A/N: HERE IS ANOTHER CHAPTER. THANKS FOR REVIEWING, I REALLY APPRECIATE IT. AGAIN, THE CAST IS NOT MINE, JUST THE SUPPORTING CHARACTERS.
CHAPTER 27: LIKE MOTHER, LIKE DAUGHTER
Jordan woke the next morning feeling a little disoriented, she glanced over at the alarm clock which read 5:27am. Almost three hours, that was the longest she had slept in days, no, weeks actually.She slowly padded down the hallway toward Millie's nursery where she knew Woody would be. He was at the changing table dressing their daughter in one of the many outfits they had received as gifts. "Hey you two.", Jordan called from the doorway. "Good morning Mommy.", Woody smiled as he pulled Millie into his arms. "We were just about to wake you, someone is very hungry. I tried to hold her off, I was afraid she'd inhale her entire fist.", he added with a chuckle, trying to get Millie to take the pacifier he was holding to her mouth.
Just as Woody took his hand away from her mouth, Millie spit out her pacifier, sending it halfway across the room, right next to Jordan's feet. Jordan bent down to pick up the pacifier and immediately regretted the decision. Tears stung her eyes as a pain shot across her abdomen, she straightened up and leaned against the doorway to catch her breath. "No bending Jo, at least for a few more days.", Woody politely scolded as he handed his wife their daughter. "Here, take Millie. I'll clean up in here while you feed her.", he added, picking up the pacifier and handing it to Jordan.
Jordan stood in the middle of the living room, contemplating her next move. Her stomach was so sore from walking and holding the baby, but she couldn't lower herself to sit without help, and help was not something Jordan easily asked for. Millie started to fuss as squirm just as Woody entered the room. "Let me have her while you get comfortable.", Woody offered, holding his arms out for his little girl. Jordan grabbed the nursing pillow and carefully lowered herself into the plush leather chair. Woody handed the baby back and quickly disappeared into the kitchen.
Woody returned with a huge smile on his face and an equally large tray of food on his lap. "Wait a minute.", Jordan exclaimed, her eyes became as big as saucers. "You need to eat. I'll help too.", he laughed, setting the tray on the end table next to Jordan. He then picked up her still swollen feet and placed then on the coffee table. "You need to keep your feet up remember?", hesaid taking a plate for himself, off of the tray. "I brought your vitamin and some ibuprofen for the pain.", Woody stated as he finished his breakfast. "Thanks, honey.", Jordan replied, becoming irritated at his doting.
Once Millie had finished nursing and was burped and asleep again, Jordan placed her in the little 'bouncy' seat on the coffee table and went into the kitchen to help Woody. She carried the tray and dirty dishes over to the sink. "Jordan, what do you think you're doing. You should be resting.", Woody scolded as he looked up from the dishwasher he was loading. "Woody I'm fine, I can help a little. And besides, the faster we finish in her the faster we can get your exercises done. You know, before Millie wakes up again.", she smiled and nodded toward the sleeping baby in the living room.
"No way Jordan, you can't help me with my exercises. You just had a c-section less than a week ago, remember? The doctor specifically said; no bending, no stairs, and no lifting anything heavier than the baby. You know how strenuous those exercises can be. No.", Woody ordered, taking the tray from her hands. "Well, it's not like you can do them by yourself. And I know you didn't do your exercises or go to therapy last week because you were at the hospital with me. You're supposed to go to therapy three times a week Woody and do your exercises every morning.", Jordanreplied sarcastically.
"It's fine Jordan.", Woody mumbled, pushing away from the sink. "No it's not fine Woody. Hey wait we're not done here.", Jordan called after him, trying to catch up. "You need to go.", she demanded as she entered their bedroom. "I'm not leaving you two alone.", he replied in a defiant tone. "I think I can handle it for a few hours.", Jordan shot back angrily, as something caught her eye in the corner of the room.
"Woody, when was the last time you used your crutches?", she asked seriously, nodding to the pair, along with the braces, leaning against the wall. "I don't know, a week, week and a half.", he whispered and shrugged."Woody that's too long, you need to...", Jordan started, but was interrupted. "I know Jordan, but I can't do anything when I use them. I can't help you, or take care of the baby.", he said sadly.
