The weekend went with no unfavorable events. Brody’s parents’ visit made the day fly by as they stayed till after dinner.
On Monday morning, Maddie woke up bright and strong and pushed herself up to a sitting position. When she checked for the time, it was a few minutes before four. She got up from the bed and went to sit on the couch with her bible in hand. She was ready to let go, and she prayed that morning for a long time about it, asking God to give her the grace to love her mother.
At around six-thirty, Brody came to join her and they had their morning devotion. After their prayers, he told her how proud he was of the action she had taken that morning. He had listened to her praying for a long moment before he went to join her.
“I am so proud of you,” he hugged and kissed her.
She put her head on his chest and just smiled.
Few hours later, as she and her mother finished eating breakfast, she told her, “Mom, I want to show you the nursery.”
It surprised Laure. “You want to show me the nursery?” She blinked twice, turning to stare into Maddie’s face.
“Yes,” Maddie smiled at the look of surprise on her mother’s face. “Come mom.”
Lauren, her heart brimming with joy and anticipation, followed Maddie into the room next to the master bedroom.
Sunlight streamed through the window, illuminating a soft, cloud-like rug beneath a whimsical mobile of painted wooden birds. A rocking chair, draped in a floral print, beckoned with silent promises of lullabies.
“This is beautiful,” her mom whispered, placing her hand on her chest.
“You like it?” Maddie asked in a voice tinged with a mixture of excitement and pride.
“I love it.” Lauren’s eyes welled up. She nodded. “It’s beautiful, Maddie.”
The beauty of the room blew Lauren’s mind away. She moved around.
The crib, painted white, was adorned with a mint green and lavender hand-stitched baby quilt. A small, wooden bookshelf held a collection of books for babies, their pages filled with stories waiting for the little one that was coming.
The room was decorated in green, yellow and white colors : therefore it was not possible to know the gender of the baby.
“You’ve got good taste,” she chuckled and looked into Maddie’s eyes. “Just like me?”
“Yes, like you,” she agreed with her mother. “Dad always tells me that.”
“Huh…” Lauren nodded. “Can I open the closet?” Maddie asked and hesitated a bit.
“Yes, mom,” Maddie put a hand on her mother’s back. “Go ahead, open it.”
She opened it and liked the way the dresses and other stuff were arranged.
“Did you do these by yourself?” She inquired.
“Yes, I did,” she beamed at her mother. “Though I had to watch loads of videos on YouTube.”
“You did so great,” Lauren commented. “You can turn this into a very profitable business, you know.” She cocked her head to one side, the way she used to do when Maddie was little.
“You know, Cody said something like that too,” she shrugged. “I will give it a thought after I have my baby. The college here offers interior decor and designs on the postgraduate level. Maggie, I will put in for that a start.”
“Yes, I think you should.” Her Mom placed a hand on her shoulder. “It’s a good start.”
“Will you come with me to the antenatal tomorrow?” Maddie asked her mom perceptively.
“Of course,” Lauren beamed, happy that things were actually changing between herself and her daughter.
“Okay, Mom. Its ten am tomorrow.”
“I will be ready,” she nodded. “Maybe I will go shopping the day after tomorrow. I have to shop for the baby, too.” She announced as she closed the closet door.
“You want to shop for the baby?” Her hand automatically went to her belly. The usual irritation towards her mother brewed up in her. “No mom, you don’t have to. As you can see, all the baby needs and more are here already.”
“You are joking, right?” Lauren asked in astonishment, eyes widened. “How in God’s name do you expect me not to get anything for my grandchild?” She smiled and touched her chest. “My very first grandchild at that.”
Maddie wanted to argue, but she squeezed her face and sat down heavily on the sofa. Her mother rushed to her side in a jiffy, “are you okay, honey?”
“It’s the nausea that has started again,” she explained.
“O sorry, what do you normally take for relief?”. l
“I usually munch on some crackers and maybe a cup of herbal tea,” she told her mom.
“Let’s go to the kitchen,” Lauren said. “I will make a cup of tea for you.”
“Okay mom.”
Lauren put a hand on her daughter’s back and guided her to the kitchen. In the kitchen, she set about making mint tea for her and also got her some crackers.
It was all strange to her, watching her mother fussing around to make sure she was comfortable. She did not even allow the chef to do anything.
“Can you see now?” her inner voice started, “if you give her the chance, she will give you all you have lost.” She smiled at herself and sniffled a yawn.
By the time the tea was ready, she was immensely relieved. She wanted to go to the bedroom to lie down, but somehow she felt a pull towards her mother, just like when she was a little girl before her mother moved out. So she stayed, and they started talking.
At some point, she felt the need to remind her mom again not to get the baby anything.
“So you mean this?” Lauren’s face flushed all over. “Do you hate me that much, Maddie?”
“Mom,” she whispered. “It’s not like that.”
“I thought we were putting the past behind us,” her voice shook as she spoke. Tears welled up in her eyes. “Am trying all my best to amend the past, but you are so bent on punishing me…..”
She paused, not wanting to say anything she would regret.
“Maddie, you are my only child.” She stood up. “I love you like no other one. I made a mistake, yes. But I’m trying to make amends and you wouldn’t allow me.” She looked straight into Maddie’s eyes before she walked back to the guest room.