Page 92 of Delayed Offsides

I follow the doctor down the hall, his steps quick. “I’m Dr. Sadie.” He reaches out to shake my hand. I do, offering him my sweaty palm. “I know this wasn’t planned, but we’re delivering him now.”

He leads me down a long hallway and outside the operating doors. I heave in a deep sigh. “Is the baby okay?”

“He’s in distress, and we have to deliver him right away. Callie was losing too much blood, and we need to get in there and do a C-section.”

“Can I go in there?”

“No. We need to do this now. I’m literally going in now.” He points to his left but then stands there, watching me. “You can wait here, and we will be out shortly.”

I nod, not completely understanding what he means by any of that. My heart races. “Isn’t he too early? She’s not due for another month.”

“She’s at thirty-six weeks on Friday… he should be okay, but we don’t know how much damage was done when she fell. She broke two ribs from falling, we assume, and has a placental abruption and began hemorrhaging.”

A blinding sensation rushes through me. It’s like I’ve lost my sight and see stars. It’s crazy, the physical reaction I have knowing she’d been injured and the baby could be in trouble.

I have no idea how to react as I wait.

About ten later, a nurse appears, holding a baby close to her chest. “Callie’s okay. She’s lost a lot of blood, so we’re going to give her a blood transfusion.”

“Is he… okay?” My words and body shake.

The nurse pulls back and smiles down at the baby in her arms. “He’s perfect.”

Perfect?

“Ready to meet your son?”

I have no audible answer for her.

Gently, the nurse places him in my arms. My son is wrapped tightly in a white blanket that basically traps him. I hold him for the first time. I’m almost afraid to look at him, my eyes on the nurse, wondering what she’s doing putting him in my arms. A feeling moves over me, deep in my chest, pulling at me in ways I can’t explain.

I wanted no part of being a dad, yet, I do now. I want this with Callie. I want a family with her.

And then I cry when my eyes land on the helpless human in my arms, staring up at me.

A part of me.

A part of Callie.

Together.

A family.

Something I’d never had.

I see Callie in his eyes and chin. But then I see me, same scrunched brow, probably wondering why this dumb ass is holding him and where his mom is. He has my nose and lips and what appears to be my wavy hair but dark like Callie’s. He blinks a few times, staring up at me. He doesn’t cry, doesn’t fuss. Just watches me.

A few hours ago, I wasn’t sure he was going to make it, and now here he is, my son, perfectly healthy and in my arms.

Holding him closer, I lean down to press my lips to his forehead and then the top of his head. “You gave us a scare, bud,” I whisper, drawing back to watch his reaction to my voice. There’s no indication he recognizes it or even understands me, but his rapt attention to my words makes me think otherwise. “Don’t worry.” I pace the floor beside the window. “Your mama will pull through this. She’s tough,” I tell him, carrying him around the room like I know what I’m doing.

He makes a noise, a whimper. For some reason, I think of my dad. No way could I ever walk away from this kid.

I’m in a room holding him for over an hour as the nurse helps me feed him for the first time. Ami and Mase come in, both looking like they’re interrupting something and not sure if they should be here or not.

“You can come in.” I smile. I set the bottle of formula down that he’s taken a few drinks from and watch Ami and Mase take seats on the other side of me. Ami sits on Mase’s lap. She looks like she’s going to burst with excitement. “Can I hold him?”

I stare at her, straight-faced. “It’s a girl.”

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