Obsession (Endurance) by Shayne McClendon

rising with Katie in
his arms.  He smiled at me, “Sleep, Ellie.  It’s still early. 
She’s wet.  I’m going to change her and get her a bottle.”
    Jordan
turned and moved his legs, stretching them out along my body and pulling my
upper body higher to lie on his chest.  His hand smoothed through my hair
and down my back over and over again.  “Sleep, Ellie.” 
    My
cheek was over his heart and I was hypnotized by the strong, steady beat.
 I didn’t remember the last time I’d slept so much without
medication.  I was disoriented but not stressed in any way.
    I
found my reaction strange since I’d spent a large portion of the last hours
snuggling with both Jonas and Jordan.  My body was alongside Jordan’s, my
knee over his thigh, my arm over his waist.  That he was playing with my
hair told me he was awake.  I lifted my head to look at him. 
    “You
are achingly beautiful, Ellie.”
    “No…I…thank
you.”  He lifted his other hand slowly and traced along my cheek.  I
know there had never been a time in my life when touch had affected me as much
as the touch of Jordan and Jonas.  I went up on my knees beside his
torso. 
    He
picked up my hand, holding it palm down over his heart so I could feel it thump
against his sternum.  Neither of us spoke. 
    Jonas
approached from the dining area and leaned over the back of the couch on his
forearms.  “Do you feel rested, Ellie?”  I nodded and he picked up my
other hand, kissing the back and wrapping it in both of his.  “You must be
hungry.  Si is making those fruit crepes you like with fresh cream.” 
    Then
he leaned over and scooped me up, being careful to tuck my dress around my legs
as he lifted me over the back of the couch and put me on my feet. 
    In
one fluid movement, Jordan bounded over the back of the couch and landed beside
his brother.  He raked my hair back from my temples and dropped all of it
down my back.  He gave me a gentle kiss on my forehead then he nudged me
from the room to get ready for the day. 
    I
somehow managed to make it to my room without tripping.
    At
breakfast, I had a long talk with Robyn and we established what she was looking
for in her position and what expectations I had for her. 
    Katie
sat in her reclined baby seat beside me and I tended to keep a hand on
her.  When she got a case of the hiccups, I picked her up with a smile and
patted her back until she fell asleep. 
    “You’re
really very good with her, Ellie,” Robyn said approvingly.
    I
blushed.  “I’m probably one of the most clueless moms on the planet. 
I know nothing about little kids.  She makes it easy on me though.” 
    That
was the truth.  Had she been sickly or a big crier there’s no telling how
lost I’d feel on an hourly basis.  “Once she hits three or four, I’ll feel
more familiar.  Once she can ride, I’ll really feel like I know what I’m
doing.”
    Robyn
leaned against the table on her arms.  “I’ve met a lot of parents
over the years, Ellie.  You are far from clueless.  Most parents from
money foist their kids off on others like a burden to get off their
hands.  My own parents were that way.  I bet you didn’t even want a
nanny, huh?”
    “I
realized my ignorance could be dangerous if there were a situation.  I
wanted one person who only focused on Katie during an emergency. 
Not me, not my parents, just my baby.”  Katie opened her eyes and smiled
when her gaze landed on mine.  “You look more like Grandma every
day.  So pretty.  I can see the purple coming out in your eyes. 
Get older, just a little older, so I don’t feel like I’m going to break you,
Katie.” 
    She
laughed at me and I set her butt on the edge of the table, holding her where we
were eye-to-eye.  Then my daughter reached out and touched my face. 
I turned and kissed her little hand.  “What a good girl.” 
    Unintentionally
ignoring everyone at the table, I stood and walked outside to the tiled
patio.  The sun was