"I had four," said Lucille. She gazed at the sleeping newborn wrapped around the woman's chest.
"Did you?" asked the mother. She retrieved her three-year-old from entering Silvia's room. Silvia would've screamed for hours; it was good the mother was quick. "How did you manage?" She gave a pleading look.
"Hard to remember." Lucille gazed at the sleeping bundle. "But you seem to be doing fine."
The mother chuckled. "That's kind of you." Her smile faded. "I'm not sure sometimes." She glanced down the hallway softly bouncing the sleeping child. "Karl is visiting his grandmother. She gets tired of us all packed in her room so I try to give them some time alone."
Lucille nodded. "My grandkids live in California. Too far away to visit," she defended. By the look on the young mother's face, she knew she hadn't been convincing.
The woman hurried off several more times collecting her three active children from racing down the nursing home hallway. This time she made them sit in chairs and handed them plastic toys hidden inside her purse. This pacified them for a bit. She wiped a strand of auburn hair out of her eyes perspiring from the exertion. When she sat down the sleeping baby awoke. It began to squirm and kick. She let out an audible sigh.
"May I?" asked Lucille.
The mother smiled with relief. "Yes." She unwound the baby sling and handed the fragile child into Lucille's arms.
Lucille rocked the pink footed baby. The small face gazed at her and raised an arm aimlessly. Lucille savored the newborn scent. She lifted the girl's face next to hers and started to kiss the delicate cheek. Then paused. "Do you mind if I--" Lucille faltered. It seemed odd asking.
"Of course not," said the mother as she pulled a toddler into her lap.
Lucille put withered lips against the baby's cheek and kissed the delicious softness.
