my mind though I hadn't been in years. I was still speaking to the sleeping child when I saw a figure walking.

From the silhouette I knew it was a woman. As she got closer I was able to make out the color of her hair and the light blue of her dress. Her shoes were in her hands and she stood close enough so that water hit her feet. She burrowed her feet into sand and just let the waves run over her. She was staring off in the distance totally unaware of me. It was difficult to place because I couldn't see her face but she was familiar.

After a few minutes of this she turned around to go the way she came. Our eyes locked. We smiled at each other from the distance. She began walking over to me. This was the same woman that I met over three months ago. I was in Target in search of a different brand of baby bottles. It was my first time taking Lilly out. She did not care for the outing. Ten minutes in the store and she began crying. It was safe to say I was a bit panicked. This woman came to the rescue. I discovered the magic abilities of a pacifier. I now had enough on hand to become a distributer of the wonderful invention.

"Hello again" I greeted her with a nod of my head.

She waved. "Hi" She sat down in the bench across from me. I studied her face I wasn't sure what I was looking for. She returned my gaze with equal intensity. That was not something most people did. I was usually very intimidating. There was something about her. I liked her even from our brief encounter. I was much too sleep deprived to read into it. My memory did not do her justice. In front me with her hair blowing in the wind she was quite lovely.

"This is a pleasant surprise but what were you doing out there?" I pointed towards the water. The temperature of the water must have been a bit cold this time of day.

She shrugged her shoulders delicately and sadness crossed her face. "Thinking" They couldn't have been pleasant thoughts.

"What about you?" She asked.

"The same"

Her eyes moved to Lilly and a smile was playing at the corners of her lips. A woman with a child usually sent men in the opposite direction at a swift pace. I just recently discovered the opposite was true for men. Women went crazy over a man with a baby. I had never needed help getting women. Now when I went out with Lillian they were melting at my feet. I found it hilarious.

"Where are from originally?" She asked the most unexpected questions.

"Why would you think I'm not from around here?" I was faking seriousness but the look on her face was so skeptical. I couldn't help but smile.

She looked relieved that she hadn't insulted me with her remark. "For starters you look like a Viking" I laughed. Her wit was very refreshing.

"Perceptive" I told her. "I'm from Sweden"

"I bet you're glad to be more in warmer weather" She said causing my face to scrunch in concrete distaste. She laughed. I missed snow. In this part of the world the best you got was frost on your windshield during the short winter months.

"All I'm going to say is that you don't know what you're missing" I replied. She gave me a look that said she was willing to take my word for it. The minute Lillian could walk I'm dragging her somewhere snowy. No child of mine would be afraid of the cold. It would be an embarrassment; she is a Swede.

That started a debate about the ideal divisions of the seasons. Our conversation was easy. We shared laughs and interesting ideas. In the end we decided that if we controlled the weather it would be six months of summer at her insistence. The heat wouldn't be humid we both agreed to that. There would be four months of winter with consecutive snow falls I wasn't backing down on that point. We agreed that autumn and spring were semi useless. They would hold a month a piece to serve in transitioning into the other seasons.

Sooner than I would thought possible my phone was vibrating. It was the alarm I set to alert me that Lillian would wake soon. It saved us both some aggravation when I had her bottle ready before she woke up.

"Do you come here often?" I asked. I didn't want to push for anything. But I enjoyed her company and the conversation. I realized it was because Lillian was not the foundation of it. I appreciated it. She asked me general questions about her age and if it was easier for me now. This total stranger made me feel like me.

"Yes"

"I have to go" I stood. "I hope to you see you again" I said sincerely.

"Me too" She said with a sweet smile. She made no move to leave so I assumed she would return to her thoughts.

"By the way my name is Eric Northman. This is my daughter Lillian"

"Sookie Stackhouse pleased to meet you both." Her southern drawl was alluring in a way that hadn't come across before.

"Like wise" I gave her my most charming smile.

The drive home wasn't very long once there I went about preparing my daughter's meal. It surprised me when Pam called. She was not a morning person and it was well before she was due at the office.

"What's wrong?" I asked.

She sucked her teeth. "Nothing pops relax" I frowned. I hated it when she called me that and she knew it. "I pulled some strings and called in some favors" In other words she bribed a whole slew of people and or did a wide array of other unethical and immoral things. "I have set it up so you can tour one the best daycare there is" I sighed.

Pam has been sending me profiles of nannies from all over the world nonstop. I had rejected them all. On paper they were all very impressive with degrees in everything from child psychology to education. No one seemed to fit. Pam insisted it was me. She accused me of thinking no one was good enough. While a small part of me will acknowledge that was true it was not the entire problem. There were very few people I trusted. And they had all spent years earning it. Bringing someone I didn't know or trust into my home to care for my child in my absence seemed foolhardy. On the other hand I knew I would have to back to work. Octavia could not be with her full time.

"Eric if you do not expose her to the rest of the world she will grow to be afraid of it" I looked at Lillian. Her tiny hands were attempting to hold the bottle as I fed her. I smiled and offered her one of my little finger instead. "Trust me Eric. This place is top notch. It's more private than cleavage in a nunnery" We laughed. My sister had issues.

