A Daughter's Love

Chapter Two.

With the money that I had managed to gain from my new found profession as a wet nurse accompanied by the income that I received from the Inn, I had been able to turn the guest bedroom at the bakery into a nursery while still having been able to help provide for us along with Caleb. Rocking chairs sat pushed into the corners while two old cribs that I had purchased for much cheaper sat on opposite sides of the room. Amelie had sown a few items of clothing for Ryker since he had started to resent the restriction of blankets yet he was still too young to walk, crawl or even sit upright on his own. Those were stored away in a dresser while cloths scrap cloths that had been cut to form diapers were piled on top of it. Rebecca would change him on the carpet, first placing a towel down before she began to clean him properly. It was easier that way. She would dance around the room with him in her arms and I would sing old pirate songs whenever she wished for him to fall asleep. Taking care of an infant was hard but together we managed to give him the best we had to offer. Rebecca hadn’t been able to breastfeed Ryker and because of that he more often than not drank warm goat’s milk that I would buy at the market. Nolan ran the bakery during the day and at night when Ryker was asleep, Rebecca would start baking the following days batches. I often times woke up at night when Rebecca was busy baking or when she was asleep from exhaustion and go to see what was wrong. I changed his diapers, scrubbed then with my bare hands until they were as clean as they possibly could be, I even fed him and bathed him when she couldn’t. It was our day off when I awoke and ventured my way into the kitchen where Rebecca sat with Ryker in her arms while Nolan gathered his food on a wooden plate and Caleb was busy preparing come eggs along with toast. Meat had been too expensive for us to buy that month with the other purchases but we didn’t mind, we were used to broth and welcomed anything that wasn’t just stewed vegetables “I be heading back to bed after this” Nolan muttered, plopping down on the seat beside Rebecca with a plate full of eggs and a single slice of toast in hand. Joe squeaked and hopped up onto the table, sniffing at Nolan’s plate before he dug down to eat some it, tugging on the white parts and quickly scarfing it down before he continued on but he never touched the yolk which was Nolan’s favourite part “Ryker kept us up all night” Rebecca explained why Nolan appeared so annoyed then glanced back down to the bundle of joy in her arms. She had managed to get him to fall asleep but was too afraid to move for fear of waking him again. At the mention of the name, I thought back to the day before when I had gone to the library to borrow a book on names during lunch. The book had Ryker’s name in it along with its meaning “Ryker means rich” I felt the need to say as I reached for a piece of toast, buttering it and scooped some of the eggs which were seasoned with salt onto it. The luxury of salt had come as a blessing since it made everything we ate taste slightly better but it cost a lot so we didn’t use it often “As if the boy has any money” Nolan scoffed but he glanced over to his son and his face softened for a moment. He loved Ryker but he also loved his sleep. The two were constantly at war with each other inside of him. One moment he was fawning over his little boy and the next he would tell Ryker to ‘For the love of the gods, please stop ye winning’ it was adorable to see since he already spoke to the baby as if he was fully grown and could understand every word perfectly “Ye be the reason why, we spending it all” he added, speaking directly to Ryker and not bothering to acknowledge Rebecca’s warning glare. She would kick Nolan out of the house if it meant feeding Ryker and taking care of her son and the former pirate knew that. I laughed at the picture of them when I sat down by the table across from Nolan and started picking at my food with a fork “Speaking of names-.” Rebecca trailed off when she turned her eyes onto my form, no longer glaring but filled with a mix of interest and question. The reason why I had gone in search of the book of names at the library was to find out exactly what I would name my child since Caleb and I hadn’t exactly given it any thought. The names had been written down along with their origin and meaning, the letters were something that only I was able to read without great difficulty since teaching Caleb had proven to be a pointless task along with Nolan who refused to be a ‘Pompous arse noble boy’ through learning to read. It was odd, considering that his name literally meant ‘noble’. Rebecca had started to pick up on a few letters and could make out recipes out of old baking book which she kept in the bakery portion of the house. It had helped her tremendously and she tried making new things every day, to the town’s people’s delight “Have you found any yet?” to this, Caleb turned to glance down at me, having switched off the stove and started preparing his plate so that he could join us at the table. He was shirtless as Nolan was but he was more build, his body riddled in tattooed markings and his flesh darker in tone “There are a few” I replied, nodding my head. The night before, Caleb and I had laid in bed. He had listened to me read the names then either hummed in approval or grunted a low ‘No’ until he finally managed to fall asleep. We were left with five names in total, a mixture of male and female which all had something to do with the sea. I had told Caleb that I wanted the baby’s name to have a meaning related to the ocean and water and after some time of convincing he had agreed “I like the name Malik, for a boy” Caleb instantly announced when he took a seat on my right. We didn’t care about formal seating arrangements, we weren’t nobles despite mine and Caleb’s blood having traces of the lineage. I shot