Total pages in book: 147
Estimated words: 148949 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 745(@200wpm)___ 596(@250wpm)___ 496(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 148949 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 745(@200wpm)___ 596(@250wpm)___ 496(@300wpm)
To me, it sucked to fire women because of the look of their breasts. I felt like I was body shaming them. I imagined the women going home, rushing to the bathroom, snatching up their shirts, and assessing their breasts with tears as they tried to figure out what was wrong with them.
The next hour, Emilio’s doctor arrived with the lactation specialist, Dr. Ivy, who had a gentle voice and inviting smile. Together, they further narrowed the group down to five women.
Then, we needed Emilio to make the final decision. Blue ordered his guards to bring him up.
Minutes passed, and then Baba entered, carrying Emilio in her arms.
Harlem and Paolo followed, covered in dirt and grass.
I curved my lips into a smile. “You two have been enjoying yourself today.”
Paolo bobbed his head. “Hunting.”
“Awesome.” I lowered, gave Paolo a big hug, and then ruffled Harlem’s ears. “Are you ready to go on a big trip today?”
Paolo bobbed his head.
“Already, you have seen more places than I had at your age.” I kissed him on the cheek, rose, and then turned to Baba.
To my surprise, she had a sad expression as she handed Emilio to me.
I cradled Emilio in my arms. “Are you okay, Baba?”
“I am.”
“But. . .did something happen?”
“Ask your lion.” Without saying anything else, she grabbed Paolo’s small hand and guided him away.
Wagging his tail, Harlem hurried after them.
O-kay. What the fuck is Kaz up to now?
Blue and I watched her exit.
Emilio gurgled.
I smiled at him and then turned to Blue. “What do you think is wrong with Baba?”
“I have no idea, but I will look into it.”
“Is Kaz here?”
“I will find that out too.”
“Good.” I slowly rocked Emilio with my arms, happy that he was in a good mood and not fussing. “Blue, we are hours from leaving, I don’t need any bullshit before we go.”
“I am on it.” Blue pulled out her phone and left the room.
Dr. Ivy came over. “Are we ready, Emily?”
I nodded.
She carefully took Emilio from me.
He began to whimper.
“Oh, baby.” I made sure I remained in his view. “We just need you to do something.”
Dr. Ivy rocked him. “Mr. Solonik.”
I smirked.
Dr. Ivy smiled at him. “It is time for you to pick, and this is a very important decision. You will be with this person a lot.”
Nervousness surged through me. Then, a sharp pang of jealousy knotted in my chest.
The idea of another woman putting her breast in my son’s mouth suddenly hit me. It was odd how I hadn’t realized that clear fact until this moment.
Remember. Breastmilk will be better for him than formula.
I couldn’t remember much of my childhood, but I guessed that my parents didn’t have the grand resources to hire a wet nurse like I did.
And I doubted that my mother even researched milk and how to give me the best nutrients.
But I had an insurmountable number of resources at my fingertips, I would use it all to give Emilio a better life than I had.
While formula milk had been good enough for me, my son would get better.
And. . .I will be better than my parents. . .in every way.
Plus, there were other things.
I thought back to what Delphine had said to me.
“You got to stop breastfeeding too.” Delphine crunched on something as if she were snacking on chips or nuts. “What I’ll be giving you and putting inside your body, you don’t want that to seep into the milk and have that baby grow up different.”
I shuddered at the memory.
What the hell was this woman going to give me?
My heart raced.
Stop it. Focus on now.
Sighing, I walked over with Dr. Ivy and Emilio.
And the final process began.
One by one the women sat in my rocking chair, brought my squirming son to their breast, and guided his tiny mouth into place with gentle fingers.
For most of them, Emilio cried and twisted his head away, refusing their attempts. He simply was not having it. Loud cries bellowed from his little lips.
Oh, baby.
I headed over to get him.
Dr. Ivy held up her hand. “It is alright, Emily. This may be hard to watch, but this is how it must be done.”
“Maybe, I’m making a mistake.”
“Emilio will pick soon.”
I swallowed down my fear.
Soon, Dr. Ivy proved to be correct.
Two wet nurses passed Emilio’s test. They both easily calmed him down, found the correct angles, and coaxed him into suckling.
Emilio drank from both and by the second one, he fell asleep.
My little lion.
Even more intriguing, the two women that Emilio chose happened to be the only ones with my dark brown complexion. I wondered if their skin color was what made Emilio more comfortable, or perhaps it was all in my mind.
“It appears that we have tired him out.” Dr. Ivy handed Emilio over to me. “But, he did an amazing job.”
I cradled my son and studied the two women.