“Push, Em. Push!” Ernesto shouts.
“Do it, babe. Bring our baby into this world.”
Emerson bears down and pushes hard.
Ernesto laughs. “Almost, Em. Give me one more big one.”
“Julie!” she shouts.
“I’m here, Emee. I’m here!”
Emerson screams out as she gives it her all. A second later, we hear the tiny cries of a new baby.
Ernesto grabs a towel and I rush over to help him.
“It’s a girl. You have a daughter!” he announces proudly.
We can hear Julie sobbing on the phone. “You did it, babe. You did it! I love you so much, Em.”
“I love you too, Jules. I love you too.”
Ernesto wraps her in a blanket and hands her to Emerson.
“Oh my God. She’s beautiful.”
“Of course she is! She’s you,” Julie replies.
“Do you want me to cut the cord?” Ernesto asks.
Emerson gazes at each one of us and then back down at her daughter. “Can you all do it, together?”
Tears are rolling down my face as we put our hands on top of each other and Ernesto squeezes the scissors.
He clamps it off with a sterilized chip clip.
“I’m going to the airport. I’ll see you soon, okay?” Julie says.
“Okay.We’llsee you soon!” Emerson beams.
After a few minutes, Emerson turns to Kel. “Do you want to hold her?”
“Me? You’d trust me with her?” he asks.
“I’d trust you with my life,” she responds.
Kel gently takes her in his arms and his face melts into a pile of mush. “Hey there, little lady. I’m your Uncle Kel. Your momma and I knew each other once a long time ago and I thought she was cool even then. I never thought I’d see her again until fate stepped in and brought us back together. She’s been a big part of my life these last few weeks. I’d say she gets me better than anyone. She’s probably even my best friend.” He glances up to Emerson and she nods. “I’m never gonna let anyone hurt either one of you.”
The tears pour down my cheeks and I feel Finn’s arm slide around me. I turn into him and he holds me while I cry. He’s always there when I need him. At first, I cry because I feel happy and emotional, but now that I’m in his arms, I cry for what I lost. I want him back. I need to get him back.
An hour later, the ambulance finally arrives, along with a police car and a tow truck. The paramedics take the baby and check her vitals, telling Emerson she appears perfectly healthy, but that they’ll have a doctor check her once they get to the hospital.
“Thank you, Mr. Kennedy,” Emerson says as they wheel her to the door. “I’m really sorry about your couch.”
He waves at her. “Are you kidding? I was meaning to get a new one anyway. This is the most excitement I’ve had in a very long time. So thankyou.”
As soon as we say goodbye to Emerson, Ernesto and I finish cleaning up. I walk back into the room to pick up the last few towels and I see Finn handing Mr. Kennedy a wad of cash. He tries to tell him no, but I can tell from Finn’s expression that he’s insistent. Mr. Kennedy takes the money and Finn pats him on the arm.
The officer stomps the snow off his feet. “I finished my report and the tow truck driver has your car back on the road. He can tow it to the nearest service center, but I doubt you’ll find anyone open.”
