#simon visla

[zosa95]

[zosa95]

🍁Harvest Day Evening🍂

[zosa95]

Gemma: Did you get any rest?

Eva: I managed a catnap. I have never been so tired. Greta did not have colic, and she slept fairly well. Simon now seems determined to never sleep for more than an hour at a time.

Gemma: If there's anything I can do, let me know.

Eva: You are already doing so much. You and Mum are lifesavers.

Gemma: Beatrice said something about your mum taking soup to Lydia. Is Lydia okay?

Eva: Lydia's gout is flaring up. She'll be back on her feet soon.

Gemma: I'll take her some biscuits tomorrow.

Eva: She'll love that. You look like you have a secret. Spill it.

Gemma: I can't tell you. You're on an opposing quiz team, and so is Mak.

Eva: What? Jude told you something, didn't he? And he's my own flesh and blood! Jude is such a wanker.

Greta: Unca Dude is a wanker!

Eva: No, no, no! Greta, that's not a nice word.

Greta: (gleefully) Wanker! Wanker! Wanker!

Eva groaned, and Gemma bit her lower lip to keep from smiling.

[zosa95]

Gemma: Hey! How are you?

Eva: Tired, but good.

Gemma: We won’t stay long, but I couldn’t resist stopping by after Lamaze class. He’s just precious.

Gemma cooed over Simon in Mak’s arms.

Mak: Want to hold him?

Gemma: I’d love to!

Mak gently handed Simon over.

Eva: Look at you! You’re a natural.

Gemma laughed and shook her head.

Gemma: It’s more like well-practiced. I grew up taking care of babies.

Mak: Aren’t you an only child?

Gemma, mesmerized with tiny fingers and cherubic cheeks, barely heard Mak’s question.

Gemma: (focused on Simon) I grew up poor. The older kids, when we were four and five, had to watch the babies and toddlers when our moms got shit-faced or such. Then, I was the babysitter at the hotel in my teens. One resident had to go back to waiting tables when her baby was two weeks old. I kept him until he was old enough for daycare. And-

Gemma abruptly stopped, realizing she’d revealed far more than she intended.

Mak: (gently) Erik grew up in care and helped with the younger kids. He’s brilliant with them. We call him the baby whisperer. How lucky are we to find another?

Markus shot Mak a grateful look as Gemma nodded.

Gemma: (lightly) I don’t know about being a baby whisperer, but my tiny co-stars seemed to love me.

Eva: As does Greta.

A slightly flustered Gemma handed Simon back to his father.

Mak: Want to hold him, Markus?

Markus: Ah, I’m not very practiced with babies.

Beatrice: I wasn’t either. I cried during Betty’s first bath, positive I’d accidentally drown her. You’ll adjust.

Markus: (ruefully) I better.

Everyone laughed.

Mak: Your crash course will arrive in four months. Eh, you’ll be fine. They are babies, not bombs.

Markus: (shaking his head) Bombs are easy. Either I get it right, or suddenly, it’s not my problem anymore.

Beatrice: (laughing) Oh my gods. You might be a little demented.

Gemma: (faked outrage) And he didn’t even warn me he was batshit crazy before our first date.

Markus shook his head and rolled his eyes while everyone laughed.