「 The Professor & I 」VOLUME II

(290) Motherhood

Lynn's POV

The couple floating on cloud nine clearly had no eyes for any other souls besides each other as they openly and passionately kissed in front of all of us. While I was certainly not as eager as their dramatic peers who pretended to be wholly disgusted by their public display of affection, my body was the one launching a silent protest that necessitated a premature conclusion of their romantic adventures.

"I think you better take her, Scott," I appealed quietly, readily recognising the tingling progressively plaguing my arm to be ominously precarious.

"Are you alright, Lynn?" Jean prodded, trouble prancing around her face, as Scott promptly relieved my arms of the little yet heavy bundle of joy.

"It's just getting numb and I can't afford to be losing another limb right now," I joked casually, discreetly flexing my muscles, when Charles conscientiously massaged them, slowly easing the stinging and stiffness.

"I guess everyone's tired so visiting hours are officially over. Go back, get some sleep,and you're welcome to come back again tomorrow morning," Addison announced in a jovial tone.

Carefully taking over Rachel, Addison delicately rested her into the crib conveniently positioned by Jean's bed and Jean plopped lazily to her pillows, snuggling herself comfortably under the duvet.

"Except for you, my friend. Mommy duties start right now," Addison reminded with a wink and Jean sighed, pouting towards Scott.

"I can't exactly help you there," Scott commented awkwardly and the others scurried out, noticing Addison preparing feeding materials for Jean.

Despite understanding her imperative and irreplaceable role, Jean laid limply on the bed as the adrenaline powering her earlier completely depleted, exposing her to the true exhaustion of natural child birth. She whined in frustration that was plausibly the work of her hormonal imbalance but all I saw was the tenacious emergence of the innately obstinate girl within.

You're a mother now, Jean. I'm sure you can endure a little less sleep for your little girl, right? I pleaded, rolling up to her slouchy posture and lightly squeezed her palm yet she looked at me, feeble and reluctant.

Motherhood may be a woman's charter, but not every one of us gets that privilege. You should cherish it, really, I urged in a benevolent tone, gazing at her kindly, and she sluggishly flipped herself onto her side, cupping my hand with a fretful frown.

You're sure this is not upsetting you? Jean probed tentatively.

I'm more than glad to have Rachel around, don't you worry, I asserted with a confident smile.

Let's just hope she doesn't have her uncle's genes, I commented, subtly rolling my eyes, and Jean chuckled, beaming as gloriously as the sun shining high.

"Thank you, Lynn. I love you," Jean mumbled, purposely mimicking her favourite kiddish tone that never failed to tickle me since she was young.

"Me too. Good night," I conveyed heartily and swiveled my chair around, briskly wheeling towards Charles.

"Everything alright?" Charles asked politely, tenderly caressing my skull.

"Just fine," I answered in a chipper mood and enthusiastically egged him back to our room.

Although sentimental, the unusual occasion did not entail any significant alterations to our daily routines and I headed to clean myself normally while Charles patiently entertained himself with a novel. As we switched roles and he entered the bath, I discreetly travelled down to the cellar, picking up one of his esteemed Merlots and two glasses.