The Storm - Book cover

The Storm

Mandy M.

Chapter Four

I feel refreshed and decide to do a little shopping, you know for a few baby things. I figure I can take one to two hundred dollars from every check and start buying the things I need.

I’ve been watching the thrift store for a crib, bassinet, or playpen, hoping I can get something at a decent price. I got a few outfits, diapers, wipes, and bottles.

The thrift store called me Sunday morning to say they have a crib, and they will hold it for me until I can get down there. There is no mattress but that’s okay, I’ll get one.

“Thanks for letting me know you had one.” I pull my wallet out of my purse.

“Oh, not a problem.” Cheryl is the owner and is very friendly. “I remember what it was like when I had mine. I can hold other things for you if you want.”

I pay her. “That would be great.”

“What do you still need?”

“A dresser, swing, and a stroller I think are the only bigger items I need.” I run through the list in my head.

“All right, I’ll let you know if we get them. What about a changing table?”

I shake my head. “I don’t think it will fit in my apartment. Oh, do you have any bed frames?”

“I think we have a full in the back.”

“Great, how much?” It’s getting harder to get off the bed with it sitting on the floor.

She waves her hand at me. “You can just take it, dear. It has no head or footboard, so most people don’t want it.” She waves one of the staff over and instructed him to get it out and help me load everything.

“Thank you!” It takes a little bit of work and laying my back seats down, but we got them to fit. The man also showed me how to put them together.

I carry everything in, and it takes me a little while to put the frame together and get my box springs and mattress on it. I had to move them out into the hall to have room.

The crib is just leaning against the wall for now—I’ll put that together on my next day off. I make some eggs and toast, shower, and go to bed. I have a long week ahead of me.

I was very pleased to see that Walter’s wound had healed when I got there. We did our normal routine, change the IV dressing, move him to his wheelchair, and play checkers before I head out to my next place.

All my other stops are pretty simple—medication management, hang an antibiotic, help a little with the more complicated housework, then home. Eat, shower, sleep, my own housework, then start all over again.

At the end of September, the town is having a fall festival—food, games, rides for the kids, that sort of thing.

I agreed to sit with Walter Saturday afternoon so that Mary could take her grandchildren and great-grandchildren to it for a few hours.

I don’t mind doing it, and I have the weekend off, so I don’t have to worry about being at work on time.

Walter and I have an early supper, soup and a sandwich, and watch the evening news while playing another game of checkers before he was ready for bed.

I had just finished helping him into bed when Mary comes home. “I’m sorry I’m late. We lost track of time,” she says, rushing into the house.

“It’s fine, Mary. I told you to enjoy yourself and I meant it.” I could tell she felt bad.

“Here.” She hands me a caramel apple with nuts/ “I thought maybe you would like a treat.”

Those are my favorite thing about fall. “Thank you. Did you have fun?”

She nods. “I did. Those kids have worn me out though.”

“Get some rest and I’ll see you on Monday.”

She pulls me into a hug. “I will, dear, and you be careful going home.”

The drive home is peaceful; the stars are out and it is quite pretty. The baby has really been moving around a lot and making it more and more difficult to sleep.

I think she’s more active when I’m trying to sleep than when I’m working or moving around. My doctor said it usually happens that way. I hope this doesn’t mean she’s going to be a night owl.

I need to change shifts so that I won’t be working nights after my maternity leave. Megan knows and said that one of the day shift nurses will be retiring at the end of the year.

I’m the only one interested in her position. Fingers crossed I will get it. I can use the daycare at the hospital and, hopefully, be able to get the rest I need.

I’m aware that as the baby gets older, my ability to sleep during the day will decrease.

I wish this wasn’t something I had to do on my own. I never planned for it to happen this way. I’ve tried to reach out to Justin, but he ignores my calls, and after a couple weeks, I stopped trying.

I even thought about reaching out to his parents, but they never liked me anyway and that’s fine; they are very self-absorbed people. At least now I know where he gets it from.

Seems like a grandchild would be the last thing they want. I’m actually surprised that they even had Justin.

The first time I met them they seemed more interested in traveling and attending events than talking with either one of us.

Justin let it slip one night when he was drunk that they were never around when he was growing up. The nanny raised him.

I often wonder why people like that even have children, and part of me can’t help but wonder if my parents were like that. If that’s why they left me on the church doorstep.

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