Chapter Nineteen

Jayme opened her eyes to find the room dark. Instantly, she felt the soreness in her entire body as she barely moved. Looking around the room, Jayme saw Rex. He was sitting in the chair, looking down at the child and slightly rocking her. Smiling, Jayme’s heart felt whole.
For long moments, she sat there, just watching him with her. Until he looked up and saw her watching them. “Hey…” He smiled at her.
Jayme felt the tear as it fell from her eye. But it was a good feeling. She realized at that moment that Rex was her soulmate. She was in love, twice. And there was no better view than him holding her daughter. She knew it was meant to be. He was there for her when she needed him most and that was a deciding factor.
“Hey.” She answered.
At that moment, Rex stood from the chair and walked towards her bed. Jayme felt the incredible, achy soreness as she sat up. Rex stood beside her and reached down with the child in his arms. “Here mommy…” He smiled.
Jayme looked up at him and smiled as she took the child from his arms. Looking down at her daughter, it was the first time Jayme really had the chance to look at her. Jayme knew she was beautiful even with her wrinkly skin and gray eyes. “My little Bella.” Jayme mumbled.
“You’re calling her ‘Bella’?” Rex asked.
“Yes. Isabella Renee, Bella for short.” Jayme answered as she laid the child between her legs.
Unwrapping the child, she completely undressed her and removed her diaper that was slightly wet. Jayme completely examined the girl and noticed the birthmark on the bottom of her foot. It was a dark red circle on the underside of the arch of her foot. “Look…” Jayme pointed it out to Rex.
Looking toward the cupboards and counter top where the sink was, Jayme saw the diapers and supplies. “Rex, could you please hand me some diapers and wipes?” Jayme asked, pointing at the counter top.
“Yes, of course.” he responded and handed her a small stack of diapers and package of wipes.
Cleaning the urine off Bella, she replaced the diaper with a clean one and slipped the tiny shirt back on. Then she wrapped the child up, swaddling her in the blanket. At that moment, a nurse walked in. “Oh good, you’re awake.” She said, walking up to Jayme’s bed. “My name is Tammy. I’ve come to answer any questions you may have and help you with her.”
“I’ve already changed her.” Jayme informed her. “I wanted to look her over.”
“Oh good… Have you tried breastfeeding yet?” Tammy asked.
“No, but I was thinking about it when you walked in.” Jayme answered.
“Do you want me to help you with that?” Tammy asked.
“Not yet, I think I would like to try by myself first…” Jayme said.
“Ok, I can leave the room if you prefer, just push the button and call me if you need help, or have questions.” Tammy said.
“Ok.” Jayme agreed.
Waiting for Tammy to leave the room, Jayme looked at Rex and he seemed nervous. “Maybe I should go too…” He said.
“No, Rex, you don’t have to go.” Jayme said as she unsnapped the sleeve of her gown and exposed her breast “I’d rather to stay…” She smiled.
Rex smiled, still awkward with embarrassment, and sat in the chair beside her bed as she pulled the child up to her. Almost instantly, the girl latched on and began feeding. Jayme smiled and closed her eyes, her heart was melting.
Seeing her with her daughter, breastfeeding and incredibly happy, Rex knew he loved her more than he ever did. It was the first time he had thought about asking her to marry him. But he would never ask without a ring, or without asking her father. But his heart was full right now. As Jayme looked up at Rex and their eyes locked, they each knew what the other was feeling.
“You’re going to be such a good mommy.” Rex said.
Jayme simply looked up at him and smiled. “I can only hope. I’ll be as good of a mommy as I can be.”
“I believe your best is the best for that baby.” Rex said. “No one can love that child more than you.”
“You’re right.” Jayme said.
“I can come close… I’m already in love with her.” Rex said. As he sat on the edge of her bed.
Feeling the child stop sucking, Jayme re-positioned her and supported her while she rubbed and patted the child’s back, trying to burp her. Rex watched her as he had never really handled infants. Only holding them for a few minutes and giving them back. He was more inexperienced then Jayme. But he held Bella in his arms for over an hour, until Jayme woke up.
Feeling his stomach growl, he realized how hungry he was. It would be getting light out soon and the restaurants were open by now. “I think I’m going to get some breakfast and change my clothes before I have to go into work.” Rex said. “I’ll be back after seven, when I get off duty.”
