Page 17 of Their Perfect Daddy

SKYE

I ’ll never forget the way I felt when Gale gave me the news about Poppy.

It was a whirlwind of mixed emotions. Joy because my sister was having a child, and I’d get to be an uncle.

Grief because we didn’t get to celebrate her journey.

Fear for her safety and the future the baby would have.

And determination because I refused to let her go without a fight.

Since the minute I made it to the hospital, I’ve been advocating for her care. Each nurse and doctor in this place know me by name now.

I haven’t been pushy. Just open and honest about how much she means to me. They understand what it’s like to have someone you love be on the other side of things. You only want to know they’re getting the best medical help they can.

Thankfully, everyone is kind enough to keep me in the loop. One doctor even went so far as to ask my opinion, despite my lack of gynecological experience.

While I may have delivered an emergency baby or two, I’m nowhere near equipped enough to make those types of decisions that come with postnatal care. I told him as much when we spoke.

“Take it slow,” I tell Poppy as I ease the straw to her lips.

My sister still isn’t quite strong enough to hold things on her own yet. We’ve taken on the role of her caregivers full-time, with each sibling that made it here trading off duties to give each other a break when we need them.

I’m the only one who has stayed by her side since my arrival. Mostly because I’m on leave from work where the others aren’t. The rest of the Gellars have popped in and out as their PTO allowed.

Thankfully, my role back home at Bellport General is important enough to allow me this emergency leave. My team can more than handle any surgery changes and procedures as needed until I return.

Family comes before everything. It’s one thing I don’t budge on.

Well, family and now my boys. Talking to them yesterday felt amazing. I’d missed them more than I’d even realized. It wasn’t until I got them on the phone that the ache in my chest started to die down.

I’d originally thought it was all from worry about Poppy. Turns out, I’ve been just as caught up on my boys as I was my sister.

“What are you thinking about, Skye?” Poppy asks in a low voice. “Your face went all sappy.”

Laughing at her, I shake my head. “Thinking about some people back home. I miss them.”

“People? As in more than one?”

I nod, knowing there’s no way I’ll keep this from anyone in the family anymore. Not when I’m already this deeply involved. Or at least, my heart is.

“Yeah, more than one. I have two boyfriends. They’re… fuck, they’re perfect for me, Poppy. I can’t wait until you meet them. Once we get you and Juni home, I’ll try to bring them by for a visit.”

As if she knows her name already, the little bundle in the bassinet beside me grunts.

“Guess she’s getting hungry again, huh?” Poppy asks. Her voice is soft and sad, likely as a result from all the changes she’s had to deal with lately.

I stand up and head to the bottle station I’ve set up in the corner. Since Poppy has been in recovery, she isn’t able to breastfeed. Plus, she’s really too weak to manage holding the baby alone anyway.

By the time I get the nipple attached to the premade formula, babygirl is releasing some serious noise. I turn to find my sister grimacing.

“I hate that I can’t comfort her. It’s like I’m already a bad mother.”

Anger rises at her words. “You’re not a bad mother. You’re a new mother who just survived a traumatic surprise birth. If anything, I think you’re doing grand. It would really help if your fiancé were here.”

“Ex-fiancé,” she corrects. “I would call him if he hadn’t run off with one of the bridesmaids. How cliche is that? Cheated on and now he’s going to be a dead-beat dad too. But also….”

“But what?” I ask as I grab the pink bundle up. She’ll likely need a diaper change too. I’ll deal with that after her tummy is full though.

“Shouldn’t I feel more maternal? Like holding her and feeding her. I’m devastated because I know it’s what I should be doing. It’s not that I feel a desire to do it.”

I shake my head as I ease down on the side of the bed. Juni sucks deeply at the milk, completely oblivious to the turmoil her mom is going through.

“What you’re feeling right now is a mix of mom guilt and probably some post-partum blues.

Your body has gone through a lot of changes over the last ten months, even if you had no clue.

