The Baby Clause 2.0 (The Contract 1.75)

“I love you, Katy.”

She smiled. “We love you.”

She grimaced when another contraction hit, grabbing my hand.

I inhaled hard, knowing this was only the start, and hoping I was strong enough for her to lean on—both physically and emotionally. “Okay, sweetheart. Breathe with me.”Things progressed to the point it was time to move to the delivery room. I had walked with her until she couldn’t walk anymore, fed her ice chips, rubbed her back and shoulders, and reassured her even as worry ate its way into my stomach. I blinked away tears when I saw the amount of pain she was experiencing. I let her hold my hand, not caring that she might break it with her death grip, as the contractions became stronger and closer together. She did change her mind about the epidural, and although I was grateful it took away the pain, I lost it when I saw the size of the needle they used. I had wanted to be involved, and they showed me how to hold Katy’s shoulders to help with the procedure. I stepped forward to do so, caught sight of the needle, and froze. They had to push me out of the way, and the same nurse who had been at the front desk, stood in my place, all the while chuckling about “men and pain.” I had a feeling I would never live it down.

I would also never live down leaving Graham behind. Apparently, after I ran out of the restaurant, he explained to our client he was certain the call I took was about my pregnant wife. He tried to chase down my car, but I didn’t notice him. The client drove him back to the office, and once he spoke to Laura, he and Jenna made their way to the hospital. I gave them regular updates, and Katy and I walked down to see them. During one visit, Graham handed me my car keys and said it now was parked safely across the street. He leaned close when he muttered four hundred dollars was a bit excessive as a thank you for valet service, but I only grinned. It got me to Katy faster, and the kid probably needed it much more than I did, so I was more than okay with it. Laura came and went from the room, her quiet manner keeping us both composed. Her aura of calmness was exactly what we needed.

I bent over Katy, praising her strength and bravery. Murmuring words of encouragement. Holding her hand, stroking her forehead with cool cloths. When instructed, I moved behind her, supporting her shoulders, encouraging her to push.

When our daughter came into the world with a loud wail, I swore I had never heard a sound so beautiful. My hand was shaking as they let me cut the umbilical cord. My chest constricted, tightening to an almost painful level. My entire body vibrated as they allowed me to hold our daughter for the first time. Red-faced, wrinkled, and wet, she was the loveliest thing I’d ever seen in my life. Tufts of dark hair stuck up all around, and her eyes blinked open as she yawned, exhausted from the work of being born. For a moment, there were only the two of us in the world. I stroked her tiny cheek with my finger in wonder. Bending, I kissed Katy, who was watching us with tired, happy eyes.

“Look what we made,” I whispered. “She’s perfect.” Carefully, I laid her back on Katy’s chest, where she nuzzled contentedly. “You were incredible, sweetheart,” I praised her gently. “Remarkable.”

She looked down at our daughter. “We did good.”

I placed one hand on our daughter’s back and laid my head beside Katy’s on the pillow.

“Yes, we did.”I glanced at the clock, surprised how late it was. Katy was asleep, one hand curled under her cheek as she slumbered, completely exhausted. Graham, Laura, and Jenna left a few hours ago. Graham insisted I had to eat, and dragged me from the room, while Laura and Jenna stayed with Katy. I brought her back some cheese, crackers, and fruit, which she nibbled at while we all talked. Once I satisfied him, having eaten something, he took his girls home, leaving me alone with mine.

My family.

Katy tried to convince me to go home and sleep, but I didn’t want to leave either of them. I couldn’t. I wanted to be here with them and make sure they were both okay.

My daughter slept in my arms. She was a tiny, fragile being, who I already loved more than I thought was humanly possible. I couldn’t put her down. I watched as she squirmed, swaddled in a soft, pink blanket. Her rosebud mouth was pursed, her small fists fighting to escape the material. Katy had explained the whole swaddling thing to me, but I couldn’t resist loosening the cloth and letting out one of her hands. She gripped my finger with a strength that surprised and delighted me. My baby girl was strong. Her sleepy blue eyes, already so much like Katy’s, peeked up at me, then drifted shut, her grip never loosening.