Done Adulting Vol. 1 Ch. 21 (Patreon)

A simple lunch was served. Jamie was a little embarrassed to be fed a bottle in front of everyone – especially Danny, a silly and clichéd as he knew that was – but he knew, in theory, no one expected otherwise, especially since they knew about his operation. Becky served a small cake with “Welcome Jamie” spelled across it in icing.

He sat in Becky’s lap, and she offered him a little icing from the J off her finger. He accepted, reasoning a little icing wasn’t really eating from her hand, and Becky smiled all the while. This made Jamie feel better; she’d acted so strange with her mother, and he was afraid she was upset with him for mouthing off to her. Everyone seemed to be having a good time, even Becky’s mother, but Jamie could tell her version of a good time was at best more subdued than everyone else’s. She didn’t sing along when the cake was cut.

Everyone went back to the living room and sat facing each other, the conversation wandering from topic to topic, sometimes involving Jamie and sometimes not. He joined in where he could and otherwise sat in Amanda’s lap and listened, interested to hear more about these people’s lives.

After a while, Jamie began to feel tired and hot. He was trying to keep listening, but his head started to hurt. Suddenly the butterflies were back in his stomach, except now they felt like angry hummingbirds. He slumped against Amanda and tugged on his ear.

She leaned in close to whisper in his ear. “You getting tired, buddy?”

“I don’t feel well.” Amanda put her palm on his forehead and then his cheek. He felt sweaty. His stomach started to cramp. Amanda lifted him to her chest and stood up as he rested his cheek on her shoulder.

“Jamie is getting pretty tired. I’m going to go put him down.”

“Really? You didn’t get to open your presents yet,” Jane said.

Amanda was already walking out of the room, and Jamie weakly waved. Another cramp hit him, and he had to let it go. Amanda felt it and responded by rubbing his back and cooing in his ear as she carried him to his room. She held him and kept patting his back, waiting for him to finish. Becky came in.

“What happened?” She sounded a little alarmed, not as much as a first-time parent, but enough that Amanda could hear it in her voice.

“He’s fine, Mom. Just an upset tummy.”

“O, dear. I guess that’s my fault. Icing after a liquid diet for months just may have been too rich.” She stepped forward and put a hand on his back.

Jamie wanted to tell her it was okay, but he wanted to tell her later. Just then he wanted to feel miserable.

“That’s alright,” Amanda answered on her behalf. “It’s not much richer than the formula. I’ll get him cleaned up and put him down.”

“I’ll see everyone out.” She leaned in and kissed Jamie. “Sorry.”

Thinking he was finished, Amanda laid Jamie gently on the changing table, undressed him and began cleaning him up.

“What’s wrong with him,” her grandmother asked from the doorway.

“He’s just got an upset tummy. Do you mind closing the door and waiting in the living room please?”

“Why?”

“Because Jamie would like some privacy.”

Privacy? He’s just a little, her grandma thought.

When Jamie awoke later, having been changed twice more over the past three hours, it was dark out, and Becky was in the room holding a bottle of what looked like juice.

“Hey,” she whispered. “How you feeling?”

“Better,” he answered truthfully but tiredly.

“Are you thirsty?” She’d given him three bottles of the electrolyte drink while he was asleep.

“Mhmm.” She handed him the bottle and let him hold it himself.

“I’m so sorry. I think that was my fault.”

Jamie wasn’t so sure. He’d always had a nervous stomach, and he certainly was nervous even though he’d gotten more comfortable as the party went on. He thought it likely the icing set off something that would have happened, albeit to a lesser degree, anyway.

“It’s okay.” He sounded so sleepy.

“It’s very late. Go back to sleep, honey.”

He wasn’t drinking anymore, so she took the bottle from his mouth but left it in the crib. She caressed his cheek with her thumb and left him to rest.