Bluebird Winter by Linda Howard

Author:Linda Howard [Howard, Linda]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2010-12-24T00:45:44.277000+00:00

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Chapter 6

The day they brought Risa home from the hospital, Kathleen could barely tolerate having the baby out of her sight for a moment. Risa was thirteen days old, and now weighed a grand total of five pounds and six ounces, which was still two ounces short of the five and a half pounds a baby normally had to weigh before Derek would allow it to be released from the neonatal unit, but, as he'd noted before, she was strong. Her cheeks had attained a newborn's plumpness, and she was nursing vigorously, with about four hours between each feeding.

Derek drove them home, then left the Cherokee with Kathleen so she would have a way of getting around if she needed anything, a gesture that eased a worry she hadn't known she had until he gave her the keys. The hospital was only a few blocks away, and the January day was mild, so he walked back.

She spent the day playing with Risa when the baby was awake, and watching her while she slept. Late that afternoon, Kathleen realized with a start that she hadn't given a thought to what she would prepare for dinner, and guilt filled her. Derek had been a saint, coddling her beyond all reason, letting her devote all her time to Risa, doing all the household chores himself, but Risa's homecoming marked a change in the status quo. It had been two weeks since Risa's birth, and Kathleen felt better than she had in years. She was rested, her appetite was better; there was no reason to let Derek continue to wait on her as if she was an invalid. He had given everything, and she had given nothing, not even her attention.

She rolled Risa's bassinet, which she and Derek had bought only the day before, into the kitchen so she could watch Risa while she prepared dinner. The baby slept peacefully, with the knuckles of one fist shoved into her mouth, undisturbed by the rattling of pots and pans. It was the first time Kathleen had cooked, so she had to hunt for everything, and it took her twice as long to do anything than it normally would have. She was relieved when Derek didn't come home at his usual time, since she was running behind schedule, but when half an hour had passed she became concerned. It wasn't like him to be late without calling her himself or having a nurse call to let her know that one of the babies needed him. As short a time as they had been married, she had already learned that about him. Derek was always considerate.

Derek was… incredible.

She wanted to give him something, even if it was just a hot meal waiting for him when he came home. She looked at the steaming food, ready to be served, but he wasn't there. She could keep it wanning on the stove, but it wouldn't be the same.

Then she heard his key in the door, and she was filled with relief.

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