That's What You Get

Chapter 4

Chapter 4

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My daughter was born on the 14th o f October, at 8:23p.m. She was the most beautiful baby I have ever seen. And she had my heart the instant I saw her. Wrapped in a pink blanket. So delicate and fragile.

When people say, ‘time flies by’,  or, ‘they grow up so fast’, I never use to believe it. But now I’m a believer, a huge one at that. It feels like you’re blinking, and bam. Like, where does the time go.

She was now seven months old. She is the happiest baby you’ll ever see, rarely cries, and you‘ll rarely see her cry. My mom said I had a good baby because she would only wake up a few times a night, and that when I was little, she would have to wake up a dozen times. I guess I’m just lucky, or blessed… both even?

“Mmm.” I was pulled from my thoughts, when I heard Natalie. She was sitting on the floor in the middle of the rug, facing the television., pillows surrounded her back side, for just incase she fell back. A few toys surrounded her, including, a teething ring, stuffed animal, and a toy with a small giraffe on it that chimes when you shake it.

I still remembered when she first sat-up by herself, even though she was a little shaky.

“Okay mama,” I told Natalie, as I sat her on the floor. “I need to get you changed before Riley gets here.”

I walked quickly to the kitchen where I had put down my purse, and diaper bag, on the island counter.

Opening the diaper bag, I fished for a diaper, and wipes, when I heard the front door open.

“Hello!” Riley yelled from the foyer.

“I‘m in the kitchen!” I yelled back.

“Michelle..,” A hint of confusion in his voice. “ since when can Natalie sit up by herself?”

My eyebrows furrowed. She can’t.

Then his words registered again. When can she what? Did he say sit up… by herself?

I ran back to the living room to see Riley standing behind the couch, and there she was. Right where I had left her, in the middle of the rug, sitting up by herself.

It’s like she felt people watching her, Natalie tried to turn around, but she found herself falling back instead, hitting the back of her head. Good thing my Mom had purchased a plush, cushiony rug, otherwise it would have hurt worse, I’m sure.

She started crying, unable to pick herself up, I sat in front of her, and pulled her to sit up again, and she did, even though she was a bit shaky, she managed to sit up.

I started clapping my hands, excitement filled my insides, causing Natalie to smile up at me, her tears all gone. I turned my attention to Riley, to see him smiling down at us from behind the couch.

“What?” I laughed.

Shaking his head, he said simply, “Nothing.”

“Yeah, right.” I snorted.

I put my hand behind Natalies head, and gently laid her back again, so I could change her.

“You still look like a new mom.”

“What?” I glanced up at him, as I started unsnapping the buttons of her pink onesie.

“You know. The mother still scared shitless.”

I couldn’t help but chuckle. “I know I am. But hey, language.”

“She‘s like six months.” he stated rolling his eyes.

“And I don‘t care,” I smirked, as I undid the tabs of Natalies diaper. “I‘ll get use to it though, being a new mom. I think every teenage mother does after awhile, right?”

“Not every.”

He was right. Some teen moms leave there child with their parents, to party or club.

I’m not against it. Every now and then is fine, but teen moms or parents even, shouldn’t always depend on their parents to take care of them. You’ll get into a bad habit of it maybe? And maybe your parents won’t always be there for you.

I snapped out of my thoughts, when I heard the familiar sound of Natalie falling over. I looked down to see her staring back at me, as if she didn’t know what to do, whether to cry, or try and sit herself upright.

She tried and tried, but couldn’t quite do it yet, so she looked at me and started crying. I smiled, and bent to pick her up, and after a few minutes of rocking her back and forth she called down.

I heard the door open. “Hello!” I knew that voice anywhere, my mom.

“Hey, ” I answered back, “we‘re in here.”

My mom came around the corner, manuscripts in one hand, her phone and keys in the other, with her purse hanging on her forearm. “Hello, beautiful.” She smiled down at Natalie, who was smiling back. My mom turned her attention back to me. “Any new word yet?” She asked me, looking hopefully.

Sadness ran threw me, and I slowly shook my head no. “No yet.” I said slowly, “Hopefully soon.” I smiled, lifted my eyes from Natalie to my mom.

Returning a bigger smile, “Soon!” She said, as she set her stuff on the coffee table, and made a gesture to Natalie, that she was going to carry her, “Come here my blue-eyed baby girl.”

“Mmm.” Was Natalie’s response causing my mom to laugh.

