Post by Lieutenant Eden Nivans on Jul 19, 2016 13:56:22 GMT -8
"Be sure to pat 'im up real good when you're finished, sweetie."
It took a moment for the tired girl to respond as her mother caught her mid-yawn. "I remember Momma."
A single, dim light bathed the room Eden shared with her older brother Luke, and now her youngest brother Gideon, in a peaceful glow. There was something especially serene about the early morning hours that couldn't be captured at any other time. Tired but eager to cuddle the newborn babe Eden had volunteered to feed the tiny little bundle and she looked down at him in her arms, mesmerized and absolutely smitten by his round baby nose and tiny baby chin. Only a few days old he still had that special new baby smell.
"Now when you put him back t'bed you need to swaddle him tight and be careful the blanket don't cover his face," Delilah reminded her daughter.
"You already said that, Momma," Eden argued, "why do you keep telling me things over and over?" She was a big sister already; she knew what she was doing.
The older woman gently fixed the blonde nest of bed-head hair. It was thin but there was just so much of it. "I'm just makin' sure you know how to take care of your brother. I'm gonna need your help, sweetie, is all."
"I am helping," Eden yawned. Her mother's gentle touch was making her more drowsy. How comfortable would it be to be wrapped up snug and warm, surrounded by people who loved you more than you could ever imagine?
"And I suwannee you're doin' a fine job. Now, gimme that baby and you get back to bed." Delilah waited for Eden to reluctantly obey. She was a good kid and so rarely took a step out of line- not that Preston would ever allow a child to act like a child.
Gingerly, as though Gideon might turn to dust at the slightest movement, Eden handed over her brother and as a reward was kissed on the forehead. "Momma," Eden giggled sleepily with a crooked yet proud grin. It felt good to know she'd done something right.
"You know I love you, sweetie." Another sheepish giggle. Another yawn. "I could search the whole wide world and never know another you."
The only reply was a tight hug around her mom's legs.
"Now you git cozy comfy in that bed my girl."
It was an early morning and the Nivans children had woken up and were in various stages of getting ready for school. Their schedule had been derailed when their mother had failed to wake them up. In fact, she failed to appear anywhere at all.
Luke had managed to get the Micah and Elijah dressed (which resulted in a bedroom that looked a lot like a tornado had crashed through it) and was doing his best to convince them to eat something, anything, for breakfast. "No you cain't have candy. Sit at the table. Quit touching your brother. Don't feed the dog. Food is for eating, not for playing."
Eden, however, was bedraggled, carrying Gideon around trying to feed him and look for her mother at the same time. There was no way that she was just gone. Mothers didn't just disappear in the middle of the night without a trace.
"I don't know where she's at, Eden," Luke offered shoving a book bag into the arms of the boys who had begun to play fight. "Even her Bible ain't on the table." Eden's heart fell to the floor.
A stern look to his younger brothers quieted them down for a moment as Luke continued on seeming far less worried than his sister. She'd never known him to be very emotional; he was tough, imperturbable, and mildly mannered overall. "You need to get dressed, Eden, we're late already."
Eden, having no free hands, wiped her troubled tears onto her own shoulder. "We can't just leave Gideon here by himself. Daddy ain't up yet-" she interrupted herself as Luke rolled his eyes. "Just tell Ms Xirasin that I'm sick. I'll catch up when Momma gets home."
Luke didn't like lying, Eden knew well enough, but he'd gotten very good at it; so did she if there was ever a moment to sit down and reflect deeply.
"Please," the young girl pressed when there was no answer and when he wouldn't relent she offered a compromise. "If Momma ain't here by lunch I'll go get Mr. Sam and tell her I was helping with the baby."
It wasn't enough to please him but it was enough to get him to cooperate. "Fine. Just don't piss off Preston."
Eden scowled sharply and hugged the baby tight against her chest. "He can hear you, y'know."
"Boys! Last one out the door gets a swat," Luke called out, prompting the boys to hustle out the door. Her brother gave her a parting look- half irritated, half sorry, before shutting the door.
Eden watched her brothers disappear down the road before returning her attention to the infant in her arms. Looking at his sweet face melted away the anxiety of the morning, feeling better and braver as she sweetly ran her finger across his silky soft cheek. "Now don't you worry one single bit. Big sister is gonna make it all okay."