Page 82 of Claiming What Is Mine

Chapter Thirty-Six

Gabe

“It’s time to push again,”Dr. Lee says.

“Okay, come on beautiful, you can do it.” I stand at the head of the bed next to Meredith. Reluctantly, she lifts back up onto her elbows as she begins her breathing technique again. Looking up at me, tears fill her eyes.

“I don’t think I can do it anymore. I’m so tired.”

She must be exhausted. The woman’s been in labor for almost seven hours and she has been a real trooper through it all. “Doll, I know. And you have done such an amazing job. We’re almost there, the doctor says it won’t be long now.” I pull a strand of hair out of her eyes and wrap it behind her ear.

As I stand beside her, in awe of the pain and sacrifice she is going through for our family, my eyes glimpse the wedding band on her finger and I’m caught by how far away that seems now. She’s my wife, and it feels like she has been forever. It’s hard to believe that not even two months ago we came home and broke the news about eloping to our family (twice). Mom took it better than Janet, but neither woman seemed thrilled to learn there was no wedding to plan. Thankfully, Meredith had already thought through the situation and immediately invited both women into the delivery room.

Lucky me.

So, instead of having my undivided attention focused on Meredith’s every need, I’ve spent most of the day actively trying to avoid awkward eye contact with either mother-in-law.

A nurse snaps at me. “Dad, I need you to come down here and hold a leg for mom. Now. The baby’s coming.”

Holy shit. The baby is coming?

Dr. Lee looks up. “Okay, let’s give one more, really big push. Come on Mom, it’s like you’re pushing her down her first slide.” He chuckles to himself and I roll my eyes as I look back at Mer, humbled. Knowing she’s in agony and there is nothing I can do to ease her burden kills me. And—at the same time—I see a strength in her that overwhelms me with pride.

The doctor is right. We must have been close to the end, because after only a couple minutes of pushing, we hear our daughter cry for the first time. Before I’ve had a chance to make sense of it all, a nurse asks if I want to cut the umbilical cord. Remember how I hate the sight of blood? Well, if I had known to expect the offer, I probably would have passed out at the sight of the scissors, but in this moment, all hopped up with pride and relief and joy, I take those scissors and do the job. Oh God, I can never think about this again.

When I finish, the nurse holding our beautiful baby girl turns to take her away. “Hey, where are you taking her?” I ask.

Dr. Lee removes his gloves and pulls his mask down. “Don’t worry. She’s just cleaning her up and getting her measurements. She’ll be delivered safely into mom’s arms in a second.” He chuckles to himself. “Delivered. I didn’t even mean to do that.”

Janet wipes at the tears in her eyes as she comes over to me. “Good job, Daddy,” she says as she embraces me. She places a hand on her daughter’s leg. “And you. Oh sweetheart, you did great. Really, great. I can’t believe my baby has a baby.”

As promised by the doctor, a few moments later the nurse delivers a bundle of blankets wearing a pink hat into Meredith’s arms. “She’s seven pounds, six ounces. And nineteen inches long.”

“Is that good?”

The nurse smiles. “Very good.”

Mom and Janet flock to either side of the bed to get a peek. Mom looks back at me and motions to a spot beside her. “Why don’t you come say hello to your baby girl?”

A baby girl?Every unsavory thought I’ve ever had about a woman races in front of me. Boys! She’s going to have to deal with boys. Oh my God. I mean, I knew it, but the realization that they could be as terrible as I have been never really hit me until now. In a weird sort of way, I feel like I understand Jim Still for the first time.

Janet steps back from the bed. “I know you’ve been through a lot, but I’m going to share the news with everyone in the waiting room. Do you feel like having company for a few minutes?”

Mom speaks up. “We won’t let anyone linger too long. We promise.”

Prepared to say no, I look to Meredith. After everything she’s been through, she deserves some rest. To my surprise, she looks down at our baby and smiles. “Of course.”

“Really? Are you sure, Doll?”

“Absolutely. Everyone’s been waiting months to meet this girl.”

Mom and Janet scurry out of the room and I lean over the bed and kiss Meredith on her forehead. “Are you sure you’re sure?”

She smiles again. “Look how beautiful she is, Daddy. Our little Gabrielle.”

“Huh? Where’d that come from?”

“That was always supposed to be the name if we had a girl. Don’t you remember?”

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