Turning back to look at Amber, she waved to me to proceed.
“Go on,” she said. “They waited for you,” her eyes now teary.
I nodded, damn near to tears myself.
Some blessings you prepare for. Some you make in a night. Either way, it’s a gift.
Walking into the room, I was prepared to meet the greatest version of me the world would ever see.
Mahasin
That nap had to be some of the best sleep I’ve gotten in a long time. If it wasn’t for the sound of the monitors, the rare occasions when I heard the intercom as my door flung open and closed, and the sound of my own heart thumping, I’d have woken up thinking I was at a resort and spa. The time on the TV read 11:45 p.m., and I wondered if baby girl was going to make her grand entrance on Christmas Eve. I’d bask in the glory of the social media headlines announcing the birth of my daughter at 11:59 p.m. “Dramatic already”, I laughed to myself.
My throat was dry and in need of some of those delicious hospital ice nuggets. I don’t know how that standard-ass ice machine does it, but hospital ice just hits different. The texture,the taste—crazy part is it’s probably some unfiltered-ass water coming from a machine that ain’t been updated since the hospital opened.
Amber, of course, was nowhere to be found. She was probably out harassing everyone, and since I had the epidural, walking to get my own ice wasn’t a factor. I hit the button on the remote attached to the bed to call for the nurse. Before I could put the remote down, my door pushed open as if they were anticipating my call. Talk about good service.
However, the person who came through the door shocked me and caused me to tense in every area of my body that medication should have numbed.
“Gage?” I whispered, my voice shaking.
He came straight to me, eyes scanning my face, my hands, the monitors.
“You made it,” I said.
“Wouldn’t miss it,” he responded, still looking over the mass of wires, his eyes expanding, laced with worry and pity as he eyed the catheter in my lower back.
I took his hand. “It’s just a thin, flexible tube that will transfer pain medication during labor. It can remain after birth depending on pain levels, but I’m sure I’ll be fine.”
His eyes relaxed, but not enough for my liking.
“Hey,” I whispered, “I’m okay. There’s no needle—you missed the fun part.” I smiled.
When he returned the gesture, I felt a sense of relief.
“I should have never gone on that fucking trip,” he said apologetically, as he pulled the chair next to my bed closer and took a seat. “I’m sorry, Mahasin.”
“There’s no need to apologize, Gage. This could have happened when you were in town, and you could have still missed all the extras because you got caught in traffic or something.”
I wanted to tell him how scared I was, the thoughts that ran through my mind about his future relationship with our daughter, and how relieved I was now—but all that came out was, “Tell Paris I’m sorry for interrupting your trip.”
He leaned in close and placed the softest kiss on my cheek. “Don’t worry about that. Just focus on bringing our baby girl into the world.”
I felt warm inside, like a high schooler with a crush, hearing him sayour baby girl.The moment must have been sensualizing for him too because he cleared his throat, straightened, and asked, “Can I get you anything?”
“A tummy tuck,” I said, grinning.
He laughed quietly. “Your body was perfect before, it’s perfect now, and it’ll be perfect after.”
“I don’t know about that,” I murmured. “But maybe some ice chips. I called for the nurse to get me some, but no one arrived yet.”
“Knowing you, Dollface, it’s only been about thirty-five seconds since you hit that button, and to you that means ‘no one came,’” he joked.
“Shut up,” I laughed, playfully slapping his arm.
He found the small bucket on the rolling food tray across the room and fed me spoonfuls, as if it were the most sacred task in the world. Each cold piece melted against my tongue, soothing and sweet.
“Yeah, they probably turned away once they saw me coming into the room. And Amber was right behind me, so she’s not far. You want me to go get someone?” he asked, still catering to me.
