Page 186 of Always Us

“No! Don’t leave me!” Jade didn’t notice me walk in. “Please! Not until Garret—”

“I’m right here.” I take her hand and kiss her forehead, which is all sweaty.

“Garret.” She squeezes my hand really hard, then squeezes her eyes shut and bites down on her lip. Must be a contraction.

Karen comes over and talks in my ear. “There was no time for an epidural. The baby’s coming fast. Shouldn’t be much longer.”

I nod, and she leaves.

Natural childbirth? That’s gotta hurt. And it’s not at all what Jade wanted. She was counting on that epidural.

“Jade, you’re doing great.” I smile at her as she squeezes my hand again, so hard she might break some bones. At least we’re at a hospital.

“Okay, it’s time to push,” the doctor says.

I glance down at the doctor. It’s not Jade’s normal doctor. It’s some other woman. She’s older and very calm, which is just what Jade needs.

After a lot of pushing and breathing and squeezing of my hand, our baby is born.

A baby girl. Eight pounds, two ounces. With dark brown hair.

And all of a sudden it hits me. I have a daughter. I’m a dad!

The nurse wipes the baby off and hands her to Jade. “She was sure in a hurry to meet you.”

Jade takes the baby, tears running down her face. Happy tears.

“Hi.” She smiles at the baby and lifts her up to kiss her cheek.

I lean down and kiss her, too. “She’s beautiful.”

“Yeah. She’s perfect.” Jade kisses her again, then whispers to her, “You have to meet your daddy.”

Jade hands her to me. I gaze down at her, cradled in my arms. She’s so tiny. So sweet. So beautiful. I just met her and I already love her more than words can describe.

Later that day, Frank and Karen go back to the house and I stay with Jade in her hospital room. Grace was here, too, but she left with Frank and Karen so Jade could get some rest.

Jade’s exhausted. She was taking a nap, but she’s starting to wake up.

“Hey.” I gently rub her arm. “How are you feeling?”

She sits up a little. “Sore. Tired.” She gives me her sleepy smile. “Happy.”

“Yeah. Me too.” I take her hand and kiss it.

“We did it, Garret.”

“You did it. And you were amazing.”

A nurse walks in carrying the baby, all wrapped up in a blanket, a pink cap on her head. “Someone’s here for a visit.”

The nurse hands the baby to Jade, who smiles as she takes her. Jade smiles every time the nurse brings the baby in.

“I’ll come back and get her later,” the nurse says, but Jade’s not paying attention. All her attention is on the baby.

I sit next to her on the bed and Jade holds the baby up for me to see. “Garret, look what we made.”

“We did good.” I lean down and kiss Jade, then gently kiss our new baby girl. “She’s beautiful. Just like her mom.”

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