him a look, knowing that the name was most likely the only one he could remember due to being half asleep at the time “Malik or Keone?” I questioned just to be sure. He took a mouthful of food and chewed while he watched me, contemplating over my asked question as if he were afraid he might answer wrong. After swallowing he finally replied “Malik” I nodded. The name Malik meant ‘wave’ and it was one of my personal favourites as well. Then came the girl names, ones he hadn’t even bothered to listen to since he was convinced that our child was a boy. He kept saying that if Nolan can have a boy then surely he will have one too. It was a game of masculinity but I simply rolled my eyes in response to it “I’m torn between Nanami, Nerissa and Malia” I admitted, turning my attention away from the former pirate Captain and onto Rebecca. She repeated the names and wrinkled her nose up at the first two, tasting them a few times over before she finally stated “I prefer Malia” I was pleased with all three so I agreed and took a bite of my breakfast while Nolan had a one sided conversation with Joe on why he had his own food. The rat squeaked back at him as if to return the argument “It means, calm and gentle waters” I added, remembering what the book had said, quoting its words. A few weeks passed until I started having light contractions at work. I went to the Inn having thought of them as simple pains but they grew more intense as the day went on and finally it had occurred to me that I had gone into labour “Evangeline?” Amelie questioned when she returned to the kitchen to get started on her latest order. I was stood by the counter top, arms resting on top of it with my forehead pressed to the backs of my hands and my body bent over in agony. I gritted my teeth and squeezed my eyes shut. The sun had started to set when I glanced out the window and onto the orange streets “The baby is coming” I announced to which she dropped her pencil and the paper she had used to write orders down on and stared at me with wide, adrenaline fuelled eyes. One of my hands went to caress my stomach when another round of pain shot through me. I tried suppressing the need to scream, for fear of the customers hearing me and gasped once the pain had subsided “You need to go home!” Amelie rushed out when she noticed that I wasn’t going anywhere. She wasn’t a wet nurse and the thought of having to deliver a baby terrified her to no end. I nodded my head and reached for my bag that hung on the hook beside the back door then headed out, calling out a grateful “Thank you!” as I went. Caleb had gotten home shortly before I did. He had been building a fence for one of our neighbours and was covered in sweat, his cotton shirt soaked through when he stood in the kitchen, downing a cup of water. I burst through the door and slumped back against the kitchen wall “Evangeline? What’s wrong?” he questioned, hurrying to where I was, hands reaching to touch me as a form of comfort. I screamed when the pain shot through me again and wondered just how long it had taken me to slowly make my way from the Inn to the bakery? I knew I had to pause a few times until the pain would subside, my water having broken along the way. The liquid still trickled down my legs and droplets fell onto the kitchen floor which Caleb noticed “The baby” I got out to which Caleb quickly escorted me to one of the chairs by the kitchen table, slowly easing me down into it. We had talked about how I wanted to give birth and it wasn’t in a bed like how Rebecca had, I wanted to give birth on the beach, on the sand with the sounds of the water ringing in my ears. He knew this and glanced around hurriedly, candles having been lit by Rebecca since the sun had already gone down “Right” Caleb muttered then moved to fetch, towels, scissors, a bucket of warm water and the measuring tape along with a large blanket and a coat for me to wear if it got too cold. Another contraction coursed through me and I let out a strangled cry, my head thrown back and my hand tightening its grip on the table. My eyes began to glow a vibrant blue and white when Nolan and Rebecca hurried into the room “What be happening?” Nolan demanded, his eyes landing on the trickle of embryotic fluid that ran from the door to where I sat when he realized what was happening. His eyes darkened and his mouth went dry “She’s in labour” Rebecca voiced, Ryker being fast asleep in the nursery. She moved to assist me but I raised my hand in protest when Caleb returned, setting everything on the kitchen table. My fangs had started to extend, protruding for the first time in what felt like forever while my claws dug into the wood of the table like it was butter “I’m fine” I reassured her when another round of pain shot up from my core. I yelled out, the sound having woken Ryker who started crying. Quickly, Rebecca turned on her heels and started after her son, wanting to calm him “Take these and follow me” Caleb instructed Nolan, handing him the bucket, towels and blanket. Caleb took the tape and scissors but not before he scooped me up into his arms and started out the door. The bakery was close to the beach, a short two-minute walk that turned into one at Caleb’s pace. He told Nolan to lay down the blanket then placed me on top of it, being careful not to hurt me. He prepared everything and I bent my knees when Caleb positioned himself in between my legs. Nolan couldn’t stand the sight and hurried back to the house where Rebecca was most likely furious that Ryker had been woken and would force Nolan to help her calm the boy. The skirt of my waitress uniform was pushed up past my knees and my undergarments were removed with Caleb’s help. I cried out again, laying back on the blanket, eyes staring up at the stars that glistened in the night sky overhead while the sound of crashing waves came as a form of comfort. The waters were right there; Neptune was right there “Y-You have to mea-measure how far