CHAPTER 80 – ATTITUDE
"I want Jack", Elizabeth pathetically mumbled again after first standing, and then sitting forlornly in the doctor's office.
She was numb. She had just been told, repeatedly, that she needed to watch her energetic seven-month-old son like a hawk for the next seventy-two hours.
An unconcerned Aaron Daniel wobbly stood on her thighs facing her. His pudgy little hands played with her face while he tried to balance himself on his legs.
"Now, Mrs. Thornton. It's not so bad," the stern doctor noted. "Things like this just happen sometime."
Elizabeth gave the man an incredulous look.
He took her silence as weakness of a privileged woman. "Yes, it will be a bit tiresome. You won't be able sleep unless someone is awake to watch him. Yes, you'll likely have to supplement your breast milk with food. I dare say your milk supply won't be able keep up with him -"
"No, I don't suppose it will," she muttered in agreement but the doctor had already moved on to his next thought.
"Yes, you'll have to change your schedule, but I'm sure you agree that's a small sacrifice to make. It will be an inconvenience but its only temporary. Three days at most. You'll go through more diapers than usually due to his increased appetite so you'll have to keep up with washing them. And yes, you'll have absolutely no time for yourself. But isn't that what being a mother is all about?"
If Elizabeth hadn't been brought up with impeccable manners, she would have let out a string of expletives. Instead, she kept them silently to herself and slowly stood up. She securely held Aaron to her chest, and chose to ignore the doctor and the medic.
Without a word, she left the infirmary.
Elizabeth had gone only ten steps down the corridor when she turned around and walked back towards the clinic. The arms holding her son were soft and loving, but the rest of her body was rigid.
The doctor and Lt. Greenview stopped talking the moment they saw the door slide open.
Elizabeth, her expression hardened, stood in the doorway.
Her steel blue eyes blazed with anger, but despite feeling much like a mother bear defending her cub, Elizabeth remained stone cold still as she spoke.
The harsh tone in her voice didn't require anyone's imagination as to what she was feeling.
"You are never to administer another medication to my son without my permission or my husband's permission. You are never to examine him, or even touch him, again unless you have my permission or my husband's permission. You are never, and I mean never, to even approach him or make a suggestion about his care without my or my husband's permission."
She focused her next terse comment solely on the doctor, "You will do a better job of training your staff so that no further mistakes are made. My son deserves better. All children you may treat deserve better."
"Mrs. Thornton –"
"There are two things you need to remember," Elizabeth said sternly as she cut him off. "One, my husband has the authority to have you both relieved of your positions. And two, I am a mother and you have messed with my son."
"I think –"
Elizabeth's glare caused the doctor to go silent.
"I suggest you think very carefully about your next words, or whether you want to say anything at all," she continued. "Because I am not in a very good mood knowing that your assistant has stupidly drugged my son without need, gave him the wrong medication, and has put his health in danger."
The doctor and medic didn't dare disagree but shamefully stood silently while Elizabeth, holding Aaron in her arms, walked out without waiting for a response.
The Thornton quarters were quiet as Elizabeth sat on her berth watching Aaron play with toes. She hoped he didn't try to pull one off.
The small boy was blissfully unaware of the drama that his incoming tooth had brought about.
While breastfeeding the boy, who seemed to think she was an automatic milk dispenser, Elizabeth had sent a message to Jack asking if he was busy but had gotten an automatic generic reply: I am currently in a meeting. I will get back to you as soon as I am able. If this is an emergency, please contact the ship's First Officer.
She decided to leave a second message anyway. She didn't actually need Jack's help, but she felt like reaching out to him.
Aaron and I are fine but something unusual has come up. I'll tell you all about it at dinner.
The same generic message came back immediately. I am currently in a meeting. I will get back to you as soon as I am able. If this is an emergency, please contact the ship's First Officer.
Even though she knew that it was useless, Elizabeth typed again.
Just wait until you hear about it. So unbelievable. But true. What a story. I may need a hug.
I am currently in a meeting. I will get back to you as soon as I am able. If this is an emergency, please contact the ship's First Officer.
Elizabeth sent another message. He'll be probably getting a lot of apple sauce and banana mush over the next few days. And maybe you can take him swimming to get out some of his energy. You'll never guess why.
I am currently in a meeting. I will get back to you as soon as I am able. If this is an emergency, please contact the ship's First Officer.
Elizabeth felt herself become slightly irritated at the unsympathetic words coming over her messenger bracelet but she had no one else to talk to at the moment so she continued to type.
I know that you're in a meeting but message me whenever you get a chance. No hurry.
I am currently in a meeting. I will get back to you as soon as I am able. If this is an emergency, please contact the ship's First Officer.
Message me as soon as your meeting is over.
