First Mother's Day
Mike searched through the department store, trying to find just the perfect gift for Maddie. It was her first Mother's Day and he wanted it to be special. He glanced down at the car-seat where the baby, Susannah; slept blissfully.
"You're not much help." Mike remarked under his breath. He didn't realize that was being watched.
"Sir?" Kara asked.
"Oh…sorry. I brought Susannah with me to help pick out a gift for Mother's Day…but she's napping." Mike said.
"She's ten weeks old." Kara deadpanned.
"Yeah, kind of ridiculous." Mike replied as he rubbed his forehead.
"Has she voiced wanting something?" Kara asked.
"Sleep." Mike replied. Kara laughed under her breath and looked around for a moment.
"Well, you've done this before. Susannah isn't your first baby. I don't mean to bring up painful memories but what did you do for Christine on her first Mother's Day?" Kara asked.
"I fixed dinner. We couldn't afford much. I got her stuff for a bath and watched Katie so she could take a proper bath. She had candles and bubble bath. The whole bit…but I can afford something better now." Mike answered.
"So, buy better candles and bubble bath. Mothers haven't changed, sir. Here?" Kara gestured at him, leading him to the area with the nice candles. She smelled a few and then held one out to Mike.
"What's this?" Mike said as he smelled the candle.
"Lavender. Very relaxing. I would suggest two or three of these and then wait…just a moment…" Kara said. She disappeared while Mike put a few of the calendars in the cart. She reappeared with a bottle of bubble bath and some lotion.
"Expensive looking." Mike said, pointing at the bottles.
"You said you can afford it." Kara argued.
"I suppose so. I was just thinking in terms of jewelry or something, but other than her wedding ring, Maddie doesn't wear a lot of jewelry." Mike remarked.
"You could get her a necklace or bracelet. Maybe something with Susannah's birthstone. What did you get her as a push gift?" Kara asked.
"Push gift?" Mike asked.
"Uh…a gift for the mother after the baby is born…for pushing." Kara explained.
"I didn't." Mike answered.
"Oh." Kara said with a grin.
"I never did with Christine either…I just didn't think." Mike remarked.
"Sir…this bath stuff, some pretty flowers and a necklace. A nice card too." Kara said.
"Yes, ma'am." Mike answered. She disappeared again and Mike looked down at Susannah, who was awake and giving him a grumpy look.
Picking out the necklace and card was much simpler and Mike took the items home and hid them. He would get the flowers the day before Mother's Day so they were fresh.
Maddie had returned to work as soon as she was able. Not because they needed the money but because she loved her job and Mike had retired so he didn't miss anything. But, since she had returned to work, it was like she couldn't get home to Susannah fast enough.
He was fixing dinner when she came in and immediately took her heels off. She picked Susannah up and rocked her back and forth, barely even noticing Mike.
"Dinner will be ready soon." Mike said as Maddie sat down in the living room, obviously wanting to nurse Susannah rather than give her a bottle.
"Thanks." Maddie said as she began nursing the baby.
"You're welcome. How was work?" Mike asked. Her entire maternity leave, Maddie's boss had called her every day with one complaint or another. Maddie loved her job but she hated her boss.
"Horrible. I was wrote up for having to take an extended break so I could pump. I didn't even take lunch today." Maddie admitted. He caught that her voice was getting thick sounding, like she was trying to choke back tears. He put the milk in the freezer and knelt in front of Maddie.
"We don't need the money. You can go back to work when she is older. I think you'd much rather be home with her anyway." Mike said.
"I thought…I would be okay working. I didn't think it would be so hard to leave her. I know you love her and she is well taken care of, but…I don't know." Maddie remarked.
"Maddie…if you want, you can quit. You'll have to put up with me all day but there is no reason you should put up with some boss telling you when you can take a break and when you can't. If it was a financial issue, I would be working. Just think about it, okay?" Mike said in a soft voice. He leaned up and kissed her forehead before going back to the kitchen to finish dinner.
All weekend, he could tell Maddie was preoccupied. Sunday morning, he got up with Susannah and fixed Maddie breakfast. He had slipped out and got flowers the day before and stored them in the garage fridge.
Maddie loved all the gifts, especially the way that Mike had signed the card from Susannah. He got a few intense kisses from her before she cuddled up with Susannah on the couch. After cleaning breakfast up, he sat down next to her and smiled at the way that Susannah was sleeping in Maddie's arms.
"You liked all your gifts?" Mike asked.
"I did, but I especially loved the gift you gave me when you said I could stay home with her. I'm going to give my notice tomorrow." Maddie said.
"Good." Mike answered before giving her a long kiss. It was not exactly what he had planned but Maddie being happy meant more to him than a paycheck, especially when she came home from work in tears.
I plan to follow this up with a Father's Day story in the same storyline!