along I am-m” I managed to get out, the ‘m’ at the end of my sentence being stretched out along with a new round of agony. Caleb hurriedly reached for the measuring tape and held it up, squinting to be able to see in the darkness with only a single lit lamp to provide us with light along with the moon “Nine centimetres” he announced and I gasped. I was sure that it had been a long time since the contractions started but I wasn’t aware that I was that far along until he had said it. My nostrils flared when I laid back down and tried to calm myself “Tell me when it reaches ten” I instructed, hands grabbing onto the blanket beneath me, feeling the sand that seeped through it when I did. I was where I belonged, with the sea, with the sea god watching over me in such a vulnerable state. I squeezed my eyes shut, my bottom lip trembling when tears stung my eyes. I wanted Neptune there, I wanted him to calm me down the way he always would. It was the first time I had truly thought about the sea god in many months and thoughts of him only brought me great pain, suffering and longing. I wanted to scream his name, to demand that he be there, that he come search for me regardless of my promise to Gaea but I knew that I couldn’t and I knew he wouldn’t come. The sea was as close to him as I would get “Ten centimetres” Caleb announced and when the next contraction came, I began to push, holding my breath and mentally counting to ten before I would release. The former Captain continued to say encouraging things to me, he continued to rub my legs that he held up for me and whispered how much he loved me, how much he loved our child. After a few times of pushing I raised my head and propped my body up onto my elbows to ask “Do you see the head?” he looked down and after a moment, nodded. I closed my eyes, breathing hard, inhaling the salty, damp air of the ocean. I had to instruct him on what to do and prayed that the contractions wouldn’t start again until I was done “You’re going to take your hands and hold the head, don’t pull too hard or-r-r-r-r-r” the word turned into a cry when the pain shot through me and I had to grit my teeth while I continued to push. To my relief the baby hadn’t slipped out yet and I could continue my explanation once the pain had subsided again “You might hurt the baby, tug gently then catch” Caleb nodded rapidly but said nothing. I knew that in his mind he was trying to convince himself that he could do it, that he could deliver a baby, his baby. The next time I push would be the last time. He caught the infant in his arms and I hurriedly sat up, examining the blood which there wasn’t too much of then took the baby from his arms “Go warm the scissors” I instructed and then he was gone. I tore the embryotic bag away from the baby’s face and body, I checked its mouth and blew into its nose, causing it to cry before I felt for one of the towels which I dipped into the bucket, wringing it out while the baby rested on my legs. I cleaned its face and body then paused when my eyes fell to the area between its tiny legs “Malik” I breathed to both myself and my son. He was beautiful with my pale skin and tuffs of silvery white hair on the top of his head. It was too early to see his eyes but I knew they would be perfect, just as he was. I wrapped him in a separate towel to keep him warm just as Caleb returned with the scissors. He cut the cord then gave a sigh of relief, bowing his head in exhaustion. I cooed the crying, screaming baby boy to sleep then handed him to his father “It’s a boy” I proudly informed when he took Malik with trembling hands but held him close. I smiled at the two, at the sight of my perfect family when another, powerful contraction made me fall back onto the ground, my lips parting in a grunting cry that caught Caleb’s attention. What was happening? I hadn’t bled much so why was this happening? Was I dying? I couldn’t die, I wouldn’t die! “Another head” Caleb muttered, causing my body to stiffen and my mind to start racing with questions but I knew that if I didn’t start pushing, the second baby might not make it. So I pushed and Caleb placed Malik on the blanket near my head before he got his hand into position. It wasn’t long until that child too had been born and I sat up, trading Malik for the younger twin so that I could clean it and check whether it was breathing. The second baby started crying which triggered Malik into crying. Caleb tried to rock him back to sleep but the boy was too distressed to stop “It’s a girl” I found myself whispering when I looked down onto her. Her skin was darker than Malik’s and her hair was a mixture of brown and blond. She was just as perfect as he was, they were both healthy and filled with light that burst at the seams “Malia” Caleb said the name while I wrapped her in a dry towel and held her to me. He left me for the last time to go heat the scissors and when he returned both our children were fast asleep, side by side on the blanket, listening to the songs of the sea. Once he had cut the second cord, he wrapped his arms around me and kissed the top of my head, glancing down at the two bundles of joy that slept so soundly on the blanket, the light breeze tickling their noses and rosy cheeks “They be beautiful, just like their mum” he said to which I agreed. They were my reason for living, my reason for fighting, they were my strength and I more often than not found myself wondering whether they were more important to me than Caleb whom I would do anything for and the answer was. Yes. There were no lengths that I wouldn’t go to for my children, no heights that I wouldn’t scour, no mountain’s I wouldn’t climb or demons that I wouldn’t face to keep them safe and protected. Rebecca and Nolan had been surprised by the announcement of twins since they had expected only one, much like we did, however the addition of two more babies made mine and Rebecca’s lives very busy, very frantic and very sleep deprived.