Page 65 of Stat: Love In Scrubs
I sat at the table and dug into the food. I didn’t even take the time to take a picture of everything. I guess I would have to hope it stayed locked in my memory. I don’t even know how he kept the food hot; it was my favorite chicken Alfredo with breadsticks.
Not long after we finished, we stood to go back inside, but I stopped him. Then wrapped my arms around his waist.
“I don’t have grand words, but thank you for pushing through my barriers. You’re more than I could have dreamed for.” I told him.
Desmond leaned down and kissed me.
“I didn’t have a choice but to go hard for what I knew was mine, and I was going to have you Stat.”
I burst into laughter as he gripped me tighter.What a life.
1 YEAR LATER…
Desmond stood between my legs, while Maria and Darby stood on both sides of me, holding my hands. I took deep breaths like we practiced, but they didn’t appear to be fucking working.
“Fuck.” I cried out.
“Baby, he is right there. Give me another push.” Desmond instructed.
Tears streamed down my cheeks as I pulled every bit of strength I had to push. This baby needed to get out of me, and it needed to go now. I closed my eyes tight and tightened my grip on their hands.
“Oh hell, no! Please tell me he is out before she breaks my hand.” Darby complained.
A moment of silence pierced the air as the weight I had been feeling seemed to release from my body. I slumped back against the bed to catch my breath. The shrill sound of our son’s cries caused tears to spring to everyone’s eyes.
I released my hold on Maria and Darby, who shook their hands a few times after. I held my arms out for my baby, and Desmond held him like he never wanted to let go, but glanced up. He made quick work of ensuring the nurses cleared his airways and that he was breathing on his own.
We decided not to cut his umbilical cord right away, wanting to make sure he got as many of the nutrients as he could from it. A few moments later, Desmond helped me deliver the afterbirth, which was yet another task. Not long after, we finally cut the cord.
I glanced down at my son, who was yet a carbon copy of Desmond. He walked over and placed a kiss against my lips, then on the forehead of our son, Romelo Leo Wilder. Desmond didn’t want to carry on his name; he wanted his son to have his own legacy. I agreed.
“You feeling okay?” Desmond asked.
His eyes checked me over continuously. He looked up at the monitors and prepared to conduct an immediate check-up on me. I knew it was just our experience with the birthing process, but I'm fine.
I reached out and grabbed his wrists to stop him.
“I’m fine, baby. I had one of the top doctors in the world between my thighs.” I winked in his direction.
He smiled and shook his head. “Don’t you always?”
“Not for six weeks, I won’t.” I laughed, then thought better of him.
I knew I had a long six weeks ahead of me.
Moments later, after Desmond did another check to make sure I didn’t need stitches. We got the baby cleaned up andinvited everyone back to see him. When everyone came into the room, the love filled the space.
I still couldn’t believe this was what my life was. I married the man of my dreams not long after my congratulations party. Only to find I was pregnant a month later. Not to mention, Little Angels Academy was soaring and set to open another location near another hospital in town.
Who knew a chance encounter would send my life into this much of a tailspin? I was beyond grateful.
Desmond walked over and leaned down to place his forehead against mine.
“I can tell you’re spending some time in that pretty little head. What’s on your mind?” he said against my ear.
“I’m just grateful. I love you and everyone else in this room. We’ve all experienced so much together, and now here we are bringing another life into the fold. But this time, I was blessed to be able to experience it with my children.”
A lone tear slid from Desmond's eyes. I reached up and wiped it away as Esa walked over.
