Chapter 37.
"The most precious jewels you'll ever have around your neck are the arms of your children."
-Unknown
The next morning, Callie was roused from her sleep by the sound of Bailey fussing over the baby monitor. Rolling out of bed, she went into the nursery to see to her.
"Hey, baby girl," she said, picking her daughter up and kissing her. "I think you need a diaper change."
She spread a blanket on the floor, and laid Bailey on it. Then, she unbuttoned the baby's pajamas. "Don't cry, sweetie," she chirped. "It's okay. Mommy will make it better." She gave bailey a teething ring to distract her, then unfastened the soiled diaper, taking it off and putting it to the side.
"What you doing?" a little voice asked from the doorway. Callie turned and saw Savannah, who she had left in bed.
"Good morning, sleepyhead," she said, smiling. "Um, I'm just changing Bailey's diaper."
"She go pee pee?"
"Among other things," Callie laughed. "Hey! Do you want to be my special helper girl?"
"Uh-huh," she nodded, eagerly.
"Could you bring me the box of baby powder from that basket over there?" she asked.
"Okay. I get it," Savy nodded. She hurried across the room, and picked up the powder, squeezing it a little too hard. A white cloud puffed up, causing her to sneeze as she stumbled back to Callie. "Here you go!" she announced, plopping down on the floor.
"Thank you, sweetie," said Callie. "Hey! You know what we're gonna do today?" she asked, as she put a fresh diaper on Bailey.
"What?" Savy asked.
"We're gonna have breakfast with your new grandmas," she told her. Stef and Lena were eager to meet their new granddaughter, and there was no school that day, so they had asked them to come over before Brandon and Stef had to leave for work. Besides that, Callie and Brandon were going to take home one of their extra beds for Savy to sleep in.
"They nice?" the little girl asked.
"Mm-hm," Callie nodded. "And you're also gonna meet your aunt and uncles."
"I nervous," Savy sighed, looking troubled.
"Nervous?" Callie laughed, surprised at the three-year-old's use of such a big word. "You got butterflies in your tummy?"
Savannah nodded, her blue eyes wide. "BIG ones!"
Leaning over, Callie kissed the top of her head. "You don't have to worry, sweet pea. They'll love you. How could they not?"
Just then, Brandon walked into the nursery, his hair sticking up in every direction. "There's my three favorite girls," he said, coming over to kiss Callie.
"Hey," she smiled, returning the kiss. "Good morning."
"Do you need any help?" he asked, running his fingers through his wild hair.
"Actually, yes," Callie replied. "How about you dress Bailey, and I'll dress Savannah?"
"Sure," he said, lifting the baby up, and carrying her to the crib.
Brandon rung the doorbell of Stef and Lena's house, shifting his wait from one foot to the other as they waited, holding onto the handle of Bailey's carrier. Nestled snugly, she gurgled happily, kicking her legs.
Callie held Savannah, who clung tightly to her, her arms wrapped around her neck, and her legs around her waist. Since they had picked her up the day before, Savannah had been sticking extra close to Callie. She supposed it was because she made the little girl feel safe; she was familiar to her. She gently rubbed Savy's back as she held her, trying to soothe her, as Stef and Lena answered the door.
"Hey, there," said Stef, smiling.
"Hi, guys," Lena chimed in. "Come in, come in!"
Brandon and Callie followed their moms into the house, where the family was gathered. "Everyone," said Brandon. "This is Savannah, the newest member of our family."
"Can you say hi, baby?" Callie asked in a whisper. "Please?"
Slowly, Savy lifted her head, shyly looking around, and waved her tiny hand.
"Hello, Savannah," said Stef. "It's nice to meet you!"
"Hi," she whispered.
"Honey," said Callie. "This is your Grandma Stef and Grandma Lena." She then pointed to her siblings. "And that's your Uncle Jude, Uncle Jesus, and Aunt Mariana."
"Savannah," said Mariana, brightly. "Do you like Barbies?"
"Yeah," she replied, nodding.
"I have some for you to keep," Mariana told her. "They're right over there by the couch. Do you want to see them?"
Savy looked up at Callie, unsure.
"You can go play, baby," she told her, setting her down and patting her bottom. "Go ahead. I'll be right in the kitchen if you need me."
"Okay, Cawie," Savannah sighed, before letting Mariana take her by the hand.
"She's cute," said Lena, smiling.
"She really is," Stef agreed. "Mariana is really excited about her. She was up in the attic, looking for her old dolls yesterday, so she could give them to her."