Hell, I think the fact that you didn’t know makes this all the more amazing.

You grew a human, sis! And fuck that asshole.

I’m sure Rayne and the others are making a plan toward revenge right now. Don’t you worry about him.”

She smiles at me as a tear slides down her cheek. “I know. I just don’t feel ready at all. I mean, I was on vacation here and suddenly I’m giving birth. You had to take emergency leave to come help and everyone else has been?—”

As her sobs take over, I fight between needing to feed the baby and wanting to console her. I do the only thing I can think of.

“Scoot over,” I say as I push at her hip.

When she’s far enough past me, I switch the side Juni’s on to be closest to Poppy, then lean against the back of the bed. It’s close enough for her to feel a part of the process without making her do anything more.

“Now then. Let’s get a few things straight here, sis.

You are not a burden. This is a new adventure, which I know you love.

You and Juni have a team of people ready to support you once you’re able to come home.

The connection with her will come when it comes.

And if it doesn’t, there are other options like adoption.

We won’t judge you should you choose such. ”

It’s not ideal; however, I fully believe a woman has the right to choose.

And with something like this, Poppy has to do what’s right for her and Juni.

Keeping a child and raising them despite feeling unprepared often leads to resentment.

I don’t want to see what kind of person my sister might become if she forces this.

“You’re right.” She sighs. “I’ll try to keep that in mind from now on. Sorry for breaking down on you.”

“Don’t apologize. As I already said, your body is going through a tough time right now. You don’t owe any of us anything. Heal. That’s what is most important.”

She nods, then leans her head on my shoulder. I kiss the top of her head as we settle into a comfortable silence.

Things may not be perfect just yet, but they will get better.

We just have to give it the time it needs.

Poppy falls asleep, so I have to be extra careful when it comes time to burp the little one in my arms. I do a fairly good job up until the minute she lets out the most grotesque fart I’ve ever smelled in my life.

I end up breaking into a coughing fit that wakes my sister up anyway. She doesn’t get a word out before she’s gagging and giving me evil eyes.

“Really, Skye?”

“Hey! It wasn’t me. This baby of yours is atomic.” I wiggle the baby butt at her face, which only serves to make her gag even harder.

Must be more than a fart then.

I shake my head, then go about changing the demonic poopy diaper. It makes no sense someone this small can make such a mess. Then again, I was there for all my siblings' births decades ago. The ones I can remember were about the same.

Once she’s all clean, I bounce her in my arms as I pace the room. Poppy falls back asleep. Juni isn’t far behind her either.

With Poppy out cold in the hospital bed and Juni secured in her bassinet, I pull out my phone. I need some kind of distraction. Anything to get my mind off my sister and how we’re going to help her through this.

As much as we’ll be there for her, Poppy already feels like she’s a burden to us. It’s going to be constant work to reassure her she’s not. We love her unconditionally.

I know most of this is because of the hormones in her system. That and the unknown of what lies ahead. I can’t imagine knowing I was responsible for another human life out of the blue.

The texts that greet me brighten the somber mood I’m in. My boys have done as I asked them to, sharing bits of their day in both text and photo form. It feels amazing to see them, even if it’s from afar.

I’ll take any morsel of them I can get until I’m back in Bellport.

Monty’s sent over details about practice and all the exercises they’re making him do. He sounds like he’s complaining at first, but then I sense the tease in his words.

Danny’s messages are either about food he’s thinking of eating or has already consumed, and questions about my opinion on certain outfits he likes. I reassure him with every message that his choices are gorgeous.

I think my Little might do well with a shopping spree in the future. Monty’s gift cards were a good start. I think we can do better though. A lot of his enjoyment will be in getting to show off what he tries on. He’s far too social to want to go alone.

Once I’m all caught up in the chat, I send them an update of my own.

Daddy:

Thank you both for sending me messages today. I’m thankful you did as I asked. I’ll have special rewards for you the next time we get together.

I send the message without thought. Surely I’ll come up with something. How hard can it be?