Nell's Apartment

[Nell]

Ornella did not need an alarm clock. She hadn't needed an alarm clock in three years; not since Jared was born. The little boy would sleep all through the night without fail, but he never slept later than 10am. As a baby, he would start giggling and burbling, occasionally crying to let Nell know that he was awake and ready for breakfast. Once he'd learned to walk, that changed. Jay had figured out how to climb from his crib and would creep up on Nell, usually jolting her awake with some kind of adorable exclamation. This morning was no exception.

"Mommy!"

Her eyes flew open when she was startled awake and it took a few moments before she had her bearings. There was Jared, peering over the edge of the mattress with a grin that was equal parts michievous and sweet. Nell yawned, then laughed, ruffling her son's frighteningly curly hair.

"Morning, sweetpea," she chuckled. Her smile was an unspoken invitation that little 'Cub' took, clamoring onto the bed with his little arms and legs flailing. Nell laughed aloud, "Time to get up?"

"Up! Up, up, up!"

Each little shout was emphasized with a bounce on the mattress. Jared's big brown eyes sparkled with childish delight until Nell couldn't take it anymore. She snatched the little boy around the waist and proceeded to tickle him until he shriekd with laughter. "Up, up, up," she repeated, laughing again. "All right, I'm up!"

With Jared slung playfully over her shoulder, she slipped from bed and toted him into the kitchen where she sat him down in his booster seat. "What's for breakfast today, baby?"

"Pasketti!"

"Spaghetti? How 'bout cereal?"

"Ummm...okay!"

Nell's smile was bright and unabashedly adoring. Jared received a kiss on top of his curly head as she told him, "One bowl of Lucky Charms, coming up."

[Nell]

"All right. Okay, Mindy honey, I know it's a weekend, but you've known about this since the beginning of the week." With one eye on her son, Nell glared into the receiver of her main phone. Damned flighty teenaged babysitters. "No, Mindy, I'm not mad," she continued, lying through her teeth. "Really, it won't be that big of a deal, nevermind. Okay, I'll call you on Monday. Uh-huh. Buh-bye, dear."

The phone was placed back in its cradle with a little more force than was necessary, and afterwards, Ornella lifted a hand to pinch the bridge of her nose. No, of course it wasn't a big deal. The little tart could go party her head off, completely blow Nell off - again - and no, she wouldn't be upset. Nell would just sit down and take it.

"See if I ever hire you again, brat," the young nurse growled under her breath. Really, it wasn't so awful. The hospital had a nursery, or someone at the main desk usually took the munchkin, but...argh.

Whatever. You'll get over it. With a quiet sigh to no one, Nell looked to little Jay and smiled, watching as he poked intently at what was left at his cereal. They went through at least two boxes a week. "Well, little man," she began, getting his attention. "Looks like you'll be coming to the hospital with me again. Sound good?"

Jared practically beamed. "Nate?"

"Yes, Dr. Wilder could be there," she laughed and moved to hug her son. "But if he's not, you've got Auntie Nancy and Uncle Theo, too. But this time, no playing hide-and-seek in the supply room, eh?"

[Nell]

One bowl of cereal and a mopped up puddle of milk later, mother took baby to get his bath and change before she slipped into a pair of jeans and a simple t-shirt for the day. When they relocated to the den, Jared found entertainment in a coloring book and some crayons while his mother occupied herself with the paper. For a time, they were quiet, and the radio in the kitchen provided some good background music.

Of course, with Jared, quiet didn't last for long.

"Mommy!"

She blinked up from the paper and there was her cub with his big brown eyes. It seemed he wanted something because he was shuffling his feet and looking extra-adorable. "Park?" he asked.

To this, Nell chuckled and folded her paper up. "Well, I don't see why not, Cubbie," she responded. "Can you go get your baseball cap?"

As he scampered off for the hat, Nell grabbed her obscenely large purse and filled it with the necessary supplies: two juiceboxes, one storybook, sunscreen, a mini first-aid kit, etc. When Jared returned and practically tugged her out the door she had to laugh, just managing to hit the lights and lock the door behind her before they were off.

Continued at: Devonwood Park