"I can't believe you are my child's godmother" I was shaking my head. Some of the things Lillian was going to pick up on account of Pam were disturbing. She had already corrupted Alexei.

"You chose me because you know I will show reason where you can't" I sighed again. She was right. "Eric it's just a tour. Take Thalia with you to look over their security" That was somewhat reassuring if there were any problems Thalia would find them.

"Fine, what time?" I wasn't pleased about it. I also didn't hold out much hope that this would be the answer but I could say I made an attempt.

"Friday, at ten thirty" She replied exasperated. "Jesus Eric you are turning into an old maid before my very eyes"

"Get bent Pamela" She was laughing as I hung up the phone. By the time I finished feeding Lillian Octavia had arrived. She made my breakfast and took over with Lillian. I ate and headed for the gym. These days I worried a lot and there was no better way to ease it all.

The next thing I did was call Thalia. "Eric" She sounded surprised to hear from me. I suppose it was a surprising. I hadn't spoken to her since the hospital. There hasn't been any need.

"I'm not dead" I joked.

"Of course not" Thalia didn't have a sense of humor. She was confused that I would say such a thing because she would be the first to know if it were true. "How's your daughter?" She asked.

"Good. Thank you for asking she is actually why I'm calling" She made a noise for me to continue. I told her to find out all she could on the daycare. She was to report any complaints and law suits that have ever been filed against it. I wanted to know everything she could find. She would also be able to join me for the tour. I was grateful. Thalia was very thorough and good at threatening people without saying or doing a thing.

Friday came and I was trying to think up excuses to bail on the tour of the daycare. Pam knew me too well. She made threats and hassled me mercilessly. There was nothing I could do to get out of it. I got dressed I would have taken Lilly with me but at some point during my stalling she fell asleep so I left her with Octavia.

"I'm heading out" I told my house keeper.

She nodded "Okay Mr. Northman. Will you be returning for lunch?" I thought about it.

"No" I answered. I would make a day of the outing. I would see the daycare and the appointment with my lawyer and accountant was right after that. I was looking to catch a late lunch with Pam if she was free.

Just because it was one of those rare times when I wouldn't be using a car seat I took my corvette. My corvette was for low key travel. I arrived at the Roth center for children less than thirty minutes later. The location was perfect. It was less than a ten minute drive from the office. Thalia was waiting out front. As was the norm she was dressed in varying shades of gray. She sat in the car with and told me all she had found.

This place was squeaky clean; not a single violation of any sort, or a single complaint. She showed me the building codes and latest inspection certifications. She told me they were affiliated with the best private schools in the state so by relation the best colleges in the country. I was impressed and disappointed. When we entered the building I went from hopeless to cautiously optimistic.

By the time we were finished they had even managed to impress Thalia with their lock down procedure, state of the art surveillance systems, background screening and dismissal protocol. I looked and looked but I couldn't find a flaw. I was as disappointed as I was elated. At the end of the tour I took an application and was told there was only one open slot for Lilly's age group. I rolled my eyes wondering just how big Pam's bribe was.

"Think of it as a system of checks and balances. A daycare center is better than a weirdo from God knows where in your house alone with your child" Thalia said giving her analysis.

I nodded. That did solve my most pressing worry. "You aren't far away" She pointed in the direction of the office. Again I had to admit I felt better knowing my child was closer. "Bruce's wife works here"

"Really" I asked. She nodded. That was promising.

"We can suggest she be placed where Lillian will be" It was morally reprehensible to use my influence that way. I already knew I was going to do it though. I could use Bruce to make sure Lilly was being treated exceptionally.

I filled out the application and returned it. Next I was off to see Cataliades there were changes to my estate I had to sign off on.

"Eric welcome" my lawyer said with a bright smile.

"Desmond" I said taking the hand he extended. "It's good to see you" I shook his hand was followed him into a small conference room where Bruce and a woman I didn't know were waiting.

"Mr. Northman" Bruce said getting to his feet.

"Thanks for seeing me on such short notice Bruce" I said with a nod of my head.

"No worries" He replied. "I trust fatherhood has been keeping you busy we'll make this quick"

I nodded in thanks and we all claimed our seats.

"This is Marci Gillis she is the in house notary public" Cataliades said. I nodded in acknowledgment.

The first document I was given was my last will and testament. It was fairly simply regardless of my net worth there was only four people to consider. The most important thing was to clearly state who I wanted to care for Lilly in the event of my untimely death. I named Godric. Due to the nature of his work Pam was "Locus Parentis" from the second I died. That way Lilly would never be in limbo while Godric arrived or heaven forbid if he too were deceased. I signed off on the amendments. Next were the financial changes to my estate. Pam would get my half of Encore when I died but she was no longer the beneficiary on my life insurance policy. That would go to Lilly. A trust fund was also created in her name. It was similar to the one Alexei had. He was setup for life and an hour later Lilly was as well.

It was well after lunch when I got out of the meeting. I knew my sister would not be available. Instead of going home I drove further into town and found an eatery that looked promising for lunch. Call it what you will but as I was looking for a place to sit I saw her.

GUESS WHO?