“No crawling yet either.” I said as I handed her over.

“Don‘t get discouraged.” She heard the tone in my voice. The discouragement. “It‘ll happen one day Michelle.”

I slowly sat back on the couch, burying my face in my hands. Tears streamed down my face, “Am I doing something wrong?” I whispered.

“No, no, of course not-” She was cut off by the front door opening, but that still didn’t stop the tears from spilling over.

“Hey guys-…” I knew he saw me, “Michelle?” I felt him sit next to me, the couch sunk slightly from his weight.

Of course I couldn’t talk, my sobbing made sure of that. My mom started whispering, explaining why I was like this, as if I couldn‘t hear. “I can hear you.” I said between my sobs.

“Michelle,” I felt Miles rub soothing circles in my back. “ everything is going to be okay, just watch, she‘ll be crawling, and babbling before you know it.” He nudged his elbow softly into my side.

My sobbing had quieted down, and I was just left with the sniffles, throat ache, and hiccups. “You think so?” I asked them both.

“Of course!” My mom smiled brightly. She reminded me of Effie Trinket, my own mother, I laughed somewhat to myself for making the reference. She kind of did though, bright, always happy, just minus the crazy makeup, colorful powdered wigs, and  crazy colorful clothes. Plus manners, my mom was sort of big on manners.

“We both know so.” I turned to look at Miles to see him smiling softly at me.

He lifted his hand as if to wipe my tear stained cheeks.

“You forgot me!” Riley, I sighed, he’s like a phantom.

Miles dropped his hand immediately, and turned his attention to Natalie while mumbling, ”Right, sorry.”

“No worries.” I felt the weight of the other side of the couch weigh down from Rileys weight. “Like they told you Michelle, ” He whispered in my ear. “she‘ll start doing everything when she‘s ready, I promise.”

I pulled away from him, and stared at him. Seeing if he was telling the truth. “Okay.” I sniffled, and gave what I thought at the moment was a smile.

My mom engaged in conversation with both of them when my phone went off, I made my way to the kitchen where I left my purse. I fished into my purse blindly, until I felt the similar shape of my phone.

Quickly I slide the answer button, without seeing who it was. “Hello?” I answered kindly.

“Hello, is this Ms. Martinez?” A sweet voice began.

“This is she.” I made my way back to the living room, where I watched Riley playing on the floor with Natalie, while my mom and Miles talked.

“I gotten you results back,” she paused for a moment. “.. for Natalie Thompson.”

I froze, it felt like timed stopped. They were doing some test on her, and if they ever called back, they either found something or.. If they didn’t find anything they wouldn’t call back.

What could possibly be wrong.

I swallowed the painful lump that formed in my throat. “Right.” I forced out.

“I‘m sorry to say, …”

She started and paused again. Here it is, I thought, the bad news.

“It seems as if Natalie has been diagnosed with Waardenburg Syndrome.”

My heart dropped. My legs felt weak, and started wobbling until I fell to the ground.

“Michelle?” Concern filled my moms voice.

Tears streamed down my face once again. “Explain to me what that is.. Please?” My voice was so small, I couldn’t believe she heard me.

“Of course Ms. Martinez.” Clearing her throat she started to explain.

Waardenburg Syndrome. Type II.  

How common is it? About 1 in 10,000 to 1 in 20,000 are affected with Waardenburg syndrome.

A genetic condition that can cause varying degrees of hearing loss, and changes in pigmentation of the hair, skin, and eyes. The symptoms and severity vary from person to person.

Symptoms of Waaredenburg Syndrome include, wide range of hearing loss, from absent to profound. Natalie. She’s partial deaf. She can hear twenty percent in her right ear, and around the same in her left. That explains why she hasn’t talked yet. Extremely pale or brilliantly bright blue eyes. Which also explains Natalies blue, blue eyes. Another symptom or common features is a white patch of hair, which Natalie doesn’t have, but she will or might have early graying of the hair.

Treatment? This is no cure.

~_~

If you looked at my baby, you would have never guessed she had anything wrong with her. She looked like the most normal, happy baby you’ve ever seen. You would have never guessed she had Waaredenburg syndrome.

Most babies diagnosed with it have wide set eyes, or a wide space nasal bridge, or both. But my baby, she looked so normal.

She was now ten months old, time sure does fly.

We were coming from the doctors, talking about what options we should do for Natalie’s hearing. We decided the cochlear implants would be best. Once she turns one.