"We appreciate it," said Callie. "We didn't have the room to bring all of her things home. She'll love the Barbies."
"So, she's really your daughter, now?" Jude asked, curiously, as he sat across from her at the table.
"Yup," Callie nodded, pouring herself a cup of coffee. "She is." She took a long sip of the hot drink, then took Bailey from Brandon, so he could serve himself.
"Bailey's really growing," said Jesus.
"I know," Callie sighed, looking down at her daughter. "My baby!"
"And how are you two doing?" Stef asked, concerned.
Callie rocked Bailey, as she considered her mother-in-law's question. "I think we're doing good," she said, glancing over at her husband, who agreed. "A little sleep deprived," she admitted. "But... I really love being a mom."
As she spoke, Lena carried a platter of pancakes to the table. "Breakfast is ready," she announced cheerfully.
"Mariana?" Stef called into the living room. "Time for breakfast, sweets!"
"Okay!" her daughter called back, hurrying into the kitchen, Savy tagging along behind.
"Lookie, Cawie!" she cried, happily holding up a mermaid Barbie.
"Cool," said Callie, patting her shoulder. "Did you thank Aunt Mariana?"
"Yup," she replied, shaking her head.
"Good girl," Callie smiled.
Jesus brought a booster seat the the table, and secured it to the empty chair next to Callie. "Here you go," he told Savannah, lifting her into the seat, and pushing her up to the table.
"Was that Brandon's?" Callie asked, looking over at the booster seat. It didn't look like it had been used much.
"Oh. No," Stef replied. "We, uh, used to take in foster kids pretty often. Especially before the twins came along, and we always had to be ready for a child of any age at a moment's notice, so we have quite a few baby and toddler items stored away."
"Speaking of which," Lena replied. "Do you guys need a high chair?"
"Sure," said Brandon. "If you guys don't think you'll need it."
"We won't," Stef assured him. "It's yours."
When they got home, Brandon put together the new bed, then left for work. Once he was gone, Callie dressed the bed with Savy's Tinkerbell bedding, and put away the rest of her belongings. Savy spent most of the day playing with her newly acquired Barbie dolls.
When bedtime came, Callie tucked Savy into her bed, covering her up, and handing her her Tinkerbell doll. "Goodnight, sweetheart," she told the little girl. "I love you." Leaning down, she brushed her lips against her cheek.
"Night-night," she replied, yawning. "I love you."
Callie kissed Bailey goodnight, and left the room, leaving the door open a crack. Then she went into her own room, and got into bed, curling up beside Brandon.
That night, Callie found herself laying awake, even though she was tired. She was a light sleeper, her ears fine-tuned to every sound emanating from Bailey's baby monitor. Little by little, she slowly dozed off, until she was awakened by a child's crying.
Sitting up, slightly panicked, Callie hurried to the nursery and looked around. Bailey appeared to be sound asleep, but Savannah thrashed around in her bed, obviously having a nightmare.
"Mommy!" she sobbed, kicking her comforter off the bed.
Callie crossed the room to her daughter. "Savy? Wake up, honey," she loudly whispered, shaking the child's arm.
"Where my mommy?" the little girl asked, rubbing her eyes with her fists.
Callie's heart broke as she watched Savannah and realized what was happening. "Come here, baby girl," she soothed, taking the child into her arms. "Don't cry." She carried her to the rocking chair and held her in her lap.
"Where mommy?" Savannah demanded again, looking at Callie pleadingly.
What do I say? Callie wondered. Claire, give me the right answers for your little girl. "Savannah," she slowly began. "Your mommy, and your daddy... honey, they passed away. They went to heaven to be with the angels."
"They come back?" she whimpered.
Callie squeezed her eyes shut for a moment, trying to hide her tears. "No, lovey. They aren't coming back. I'm so sorry. But you know what? Before they left, they asked me and Brandon to be your mommy and daddy, and we said yes, because we love you so much."
"Oh," she replied with a sniffle.
"I know you miss them," Callie continued. "But would you like to call me 'mommy' and Brandon 'daddy?'"
"Okay," Savannah answered, popping her thumb in her mouth.
"Good girl," Callie whispered. "Now, how about if I rock you for a while? Want me to hold you like a baby?"
"Okay, mommy," the little girl replied.
Callie's eyes blurred with tears as she cradled Savy in her arms, her plump legs hanging over the side of the chair. As she rocked slowly, the little girl gazed up at her.
"Close your eyes and go sleepy," Callie whispered. She began to sing a soft lullaby, her tears running down her cheeks.
To Be Continued