Two Years Later

 

Charity lay in bed, a victim of motherhood. She had heard it from other mothers but she doubted the affliction would ever affect her. Her sleeping patterns had changed drastically between Jamie and finishing her residency. Jamie was nearly two years old. Charity no longer slept soundly. It seemed as if one ear was always awake in case her daughter needed her. She had heard the light sleeping would continue forever, even as Jamie left the nest.

She rolled over to find Elijah sleeping soundly, his toned abdomen rose and fell in perfect rhythm. She was one lucky lady with her little angel sleeping in the next room and her masterpiece of a husband next to her.

“You’re staring at me, Charity. I can feel your eyes upon me,” Elijah said in a low husky voice.

It sent a thrill down to her core. Charity loved his morning voice because it made him seem so vulnerable. The authoritative doctor’s voice was fine for the hospital, but this way he was defenseless and easily ravaged.

“You know me well, Dr. Bennet. I was going to let you sleep because you had to cover for Reynolds at the hospital. I know seventy year olds who have recovered from replacement knees faster. He has been out for two weeks. I heard through the hospital grapevine he was a horrible patient.”

“That’s not very nice to say.” Elijah’s eyes remained closed, but the corners of his mouth rose.

“I also heard everyone breathed a sigh of relief when he was put under. The anesthesiologist had never received a round of applause before. My only hope is that he’ll stop complaining about the pain.”

Elijah placed his finger over Charity’s lips. “Enough shop talk, beautiful. It’s our time.” He rolled her over so her upper body pressed against his. His eyes were open, bright and gorgeous ocean blue-green as if he’d been awake for hours. He slowly and deliberately pulled Charity’s peach silk nightgown off to reveal her supple breasts. They had returned to their natural shape and size when Jamie finished breastfeeding. Elijah loved them in any size because they were a part of Charity.

“I don’t know how you still have energy when you’ve had so little sleep.” Charity purred at his touch as he ran his surgeon’s fingers from her breasts down to her navel and beyond.

“I can’t sleep knowing you’re next to me awake. I have to pinch myself sometimes because I can’t believe you’re mine. This is reality, not a dream, right?”

Charity let him know it wasn’t a dream as she peeled off his boxer-briefs and straddled him with her naked body. He was ready for her, as always, and she guided him inside of her.

One instant of bliss, the next back to reality.

“Impeccable timing, again.” Elijah groaned.

Charity popped off Elijah and quickly pressed her lips to his before scurrying into Jamie’s room as soon as she had started to cry. “Mornin’, Peanut.”

Jamie stood in her crib. Her soft blonde ringlets and saucer blue eyes were a work of art. Charity loved her beautiful name and called her Jamie Lynn most of the time, but she often fell back to Jamie’s prenatal nickname. “Did you have sweet dreams, darling, of princesses and ponies?”

“Mommy, I pooped.” Jamie smiled broadly to show her vast assortment of teeth. Jamie’s incisors erupted early much to Charity’s dismay. She was four months old when she first bit Charity’s nipple. Charity yelped causing Elijah to come charging to see what was the matter.

Elijah and Charity were not like most parents, in that they actually argued over who was to change Jamie’s diaper. This time Charity got the honors as she scooped Jamie out of her crib and placed her on the changing table. It always reminded her of Elijah’s mother.

It had been a few days since she had FaceTimed Margaret and it was something she would have to fit into her schedule. She would dress Jamie in something cute, preferably an outfit purchased by her mother-in-law. She had to remember to take into account the time difference before calling her. Charity had completed her residence and was now a full doctor and she still forgot that New Zealand was sixteen hours ahead.

“Are you and Jamie planning your day?” Elijah walked in and made a face at the smell. He didn’t say anything, just bagged the evidence and tied it tightly shut.

“You know us girls; it takes forever to pick out what we’re going to wear. I think Jamie’s going for the pink jumper with the tulip appliques.”

“Does Jamie own much that isn’t pink?” Elijah smiled.

Jamie waved her hand, like she was holding a magic wand. “Pink, pink, pink. Daddy, I pooped. Squishy poop.” The look on Jamie’s face was priceless.

Elijah laughed. “I know, peanut. Mommy’s working on making that all better.” He came up behind Charity and placed his hands around her smooth hips. Everything on her body went back to where it was after Jamie’s birth. Charity was relieved, but Elijah said he’d be happy regardless of whether she lost the weight or not.

“You have to get in the shower, Elijah.” She checked her watch. “I need to feed Jamie breakfast or we’ll be late.”

He gave Charity the sultry look, which would have had her joining him for water fun, but now there was Jamie.

Who was now clean, dry, and running for day light. She had started walking at ten months, and now Charity bet she could give Usain Bolt a run for his money. If they had cameras in every room, they would have viral videos on YouTube. Two highly educated adults being outwitted and outrun by a two year old. The house was baby proofed and the doors locked, but Jamie always managed to get into something. She headed for Charity’s crayon box, which is what Jamie called her make-up bag.

“I got you, peanut!” Charity scooped her daughter up just before she lost her lipstick, or another eye pencil. When they said raising children was expensive, they never mentioned the cost of makeup.

Elijah patted Charity’s derriere. “Guess we’ll resume what we started later tonight? I dread when you’re back at work full time. I’ll have to put my entertainment parts on ice.”

Charity laughed, knowing exactly what he meant by entertainment parts. She’d grown used to his accent, but it still caught every now and again as super sexy. She watched as Elijah walked down the hallway to the bathroom. If possible, he was sexier than the day she had met him. Fatherhood had softened any rough edges he had. It wasn’t as if he gained any weight or lost any muscle. His physique was still amazing but he seemed to move differently and love deeper. There was a new layer of Elijah to enjoy.

If I weren’t holding this bundle of joy in my arms, I’d chase him down and have my way with him right here in the hallway. “I’ll thaw ‘em out for you every chance I get!” she called out as the shower turned on.