Waiting for Beck to arrive and pick her up, Jade paces up and down the stairs, rocking a screaming Maia. Any other time, unless she was tired or hungry, the baby would babble happily and sleep peacefully. Now her screams pierced through the silence like an insult to Jade's parenting skills - or lack thereof.
Jade rocks the baby steadily though her hands shake with trepidation. She knows that Beck's mother is one of the best parents she's ever known - she can't help but to think back to all of the times Beck would trace patterns on her palm as they lied together in his RV, and she asked him to tell her more stories about his idyllic childhood. Beck would smile at her and recount all the Christmases spent sneaking pieces of cookie dough out of the bowl while his mom pretended not to notice and all of the birthdays coming down the stairs with his eyes closed because he wasn't allowed to see his cake until the candles were lit and his wish was decided.
It had always made her smile to see his eyes light up and she swore that if she ever had children, then they'd get that look when they thought back to her parenting. Now she wondered if all Maia would remember is a stressed mother and endless crying from the both of them. Jade was about to start crying herself when Beck burst through the door with a smile and that self assured laugh that always set her mind at rest.
"She hasn't stopped crying all morning," Jade frets. "We should have just taken her after school yesterday."
"Maia, daddy's here!" he says, taking the baby out of Jade's trembling hands. "Well, my mom wanted to take us out for dinner and catch up. She's missed you too, you know. And you know she can't wait to meet Maia. I've shown her about a hundred pictures and she hasn't stopped talking about her since I told her. She thinks she's got my nose. I think she just looks like you." Jade smiles weakly and gently taps the baby's nose. With this, and Beck's gentle rocking, the cries cease. Jade lets out a breath she didn't know she was holding and smiles once again. "Ready?" Beck asks.
"Ready."
"Oh, look at my beautiful granddaughter!" Mrs Oliver gushes, rushing over to Jade and kissing her cheek while smoothing Maia's brunette hair back gently. "Isn't she a little beauty? Don't you think she's got Beck's nose? He was a handsome little boy. What changed!" She laughs. "Oh, can I hold her?"
Jade's head spins with all of Mrs Oliver's comments, and she nods dumbly, handing the baby over without a word. Mrs Oliver plays with the baby's hands and smiles, her face lighting up in joy as the baby giggles. "Are you alright, dear?" Forcing out a smile, Jade struggles for a response.
"Maia hasn't stopped crying all morning," Beck supplies easily, taking a sip of his drink. "I think Jade's just tired. Should we order? I'm starving."
Mrs Oliver rolls her eyes while Jade sips helplessly at her drink. Part of her was deliriously happy that Maia was in Mrs Oliver's arms. It gave her a break, and she knew that there wasn't anyone in the world - including herself - who could look after a child better. Many of Jade's good memories were at the Oliver household with Mrs Oliver in the background somewhere, smiling all the while. "Boys! Always thinking of their stomachs."
"Lucky we've got a girl, then," Beck grins, breaking off a piece of a bread roll and eating nosily. Beck smiles but bites his lip. "I know we're young...but we're all she has. She might have been a surprise but I don't ever want her thinking she was a mistake."
Mrs Oliver sets her cutlery down and stares at the baby, now in the high-chair. She looks to her son and she smiles, "This baby could be the making of you. You missed her first three months, but you won't miss any more, and I'm so proud of you for stepping up. And Jade, you don't have to do this alone. You and Maia are both part of the family now, now more than ever. It's early, I know. But you're young and resilient and you'll adjust. And Maia won't know any different - you just have to do your best. What do you think I've been doing for the past 18 years!"
Jade smiles weakly and Beck laughs. "Esme, I don't think our bests are comparable. Your best is Christmas cookies for twelve days straight and buying your son an RV when he wants his own space. I can't even get my own baby to stop crying. Look, she's fine now. When she's not with me."
"Babies cry and mothers do too. I know what it was like, okay? In the early morning when you're all alone and it's dark and cold but you're sitting up trying to anything possible just to stop the noise of a crying baby. You feed them, they cry. You change them, they cry. But when you're awake and you feel tired enough to do something stupid, call me. Or Beck. We'll pick up the phone. I'll even come over and look after my bee-autiful granddaughter for a few."
Feeling relieved, Jade nods and picks up the baby. "My little girl," Jade whispers into her hair. She smiles properly for the first time that day, looking around at her...family. The word felt good to think and she laughed, tickling the baby's neck and making her giggle too.
Everything was going to be okay.
