The Whole Package

“I thought you were asleep. Did I wake you?” I ask.

She needs as much rest as she can get, but it’s hard to keep my hands off her. It’s even harder to keep them off her belly. It still amazes me that she’s growing our baby inside of her. The pregnancy has been easy on her. I actually think she enjoys being pregnant, which makes me happy because I know I’ll want more kids with her.

“No, I’ve been up for a little while now.” I lean over, brushing my mouth against hers. She slides her hands into my hair and deepens the kiss. Then she bites down on my bottom lip hard and lets out a small cry. When she lets go I pull back to look down at her, wondering what’s wrong. Her eyebrows are pulled together and I can tell she’s in pain.

“Babe, talk to me,” I plead as fear inches up my spine.

“I think it’s time,” she finally says, and her body relaxes. That’s when I realize she’s just had a contraction.

“Shit.” I jump out of bed and start pulling on clothes, and Bailey sits up. “Don’t move,” I tell her. She rolls her eyes and stands up. She walks towards her closet, and I try to go after her but realize I mistook my pants for my shirt and almost fall over. I fix myself then rush after her. “Let me.”

I take her nightshirt off her then slide the dress she got out over her head. I drop to the floor, searching for her shoes and then help her get them on.

“We have to get Hazel.”

“I didn’t forget,” I say as I dash from the room. “I got her.” I call over my shoulder before I knock on her door then push it open. I flip on the lights and then Hazel sits up.

“Is it time?” she asks before I can even say anything.

“Yeah.”

She’s out of the bed immediately and goes over to the pile of clothes she already has set out. I step out and go make sure Bailey has everything she needs while Hazel gets dressed. When I don’t see her in our room, I call out for her.

“I’m in here,” she responds.

I push open the door to the baby’s room to see her standing inside. She and Hazel spent months making this room perfect. I’m pretty sure they have changed and unchanged everything in here a hundred times.

“I think you’re right. Maybe I should take some time off from work.” She turns to look at me. “I don’t want to miss anything. I want to be a present mom. I won’t be like my mother.” I walk over to her. I’ve been trying to get her to take a few years off once she has the baby. I suggested it but didn’t push. I want her to do what she wants. I also want her to relax more because she’s been working for so long. Long before she should have had to.

“You’ll never be like her. Look at you with Hazel. It’s clear you’ll be the best mom ever,” I remind her. “There’s no pressure, and you don’t have to decide anything right now. We have the luxury of living day by day.” I lean down and kiss her.

“Let do this,” Hazel says from the door. I look over and see her carrying the bag for the hospital. She takes the bag super seriously since Bailey told her she was in charge of it.

I guide them both out of the house and into the car.

“Text Jim, Hazel. He’ll need to keep up with the animals,” I tell her as we pull out. Jim helps us around the farm. We had to hire help because we keep collecting more animals. Plus, with a baby on the way our hands will be full. Jim took over Bailey’s old house, so he’s always close to lend a hand around here. She does as I ask as we make our way to the hospital.

Everything happens in a blur from the moment we get there. We aren’t in there long before Bailey is pushing. I thought first babies took a lot of time because that’s what the books said. But our little man is ready to come into this world and meet his family.

I hold Bailey’s hand as Hazel holds the other, chanting for her to push. Then a little cry fills the room. I take a deep breath, trying to fight the tears that want to fall as the doctor stands with the baby in his arms.

“It’s a boy,” he calls out and hands him over to me. I look down at him in awe before I lean down and place him in Bailey’s arms. She kisses him on the head and then begins to cry.

“He’s so beautiful,” she says and I couldn’t agree more.