Chapter Forty-Seven
When the nurse brought baby Daniel to Damian and aunt Sandra they couldn't stop the tears of happiness from trickling down their cheeks.
Baby Daniel was sleeping from the sheer exhaustion of the delivery. Damian didn't know how to carry such a tiny little human being so he only looked at him with wonder. Aunt Sandra carried him against her bosom and closed her eyes as a sense of pure happiness swept over her.
She and the nurse taught and helped Damian and at last, he was able to hold his baby to his heart. "Hey baby Daniel, won't you see your daddy?" He said softly and baby Daniel opened his eyes and stared at him. Damian was lost in his green baby eyes.
He closed his eyes and again went to sleep. Damian handed him over to his nurse who took him away to the nursery. Aunt Sandra and Damian went to Angela's room where she'd been shifted after her delivery.
A tired Angela smiled at them as they entered. Damian sat beside her and kissed her forehead. "How are you baby?" He asked tenderly.
"I'm fine, only exhausted, " she said with a tired smile. "Did you see Daniel?" She asked with an indulgent smile on her face.
"Yes, but he has green eyes," He said in confusion. "Yours are warm brown, mine is blue. Why does he have green eyes?"
"That's because his grandfather has green eyes," said aunt Sandra and they both gaped at her.
"You mean dad? Uncle Ronald's eyes are blue like Damian's. Aunt Erika has jet black eyes. Mom's and mine are warm browns. So the only one with green eyes in our family is dad. Daniel has dad's eyes," said Angela, thinking hard.
"Yes, that's what it looks like. Nature has proved that you are after all his daughter, else Daniel would never have inherited his eyes," said aunt Sandra.
Angela smiled as sleep and exhaustion overcame her and she closed her eyes to rest. Damian smiled at her and kissing her forehead, left with aunt Sandra to go home.
The next day around noon, Damian was very excited to get Angela and his baby discharged. They were healthy and normal and so would be discharged soon. Damian had called Arnold and Alex last night and informed them. Alex and Adam were on their way to Rollingwood.
Arnold and Clara would arrive over the weekend. He called Xavion and informed him in the morning before going to the hospital. He would arrive later in the day.
He and aunt Sandra went to the hospital to bring them home. He along with aunt Sandra had bought all the baby things that they might need before arriving at the hospital.
"I'm so glad to be home," said Angela, breathing in the warm, homely smell that she had grown so accustomed to.
"We're more glad that you're home with Daniel, " said aunt Sandra.
Angela freshened up and went to her room to feed Daniel before he fell asleep. Aunt Sandra went to take a shower. Damian followed Angela and quickly freshened up. He lay down beside her as she sat on the bed against the headboard with a feeding pillow around her. He watched as baby Daniel latched onto her breasts holding the other one possessively with his baby hands and sucked hungrily.
"He's gone after me. He too loves it just like I do," he sighed. Angela grinned at him.
"No silly. This is all babies can have, breastmilk, till they're six months old. No water even," she informed him and he digested the piece of information.
"Okay, so I can't touch you for that long?" he asked with a sigh.
"Only for 15 days. We can lead a normal life after that," she explained and his eyes brightened up.
He watched baby Daniel indulgently as Angela burped him. "Do you want to take him?" She asked and he nodded eagerly. He sat cross-legged on the bed and took his baby in his arms.
"Hey, baby Daniel. You know me, don't you? I'm your daddy," he said, suddenly scrunching up his nose. "Hey Angel, what's that disgusting smell?" He asked in confusion.
"Daniel might have farted or pooped. I've to check him," she said.
"He drinks only milk yet his fart smells so disgusting, " commented Damian.
"Everyone's fart smells disgusting, " said Angela.
"Mine doesn't, " said Damian with a grin.
"Shut up Damian," she said, rolling her eyes. Damian handed his baby to her.
He watched hypnotized as Angela cleaned him and changed him. "How do you know exactly what to do Angel?" He asked, impressed by her.
"They taught me at the hospital. Otherwise, it's maternal instincts that teach you everything, " she said with a smile as she played with Daniel.
"Amazing. You're the best mom, Angel. I'm so proud of you, " he said. Angela kissed his cheek.
"Thank you and you're the best dad," she said and he glowed with pride.
"You really think so?" He asked.
"I know so," she said and they hugged one another while Daniel stared at them. Later Angela put him to sleep in his cot. Aunt Sandra brought Angela her lunch in her room. Damian and aunt Sandra too ate with her.
Angela went to sleep out of exhaustion. Alex and Adam arrived after a while and so did Xavion. While Xavion had to return back, Angela's brothers would stay the night. Angela woke up after two hours and talked to Xavion and her brothers. Xavion took pictures of a sleeping Daniel and returned home. His company had been sinking under his uncle's guidance and now he had to pull it up to its previous glory. It was a huge responsibility considering that he was just a teenager.
After four hours Daniel woke up and Alex and Adam took his pictures. "He has dad's eyes. Now we'll frame Daniel's pictures and hang them in our living room for dad to see. He'll have to agree now that he was wrong and mom was right. It's crystal clear that Angie's his daughter," said Adam, clapping his hands with happiness.
Alex agreed too and they enjoyed the time together. They went back and Arnold and Clara came over during the weekend. They were overjoyed to see baby Daniel. They had got married six months ago. Angela and Damian couldn't attend their wedding since her dad was present and they didn't want a family scene in front of all guests.
The next 24 hours went by amidst lots of enjoyment. Arnold also felt that baby Daniel inherited their dad's eyes. He swore that he would arrive every month and click his pictures and send them to his dad for him to see and repent.
After they left, Angela noticed that aunt Sandra wasn't her usual self. She was pale and gloomy and reticent. She spent more time in her own room. Angela told Damian and he too felt that aunt Sandra wasn't happy as she was before.
At the dinner table, Angela couldn't stop herself from asking her what the matter was. "Aunt Sandra, are you sick?" She asked and aunt Sandra's strained face looked up at her.
"No, no dear. I'm fine, " she said.
"No, you're not. Please tell me. I'm worried about you," said Angela.
"Yes, mom. Tell us please what's wrong with you," said Damian, and aunt Sandra couldn't stop herself anymore.
"Now, Gerard will see the pictures of Daniel and accept you both back. You both will leave Rollingwood and my house and go away to your home. I know I'm happy for you but I think I shall miss you a lot, " she said as a tear trickled down her cheek.
"Mom, who says that we will leave you all alone here and leave?" Asked Damian.
"You won't?" She asked in disbelief.
"Of course we won't. Who do you have in Rollingwood to stay back for? You will come along with me and stay at my house with me, Angela and Daniel. Won't you want to live with your son?" He asked with surprise.
"You will take me with you?" Asked aunt Sandra in surprise.
"Of course we will, aunt Sandra. Won't you want to play with Daniel and his siblings?" Asked Angela and aunt Sandra hugged Damian who was sitting beside her. Angela got up and hugged her too.
"Thank you, children. You both mean the world to me," she said, smiling happily.
"You mean the world to us too, aunt Sandra, " said Angela.
They finished dinner and retired to their rooms happily. Damian and Angela lay cuddled with each other.
"Do you really feel that dad would accept us now?" Asked Angela.
"I don't know Angel but after 2-3 months, we shall get married. I want to give our relationship a permanence," he stated with conviction.
"Yes, I think we've waited enough. Once Daniel's 4 months old, he'll be strong enough and we can get married," agreed Angela. She had also given up hope of her father ever accepting their relationship.
The next morning, Alex and Adam fixed a framed picture of baby Daniel with his parents in their living room. Another picture they kept over the fireplace mantel. They left for work with happy smiles on their faces.