“Oh. MY. Gawd. She’s pregnant. Audrey’s pregnant!” she screams, nearly leaping over the table to hug our necks and kiss our cheeks.
g Joe gives me a hug and squeezes his son’s shoulders. Natalie is grinning while Trey says he can’t wait to be an Uncle.
This nutty bunch is my family now.
I’m where I’m meant to be. I touch my stomach, even though there’s no bump. This baby will be loved. Whether we have a boy or girl we’ve already decided on a name.
Eight months later
“Please put the camera away, Nathan,” I snap at my husband. He proposed one week after I found out we were expecting. We had a small double ceremony in Ma’s backyard with Natalie and Trey a few months ago. It was sweet and intimate. It was perfect.
However, right now I don’t need to see my sweaty swollen face on film as I push a watermelon out of a pea. That’s what if feels like I’m doing as I bear down, giving my all, with what I hope is my final push.
Natalie grabs the camera from him and I’m thankful, until I realize she is still filming. That’s okay though. I’ll get to repay the favor in about three months when she gives birth to her son.
Ma keeps trying to poke her head through the door to get a glimpse. The nurse threatens to call security, but I ask for her to allow her in. I wouldn’t take this moment away from her. She wants a grandbaby to spoil so badly. Sure, she spoils Treyton, Treys’ son, but I know getting to hold her own flesh and blood means so much to her.
Nathan returns to my side and kisses my forehead. “You’re doing good, babe, just one more push.”
Easier said than done. He isn’t the one giving birth here.
I squeeze his hand as hard as I can as I grit my teeth. Raising up, knees to my ears, I push until I feel like my eyes are going to pop. “NUGHHHGUHH!” I scream out as I feel our child being pulled from my body, and into the doctor’s hands.
I don’t relax until I hear her wail. She has strong lungs. Nathan cuts the cord and holds her first, while I get stitched up.
Seeing him with our daughter, I know we belong together. I no longer see glimpses of his brother, Joey, when I look at him. I am able to see him for the man he is, the man who loves me.
He hands our baby girl over to me, and I have to count her fingers and toes. Pink and wrinkled, she’s beautiful. She has the thickest mop of dark hair on her head. I kiss her cheeks and dote on her for a moment, until they take her away to clean her up, and do a hearing test.
I know Ma is eager to get her hands on her, she’s over in the corner with Natalie crying tears of joy while snapping pictures.
Later in the day, Lewis comes by to see his Goddaughter. He has his new beau with him, Garrett. He’s his third boyfriend in six months. I hope they last. Garrett is funny and everything Lewis needs in a good man.
“Girl, if I didn’t see those stretch marks last week, I wouldn’t think you even gave birth, you looking fierce, honey,” Lewis gushes kissing my cheek.
“Ha. Ha.”
Nathan brings our newborn from the nursery, and Lewis lights up like a damn lighthouse beacon. He holds her for a few minutes, and immediately hands her over to me as soon as she starts to cry.
“Mamma, that is all you.” He laughs and promises to come by the apartment after we are released.
I was afraid of how Nathan would cope with the baby crying, he seems to be doing okay, continuing to take his medication regularly and he has a dog, Lucky who seems to help him tremendously. She can sense when he needs her. If life ever gets to be too much for him, he knows all he has to do is say the word. I know he wouldn’t never hurt our daughter intentionally, but I still want him taking every precaution when it comes to his triggers.
“You make me so happy, Audrey. I love you,” he whispers in my ear taking our sleeping girl from my arms as I drift asleep.
When I awaken, he is sitting in the glider in the corner feeding her. He doesn’t notice I’m awake and listening to him as he talks to her.
“You get your name after your Uncle, Joey. He loved your Mamma as much as I do. I know he’d love you too. I wanted to call you Rain, after the thing that brought your mom and me together. You see Joey Rain Carwell, when it rains…all is right in the world.”
A tear slips from my eye.
It’s been raining all day.
The End