Nurse Madison brought Ebbie in from the nursery for her next feeding, Joanna lifted the baby and gave it to Marci. Madison said to Marci, “Let her drink from one breast,” she paused, “In a few minutes let her nurse from the other; it is important that she gets the colostrum. We call it liquid gold because of the nutrients and antibodies it provides.”

Marci gently but firmly held Ebbie, “I can’t believe my womb went undetected all this time.” When the nurse unlatched Ebbie from the first breast, Ebba began to cry out loud. That was followed by a soft cooing sound. Ebbie found the left nipple and began drinking again. Nurse Madison said, “It looks like mother and baby get along well.” Madison said tomorrow or the next day and your milk will be fully coming in.”

Marci said, “You mean my breasts are going to get even bigger? How will she be able to suckle the nipple will have trouble fitting in her cute little mouth?”

Marguerite said, “The time will soon be here when the baby clamping down on your tit will cause you pain and your eyes to water.”

Marci’s Mom said, “Let her have these idyllic times. Marci needs to develop a strong bond with Ebbie. She didn’t grow up with dreams of having her baby and nursing her. Max was sensitive for a boy; he wasn’t interested in playing with his sister Catherine or her dolls. Even when he was out of school and he went to wearing tube tops to keep his male breasts from showing; I never heard him considering they were his breasts.”

Joanna asked, “Marci was that true? I’m sure when they became sensitive and aroused, you must have thought something.”

Marci didn’t want to talk about it. “That was all in the past; it was and is personal.”

Joanna slid sitting next to Marci, and asked, “I’d like to ask everyone to go; Marci needs her time and some rest.” Once the room was empty, it was time for Marci to get up and walk around. She would have liked to walk the hall, but she walked into the room and sat. Joanna walked with Ebbe and sang her a song. Marci and Joanna sang together and were amused with Ebbie moving her eyes toward one mother and the other.

The two women talked, and Marci mentioned her breasts, “Can you believe it; my breasts are as large as my sister’s? The nurse said my breast milk won’t be fully in until tomorrow or the next day. I thought with the birth of Ebbie my baby bump would fully be gone.”

Joanna giggled, “You knew better than that.” Looking at Marci and seeing her puzzled face, she asked again, “Didn’t you?”

Marci began to tear, pools of water in her eyes, “My momma never asked if they were sensitive; if I ever felt even a little like a girl.” She paused and looked at Bobbi, “Yes, I read the book about my breast milk taking a day or two, but they are already bigger. I thought my milk came earlier than usual; the book said that also can happen. I’m embarrassed I feel so naïve.” The tears began to flow; Joanna sat next to her and hugged her.

“You are a great Mommy, and I couldn’t be any prouder or more in love with you than I am now. I should have read more with you. We should have talked more. I’m sorry I presumed too much too early.” She asked, “How can I make it up to you.”

Joanna giggled, “I thought it was so cute, you changing Ebbie’s diapers. I was envious of you.”

Marci giggled, “Someone said she’s going to become a pooping and wetting machine. But she’s a beautiful angel; she’s our first little angel.”

Bobbie said, “I am so glad we decided names before everyone gave their opinions. There is only one Ebbie that I know and she is precious. How do you like raising a little Freyja?”

Marci pondered the thought, then asked, “At what age will she begin to have the powers of a goddess?”

Bobbi said, “I was nine when I made the water in my little pool cause to form a wave and spill over. I didn’t know it was me who did it until I spun my fingers and formed a water spout. I’m told it was usually when a girl was twelve ready to become a young teen… I have a thirty-six-year-old cousin Jora Freyja in Norway who has the powers of the goddess. Once she was in the States and I knew it our minds linked. Like me, she’s strong-willed. She has not been blessed like me to find someone who wasn't turned off by her gifts and strength.”

Marci laughed, “You aroused me; helped me to feel alive and accepting of myself. Yes, you overwhelmed me, but I was excited by that. I could see a young man falling in love with a woman like that. I saw myself as a man. It is my seed that fertilized your embryos. I changed the more I desired you and to be the woman whose breasts we desired when we made love. Besides, I look more like a woman horse rider.”

There was a knock on the door and the voice asking to come in was Christine; Marci’s sister. She cracked open the door and said, “Hi, Marci, you look beautiful for giving birth yesterday. I am here to give the three of you a ride home.” The parents had left; Johann had taken Joanna’s F-250. The two Moms were to be over bright and early in the morning.

A nurse had brought Ebbie in for Marci to nurse. Christine was wide-eyed as little Ebbie suckled her sister’s breast. Christine said, “I hear Mom won’t admit to your breast exciting you.” Chris turned to Joanna, “I am the one who introduced Max to tube tops to be worn under sweatshirts and sweaters… I laughed when Max told me of you pushing next to the stable. That had to be freeing for someone not to be turned off by his being transgendered.”

Christine took Ebbie to be burped as Marci was ready to switch breasts. Marci finds Christine a breath of fresh air in comparison to his mother. She is more likely to take Christy’s advice and enjoy talking more with her.

Marci is sitting in the back seat with Ebbie safely nestled in the car seat for her newborn. The nurse had checked the seat and made sure it was fashioned properly. Marci regretted she did not get to hold Ebbie in the SUV. Joanna and Christine wanted the seat turned around so they could see Ebbie. Being home with Ebbie was a cause for great delight. Grandma’s Beth and Marguerite had cleaned the house and made it a joy to come home to.