Jordan came up behind her husband and lovingly squeezed his shoulders. "Woody, go to therapy, we'll be fine.", she urged as she took a seat on the bed. Woody knew she was right, "Okay I promise to go if you let Aunt Betty come early, to stay with you.", he offered with a smile. "I don't need a babysitter, Woody.", Jordan exclaimed angrily, standing a little too quickly. Woody noticed her pain, "She was going to come and help with dinner, I'll call and see if shecould come a little earlier,okay?", he asked, taking her hand. "Okay.", she half-heartedly agreed, as she sunk back down onto the bed, exhausted.
Aunt Betty had been busy; dusting, cleaning the bathrooms, doing laundry, which seemed to have trippled inthe last two days. As much as Jordan didn't like to admit she needed help, having Aunt Betty around was a blessing. "Dolly should be here soon with the groceries, then I can get started on dinner.", Aunt Betty said to Jordan as she came into the living room from her nap. "You don't have to do all of this.", Jordan exclaimed, giving Betty a hug. "Oh, but I want to Dear. I love you all so much.", Betty replied, becoming a little teary as she walked over to Millie, who was in Jordan's arms, and caressed her small pink hands.
Millie had just finished another feeding, late that afternoon. Jordan kissed her head and laid her in the bassinet to nap. On her way back to the living room, Jordan stopped just short of the kitchen and listened to Aunt Betty and Dolly talk about nothing and everything. "Dorothy Madison, what on earth did you do to this cake.", Betty asked with a chuckle. "I thought I'd be creative. Have you ever seen the cake show on the food channel, lop-sided cakes are all the rage now.", Dolly laughed, trying to make light of her baking disaster.
Jordan quietly came in, not wanting to interrupt this mother-daughter moment. "Can I help with anything?", she asked, feeling strangely out of place in her own kitchen."You should be resting Honey.", Betty stated, taking Jordan by the hand. "Well Millie's asleep again, and I thought you could use another pair of hands. It smell wonderful, by the way.", Jordan replied. "Sure. But why don't you sit, Woody said you shouldn't spend too much time on your feet.", Dolly exclaimed, handing Jordan the potatoes that needed to be peeled. Jordan graciously accepted and the three prepared dinner together.
"I've got to go, parent-teacher conferences tomorrow. Oh and I promised Nigel dinner.", Dollygrinned, picking up her coat and purse. "Thanks for everything Dolly.", Jordan said, giving her a hug. "Be safe Sweetie and don't stay out too late. I'll be home around nine.", Betty called from the kitchen. "Yes Mother!", Dolly answered, rolling her eyes. Jordan chuckled as Dolly reached for the door. "Tell Woody I said hi.", Dolly called out,waiving as she left.
Millie started to fuss so Jordan went over, picked her up and gently patted her back. The baby let out a small burp and Jordan giggled, then out of nowhere, the flood gates opened. Aunt Betty rushed into the room as soon as she heard Jordan sobbing. "What's wrong Jordan?", Betty asked, putting her arm around Jordan. "I don't know what's wrong with me. One minute I'm laighing and the next I'm crying.", she said. Bettyeased her to the couch and pulled her into a hug. "I'm just not sure I can do this.", Jordan admitted, sobbing harder.
"Do what Honey?", Betty asked confused. "Be a good mom. I was young when my mother died, ten. She was sick, I don't remember much about her. What if I'm not good at this.", Jordan asked. "Oh Sweetie, every mom is worried about that, just do your best, it'll come naturally.", Betty smiled, running her hand through Jordan's long hair. "What you and Dolly have, it's amazing. I've never had anything like that, so how can I give that to my daughter.", Jordan pleaded. "I've had 26 years of practice. And remember, you're not alone, you have Woody, your dad, friends...me.", Betty offered, taking Millie from Jordan and handing her a tissue. "You'll help me?", Jordan asked shyly. "Of course, I will.", Betty admitted, looking down at Millie. "I'd like that.", Jordan nodded, resting her head on Betty's shoulder.