I am currently in a meeting. I will get back to you as soon as I am able. If this is an emergency, please contact the ship's First Officer.
Elizabeth growled at the stupid message, and immediately typed another.
Don't message, just come find me when your meeting is over. Please.
I am currently in a meeting. I will get back to you as soon as I am able. If this is an emergency, please contact the ship's First Officer.
Elizabeth furiously typed with an unrealistic but nonetheless hopeful thought that in the last split second, Jack's meeting had ended and he had checked his messages.
Come back to the room as soon as possible.
I am currently in a meeting. I will get back to you as soon as I am able. If this is an emergency, please contact the ship's First Officer.
Get back to me ASAP! This is an emergency and I don't want the damn First Officer! , she typed furiously.
I am currently in a meeting. I will get back to you as soon as I am able. If this is an emergency, please contact the ship's First Officer.
Elizabeth yanked the bracelet off her wrist and threw it onto one of the berths.
Their quarters seemed tiny, sterile, boring.
Elizabeth was tired, slightly overwhelmed with what the doctor had told her, and the only adult in the room. She knew it wasn't an emergency, and she could certainly handle Aaron. But still. . . . it would have been nice to at least have Jack around to give her a sympathetic "you got this girl" , or a kiss, or a "we'll handle it together. No worries." Or maybe even a "you're a teacher. If this were to happen to anyone, you're the most qualified person to handle an energetic child, and I'm so incredibly glad I married such a beautiful smart capable loving woman who can handle anything thrown at her with grace and dignity." Okay, she realized maybe that was a bit much. But still.
She had two choices. She could cry. Or she could make the best of the situation.
Aaron Daniel Thornton was adorable, so crying seemed totally inappropriate and self-indulgent.
She threw back her shoulders, sat up straighter, and smacked her hands on her thighs. "Well, little one. We've got a lot of time to fill."
Elizabeth had to pee.
She had been playing with Aaron in their quarters for forty minutes, and had had to pee for the last five.
And like most woman in the first year after giving birth, she wouldn't be able to hold it much longer.
I can leave him alone for a minute, can't I? She watched the boy crawl under a berth and pull out one of her slippers. He stuck it in his mouth, got a significant amount of drool on it, and then took it out and examined it again.
No. Better take him with me, she decided.
Elizabeth valiantly tried to hold in her bladder as she lay on her belly and hurriedly coaxed Aaron out from under a berth. Once he was in her arms, she darted towards the bathroom and jiggled impatiently while she waited for the door to slide open.
She didn't bother to lock the door to the adjoining room. There was no time. With one hand she hurriedly put Aaron on the hard floor next to the toilet. With the other hand she yanked down her pants and then her underwear.
Her bare bottom was inches from the toilet seat when Aaron made his move.
"No! Don't go there!" she shouted out, but it was too late, he had crawled towards the door to the suite-mates room, and the door was now beginning to slide open. She could see a glimpse of lockers and someone's legs dangling from an upper berth.
"No!" she yelled again. But Aaron ignored her.
Elizabeth jumped from the toilet.
Oomph. Her legs tangled in her pants and she fell face forward in a clumsy dance. Like a pathetic losing contestant in a potato sack race.
With her legs splayed in an uncomfortable position, she frantically thrust out an arm, grabbed hold of Aaron's waist, and pulled him back it the room before he made it all the way across the threshold.
"Back here," she ordered through gritted teeth and a mess of hair which had fallen in her face.
She could hear girls' voices from a few feet away through the open doorway but whoever was in there hadn't seen her yet.
With her pants still around her ankles, she scrambled to her knees, which by tomorrow would be bruised from the fall, and forcefully smacked one hand on the sensor to close and lock the door. She kept another hand tightly on Aaron who was attempting to squirm away.
When the door immediately slid closed, she breathed a sigh of relief that she hadn't been observed in an embarrassing situation. Caught with her pants down was a taunt she could do without.
She let go of her tight grip on Aaron who was giggling as if this were a new game. "Nice escape try, little one."
Elizabeth stood up and awkwardly shuffled back towards the toilet while tightly squeezing the muscles of her lower torso.
Aaron, not discouraged by his mother's actions at putting an end to his adventure into the adjoining suite, crawled towards the other door.
"Aaron! Please just hold still so I can sit on the toilet and pee!" Elizabeth exclaimed as she changed direction and once again hobbled after him.
Ten minutes later, the buzzing sound emitted from her bracelet caused Elizabeth to look away from her locker and toward her berth where she had earlier flung the device.
Holding Aaron with one arm, she picked up the bracelet and read the message from Jack.
Just got you messages. On my way to room now. Are you okay?!
I messaged you almost an hour ago, she typed back clumsily.
I know. Sorry. Was in a meeting. You doing okay?
I peed all over your son. How do you think I'm doing?