The food was welcomed after hospital food, and as Joanna said, “We didn’t have to cook it, and hopefully not clean up after.” It was even welcomed that the grandmothers would each have one turn at changing Ebbie’s diapers. Grandfather Manfred had handmade a cradle that would serve well in the room with Marci and Bobbi tonight. I was carrying Ebbie wrapped in a blanket. There was a small mattress that fitted the cradle snuggly. I put Ebbie in it and rubbed my hands over the beautiful cradle. I could see his stained hands as they polished the wood. I could see the grain of the wood; seeing Ebbie lying there, tears came to my eyes. I felt Joanna’s hands on my shoulders and arms. Ebbie looked at us and smiled. Supposedly, it was too early for her to recognize us, but her smile touched us deeply. Joanna hugged me, “She loves her Mommy.”

I whispered, “I’m the one who carried and birthed her, but she is from you. When did those toes and fingers take shape? I saw your baby photos and the shape of her lips are from you.”

Joanna watched Ebbie's face turn red which meant she was pooping. She laid out a changing mat and began changing her. It was then a little fountain of pee leaked out of her and ruined a new diaper. Her bottom needed to be cleaned and wrapped with a new diaper.

I said, “You know a year and a half ago none of this would have excited me like it does now.”

We had changed for bed, and usually would watch a program, or listen to music; tonight we laid the wrong way in bed, I cuddled in Joanna’s arms, both watching Ebbie sleep. Joanna got our pillows and at 2:00 in the morning I woke with a comforter over me and Joanna cradling the baby to my right breast.

I sat up fed our little girl and walked her until she burped. I had more milk than Ebbie was hungry for. I pumped both breasts, getting a small bottle from each. I was in the living room leaning back against my mother. It was another precious moment captured only in my mind.

Someone had walked up on our porch and stood there; deciding if they should knock. They had seen the lights in the house. I got up and as I walked to the door, I recognized the silhouette of Aya. I asked, “Aya are you all right?”

She said, “I was returning from a rescue and I saw your lights on.”

I said, “Come on in. We’ll put on a pot of coffee and I’ll cradle the baby so you can enjoy seeing her.”

Aya came into the house but said she couldn’t stay. My Mom and I both saw that Aya was too tired to be going anywhere. My Mom made up the sofa bed, and I got a night shirt and panties got Aya to change into after she showered. She argued with us every step of the way until my Mom said, “You never expected to change into Max’s nightshirt and sleepover.”

Ebbie must have known that Aya wanted to see me nursing my baby. The picture she took with her fancy iPhone was one of the best pictures of me nursing Ebbie. Marci smiled, “I thought it would have been me watching you, but I saw this in a dream when I was thirteen.”

“That is impossible,” said Aya.

Marci said, “No, it was your birthday and a snowstorm forced me to sleep at your house. Your mother woke me up because I was crying and said it can’t be, it can’t be!”

Aya said, “My mother told me about that after you finally went home.”

It was months later, Marci was watching Aya’s Elena and Connor while Aya was making a presentation about rescues in the Finger Lakes region. Connor now five was running a fever over 103 F. Marci cried out for Joanna, but she couldn’t hear her. Ebbie started to cry and Joanna could hear that and came to the house.

Joanna said, “I know how to give ice baths, but there is something different we would need to do for such a young boy. Let’s get him to the County Hospital.” Joanna was ready to leave with the boy, but Marci felt Elena's head and she too was now running a fever.

Joanna insisted all three children go and get checked out; Marci sat in the third row of their SUV with Ebbie in her infant seat. Marci had cool damp clothes for the three girls, while Joanna was driving and had a wet cloth for Connor.

Marci had called ahead, and Dr. Jayne Cunning O.B. had the staff and lab ready to process the children. Aya was contacted in Geneva, New York, and flew back via a helicopter. Elena and Connor had a dust parasitic infection. Their bodies needed to be cooled down to combat their fevers. Dr. Jayne gave them antibiotic injections as informed by the National Center for Disease Control in Atlanta, GA.

It was not determined if the infection came from the Freyja or Long home. But both homes took the needed precautions at their homes.

By the time the children were admitted overnight Jerry and Aya were both there. Jerry admitted that he would have been overwhelmed if it happened while alone.

Marci talked to Bobbi about her coming to the house; “I was afraid you didn’t hear me yell for you?”

Bobbi said, “Somehow, I knew Ebbie was upset and crying. That caused me to come to find out what was happening.”

Marci hugged Bobbi, and Aya hugged both of them. Marci said, “I was afraid that being a woman and a Mom would be boring. I guess it doesn’t make the most exciting story.”

Aya said, “You were afraid coming out, and people wouldn’t like or love you. I so wished you had come and been part of my wedding. I wanted you to be a bridesmaid. I could have loved seeing your ladies in a bra and you in a dress. Jerry would have accepted anything for me at that time.”

Joanna, the baby, and Marci stayed in a motel that night. They were happier learning that Connor and Elena had a good night at the hospital. The three went home that morning. Aya, Jerry, and their children were home by late afternoon.

The End...

If some have a story they wished I continued, please leave a comment.