The Lion’s Mate

Chapter 8

The next morning, Leah held her baby and cried. She had never seen anything more beautiful, more breathtaking, than the small creature in her arms. When the nurses would tell her she needed to use the time in the hospital to rest, she would resist until her eyes drooped. Mark had carried her back to her room once because she fell asleep in the wheelchair and nearly tumbled out. The flowers sent by countless friends and Mark’s family scented the room, which pleased Leah. She’d always hated the smell of hospital rooms and hallways.

On the third day, Dr. Fargham walked into her room. Chloe had been released from the NICU the day before but not from the hospital. Because Leah refused to go home until her baby could leave, and luckily no one else needed the room, they had moved Chloe into her room. Mother and baby were so much happier together.

Leah was holding Chloe when the doctor walked in. “Good morning, ladies. Hello Mark. How is everyone feeling?”

“A little tired, but good overall,” Mark answered with a yawn.

Dr. Fargham smiled. “And what about you, Leah?”

“I’m great, although I am ready to go home.”

“That’s good. I’m releasing Miss Chloe this morning. You should be able to leave right after lunch,” he told her with a smile.

Leah whooped, scaring Chloe, who mewed loudly before settling back down. “Sorry, baby girl,” Leah whispered. She looked up at Mark. “Will you take her? I want to get up for a minute.”

Mark took the baby and Dr. Fargham helped Leah stand. She’d been more mobile each day, although she couldn’t hold Chloe while standing. Mark would be staying home with his little family for a week, working from home so he could help until Leah had healed and her stitches were removed.

“You’re moving around well, Leah,” Dr. Fargham complimented. “Has your doctor been in yet?”

“I saw her yesterday. She has already signed the release forms for me. We were just waiting for Chloe,” Leah said with a smile as she moved gingerly around the room.

Mark had sat down in the chair with Chloe and was making little cooing sounds at her. Chloe’s little fist touched his face. “She’s so alert. I’ve never really been around babies. Is it normal for a baby to be so alert when only four days old?”

“Cross species babies, yes,” Dr. Fargham told him.

Mark giggled. “It’s so neat.”

Leah was staring at Mark as he played with their daughter. Her heart made a sound only she could hear; she fell in love with him at that moment. He looked up at her and saw her staring at him, and he felt it. A smile split his face, and his eye winked at her.

Dr. Fargham looked from one to the other as the silence stretched and the couple didn’t break eye contact. He dropped an appointment card on Leah’s bed; he would need to see Chloe next week for a check-up. Without speaking, he left the room.

Leah did not notice the doctor leaving; she was captured by the sight of Mark cuddling Chloe as he stared into her eyes. Slowly, she walked toward him, bent at the waist as much as she could, and kissed him softly on the lips.

“You know now, don’t you?” Mark asked. Leah nodded. “We belong together.”

“We do, Mark. We absolutely do,” Leah told him.

“I love you, Leah. Have since the day I met you,” Mark told her, his eyes never leaving hers.

“I love you too.” She kissed him again. Chloe began to fuss. Leah brushed her cheek with her finger. “Sweet girl. She’s not happy that she doesn’t have our full attention.”

Mark laughed softly. “Spoiled already.”

“Spoiled forever.”

“Especially when my mom gets here,” Mark commented, and they laughed.

“I’m going to start packing up what’s here. I’m so ready to be home with her,” Leah said.

“You aren’t going to pack. Lay down, take Chloe, and I’ll pack,” Mark said as he rose.

Leah started to protest, but the soreness and aches from the C section stopped her. “You’re right. Give me our daughter and get to work.”

“Yes ma’am.”

*****

In the car that afternoon, Leah clenched her teeth through each bump. Mark apologized constantly, but she told him to be quiet. He couldn’t miss every bump. Relief swept through her when they finally pulled into the driveway of her home, even though the worst bumps were there. Leah was grateful for the pain medication the doctor had given her just before they’d left the hospital, but she wouldn’t be using it after today’s dose. She wanted to be alert and ready should Chloe need anything.

When they pulled up next to the house, Annie and Jenny bounded out of the house together to meet them. Annie held Jenny’s collar as Leah climbed out; the dog was dying to get to her mistress.

“She has missed you so much, Leah,” Annie told her. She’d let Jenny go on accident, but she only sniffed Leah all over and rubbed against her. “She seems to know she can’t jump on you.”

Leah rubbed the dog’s head, smiling. “I’ve missed you too, Jenny. I’m so glad to be home. Want to meet your sister?”

Mark laughed. “So they’re sisters?”

“Of course they are. I’m Jenny’s mom, I’m Chloe’s mom. That makes them sisters,” Leah insisted.

Mark shrugged and reached for the baby carrier. He knelt a little so Jenny could sniff Chloe’s head. Chloe looked at the dog and made a baby noise, which startled Jenny. She sniffed again, looked at Mark, and smiled her doggy smile.

“I think she approves,” Mark laughed as he straightened and walked towards the house with Jenny at his heels. He called back to Leah and Annie, “Don’t worry about the stuff in the car. I’ll come get it after everyone is comfortable.”

Leah followed at a much slower pace with Annie beside her. “Wait until you see the nursery,” Annie gushed.