The Fisalis couple’s long-awaited baby was a girl. It didn’t take long for the little one—dubbed “Violet” at Mr. Fisalis’s suggestion—to bring everyone in the manor under her spell.
“...and that about covers the story of how you were born.”
“Ohhh...”
Violet had politely listened to the whole story from her daddy’s lap, but I had my doubts about how much she’d understood.
“All you need to know is that your mommy worked very hard to bring you into the world.”
“Huh. Okay.”
“She’s too young to get it, Cercis.”
“I disagree. Now’s the time to teach her that she was important enough to be worth all that suffering.”
“Oh, that’s an interesting way to think of it!”
“Huh?” dropped from Violet’s mouth.
This was one of Mr. Fisalis special lessons in love for our gifted little girl.
As he explained his reasoning, he brushed back her hair with a gentle, heart-melting smile. Aww. I have a feeling your love already comes through loud and clear, dear!
“Were Mommy and Daddy the only ones happy I was bown?”
Here comes her next well-meaning question!
The answer, of course, was a resounding no. Why, you could argue that the rest of the manor was even more thrilled than we were!
“Not at all,” Mr. Fisalis replied. “Everyone you know—and even some you don’t—was simply delighted. There was no shortage of fanfare.”
“Huh?”
“Was that too difficult? In that case, why don’t I go ahead and tell you the next part of the story?”
“Okay!”
Violet adjusted herself in her father’s lap, eager to listen to the rest of his tale.
✦ ✦ ✦
It was the same evening Violet was born. My parents; my young brother, Thistle; and my younger sister, Freesia, had all come to visit.
“Your staff did take care to send us the play-by-play, for the record.”
“But we didn’t want to barge in on you when you were struggling through labor, so we decided to wait until we got news that the child had been born.”
“I came this close to getting left behind,” complained Thistle, casting my parents a meaningful glance. He had to have been at school for most of this, after all. I was glad they’d managed to come as a family unit.
“So, tell us about the baby!”
“She’s a healthy little girl.”
I pointed to the crib next to my bed, where Violet lay fast asleep.
Freesia rushed right over. “She’s soooo cute!”
This was her first time seeing a child younger than she was, and she looked down at Violet with stars in her eyes. The way she was leaning over the edge of the crib was no less cute than the baby she was peering down at, as was her obliviousness to the warm feelings she inspired in everyone watching her.
“You’re a big sister now, Freesia. You can go ahead and call her ‘Lettie.’”
“I’m her big sis?”
“That’s right.”
Technically she’s Violet’s aunt, but Freesia’s way too young for that title!
Freesia, who was at the age where nothing seemed cooler than a big sister, seemed delighted by the news that she had become one herself. Her eyes were sparkling.
Unable to contain her joy, she called out to the still-sleeping baby. “Lettie! Hey, Lettie, I’m your big sis, Freesia!”
Thistle watched Freesia with a smile. For him, Violet’s birth was like gaining a second little sister.
“I hope you’ll think of her as a sister too, Thistle.”
“I do! I’m looking forward to playing with her lots.”
“We’d love that. You can feel free to come over anytime you like. Right, Cercis?” I asked, flicking my gaze to where my husband stood beside the bed.
“...Sure.”
What was that pause for?
We’d also sent word to my in-laws as soon as Violet was born, but they lived half a day’s journey from Rohze. It wasn’t until nighttime that they got the message, and at that point it was too late for them to depart safely; we received a reply that they would leave early the next morning.
And so it was that Mother and Father Fisalis came by the following afternoon.
“Oh, Vi, I’m so proud of you! You did a great job!”
“It must have been rough on you, no?” said Father Fisalis. Then, just as I was about to get to my feet, he insisted, “No, no, stay where you are.”
I hadn’t left bed since Doctor Granny told me to get some rest and concern myself with nothing but the baby for a bit. Even when it was time to eat, the maids would carry the meals to my room. “Take care to eat plenty of good food, Madame! Motherhood is a test of endurance!” Cartham had said as he whipped me up even tastier meals than his usual fare.
I’d assumed it would be rude to stay in bed now that my in-laws were here, but if dad was offering me an out, I was happy to take him up on that.
“She’s adorable! Her hair looks just like Cercis’s. What about her eyes?” Mother Fisalis asked as she peered at the sleeping Violet through the bars of her crib. I could tell she was itching to pick the baby up and get right to cuddling.
“Her eyes are the same beautiful brown as his.”
She’d opened her eyes a few times by now, and we’d discovered they were the same dark-brown hue as my husband’s.
“I see! Goodness, I can’t wait to see for myself.”
“That makes them the same color as mine too,” Father Fisalis said, excitedly pointing to his own eyes. He seemed happy to have found something in common with his granddaughter.
“Gosh, you’re right! Aren’t you glad she takes after you, Grandpa?”
“Very much so.”
Mother and Father Fisalis squealed with delight. They’d already become the picture of two doting grandparents.
“How long will it take her to say ‘Granny,’ do you think?”
“Oh, she could ask her ‘Grandpa’ for anything and I’d give it to her in a heartbeat!”
“I totally get that! I’m feeling the same way!”
“I hope she starts talking soon!” their voices rang out in unison.
They were going so crazy with excitement that I was having a hard time keeping up.
Uh, considering she was literally born yesterday, it’s going to be a while before she’s saying anyone’s names... But man, it seems like a crime to have a “Granny” this young and beautiful.
“The color of her features might be the same as mine, but their shape is closer to yours. I can’t wait to see how she turns out,” had been Mr. Fisalis’s say on the matter, but I was confident she’d be prettier if she ended up taking after her father. Sorry for the bad genes, Violet!