SPOV November 25, 2011
It had been two weeks since the fateful pregnancy test and call from Judge Brigant. Time seemed to have gone at a rapid pace. Only yesterday after we stepped off of the plane from Louisiana did time resume its normal rate.
We were sitting in front of the fire with the logs crackling; holiday music drifted from the ancient stereo system in the far corner and the lights from the Christmas tree twinkled softly in the fading afternoon glow. The adults were sipping hot apple cider while Amelia and Copley played at our feet. It was the day after Thanksgiving and as tradition the family came together to set up the Christmas tree in the formal living room. I thought back to my earliest memory of my smaller family decorating the Christmas tree when I was only 4 years old. Copley did a wonderful imitation of Jason, throwing tinsel in clumps at the 6 foot Norwegian pine tree Gran had specially ordered for my home coming and Jason and Pam's first Christmas married. Amelia had the honor of setting the family angel on the top; Eric lifted her to place it on the pinnacle of the tree. I remembered the serene porcelain face from my out stretched arm as I placed it on top of the tree for the first time. The other eleven months of the year it sat perched on a shelf in Gran's quilting room in the basement. Thinking of the family ties and memories caused a quickening in my stomach. I wasn't too sure if it was the flutter from the child I was carrying or the hope from the future. Either way it was comforting.
Lafayette and Jesus were playing chess on the mahogany coffee table in the center of the room. Jason and Pam were curled up together on the worn sofa. Dad was looking out the bay window watching the sun set behind the White Mountains. Copley and Amelia had found some old Linking Logs stashed in the cupboard under the staircase, where Jason and I had played as children. Eric was checking the tree to make sure all the ornaments were not in danger of falling off the delicate branch's when the kids ran through the house; as they were bound to do. I sat sipping my cider enjoying the peace which had descended on my family.
Selah Amethyst Stackhouse was cradled in Gran's arms; my grandmother had moved the old rocking chair from the family room into the more formal living room for the day. My newest daughter was taking her bottle nicely and staring up at her great grandmother with great wonder in her big blue eyes. They weren't the Stackhouse blue but a deeper richer blue, which I personally thought were lovely on interracial children. Copley kept checking on his little sister making sure she was warm enough and didn't need a diaper change, again. Amelia would brush past her often; touching the soft brown curls making a halo over the baby's head.
"So have you decided what her name should be?" Jason asked over the rim of his favorite Scooby-Doo mug. His arm was draped lazily over Pam's shoulders hovering dangerously close to her every expanding chest.
"We think Selah is a bit too grown up of a name for her. Amy is what the kids have taken to calling her." Eric watched me as he spoke. None of us had really discussed changing her name but it sort had evolved over the week as we began to know her better. Selah was a mouth full for Copley to say too, Amelia like to call the baby Amy because it was close to her name and she was in seventh heaven with the whole idea of having a younger sister to play with; just as soon as she could walk. Eric just needed a day or two to adjust with the whole idea of two infants in the house within a 9 month period of time.
"Is she good?" Pam rubbed her own stomach which had rapidly stretched in the last three weeks. She was due January 2 and the first time in her life she ate everything on her plate, even asking for seconds on some things. My vain best friend was looking very matronly lately, and it suited her well.
"Shew's the best, well as guold as Amelia." Copley boasted as he patted the thin little leg which was dangling out of the blanket, Gran quickly swaddled the little leg back into the pink blanket Amelia used as an infant. Amy was thin and underweight. She was born just under five pounds a few weeks too early and hadn't gained much weight since, which was a shame. Although like Copley I was determined to fatten her up.
