Sarah and Emmy had settled in at home, with Olivia staying with them for the first week. Olivia spent a few hours each day with Noah, from when he got home from school until bedtime, and spent the rest of the time helping Sarah with Emmy. Elliot was taking off the following week and would help Sarah during the day.
Emmy, who was 10 days old, was sleeping and nursing well. She was easily soothed and loved being held.
Sarah was lying on the bed snuggling with Emmy, while Olivia folded their laundry. After initially trying to help with things like putting away laundry, Sarah had gradually become more comfortable with letting Olivia do most of the work. They'd talked about how both of them had a hard time asking for and accepting help.
"Who will be at the baby-naming?" Olivia asked.
"I wanted it to be small," she said, "and I only invited people who are completely supportive of me. My mom's closest friend, Rachel, will be there. Two friends from medical school, Amita and Josh, a friend from residency, Tina, and two co-workers, Ashanti and Maya."
"A lot of doctors," Olivia said, smiling.
"There will be three other pediatricians," Sarah admitted. "If Emmy sneezes, she'll probably get a full work-up right then and there. My friends from college aren't in New York, and since medical school, it seems like most of my friends are doctors. It's nice making a friend with a different job," she said, smiling at Olivia.
"I know what you mean. I mostly know detectives," Olivia admitted.
The next day, Elliot and Olivia brought over the trays of bagels, lox, and fruit Sarah had requested, along with salads from the deli. "We got these as a surprise," Olivia said, showing her cookies that said Emmy on them, with little roses under her name. "They're perfect," Sarah said, hugging Olivia. Noah and Eli were both dressed up and helping set up the food. Sarah went upstairs to nurse Emmy before everyone arrived.
She heard the doorbell ring just as she was finishing, and came downstairs to find her Rabbi, Shira, talking with Elliot and Olivia. Shira gave Sarah a warm hug and fawned over Emmy before they discussed a few last-minute details.
Once everyone arrived, Shira welcomed them and explained that she would recite prayers and Sarah would read a letter to Emmy explaining how she'd chosen her name. Sarah stood up, holding Emmy, who she'd changed into the purple striped pajamas from Noah. Shira recited prayers, then wrapped Sarah and Emmy in Sarah's father's tallis, explaining that wrapping them in the prayer shawl symbolized welcoming Emmy into the Jewish faith. Sarah then read a letter to Emmy explaining that she'd chosen the name Emmeline Rose in honor of her mother Emma and her grandmother Rose and telling Emmy about them. She also shared Emmy's Hebrew name, Amalia Shosanna and how she'd picked it.
Josh, who was an excellent photographer, had offered to bring his camera and had been photographing everything, to Sarah's delight.
After the brief ceremony, everyone mingled, eating and marveling over Emmy, who was asleep in Sarah's arms. "Do you want me to take Emmy for a few minutes, so you can get food?" Olivia asked, "or just bring you food.
"Hold her please," Sarah said. "It's too hard to eat one-handed." Olivia sat on the couch next to Noah, who was proud Emmy was wearing the pajamas he'd picked.
While Sarah was eating, she sat next to her mom's friend Rachel. "Your parents would be so proud of you," Rachel told her. "Your grandparents too. I love her name." Sarah looked at the warmth in Rachel's eyes and felt a sense of peacefulness.
"Thank you," she said, choking up.
After everyone had left, Elliot, Olivia, Noah and Eli insisted on staying to clean everything up. They then kept Sarah company while she opened the presents everyone had brought. Elliot held Emmy, snuggling her against his shoulder, while Olivia helped sort through the wrapping paper and keep track of who had given which gifts. Sarah unwrapped the clothes, pajamas and toys, touched by everyone's thoughtfulness, love and acceptance of her daughter.
"Emmy will love this," Noah exclaimed, gently touching a stuffed elephant. "It's so soft. I'm glad she wore her pajamas from me today."
"They're her special pajamas, Noah, because they're from you," Sarah told him. Noah beamed.
"This was perfect," she told Elliot and Olivia. "Thank you. It was so meaningful to have all the people most important in our lives here to welcome Emmy."
