Chapter Ten: First Night Home (Warning: Graphic Violence in this chapter as well as very mild language)
That first night back at Cackle's Academy, Constance paced the halls with the fussy newborn, trying to soothe her to sleep. She held her skin-to-skin and Star was listening to her heart.
"Shh-shh-shh." Constance murmured repeatedly. The tiny baby had been regularly taking in calories which was good so that she could get her weight up.
Ethel and Mildred awoke to the sound of the squalling cries.
"Is she all right, Miss Hardbroom?" Ethel asked.
"Yes, she's just a little scared. She's not used to being outside of the womb yet." Constance answered, bouncing the baby lightly.
"May I?" asked Ethel softly.
"Of course…" Constance said quietly. She laid Star in Ethel's arms and Ethel swayed gently with her. "Look at you…" She marveled. "You're so beautiful… Oh… What are you trying to do there?" She asked when she noticed the baby's head and neck flopping. "Hold on…" Ethel supported Star's head. "You're not strong enough yet…But you will be…"
Constance watched all this with a soft expression.
"You're supposed to be in bed, young lady." She told her baby girl.
Mildred came up. "Aunt Constance, you're exhausted. Let us look after her."
"Not tonight, Mil… It's her first night home and I would like to bond with her." Constance said.
"Well…let me at least stay with you so that you can get some sleep. You have got to take it easy since you've just given birth and had surgery." Mildred insisted.
"All right… You, Mildred Isolt Hardbroom-Hubble, are very stubborn, just like me." Constance gave a soft laugh.
Millie took the newborn in her arms and went into her Aunt's bedroom with Constance.
"I should try to see if she'll nurse again…" Constance said thoughtfully. "She's been having trouble latching."
"What about a Lactation Consultant, Aunt Constance?" asked Mildred.
"I'm rather self conscious because I have scars…" Constance said after a moment.
Mildred's expression darkened. "Damned Grandmother Hecketty!" She said. "Well… now that we have a phone-line in, maybe you could talk to one over the phone?"
"I don't know…perhaps if I continue to have trouble, I will…" Said Constance. "And I don't appreciate the use of profanity."
"Maybe so, but she still didn't have the right to whip you…" Mildred protested. "She hurt you badly enough that there are emotional scars as well. I know this for a fact! It isn't right!" Tears stung her eyes. Star was quiet, cradled against her mother. She'd gone quiet as soon as there was a change of emotions in the room. "I…I… I've seen the scars…the ones on your wrists and shoulders and the ones on your back." Mildred said. Constance gulped, remembering…
"You wicked girl! You've made another mistake!" Hecketty fumed. "Mistakes are not to be tolerated… You know the punishment…"
"No…please don't… Grandmother please…" Young Constance pleaded.
Hecketty whirled. "What did I tell you about calling me that?" She seethed.
"I'm sorry, Mistress Broomhead…" Constance squeaked.
"It's much too late for that…" Hecketty took out her leather whip and the girl's eyes widened in fear. She raised her hand as she caught Constance by the wrist, and she reminded Constance of a Cobra about to strike. Her arm went down and the sound of a whip crack was heard. Constance cried and sobbed but knew it would only be worse if she tried to get away…
Constance was shivering in fear and Mildred had quickly placed the baby in a cradle. Morgana's hackles were raised at the sight of her mistress upset, and she snarled, on edge.
Mildred took a hold of Constance. "Aunt Constance, you're safe. You're in your room at Cackle's Academy. You are safe, do you hear me?" Mildred's voice raised, trying to rouse Constance out of her fugue.
Constance crumpled into her niece's arms and cried.
Mildred sat shushing her while rocking Star's cradle with her foot. "Shhhhh, shhhh…" She soothed, rocking back and forth. " You have a beautiful but tiny baby girl who will love you. She already does. Look how she calms when she's with you. It's your heart she listened to when she was inside of you. And it's your heart she listens to now when she snuggles up against your chest."
Constance gulped and sat up. "Can I see my baby girl?" She asked softly.
"Of course, she's yours." Mildred lifted the baby from the cradle. "Mummy's just a little scared. She needs you, Star-Star, to make her calm again. Mildred told her, laying her in her Mummy's arms.
Constance smiled gently at the nickname for Star and took the newborn into her arms. "Mummy's here now, Star. Mummy will never, ever hurt you. Mummy promises." She crooned gently.
"The cycle needs to stop now, Aunt Constance. And it needs to end with you and go no further. I have thought you were scary, but I could never, ever hate you. You've been feared for too long." Mildred said and touched Constance's cheek. Constance was about to flinch away, but she shuddered and leaned into the caress with a soft sigh.
"Star needs a feed." Mildred told her, noticing that Star began to work her little mouth like a fish. Constance sighed as she unbuttoned her purple pyjama top. She laid Star against her stomach, tummy-to-tummy, and coaxed her to nurse. Star's tiny body was tense and curled up but she soon relaxed and her hunger was satisfied. Constance began whispering gently to her.