"She still has the infant wail but she only uses it when she's wet." I glanced at Lafayette and Jesus who had become a second set of parents to all three kids over the last week. "Eric and I have been taking turns getting up in the night to feed her. Lafayette has taken to helping during the day time, I think if I am not careful he may just tuck her in the crook of his arm and take her home soon." Lafayette gave a broad grin to let me know he had already thought of it a time or two, while the room erupted in laughter. "She is on more of a scheduled than with either Copley or Amelia because I am not nursing Amy." I felt a pang of guilt about not being able to provide my milk for her but it couldn't be helped. For heaven's sake I had only been legally her parent for less than 96 hours, it wasn't like I was failing at being her mother by any means. But still the guilt was there lurking in crevice of my mind. Sliding my hand against my sweater I let it linger there for a second too long and Pam's eyes went wide. I shook my head quickly just enough to let her know to drop it and we would talk about it later. A broad smile flashed across her face. Eric and I had decided to wait on telling everyone about my pregnancy until we had Selah safe in our arms. Neither one of us wanted to tempt fate.
"Sookie I found your trunk upstairs with a whole heap of treasures in it when I was bringing down the Christmas ornaments. I took it down and put in your old room, you want me to bring it down here for you to sort through or did you want to take it back to Eric's house." Daddy was still being difficult about Eric and me living together. I had known for a fact Eric had asked my father for my hand in marriage the week before right after he found I was carrying his child. I had heard it through the gossip chain at work via Gran.
"Can you show it to Eric and he can get it out to the car. I already remember what is in there. I want to share those treasures with the kids but not right now." I asked Daddy. The two went off to my old room and a few minutes later Eric came back down with the trunk. Jason opened the door for him and they went out to put it in the back of Barney. It was the only vehicle we owned which could have all three car seats buckled in at one time.
The wind tunneled into the front room causing the baby to fidget a bit when Eric came back in with Jason. They both had broad grins on their faces when they returned to us. I shook my head and wondered what they were up to when suddenly I realized the entire room had gone quiet. Dad was standing by the archway of the room, Pam had even sat up a little straighter when the guys walked back in. Eric hauled me to my feet, I just assumed he wanted a kiss; hesitantly I brushed my lips across his. We weren't much for public displays of affection. Again I was being a bit dense until he went on bended knee in front of me. My mouth popped open of its own accord and I noticed a flash from the doorway, but I couldn't take my eyes off of Eric long enough to make sure it was my Dad I needed to murder because they just took a picture of me with my mouth wide open.
"Sookie Stackhouse, let me just begin by saying you are the most stubborn woman I have ever known in my entire life. You are also the most loving and compassionate person I have ever loved. I have asked your father, your brother, son and daughter all for your hand in marriage. The only person I have yet to ask is you." Eric took a deep breath and cleared his throat. He had a small box in his hands I hadn't noticed until just then, which he opened slowly while asking me the next question. "Sookie will you do me the honor of being my partner for life, marry me and have a house full of children? Will you live with me until we are old and gray? Will you help me raise these children we have and are going to have; and can you love me long enough for us to hold a grandchild of our own one day?" The box, now fully opened, held a beautiful ring. It was gold and white gold layered with tiny diamonds glittering up at me around the circle.
Since he began his proposal I was focused entirely on him, now the room seemed to come back into focus. Pam was sobbing softly on the couch, where Jesus and Lafayette held hands. I noticed everyone in the room was in on it. The kids were kneeling inches away from Eric as if they were proposing too. Gran had a soft smile on her face going back and forth between me, Dad, and Amy. I felt my heart pounding in my chest and before I could make them wait in anticipation any longer I nodded my head and said 'Yes' so loudly I startled Amy into a wailing fit. Quickly Eric slid the ring onto my left ring finger and then stood up; wrapping me into his arms. I could hear the steady heart beat in his chest, it was the same as always but now different and a little sweeter than before. The kids danced and sung around us like a May pole; Amy cry sounded different now too like she wanted join her siblings in the celebration. Dad was in the archway snapping pictures left and right. Jason was standing with his back to us, when he turned around I realized he had a tray of wine and two glasses of sparkling cider on the tray.
"So Sookie you gonna have a shotgun wedding too?" Jason teased as he handed his wife a