Diner Girl(37)
“She is perfect.” He stroked Emma’s hand in his own, but his eyes never left Jennifer. “You are perfect.”
A knock sounded at the door and Rebecca poked her head in. “Can I see my niece before she goes to college, or are you two planning on keeping her all to yourselves?”
Mark laughed and looked at Jennifer. “Feel like visitors?”
She beamed as she motioned with her hand. “Come in. Rebecca, I want you to meet your niece, Emma Isabel Stanton.”
“After Mom.” Rebecca looked at Mark, then back to Jennifer. “Can I hold her?”
“Of course.” Jennifer kissed the top of the baby’s head and held her out to Rebecca.
“Hand under her head,” Mark said cautiously, “support her neck.”
Rebecca laughed. “Thank you, big brother.” She hugged the baby close to her chest. “Emma,” she whispered in a conspiratorial voice, “you’re going to have your hands full with this daddy of yours.”
Emma yawned in response.
Rebecca held her a few moments longer and then handed her back to Jennifer. “Is it all right if I tell everyone? Albert hasn’t let go of his balloon, and I’m afraid Sally might take a hostage if she can’t see you soon.”
“I would love to see them.” Jennifer moved to sit up a little more, and Mark was there in an instant, propping pillows behind her back.
A few minutes later the room bustled with noise. Albert gave the balloon to Mark, but then refused to hold the baby.
“These are beautiful.” Jennifer took the flowers and set them on the stand next to the bed. “You didn’t need to do this.”
“I brought you some slippers.” Sally stood on one side of Jennifer’s bed and stroked her hair.
“Thank you.” Jennifer took the Dalmatian-spotted slippers and tucked them in beside her on the bed. “Ruth, I’m so glad you could make it.”
“I would not have missed this for anything.” Ruth cooed at the baby now cradled in her arms. “You are family. You and Mark, and now Emma, are my family.”
Ruth handed the baby over to Sally. “I have to go, but I will come see you all as soon as I’m back.”
“Oktoberfest?” Mark grinned broadly as he said it.
“Yes. But don’t worry. I’ve found someone else to watch Sophie while I’m gone.”
“Bye, I love you.” Mark kissed her on the cheek.
“Thank you for everything, Ruth.” Jennifer leaned over as Ruth kissed her goodbye.
Sally cuddled Emma close. “That’s one crazy great-granny you’ve got, kiddo.”
Jennifer said, “I don’t know, I really hope I’m like her someday. She’s pretty hip, if you ask me.”
Sally caressed Emma’s cheek. “I think she’ll have Mark’s nose.”
“And Jennifer’s hair.” Rebecca stroked the tiny tuft of red.
Mark spoke up. “And mouth.” He leaned down and kissed Jennifer.
****
“How are you really doing?” Sally asked a day later when Mark left to take care of a few things at home.
“I’m tired, and sore. But Emma’s faultless, and that’s all that matters.”
“That’s not all that matters,” Sally stated plainly. “And I asked how you were doing.”
Jennifer smiled; her friend saw through her. “I feel a little down. I really hope it passes. I’ve got an adorable baby, and a sweet man taking care of me.”
Sally’s eyebrow rose.
“No, he is. And I feel guilty.”
“About?”
“I keep thinking back to the time in the apartment.” Jennifer looked her friend square in the eye. “I love him, Sally. I don’t think he loves me.”
“Have you asked him?” Sally asked.
“No.”
“Then you should tell him you love him and see what he does.”
“I can’t do that. He’s too nice. He would say he loved me back, and we would get married. We would spend the next decade or so living in a polite relationship where we are just always nice to each other, but he would secretly despise me for having trapped him.”
“Wow, all of that from him being too nice. And you’ve told me all this before.”
“You know what I mean. I want passion! I want kisses, and caresses. I want to be held, and touched, whispered to. I want passion. And I don’t know if Mark even sees me that way.”
“If Mark sees you in what way?” Mark asked as he walked through the door.
“I’ve gotta get going.” Sally looked from Mark to Jennifer. She leaned down to whisper, “You could always test the waters, see if you still feel that way about him.” With that she kissed Jennifer on the cheek and left.