They’re surgically implanted electronic device, that provides a sense of sound to a person who is profoundly deaf or severely hard of hearing. Cochlear implants are mostly referred to as a ‘bionic’ ear.

I just can’t wait to get this over with, and to have my baby speaking right.

On the plus side, she started to crawl, or more of scoot in her own way. At least it’s something rather than nothing. Oh, and standing by herself.

But no mumbling yet either. Hopefully after her implants are in.

I decided to take a stroll in the park with Natalie. It was a nice day outside, why would you want to spend it indoor?

I looked in the rearview mirror to see my angel sleeping, so soundly with her blanket in her hands. This girl was my world, and more. I’d do anything for her.

We reached the park farthest from the city, to where it’s nice and quiet, away from all those cars, and buildings, sometimes it good to get away from all the city noise.

I climbed out of the car, and opened the back to see Natalie wide awake.

“Hello beautiful.” I smiled at her, and began unbuckling the straps, she seemed eager to get out, holding her arms out for me to carry her.

I scooped her up, and closed the door, going towards the trunk to get her stroller. I set Natalie on her feet for a few, just until I finished setting up the stroller, and amazingly she stood, all by herself, while clutching on to her blanket.

Scooping her up again, she let out a little laugh, probably because I was tickling her. I set her down, and strapped her in again.

Her blue tank top, and blue jean shorts brought her eyes out more, I tired to take her blanket away since I was afraid she was going to drop it in the dirt, or that it might drag, but Natalie wasn’t having it. She cried if I tried to take it away/

Signing I let her keep it, and she kept it close to her body, I set her sippy cup in the cup holder of the stroller, and a few animal crackers on the tray next to it, shoulder my diaper slash purse, and off we went.

A few families were here. Having barbeques together, playing football, basketball, or Frisbee. Water balloon fights. I saw a couple having a picnic, and only wished that was me someway. I pushed that thought away, and sat down on one of the benches on the bridge. Pulling the stroller next to me, I saw Natalie finishing up on one of her crackers.

In the water below was colorful koi fish. I was to mesmerized in the fish I barely heard the sound of footsteps.

I heard the sound of a camera shutter.

I snapped my head in the direction it came from, and there standing facing me, not but a few yards away, was a charming guy.

“I‘m sorry, ” he say, as he smiled. A hundred watt smile at that. “I just couldn‘t help myself.” he raised up his camera that hung around his neck. “You both were just too beautiful in the sunlight. I couldn‘t miss my chance to capture such beauty.”

And there it was again, that blinding smile. I couldn’t help but smile back. “It‘s okay, “ I opened my mouth to say more, but nothing came out, as I took in his features.

He was so handsome. Not only did he have a beautiful smile, but he was ‘clean’ as my mom would say, meaning not baggy or ripped jeans, he was clean cut too. He looked… perfect would be the right word. And he also looked my age.

I didn‘t notice him moving towards me until he was right in front of us. “Here.” He smiled down at me, and passed me the Polaroid image.

It was beautiful. So peaceful, both of us.

“Sorry. I forgot my manners.” he cleared his throat, and rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly. “My name’s Luke.” He held his hand towards me.

“Michelle.” I looked up at him, and gave him a soft smile.

He seemed to hold onto my hand more than necessary, and he noticed, I saw the slightest pink tint on his cheeks. He immediately took the attention off of him. “She‘s beautiful.” he whispered.

I chuckled lightly. “Thank you. She is.”

“Mmm.” Natalie mumbled. She put her arms up in a gesture for Luke to pick her up.

He looked at me unsure. “Do you mind?”

“No, no, go right ahead, seems like she likes you.” I laughed.

He cautiously undid the straps, and picked her up. “Seems like I ruined your afternoon stroll. Sorry.” He tossed me a small smile.

I couldn‘t help but laugh again. “No really, I think you‘re making it more enjoyable actually.”

 It was his turn to laugh. “So, where‘s your boyfriend?” He looked around, and then to me.

“Don‘t have one.”

“Well, …” he trailed off, as if deciding if he could as it or not. “where‘s her dad?”

He set Natalie on his lap, and waited for me to answer. ”Engaged.” I shrugged.

“Mmm.” was all his response. “His loss.” he shrugged.

“Oh please.” it felt east talking to him. “Do I look like a catch?” I stood up, and did  a twirl. My sundress slightly coming up, showing a little more leg than I had planned.

