She's standing in front of the window, in the nursery. She finishes changing the baby's diaper, and redressing her. The little girls stares up at her, contently. She smiles, and lifts her off the changing table.
"Is that better?" she questions tossing the diaper into the diaper genie. "Does that make you a happy girl?" She gets the sense that someone is watching her. She turns, and finds someone in the doorway. She smiles at him.
"Emmett I didn't know that you were here. I didn't hear you come in."
He points to the camera that hangs around his neck. He begins to sign, "John asked me to come."
"He wanted you to come take pictures?"
"He said that you still need pictures for a birth announcement."
"Oh."
"She's two weeks old," he reminds her.
"Come in," he motions for him.
He enters the room. He stares at the baby. Kathryn looks up from Keely's sweet face.
"Trade me?" she points to Emmett's camera.
He smiles widely slipping the camera from around his neck. She takes it in one hand. She slips the baby into his arms with her other hand. They stand there is silence. He looks down at the little girl in his arms. She wears a headband in her thick hair, with a bow on the side of it. It's a modest bow that isn't too big for her head. The pink in her headband matches the subtle pink in her dress. Kathryn watches him with her. She smiles. Emmett takes a deep breath as the infant searches for his face.
"Keely."
Kathryn looks up at him, taken aback. The baby locks eyes with him. He smiles widely at her. He looks up at Kathryn. He points to the camera, as his hands are full. She switches back with him.
"It is a really nice day outside. Maybe we could take some pictures out there?" he suggests.
"I don't know," she shrugs.
"Has she been outside yet?"
"She's been to the pediatrician."
"Have you had her in the sunlight?" he wonders.
"The jaundice cleared up after a couple of days," Kathryn responds, "We sat her in the window, remember?"
"But have you been outside?" he queries.
"To the pediatrician," Kathryn repeats.
"Please?"
"Ok," she nods in agreement.
"How are you feeling?"
"Better," she insists.
"Let's go," he smiles.
Two mornings later Kathryn is sitting at the kitchen table, with Keely in one arm as she reads the newspaper. John enters the room. He stops next to his wife.
"You know she is going to get stuck like that," he tells her.
Kathryn furrows her brow, "What do you mean?"
"She might get glued to your arm at the rate you're going. You never put her down."
"I put her down when she goes to sleep," Kathryn insists.
"She is asleep now," he points out.
"She just finished eating, and..."
"Surrender her to me."
"John I don't mind, I..."
"I have to leave for work in a few minutes. You don't let me change diapers, at least let me hold her."
"Fine."
He scoops the baby out of her arms. There is a knock on the door. John walks over, and pulls it open with his spare hand. Emmett enters the house. He makes a beeline for the table. Kathryn looks up from her newspaper. He hands the stack of cards to her. She looks at the birth announcement.
"Do they look ok?" he questions, "I've got to get to school."
"They're great Emmett, thank you," Kathryn signs while she speaks.
Emmett leaves, and John approaches the table.
"Can I see?"
Kathryn holds the card up. The front is a picture of Keely in her pink dress, and headband lying in a basket in the middle of the flower bed full of pink, and purple tulips.
"Kathryn I think that it's time."
"For you to go work?" she looks down at her watch.
"For you to get out of the house. I think that maybe you should take her somewhere."
"I don't want to take her anywhere. There are germs, and..."
"I don't remember you being like this with Toby, or Bay either one."
"She's just so little," she comments.
"She's already gained than a pound in two weeks. She is growing like a weed. I mean she has finally hit six pounds, you can practically see her grow. She is healthy, and happy. I love you, but you have got to get out of this house, even if it is just for a walk down the block. You know she has a stroller that hasn't been used."
"I don't know, it's kind of windy," Kathryn argues.
"Kathryn it is not windy. Why are you making excuses?" He questions as he takes a seat in the chair next to her.
She shrugs, looking at the baby in his arms, "I don't know. I guess I just want to protect her from everything."
"You will never be able to protect her from everything, that isn't possible."
"It doesn't stop me from trying."
"What is this really about?"
"I almost killed her."
"Kathryn..."
"I should have seen that car coming. I should have prevented that accident. Every day I look at her, and I can't help but wonder what would have happened if Emmett hadn't drug me out of that car. Or if the fire department hadn't showed up so soon. I wonder what could have happened if the paramedics weren't just down the block. What if something had happened to her? I feel so guilty all of the time."
"For what? Kathryn the accident wasn't your fault. All of it was out of your control."
"I feel guilty for not wanting her. I feel guilty for wishing that my pregnancy was over. And now I look at her, and I wonder how I could have ever felt that way? What kind of monster doesn't want their own child?"
"You are not a monster. You are the most amazing, strong, courageous woman that I know. And you are an incredible mother. You have to know that."
"I see her, and I can't imagine not having her. Just like I can't imagine my life without Toby, or Bay, or Daphne."
"We are so lucky to have such incredible kids," he admits. He looks at the little girl in his arms, "And this one is just the icing on the cake."
"Do you think that bow is too big?"
He looks at the tiny purple bow clipped into her hair. "No, but you're trying to change the subject."
"What were we talking about?"
