Bry cried at Jasmine. Jasmine sighed and picked up the babe that, after a year of caring for, she had begun to think of as her daughter.
“Very well,” she muttered. She bared her other breast. Bry latched on eagerly and suckled. Patricia, who was sitting in a nearby chair knitting, shook her head.
“You prove every day you are thick, girl. If you always give in, you will never wean her.”
“She gets so jealous when she sees Pyotr nurse!” Jasmine protested. Pyotr was hungrily suckling from her as well.
“You need to wean her,” Patricia insisted. She looked meaningfully at Jasmine’s stomach. “Or you will have three babes feeding from two breasts.” Jasmine rubbed her large baby bump ruefully.
Jasmine had discovered quickly that a beauty like her was in high demand. Men constantly attempted to court her. A few had even proposed to her. But most disturbing were those who tried to have their way with her. Much like Bry had, before she was transformed into Jasmine’s daughter. Anya’s amulet allowed Jasmine to transform the men who forced themselves upon her, though one man in particular had moved so quickly that he impregnated her first.
That man, the father of her unborn child, was currently a nanny goat tied outside.
“Very well,” Jasmine sighed. She removed Bry from her breast. Bry began to fuss. “Bry, you will have a brother or sister soon, you must share!” Bry’s cries only grew louder. Jasmine searched her pockets for a pacifier and hurriedly stuffed it into her daughter’s mouth. Bry suckled on the pacifier, calming down.
The front door opened. Jasmine and Patricia looked up. Simon had returned from work.
“I bring good news, Jasmine,” he said. Jasmine sat up straighter.
“Oh?” she asked eagerly.
“Travel is safe once more. We will be able to leave for your family whenever you are ready.”
“Tomorrow,” Jasmine blurted out. Patricia tsked at her. “What?”
“You are due to give birth any moment. Do you really think it wise to travel in your condition?” Patricia asked. “It is better to wait until the child is here, or better yet, a few months after.”
Jasmine rubbed her baby bump, feeling her child kicking and squirming in her. Patricia had a point. But she also desperately needed to see Anya. She had been a wet nurse for a year!