“Oh yes.” he winked.

It was my turn to blush. “Right.” I laughed, playing it off as a joke.

He shook his head. “Don‘t believe me huh?”

Shaking my head slowly, he stood up and handed my Natalie. “Hold still, okay?”

He ran off to the nearest wild flower patch, and plucked what look like a yellow flower. Two to be exact. He tucked one behind my ear, and then tucked a yellow one behind Natalies.

He crouched, and positioned his camera in front of him. ”Ready?” and then snap.

He pulled the image out, and handed it to me.

“What do you see?” he asked while crouching in front of me.

I sighed. “I see a single mother, with her beautiful baby.” I whispered.

“That‘s where you‘re wrong.” He told me in a soft voice. “You don‘t know how beautiful you really are.” He lowered his head to the ground, and shook his head.

“What?”

“I shouldn‘t be saying that… should I?” He sat on the bridge in front of us.

I tilted my head to the side. “Why not?”

“Why just met? I don‘t want to ruin anything.” He smiled softly.

“And what would you be ruining?” I laughed softly.

“I‘m a real honest person.” he let out. “Whatever‘s developing.”

“Is it good?” I questioned.

“It can be.”

“What if it‘s not.”

“I doubt that.”

I felt Natalie’s head hit my chest, she fell asleep. “Can you feel something?” I asked shyly.

“I think so. What about yo-”

My phone cut him off, and startled Natalie awake, causing her to cry. “Umm…” I shuffled her to my other arm.

“Here.” Luke grabbed her, and I hurried to the back of the stroller.

As I answered my phone. I mouthed thank you to Luke, he smiled, and rocked Natalie back to sleep.

“Hey mom.” I sighed.

“Where are you?”

“Park.”

“With?”

“No one.” I whispered harshly.

“Liar.” She sang. “Is he cute?”

“Mom!”

“I take that as a yes!”

Ignoring her, I continued. “You called why again?”

“To see where you were so I could cook dinner. Or get take out.” She trailed off.

“Umm.. Whatever you want.” I smoothly replied, she never liked whatever I picked.

“Steak. Potato salad. Fries. Beans. Corn.” She listed out. “Sound good for Saturday?” It was barely Monday, and she was planning food for the weekend.

“Sounds awesome. I‘ll be home soon.”

“Alright. Be safe, I‘ll order Chinese.”

“Alright, see you soon.” and with that I hung up.

Natalie curled up in his arms. “She‘s a good baby.” He smiled down at her. “You‘re leaving?”

“Unfortunately.” I frowned slightly. “So.. Where‘s your girlfriend?”

“Like you. I don‘t have one.” he smiled.

“You seem like a nice guy though.” I trailed off.

“Not all girls want the ‘nice’ guy. They go looking for the ’bad’ ones instead.” he shrugged. Maybe some girl left him before.

I started thinking, I act kind of different around guys, ever since Natalie. I’m not as…  flirty as I use to be is should say. “I have to go.” I frowned once more.

Handing over Natalie softly into my arms. “Can I see you again?” He stared into my eyes for the first time.

“Umm..” I fumbled with my words as I stared back into his blue eyes. “Of course.” I whispered.

“Good.” He smirked. “Can I have those pretty numbers then?”

“Right,” I laughed sheepishly. I recited them.

“Til next time?”

“Til next time.” I smiled.

He gave one last smile before he turned his back, and walked a few feet away. Now or never.

“Luke!” I yelled.

He turned around sort of stunned.

“What are you doing Saturday?” I can’t believe I’m about to ask this.

He thought for a moment. Please be free. “I‘m free. Why?”

“We‘re having a barbeque at my house.” I paused for a moment. Is this the right this to do? “Would you like to come?”

“Meet the family. Already?” He joked.

“Just my mom, and her,” I gestured with my chin to Natalie “uncles.”

Smiling he nodded his head. My heart fluttered. “Of course. I would love to come.”

“Okay.” smiling back, I felt like the Cheshire cat. “See you then!” I called and started to walk away.








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A/N: It’s been for ever Wattpaders! I missed you guys(‘:

I was surprised to see a lot of you guys asking for the next chapter,
Which makes my day!

So hopefully you enjoyed it! I worked hard on it.

For the next chapter, I’ll need 100 votes!!!
(I don‘t usually do that, but I want to see how bad you guys want it.)

(^^^ That sounds sexual xD )

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