Teresa Southwick - With a Little T.L.C.

“A child’s needs versus intimacy is a dilemma that a lot of couples face,” Liz said. “Since we have a guest of the male persuasion, and access to his point of view, what do you think about asking him? Mr. Marchetti, would you care to comment?”

He stood and cleared his throat. “I’ve never been married, but my parents have been together for going on thirty-six years. According to my mother, it’s important for a man and woman to work on their relationship. That’s the foundation of the family. If it’s weak, the first crisis will topple everything.”

“Good advice,” Liz said, a subtle note of surprise in her voice. “But when you add a demanding new baby to the dynamic, whose needs take precedence? How do you deal with that? What about taking the child into bed?”

Joe watched the majority of women nod questioningly. Now he knew that Liz was putting him on the spot, deliberately testing him. He couldn’t blame her. This was her “baby,” her territory, her sphere of expertise. And he was a fish out of water. However, he’d always been a good test-taker. And he didn’t turn his back on a challenge. He had something to prove to Nurse Ratchett. Thinking back, he tried to remember what Rosie had said when her daughter was an infant.

He cleared his throat. “At bedtime start the baby out in his or her own bed. If they wake up during the night and it doesn’t look good for getting them to sleep easily, then you have to make a decision about whether or not to take them in with you.”

A general murmur went up as the women commented to each other. Since they were nodding their heads and smiling, Joe figured he’d done good.

Another woman raised her hand. “Mr. Marchetti, I like bringing the baby in bed with us. I want to know that he’s all right and to strengthen the family bonds. My husband doesn’t mind. But lately he’s been wondering when, you know, he and I can…well, you know,” she finished with a shrug and shy smile.

Keep it light, he told himself. Don’t let on that you’d rather be shooting hoops or pumping iron. Anything but advising new mothers about “you know.” “I guess you’re referring to what my mother calls ‘the wild thing.”’ They all laughed, easing the mood. “When the baby goes to sleep and the two of you are alone opportunity knocks. Answer the door,” he said simply.

“What if you have other children?” someone asked.

“If you’re lucky enough to have grandparents to take over, ask them for help and go to the cabin in the mountains like my folks did. If you don’t have that support, try to find a routine that puts the kids in bed early so that you and your husband have time for each other.”

Just then, Barbara’s baby, who had finished eating, began to wail. She stood and rocked him from side to side. “It’s not easy to find a routine. Every time we do, the master,” she said glancing at the unhappy infant, “changes the rules.”

“Mind if I try?” he asked. After fielding the questions he just had, he figured he’d take his chances with the little guy.

“Are you kidding?” Barbara answered. “Be my guest.” She held out the child.

Joe walked over to her and took Tommy from her arms. It had been a while since his niece had been this small. At first he felt awkward, holding the warm body in the bend of his elbow. The little fella’s face scrunched into an unhappy look as he started to whimper. Uneasily, Joe raised the infant up onto his shoulder. No dice.

The cry increased in intensity. It was almost as if the child knew he was in unfamiliar arms. Joe didn’t know what else to do but rock those arms—already feeling the burn—back and forth. Nada. The cry escalated into a full-blown scream.

“Just talk amongst yourselves,” he said above the crying. “Tommy and I will take a stroll around the room. If that’s okay with you,” he said to the baby’s mother.

She nodded. “It’s you I’m worried about. He can keep this up for hours. How long can you hold out?”

“I’m tough,” he said with more confidence than he felt.

He started walking around the room. The baby’s ear-splitting wail slowed, but he still wouldn’t quiet. Joe stopped and instead of moving him from side to side, he commenced an up and down motion. Almost instantly the baby stopped crying. Every head in the room turned to look at him. When the quiet continued, jaws began to lower. Including Liz who stared at him as if he had two heads.

“I don’t believe it,” his mother said.

Neither do I, Joe wanted to chime in, but knew that would undermine his accomplishment. He wished he could take credit for the technique. But it was something he’d learned on his niece. He was glad he’d remembered. He hoped this was the final exam, the last test to show Liz that he had what it took to be in her program.

It was something he wanted to do. On top of that, as the Human Resources Director for Marchetti’s, Inc., he was conducting his own unofficial research to see if on-site child care was feasible. He was always searching for forward-looking ideas to benefit the employees.

“I’m impressed, Joe,” Liz said.

Was there a grudging note of respect mixed with the sincerity in her voice? He hoped so.

“Thank you,” he answered, handing a dozing Tommy back to his mother.

Another baby started to fuss. Joe remembered it was the baby with the shallow latch. Valerie. Her mother, Andie, looked at him pleadingly. “Want to go for two?” she asked hopefully.

“Sure.” He took the infant and tried the same technique. In a few minutes, the fussy child had calmed.

For the rest of the evening, he became the resident nanny. It gave the mothers an opportunity to listen without interruption to the group. It gave him a chance to prove something to Liz Anderson. He didn’t know why that was so important to him, he only knew it was.

When time was up, the mothers all filed out and he thought their spirits were lighter than when the evening had started. Their radiant smiles as they walked past him were a big clue. So this is what a women’s support group was all about, he thought. Their husbands must be grateful. He was looking forward to learning more about the program. Not to mention the intriguing and exceptionally cute Nurse Anderson.

Andie looked up at him. “Do you hire out your services?” she asked wistfully.

He shook his head. “Sorry.”

“Are you going to be here next week?” Barbara asked.

“I’ll have to check my schedule.”

“Your social calendar?” someone asked.

“And business,” he added.

Barbara smiled at him. “You would make a wonderful father, Joe. I can’t believe no woman has snapped you up.”

He shrugged as he looked at the group of new mothers. “All of you are already taken.”

Then he was alone with Liz. She was looking at him strangely. “That was an interesting experience.”

“Interesting good, or bad?” he asked crossing one ankle over the other as he leaned back against one of the gray plastic chairs.

“I’d have to say good,” she answered slowly.

“You don’t sound convinced. I think it was clear that they love me,” he said.

“Those women are so tired they would love Godzilla if he could give them a minute-and-a-half of peace and quiet.”

“Are you comparing me to the giant lizard who ate Tokyo?”

“If the shoe fits.” She laughed. “I’m kidding. There’s no question that you were wonderful tonight. A real hero.”

“Thank you, Ma’am.” Before she got a chance to cancel out her compliment with a zinger, his cell phone rang. He flipped it open and said, “Hello?”

“Joe? It’s Abby.”

“Oh, geez. Abby. We had a date, didn’t we?” He smacked his forehead. He’d agreed to meet her and help her pick out a wedding present for her fiancé, his brother Nick. “I’m about ten minutes away. I’ll be there as soon as I can. Sorry, Ab. I’ll make it up to you.”