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Back A Bumpy Year Save as PDF
Chapters (49)
  1. Cover
  2. Also by Olivia Spooner
  3. A BUMPY YEAR
  4. Copyright
  5. Contents
  6. Dedication
  7. 1
  8. 2
  9. 3
  10. 4
  11. 5
  12. 6
  13. 7
  14. 8
  15. 9
  16. 10
  17. 11
  18. 12
  19. 13
  20. 14
  21. 15
  22. 16
  23. 17
  24. 18
  25. 19
  26. 20
  27. 21
  28. 22
  29. 23
  30. 24
  31. 25
  32. 26
  33. 27
  34. 28
  35. 29
  36. 30
  37. 31
  38. 32
  39. 33
  40. 34
  41. 35
  42. 36
  43. 37
  44. 38
  45. 39
  46. 40
  47. Acknowledgements
  48. About the Author
  49. An Invitation from the Publisher

Emma and Lily have left and the midwife is sorting out some paperwork at the nurse’s station. Mags is hovering by the window, watching over us both like a sheepdog. Any time I so much as move, she jerks and comes running. Truth is, I’d like her to go home so I can get some rest and spend some time alone getting to know my daughter.

“Honestly, Mags, you should go, too. As soon as this little one falls asleep, I’ll be trying to do the same.”

“You sure?”

“Absolutely.”

“It doesn’t feel right leaving you alone.”

“I won’t be. I can push that button anytime I need help.”

“You know what I mean.”

“Actually, Mags, I’ve just realized I’m not going to be alone for a long time.” I glance down at my baby. “I’ve got this one to keep me company.”

Mags strokes the top of the baby’s head. “True.”

Suddenly, I know what I’m going to call my daughter. Gazing at her tiny features and plump rosebud lips, I can’t believe how right the name is – as if it were made for her.

“Rose,” I murmur.

“Sorry?” says Mags.

“Her name is Rose,” I say, smiling.

“That’s perfect. I know how much you love roses.”

“Actually, I’m naming her after my grandmother. Grammy Rose.”

“Wow, you’ve never mentioned her before. Were you close?”

“Yes,” I say quietly. “We were.”

Rose flutters her eyes open briefly before she gently releases my nipple and drops off to sleep.

37

I’m discharged home the following morning and the next few days are a blur of feeding Rose for hours on end, between snatching moments to eat and sleep. Lily comes over every morning before work either to hold Rose or watch her sleep while I have a long shower – the only time in the day when I can focus solely on myself. Then the midwife pops in to check on us both mid-morning. Mags brings me something for lunch (usually from Emma’s café) and Emma tries to come over in the evening after both of her boys are in bed; though, understandably, she sometimes doesn’t make it out of the door.

Tomorrow, Elliot is coming to meet his daughter. What if he takes one look at Rose and decides he wants to exert his rights as the father and demand some sort of custody? Rationally, I know my baby can’t be taken from me, especially as she’s almost permanently attached to my breast, but I still worry.

“Do you want me to be here?” asks Mags. “When Elliot comes over.”

I shake my head. “No, I’m sure it’ll be fine.”

“You don’t look sure.”

I hear Rose’s cry and take a quick sip of my tea. I only put her down in her bassinet ten minutes ago.