“What's taking so long?” I watch my youngest son pacing the floor in front of me. If there was ever a boy who loved his mother more than Wrench does, I've never met him.
“I don't know, Wrench,” I'm scared out of my mind for my wife right now. Seeing her in so much pain, and not being able to help her, killed me. Almost thirty years I have loved Taylor. From the moment I laid eyes on her, she was mine.
We've been through some awful times over the years, and we've had some perfect times. I can count on one hand the times Taylor, and I have argued. We belong to each other, and that's the way it's always been.
Right now, I'm afraid I'm losing her. Taylor was clutching her stomach and back, all the while crying with the pain she was in. I didn't even see her in that much pain when she lost our daughter. Jesus, Taylor was screaming, sweating, begging me to help her, but I couldn't because I didn't know what the fuck to do!
If we hadn't already been, at the hospital, I don't know what would have happened to her. Would I have gotten her here in time to save her? Would she have died in my arms?
An almighty scream rings through the air, my wife's scream. It's ear-splitting, has my heart pounding, and my stomach dropping. I'm up and out of my seat, staring at the door across the hall so fast, I feel sick.
“What the fuck is happening to her?”
I clasp Wrench's shoulder just as a nurse comes rushing out of Taylor's room, and over to me. “Mr. Anderson?”
“Yes?”
“Could you follow me, please? Your wife is asking for you.”
I nod in response.
“What's wrong with her?” The nurse looks at Wrench with a confused stare. She's wondering who he is. “I'm her son. Please, tell me what's going on.”
“Her son?” I'm not sure it was a question, but she's certainly shocked. Most people are when they look at Taylor and how youthful looking she is, and to then see our boys and how huge they are. Yeah, they're a little reluctant to believe she's their mother. “I'm sorry; I can't tell you anything just yet.” The nurse turns her head as my Taylor lets out a sob-like-scream. “Please, Mr. Anderson.”
I grab the back of Wrench's head, and I kiss his forehead. “I'll let you know what's happening as soon as I can.”
“Tell Mom that I love her.” I nod my head and follow the nurse into Taylor's room.
I don't understand what I'm seeing, Taylor in bed with his legs in stirrups, holding them wide apart, a sheet covering her lower half, Doctor between her legs. Taylor works with these people every day, so I know she's in good hands. She looks exhausted, and she's sweating like she's in a furnace.
“Jack!” I snap out of my trance and rush over to Taylor. I take her hand in mine. “Jack, I'm so scared!”
“Shh,” I kiss her sweaty forehead. “I'm here, baby.” She nods. I turn to the Doctor and ask, “What the hell is going on?”
Without looking at me, she tells me, “Mr. Anderson, the baby is crowing. It will all be over soon.”
“Baby?” What fucking baby? Taylor can't have any more children. They told us that after we lost Destiny. They said there was too much scarring left behind. I'm confused, scared, and I don't understand what's going on. Taylor was fine this morning. Shit, what if I hurt her this morning? I fucked the shit out of her, but she seemed fine when she left the house. I shake myself out of it, I can't and won't think about anything other than helping Taylor through this right now.
“This isn't happening!” Taylor screams. “I can't have a baby. I'm forty-four!”
A nurse I recognize from a lunch date with Taylor's workmate's chuckles. “Taylor, you are a young and healthy forty-four.”
“But they said I'd never, be able to have another baby. I don't understand!”
Joan, the nurse, looks to me to calm Taylor, she's getting hysterical. In all honesty, I'm freaking the fuck out myself over this!
Nevertheless, Taylor is in pain and not thinking straight, and I need to help her. “Beautiful, you can do this. I don't know how this happened yet, but God has given us a miracle, Taylor,” She turns her trusting eyes to me. “All these years wondering what went wrong with Destiny, why God would punish us like that... I don't know; maybe this is his way of making it up to us.”
Taylor smiles, and my heart falls deeper in love with her.
“You're the strongest woman, I know, Taylor. If anyone can do this, you can. I love you so much, and I am right here with you.”
“I love you.” I kiss her with conviction, giving her all the strength I possess to help her get through this.
“Taylor,” She turns to the Doctor. “I need you to pant for me.” She does, and I watch in awe. I was with Taylor at the birth of each of our children. Seeing her bring those boys into this world, watching her give them life was the most profound experience of my life. However, this right here is something else.
I hold Taylor's hand through the whole thing, encouraging her to keep going, not to give up until the moment the Doctor yells, “She's here! Well done, Taylor!”
She. The Doctor said she. I keep my eyes on the Doctor until she lifts the baby in the air so we can see her. “You have a beautiful baby girl.” Applause fills the room as the baby is taken to the other side of the room to be cleaned up.
I wrap my arms around Taylor and kiss her head over and over. “You did it, Tay, you did it.”
She pulls away from me quickly and takes our baby from the nurse with a huge smile on her face. “Oh, Jack, look what we did.” I stroke Taylor's head as she kisses the baby. All that happened today brought on the labor of a child we knew nothing about. I want to be angry, but I'm not, I'm amazed. “I don't understand how you're here, little one, but I won't question it. Mommy loves you so much.”
As confusing as all of this is, no pregnancy symptoms, no change in her body shape, or weight, she's right, we can't and won't question this. I think we're both in a little bit of shock, but it'll pass soon enough.
“Is everything okay?” Is a question, I need answering.
“Your baby is just perfect. I want you to know that first off. She's around thirty-eight weeks gestation. Labor seems to have been brought o
n by stress.” I knew it! “Yet there are no problems with this little one.”
I breathe a sigh of relief and wrap my arm around Taylor's waist. I need to hold her to me.
“I understand this is a big shock as you had no symptoms, and even if you did the thing that came to mind wouldn't have been pregnancy. However, I believe each time you've felt unwell over the past weeks was due to the little lady in your arms.”
“How is this even possible, Jackie? I was told I'd never have another child.”
“Taylor, many things in this life are unexplainable. We'll run some tests shortly, and then I'll have more of an answer for you. However, for right now, enjoy your little miracle.”
“We intend to,” I tell her.
“Here, hold your daughter.” Taylor hands me the baby, and my heart skips a beat, I've never seen anything so tiny in all my life. She's beautiful. Her soft hair is so light, and her skin has that newborn softness to it — the same softness my boys had.
“Hello, my beautiful girl.” I kiss her head as a tear falls from my eye. I'm a little overwhelmed by this. Nothing in this world could accurately describe how this feels right now. Nothing and no one could replace Destiny in my heart. I wanted to be her father so badly; she was my world. However, this little miracle in my arms will help to mend the pain I've felt for the past ten years.
I kiss my daughter's head, and I silently promise her the world. I never expected to be the father of a little girl at forty-six years of age, but she is my life, my world, and I will be the best father any little girl could want or need.
“What are we going to name this little lady?”
Taylor smiles at me and kisses my cheek. Her hand strokes our daughter's little head. “There's only one name we can give this little girl.” She smirks at me, and I know instantly to what name she's referring. It's perfect.
I kiss my daughter's head and hand her back to her mother. It's time to tell our boys they have a sister over a quarter of a century younger than them. “I love you, Taylor.”