Chapter 12
That next morning, Eliza was watching Emmy nervously scramble around the large apartment to make sure everything was in order. Several sticky notes were plastered throughout the apartment, and Eliza found amusement in the the fright.
Emmy was given the entire weekend off, and though she needed it, Emmy was still overcome with worry.
"Are you sure you're going to be okay?" Emmy asked for the fourteenth time.
Eliza nodded at the woman who was clutching her suitcase with an extreme grip. As they walked out to the lobby, Emmy was continuously counting her fingers on one hand, murmuring to herself.
The new mom was terrified at being alone for the first time with her child, but the moment was inevitable. A tearful Emmy waved goodbye to Eliza before she looked down to the small baby cradled in the swing across Eliza's chest.
Stepping back inside of the apartment almost felt strange. Knowing that Emmy wasn't going to be shuffling around the apartment made the silence unbearable. Yet once she stepped inside, it didn't take long for Eliza to scrunch her nose and look down to the child against her chest.
"Already putting me to work," Eliza uncomfortably whispered, while hurrying to the nursery.
Slowly removing the soiled diaper, she struggled to strategize the safest way to dispose and clean while preventing the furniture from permanent damage. After a minute, there was a look of satisfaction on Eliza's face as she took the last baby wipe to the small bum.
However, the baby was showing a toothless grin at Eliza's immediate change in expression.
"You're not done?" Eliza gasped in horror, while observing the strain in her baby's face.
Considering she wasn't sure of how often she was going to have to cycle through dirty diapers, Eliza didn't bother to put the fleece onesie back on her. But then that wasn't the only reason why.
Holding up the small child, she held her close to the shoulder. Eliza stared blankly at the wall in front her while cautiously stroking the little back– taking in the warmth of the soft, delicate skin.
Turning to the mirror hung on the wall, the new mother took a moment to observe the person humming and drooling over her shoulder. Eliza had assumed the worst when Emmy was packing to go away for the weekend. She figured she would be dealing with complete mayhem, but there was more calm than she had anticipated.
After walking out of the baby-scented room, Eliza felt her stomach calling to her. She had to make some food for herself since going back to bed wasn't an option with an active one-month old. Eliza pushed the bassinet into view of the kitchen and put her little girl into it's soft cushioning. Just as she began to walk around into the kitchen, that tranquility she was admiring immediately vanished.
"What is it?" Eliza mildly panicked, as the child continued to wail.
She didn't know what else to do but pick her back up and check to see if she was needing another change or if she was hungry. Yet the moment she was back in her mother's comfort, the small baby settled down. Eliza stood in awe and confusion, wondering why she was suddenly quiet.
The mom had to settle for a bowl of cereal, instead of using the hot stove with a small child latched to her. Again, her daughter was aggravated by another attempt to put her into the swinging bassinet. Eliza pouted and didn't know what to do, but a solution came to her quick. She silently mocked herself as she recalled an image from a baby magazine that she viewed many months ago in the hospital's waiting area. Placing her legs along the couch, Eliza slightly lifted up her knees and cradled the baby in her elevated lap.
"Yes?" she whispered aloud.
Eliza wriggled her toes with delight as she successfully had her breakfast with a satisfied baby. Throughout Eliza's meal, her child was glancing around the room, looking everywhere but at her mother. Eliza observed the curious person, and carefully put the bowl on the ground when she was done eating.
Eliza closed her eyes, and couldn't believe what she was about to do. It wasn't in her nature to behave in such a way, but there was no use fighting the urge to try.
"What... what are you looking at?" Eliza softly, but awkwardly, asked her daughter.
Large, glassy eyes were set on her this time, and Eliza matched the surprised expression.
"What were you looking at?" Eliza asked again, but this time with a little smile.
A gummy grin was returned along with excited twitches. Eliza couldn't help the look of endearment that she showed to the animated person. Taking a soft grasp of both little hands, she asked the question again, making her dribbling baby squirm with more joy. There was no fighting the temptation Eliza had to rub her large hands over a small round belly.
"You're so warm," she observed, before taking note of the yawn that overtook her baby's face.
