Chapter 4: Home
Stabler Residence—1 Week Later—June 15th 5:30pm
Olivia went upstairs to the nursery and lay Kaitlyn down on the changing table. As soon as she was on the table, she grabbed for her rattle doll and when Olivia got closer to her, Kaitlyn playfully threw it at her, making Olivia giggle.
"I think someone has got a wet diaper," Olivia told her daughter.
Kaitlyn began to babble as if she agreed with what her mother had said. Olivia unsnapped her onesie and reached under the table for a clean diaper while keeping a firm hold on the baby so she wouldn't roll over. She got the baby cleaned up in no time and snapped back on her clothes. During these four months of motherhood, Olivia had really learned a lot in parenting--something that she never had learned from her motherwhen she was growing up. One thing that she had learned over these few months was how to change a diaper fast.
Meanwhile, Olivia picked her up and took her back down to living room where she sat on the couch with the baby, who wanted to play and started cooing.
"Does Mommy have a silly girl?" Olivia asked Kaitlyn, who gave her cute smile. "I think she does."
About that time, Elliot came in through the back door and heard Olivia talking softly to the baby. He went into the living room where Olivia had Kaitlyn in her lap. Elliot stood there quietly for a minute and watched the mother-daughter interaction—he watched his baby girl smiling at her mother and cooing. This priceless moment made him smile.
"Ah boo," cooed Olivia. "Mommy loves you. Yes she does."
"Hey, I'm home," called Elliot.
Olivia went towards Elliot with Kaitlyn settled on her hip and gave him a quick kiss, "Hi sweetheart. How was work today?"
"It was great," answered Elliot. "Sandoval and I make a great team according to our boss. We caught the guy in Queens today on the attempted rape case."
Olivia raised her eyebrows, "Well, it sounds like you guys work really well together."
Elliot nodded, "So, how was your day?"
"Good," said Olivia, peering down at Kaitlyn, who was playing with her necklace. "Faith and I collared a man who had been accused of exposing himself in front of his daughter's two friends. Casey is arraigning him on indecency charges tomorrow."
Elliot looked around the house and noticed that it was unusually quiet, "Where are the rest of the gang at?"
"Maureen and Kathleen are over at their friends' house and the twins are at the park with one of Lizzie's friend and her mom," replied Olivia. She looked at the clock. "They should be here any minute now."
An hour later, everyone sat at the table eating dinner. Maureen put Kaitlyn in her high chair and Olivia got out a couple jars of baby food. She opened up the jar of peas and carrots and handed it to Maureen.
"You like that, huh?" Maureen asked the baby, who opened up her mouth like a baby bird getting food from its mother.
After Olivia finished eating her dinner, she opened up the jar of applesauce, one of Kaitlyn's favorite. She smiled at Kaitlyn, who was imitating her mother's "mmm, yummy" noise and babbling at every bite.
Olivia sat in the recliner in the living room watching TV. She had left the chore of cleaning the table and loading up the dishwasher to the twins while Elliot stretched out on the couch with Kaitlyn in his arms.
"Here baby, do you want your Binky?" Olivia handed Elliot a pacifier and he nudged into the baby's mouth.
Once Kaitlyn got her pacifier, she wiggled around in her father's lap and rested her head on top of his chest. Elliot pressed a kiss on top of her head and thought that she would fall asleep if she stayed like this. Elizabeth walked into the living room after cleaning up the kitchen and noticed her father asleep on the couch while the baby looked at her.
"Olivia," she whispered, gesturing to Elliot on the couch. "Look at this."
Olivia got up from the recliner and saw the two of them. It was a sweet moment so she had to get out the camera to take a picture. Elliot would probably pass out if he saw a picture of him asleep, but Olivia wanted to savor the moment.
"It's going to be so cute," said Lizzie, after seeing the picture.
"Okay Miss Priss, I think it's time for you to go to bed," Olivia carefully lifted Kaitlyn from Elliot's arms as he stirred around and took her upstairs to the nursery. She glanced at the clock: it was a little after eight—a little late to give Kaitlyn a bath but she figured that she would do it in the morning.
"Good night little angel," said Kathleen, kissing her baby sister's hand. Maureen and Elizabeth also gave her a kiss too.
Olivia started her usual night routine with the baby. She fed and changed her diaper and put on her nightgown. She turned on her music box in the crib and placed Kaitlyn in there with her blanket and rattle doll.
"Good night baby." whispered Olivia, pressing a kiss to her forehead. "I love you."
Elliot came in and wrapped his arms around Olivia. She turned around and took his hands into hers. "She's so beautiful. Just like her mother."
Olivia nodded and smiled, "Yes she is."
They both stood there in the room for a few more minutes. It was definitely a precious moment as they watched their daughter sleeping peacefully.
TBC
