Chapter 10
July 22nd, 2019
The first time Janis and Cady saw their daughter, they both cried. It had been over a year of planning, researching, and filling out paperwork, but when the baby girl was finally in her mothers' embrace, Janis knew it had all been worth it.
"Hi, Emma," Janis whispered softly as her daughter gazed up at her with big brown eyes not unlike Janis's own. They'd decided to name her after Cady's cousin, the only person in Cady's entire family that had come to their wedding.
They should have slept on the plane ride home, but instead, both women stayed awake and marveled at the way Emma's eyelids fluttered when she dreamt.
"What do you think she's dreaming about?" Cady asked softly. She was curled up next to Janis, her head resting on her wife's shoulder as Janis cradled the baby.
"She's dreaming about how amazing her life with her new lesbian moms is going to be," Janis whispered back.
"I'm bi. And I'm pretty sure her brain isn't developed enough to understand what's happening to her yet."
"Shut up, she's a genius."
Cady laughed. "And you didn't want kids."
"That's not what I said."
"Really? Because that's how I remember it."
"No, I said I didn't want a bunch of obnoxious brats running around my house, and then you said there didn't have to be a bunch, just one, and she wouldn't be obnoxious if we raised her right, and I said fine but I refuse to get knocked up."
"Ah, yes, now I'm remembering." Cady smiled into Janis's jacket. "Are you happy?"
Janis kissed the top of Cady's head. "Yes. This moment makes the top five list of the happiest moments of my life."
"What are the other four?"
"Kissing you for the first time, proposing to you, our wedding day, and the first time I ate Damian's grandma's lasagna."
Cady gave her a look. "Lasagna? Really?"
"Clearly you never tried it. It was fucking heaven, I swear."
Cady covered Emma's ears. "Watch your fucking language, bitch."
Janis laughed, then looked down at her wife. "What about you? Are you happy?"
Cady sighed contentedly, laying a hand over Emma's tiny one. "Yes," she said simply.
They'd been home for less than an hour when Damian burst into their apartment, demanding to see his "niece".
"Damian," Janis groaned. "It's like midnight."
"It's eleven fifty-two, and y'all didn't call when you landed like you promised you would, so I had no choice but to show up here and make sure that you were alive."
Cady wandered into the living room, holding Emma. "Damian, go home to your boyfriend."
"Husband. And not before I see my niece."
Cady sighed and held Emma out to him. "Be gentle."
Damian squealed and took Emma into his arms. "She's so cute," he cooed.
Janis and Cady smiled at each other as Damian cradled their daughter. "I love you," Cady whispered.
Janis wrapped an arm around Cady's shoulders. "I love you too."
Damian passed Emma back to Cady. "I'm going to spoil her so bad."
Cady rolled her eyes. "You and Janis both. I'm going to be the only responsible adult around."
"Regina," Damian pointed out. "She's been forty since she was seventeen."
"But can you imagine her around children?" Janis shuddered.
Cady smirked up at her. "We used to say the same thing about you."
Janis gasped in mock offense. "Rude."
The three friends chatted for a long time before Cady excused herself to go put Emma to bed. Janis watched her go, a faint smile on her lips.
Damian gave Janis a long look. "I'm really happy for you, you know."
Janis sighed contentedly. "Thanks, Dam."
"If only your eighth grade self could see you now, huh?" He nudged her shoulder gently. Janis chuckled.
"She'd probably be like 'ew, feelings, gross'."
Damian rolled her eyes. "You know what I mean. You never expected this, did you?"
Janis shrugged. "No. I didn't think... well, I couldn't possibly have predicted her. Cady, I mean. Don't tell Regina I said this, but she did me a giant favor when she helped us get together."
"Pretty sure Regina already knows that, but okay."
Janis shook her head, smiling. "Yeah, you're probably right."
Damian kissed her on the cheek. "Alright, I'd better go home. I love you."
"Love you too." Janis waited until Damian was out the door, then crept softly into her and Cady's room. Cady was sprawled on the bed, asleep, Emma curled up on her chest. Janis smiled to herself and gently pulled a blanket over the sleeping girls. She climbed into bed beside Cady and switched off the light. She placed a hand over Emma's tiny back and let the soft rhythm of her daughter's breathing lull her to sleep.