"Hi Mom." Jake said emotionlessly to the woman with her back to her. As she turned, Jake could see that, as usual, her mother was talking on her cell phone. However, this wasn't her usual business conversation.
"I want it to be pink…yes, of course hand knitted!…squares? Oh I'm not sure…yes, a pattern would be nice…pink and yellow squares? Sounds perfect! Thanks! Yes, just send the bill to my N.Y. address. Thanks. Bye!" Monica faced her eldest daughter properly, scrutinising her. "You haven't been eating properly!" she accused, poking Jake's' skinny midriff showing through her dress. "But you look beautiful. Give your mother a hug." Jake obliged, feeling about 3 years old again. Speaking of children, she couldn't see her new sibling anywhere.
"Mom," she began, "where's…" she stopped as she was interrupted by Monica.
"Oh, she's right here! Consuela! Bring her over to meet her big sister!" Consuela, their Spanish maid, walked over from where she'd been standing a little distance away.
"Chiquita, this your new little sister." The older woman smiled as Jake leaned over the little bundle in her arms. A huge pair of sea-green eyes blinked up at her – much the same colour as Jake's' own.
"She's beautiful!" Jake gasped. She poked a finger into the blue blanket, and found it tightly gripped by a tiny pink fist. "She has fingernails! Oh my G-d they're so tiny!!! What's her name?" the women laughed at her absurd exclamation, then Monica replied,
"She is Cameron Michelle Pratt, and she is your sister. She was born a day early, on March 16th, but she's fine and she's beautiful. And she looks like you."
Jake looked at her, her brows raised in a cynical look.
"It is true niña." Consuela agreed. "She looks like you when she yawns. My little Chiquita has a little Chiquita of her own!" she smiled as she thought of how Jake looked when she was this tiny.
So they can tell me she looks like me, but not that she was born! Great, just great! Jake thought angrily. She walked back over to the car she had borrowed from Bella's garage, ignoring the confused looks Consuela and Monica were darting at each other. Let them stare!
No one spoke on the way home – the purr of the engine and the little baby noises Cameron made in her sleep were the only sounds to be heard. Jake was impressed that the cell phone her mother always carried was also silent.
They arrived at Rawley - Girls. Where's Hamilton?!?! she panicked, He's supposed to be helping me keep my mother away from any of the teachers!
She need not have worried. At the moment he jogged round the corner. Damn he's fine! Jake thought as she saw his rippling muscles, lopsided grin and clear blue eyes. She grinned happily – and he's mine!
"Mrs. Pratt, once again it's my pleasure to welcome you to Rawley Academy." He smiled charmingly, and Jake marvelled at his great acting skills. "This must be your new child – congratulations by the way. May I ask her name?"
"Why of course Hamilton – she is Cameron Michelle Pratt. And thank you very much – I'm very proud. I even think she looks a little like Jacqueline – do you not think?" Jake rolled her eyes at her boyfriend as Monica said that, and Hamilton grinned back.
"Yes, Mrs. Pratt, I can see the similarities, especially in the eyes. Now, may I give you a tour of the campus before the luncheon begins?" he offered his arm to her.
"Thank you very much Hamilton. How nice to see my daughter mixing with young men of your calibre…" they strolled away arm in arm, as Jake followed with Consuela holding baby Cameron.