Tina pants and Gail says, “Now, Tina. One last push!”
Tina pushes with all her might and then…crying.
Oh, god. That is a beautiful sound.
Gail smiles and hands me a pair of surgical scissors. She holds the umbilical cord and I cut through it. It’s tough like thick rubber!
She takes our baby over to the corner, wipes it down and weighs it before bringing it back to us.
She hands our baby over to Tina, who attaches its small mouth to her breast, and announces, “Congratulations, you two. You have a healthy little girl. ”
I look down at my wife and baby girl and try hard to hold myself together.
Tina looks sheepishly up at me and advises, “I can’t be held responsible for what I say in the middle of childbirth, Nik. We shall not mention my potty mouth ever again. Amen. ”
I chuckle and touch my daughters little face. She makes fussy little noises and wiggles a little but continues suckling.
She’s so small.
Tiny.
But I helped make her. She’s mine. I’ll do anything for her.
God, she was just born and I’m already wrapped around her finger.
I ask my beautiful wife, “What are we naming our little princess?”
Tina looks up at me and whispers, “I like Tatiana. ”
I smile big and whisper back, “I love it. ”
Tina looks down at our daughter and asks her quietly, “Tatiana, do you want to meet your family?”
Tatiana whines softly and wriggles. Tina says, “I’ll take that as a yes. ”
I go out into the hall and call our friends in. Nat, Mimi and Lola are openly crying. Max, Trick, and Ghost are swallowing hard and looking at our daughter in awe.
Nat croaks, “What’s her name?”
I reply, “Tatiana. ”
Mimi whispers, “It’s beautiful. ” Everyone smiles and nods in agreement.
The guys try to leave. Something about breastfeeding women we aren’t married to makes us uncomfortable. Tina calls out, “Guys? Can you stay for a minute? I want to ask you all something. ”
The guys re-join the group and Tina looks up at me and smiles. That’s my cue.
I ask them all, “How would you all feel about being Tatiana’s godparents?”
All six of them stare back at me open mouthed.
Lola whispers, “All of us?”
Tina nods and smiles, “We couldn’t decide on just two of you. Besides, it wouldn’t be fair. We love all of you, not just two of you. We’d be honored if you would. ”
I straighten and ask the guys, “Any objections?”
They all smile widely and shake their heads. I look to the girls and ask, “Objections, ladies?”