“Ok.” Jayme smiled and nodded, still feeding the child.
Leaning down, Rex kissed Jayme on the forehead. “I’ll see you later.”
Jayme kept the child with her for the entire morning, feeding and changing her. She held her and sang to her, even while Bella slept. She immensely enjoyed her time spent with just the two of them. She told Bella about her father, something she would never hide from her daughter.
As soon as Rex got to the office that morning, he inquired on any information leading to Jim Taylor’s case but there was no new leads, no arrests, no other suspects. They raided Jim’s house again and found evidence that Jayme had been there against her will. On the news segments, they posted more pictures of him being clean shaven.
Confiscating the jewelry from his box, they showed Jayme and she identified three other items that were hers. Entering them as evidence, they built a bigger case against Jim. Rex investigated a few other unrelated cases throughout the county. He thought more about running for sheriff in the upcoming election and decided to run.
At some point during his busy day, Rex stopped at three jewelry stores and shopped for the perfect ring. Discovering her perfect ring actually came as a three-piece set, Rex placed a deposit on the set and obtained the rings before leaving the building. His credit was outstanding.
Before returning to the hospital, he went to the local department store and searched through the infant section, looking for preemie outfits. Hard to pick just four outfits, they were all adorable. He also purchased some diapers, a large pack of diaper wipes and a diaper bag to carry it all.
Jayme was asleep when Rex returned to the hospital. Instead of sitting in her room, Rex left the items he purchased and went to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit to visit with Bella. She was awake when he entered the room, after washing his hands at the hand-washing station. Sitting in a rocking chair, Rex held Bella, rocking her while talking softly to her.
After a short time, a nurse approached him and informed him that Jayme was awake and requested her. Rex asked to take her down himself and they agreed. Walking into her room, she was surprised to see him with her. But then upon second thought, she should’ve known that he would be there, with her.
“Hi.” Jayme said.
“Hi.” Rex returned.
“Do you know what all that stuff is?” Jayme asked, pointing at the grocery bags full of the items Rex had purchased.
“Yes…” Rex said and sat down in the chair, grabbing the bags. One by one, he pulled out each outfit, holding it up so Jayme could see it.
Jayme was in awe, loving the additions to the baby’s wardrobe. “Oh Rex, those are so adorable. Thank you.” She said.
“I had to get her some clothes, it seems we were not quite prepared for this early birth.”
“I didn’t expect it to happen so soon. They’re releasing me tomorrow… but Bella can’t come home until she is five pounds.”
“Oh, she’s got a pound to grow?” Rex said as he handed Bella to Jayme.
“Well, a pound and a half. She lost a half a pound.”
“Really? That’s not good, is it?”
“It’s actually pretty normal.” Jayme answered. “Give her a few days or so. I’ll be here, they have a few rooms available for twenty four hour care. I’ll be staying in one of those rooms until she can come home.”
“Jayme, I don’t feel like you’re safe at your parents house. I’d really feel safer if you stayed with me. I don’t think Jim knows where I live, but he seems to know enough about you to know when you’ll be home alone.”
“I don’t want to intrude.” Jayme said.
“No, Jayme, you wouldn’t be. Please, come stay with me. We can accommodate with the baby.” Rex pleaded with her.
After a moment of quiet thinking, Jayme agreed. “Alright.”
“Good. When they release you, we’ll get whatever you’ll need from your parents house and take it to my house. Just clothes, toothbrush, crib, diapers, things like that.”
“At least the crib has not yet been constructed, it’ll be easier to move.”
“I’ll take that to my house and put it together for you.” Rex offered.
“Thank you… I didn’t realize I would need it so early, that’s why I hadn’t put it together yet.”
“I understand.” Rex smiled.
“Rex, I’ll be safe here. You should go home, get some sleep.” Jayme suggested.
“You’re probably right, I just don’t want to leave you two.” Rex said. “Not because I don’t feel you’re safe, because I know you are, but I just want to spend every available minute with you… and your daughter.”
Jayme smiled. “I love you, Rex.”
Rex sat on the edge of the bed and took her hand. “I don’t just love you, Jayme… I’m in love with you. I’m in love with Bella…” Rex said and leaned over, pressing his lips to hers.
Jayme knew it was meant to be. She could feel it in her soul every time he kissed her. She knew this would be the man she would spend the rest of her life with.