“Yeah?”
Smiling I pulled back. “Do you have a bag I don’t know about that you’ll be needing at the hospital?”
Laughing Libby wiped a tear away. “The only bag is my overnight bag and that has everything, including two outfits. One for a boy and one for a girl.”
Libby and I talked for hours the day before we were set to have the sonogram to find out the sex of the baby. When we finally decided it was a yes, the baby was positioned to where we couldn’t see. We took that has a sign the baby wanted to surprise us.
Looking into Libby’s beautiful blue eyes, I was frozen for a moment. This woman standing before me changed my life forever. The miracle we made changed both our lives. I couldn’t wait to hold the baby in my arms.
Leaning down, I gently kissed Libby on the lips and then spoke against them. “Are you ready to go have a baby?”
She giggled and wrapped her arms around my neck. “With you by my side, I’m ready for anything.”
LUKE SAT NEXT to me holding my hand as his fingers moved gently through my hair. I closed my eyes as another contraction started.
“Breath through it, baby,” Luke whispered. I wanted to tell him to shut up, but I knew he was trying his best. I did as he said and breathed the stupid exercises that do not do anything for the pain. I wanted an epidural like it was no one’s business.
There was a knock on the door and it slowly opened. My mother walked in carrying a Starbucks coffee for Luke.
So wrong. So wrong on so many levels.
Smiling, my mother set Luke’s coffee down and made her way to the other side of the bed. “Hey, sweetheart.”
I closed my eyes and shook my head. “How did you do this with two in there? No wonder you never had more kids!”
My mother chuckled. “Trust me, you forget how painful it is the moment you hold your baby in your arms.
Rolling my eyes, I grunted. “When are they giving me the epid—” Another contraction hit me as I squeezed Luke’s hand and his face grimaced. The door opened again and this time it was the nurse and someone else.
“Alright, Libby. Let’s give you that epidural.”
Luke and I both smiled and whispered, “Thank God.”
“ONE MORE PUSH, Libby. Come on. I see the baby’s head,” the doctor said as I fell back onto the pillow. I was fighting to catch my breath.
I thrashed my head back and forth. “I can’t. I’m so tired. I can’t push anymore.”
The doctor looked up at me. “Libby, one more good push, I promise.”
I was too tired to push anymore. Exhaustion was beginning to take over. Tears streamed down my face as I whispered, “I can’t.”
Luke placed his hands on my face and turned me to face him. “Look in my eyes, Libby. Baby, you can do this. You are the strongest woman I know. Libby, one more time and I promise you will be holding our baby. Our miracle, Lib.” His green eyes were burning with passion. But not the same as when he made love to me. This was different.
“For me, Lib? Do one more for me?”
Biting on my lip, I stared into Luke’s eyes. I loved this man more than anything. There wasn’t anything I couldn’t do with him by my side. I nodded my head. “I love you, Luke.”
Kissing me quickly, he whispered, “I love you, too.”
“Okay, Libby, push now and give it all you’ve got.”
I leaned forward with Luke’s help and pushed as hard as I could. I felt the pressure release as I fell back to the pillow. Lifting my head, I watched as the doctor asked Luke if he wanted to cut the cord.
Luke moved to cut it and the doctor said to us both, “You have a beautiful, healthy baby girl.” I didn’t think I could possibly cry any more, but tears streamed down my face. I let out a sob as I watched Luke crying. The nurse placed the blanket over my stomach and laid our baby girl across it. I reached down and traced her soft cheek with my finger.
“Hello there, princess. Mommy’s been waiting for you.” Luke leaned over and kissed her head and then kissed me as he whispered against my lips, “You are amazing. Thank you.”
The nurse took our baby girl and said she was going to clean her. Luke walked over to the table and watched as they cleaned up our daughter and wrapped her in a blanket. Luke held out his arms and I began crying again when t