My Southern Gentleman 6

December slept in her husband's arms that night, awakening to nurse Violet at the usual time the following morning. While she was doing so, Damian called his family at the motel to make plans for the day, then returned to the bedroom to talk to his wife.

"My family has much concern for your father," he told her. "But they also want to see the town of Gloucester and spend time with Violet."

"So just drop me and Violet off at the hospital with my Mom," December suggested. "We'll be fine."

"But then my family will not get to see much of Violet," Damian argued.

"But she has to be fed every four hours," December reminded him.

"Couldn't she drink formula instead?"

"She never has before." December sighed. "I suppose you could try it and see how it goes."

Damian picked Jewel up and drove her and December to the hospital. Jewel tried to protest when December started to get out of the car with her. "Oh no, dear, you go along with Damian and his family! I'll be fine."

"Mom, you know I won't be any kind of company when all I can do is worry about you and Dad," December protested.

"Violet will be fine," Damian told his mother-in-law. "My mother and sisters will take good care of her, and I will give her formula."

December kissed her husband and daughter good-bye and entered the hospital with her mother. The morning dragged on very slowly. Alan slept for almost the entire time. At lunchtime, December and her mother went to the cafeteria to eat.

"This reminds me of being in school and eating lunch in the cafeteria again," December remarked.

"You were always such a good little girl," Jewel replied. "Always so eager to make friends. I know you were lonely. I always wished that your father and I could give you a brother or sister, but after you were born, the doctor told me that I was too old, that it would be too dangerous."

"I know, Mom." December sighed. "I always wished that Gage had a brother or sister to grow up with, too. I think that's probably what hurt worst about losing his father so early."

"And the whole time, he did have a sister growing up on the other side of the world that he didn't even know existed." Jewel saw how downcast her words made her daughter feel and instantly regretted them. "I'm sorry, dear. I know how much that hurts you."

"It's all right, Mom. I've come to terms with it, and Gage has a new sister now as well. I only wish I hadn't had to wait so long for that to happen." At the thought of Violet, her breasts began to throb.

"I wish the same thing, dear, but Damian didn't have much choice about it, did he? And what a blessing he's been!"

"I always knew he was a wonderful person, Mom."

Later in the evening, December's breasts began to really ache. "Dear, I think you need to go to the restroom and look at yourself in the mirror," Jewel said awkwardly. December hurried to the restroom and was dismayed to see that the entire front of her shirt was soaked with milk. She went to the handicapped stall, where she removed her shirt and bra and manually expressed milk into the sink until the discomfort in her breasts diminished. Then she rinsed the milk out of her shirt and bra, squeezed as much of the water out of them as she could, attempted to pat them dry with paper towels, and put them back on.

She returned to her father's hospital room to find Damian holding a screaming Violet. "Oh, baby!" she cried, lifting her daughter from the carrier.

"She will not drink formula." Damian shrugged helplessly. "I had to take her to her mother."

In the meantime, December had hurriedly pushed her clothing aside, and Violet had eagerly latched onto a nipple and begun to nurse. Damian laughed. "Nothing but her Mama will do."

"How is everyone?" December asked her husband.

"My sisters had the time of their lives." Damian chuckled. "I took them to the mall. Monya, bought so many shoes! Stacy and Alena had great fun trying on clothes, and Paul, Luke and Evan loved the electronic store. My mother is crazy about Violet, and Violet adores her as well, until she gets hungry."He glanced at Alan lying asleep. "How is your father?"

"He doesn't seem to be in too much pain right now. I guess that's the most important thing."

After several days in the hospital, Alan was transferred to the nursing home. He could no longer walk, and Jewel was unable to care for him by herself. December spent most of her time with Damian and his family and became closer to his mother.