It took ten more minutes before there was a sleeping baby in her swinging cradle. Eliza was shocked that she was making more efforts to display an emotion that she didn't practice often– affection. It had carried over so much from her first talks with her daughter that she was anxiously nibbling at her nails while scouring through the internet.
After an hour, she exited the browser with disappointment. She didn't know why she would think searching for names would be easy. Something simple and fitting for a girl should have sufficed, and there were plenty– just not any Eliza wanted.
She was pulled from her worry, seeing the light to her phone light up on the table. Quickly opening up the work email, her panic ceased as she read the sender and subject. In the body of the message Troy explained in a large block of text why he didn't show up with Helen the other day. There were plenty of references to his twin trying to thwart him whenever she could, and Eliza snickered at the documented promise of him plotting to get Helen back in his final "p.s.".
Eliza chuckled, and quickly replied to his question that asked if she was okay.
"Yes. In fact, Emmy is home for the weekend." she happily replied.
Less than a minute had passed when her phone began to ring.
"Eliza Kelly," she answered with curiosity.
"Liza... it's Troy. I mean T," he snickered at the end.
"Oh," she peeped, feeling her stomach turning at the surprise call.
"So, you're all alone with Sweetpea?" he asked with haste.
She took in a deep breath and smiled, "Yes."
"... everything good?" he murmured, barely hiding his worry.
"Yes, Troy. Things are surprisingly smooth," she admitted.
Eliza quickly heard the signature Troy Daniels chuckle, "That's swell. Well, I'm sorry for the abrupt call, but you know me... I'm a little impatient and nosy. Maybe not a little."
Eliza took a moment to figure out what to say next, but she was unsure if he would bother wanting to know.
"Liza? Ya there?" he asked after seconds of silence.
"I spoke to her..." Eliza blurted, before quickly faded out.
"Ya did?" he gasped.
Looking down at the chubby cheeks, she sighed, "Yes."
"Well now what did she say?" he innocently prompted.
Eliza scrunched her brows, "She can't speak Tro–"
"I'm just pullin' yer tail, Liza," he laughed.
"Oh," she muttered, before rolling her eyes and pouting.
"I hope you didn't take offense. It's really great that yer talkin' to the Sweetpea now," he cheered.
The nickname he had for her daughter made her nervous. It was easy for him to have something for her, but Eliza could barely even think of a starting point for a name.
Before Eliza could open her mouth to ask the next question, she heard a knock at her door. With caution she covered her phone to her chest, walked to the door and looked through the eye hole.
"Who is it?" Eliza questioned, not being able to see anyone.
She put her phone back to her ear, after hearing Troy calling her name.
Eliza murmured into the line, "There's no one at the door. That's odd."
"Don't open it," he said with urgency.
Eliza wasn't privy to denying what Troy said since she didn't want to open it either. It was odd for someone to knock at her door– she rarely guests that would visit without notice.
Again, she heard a few knocks. Nervously, she looked back out of the eye hole and her face turned ghostly. She couldn't believe that he was standing outside of her door, and she immediately hung up the phone without thinking twice.
"Eliza... please open the door," Andrew begged on the other side.
"Leave or I will have security escort you out," she snapped back.
He immediately retorted, "Why won't you let me see her?"
"Why has it taken you this long to come around. It's been weeks!" she shrilled, before quickly covering her mouth.
Her phone was ringing again, and she knew it was Troy trying to get a hold of her again.
"I was scared," Andrew grumbled.
"Is that supposed to absolve you from any of your ignorance to the entire situation?" Eliza whimpered.
There was a mild bang at the door, before Andrew sighed, "Eliza... she belongs to me too, and I'm trying to make an effort to reconcile."
Eliza looked down at her feet and couldn't believe she was thinking about it. Remembering what Troy said how not being able to see his own child would tear him apart, she let her resistance subside for a moment.
"Eliza, please," Andrew begged once more.
She clenched down on her teeth, and reached out to the doorknob. She had to make a decision quick before she overthought another situation. Her decision wasn't just about what she wanted; Eliza had to consider what would be best in the long run for her little girl.