“I’m fine, but how’s Sage?” Nellie asked, concerned for her friend.
“She’s not feeling any pain yet. They’ve got her on some good medication,” Nix replied as he walked over to let Nellie meet the sleeping baby in his arms.
“Oh! He’s so perfect! Congratulations. Are you sure Sage is okay? What happened?”
“Reed here was breech and wouldn’t come out through the door, so they had to open a window,” Nix joked.
I snorted. “Dad jokes, huh? Guess I better start practicing.”
“Don’t worry, they come naturally.” Nix laughed. The baby in his arms started to whimper and root with his little fist. “Looks like someone’s getting hungry. I better get back to Sage, but we’ll see you guys soon. We’ll probably be discharged tomorrow at some point.”
“Us too,” Nellie smiled. “Tell Sage I love her and to text me when she’s up for a little visit.”
“Will do. Congratulations again, guys.”
We were discharged the next day around ten o’clock. On our way out, we stopped off to see Sage and Nix, who were still waiting around for Sage’s c-section incision to get checked before the nurses discharged her.
Nellie was still tender from giving birth, but she was able to walk and move around with relative ease. She hugged Sage gently, and then the girls shared their birth stories, comparing notes and laughing at the similarities.
“I’m so glad your first birth went so smoothly, it’ll definitely trick you into having another,” Sage said with a laugh, wincing when the movement caused her pain.
“I’m sorry, Sage. I couldn’t imagine dealing with the pain of an abdominal incision right now and all the contractions. I can’t believe they don’t warn you more about that, about how contractions occur even after the baby’s born. That’s some bullshit.”
“Yeah, I forgot about that part,” Sage admitted. “But I’m so glad he’s here. Nova, too!”
“Yeah, it was getting a little ridiculous being pregnant in this heat.” Nellie said. “Text me when you’re home, okay?”
The girls made plans to meet up as soon as possible, and then Nellie and I were on our way out. Due to hospital protocol, I had to wheel her out in a wheelchair as she held tight to Nova’s car seat on her lap.
During the drive home, Nellie sat in the backseat with Nova and barely took her eyes off her. When we pulled into my driveway, Nellie didn’t even look up to see all the cars already parked there.
I’d texted my family to let them know about Nova’s arrival, and even sent a few pictures. I’d also texted Nellie’s parents to tell them. My parents, Damien, Charlotte, my nieces, Easton, and Nellie’s parents all were waiting for us to get home.
I helped Nellie out of the truck and then reached to unlatch the car seat. Nellie finally noticed the cars, and the sign in the front yard that read Welcome Home, Baby Nova! with a stork carrying a pink bundle.
“Oh!” she exclaimed, her eyes misting as she took in the sight of everyone waiting in the great room to welcome us home. My family all took turns hugging Nellie and me, and then peeking at the sleeping baby in her car seat.
The twins were obsessed upon first sight, and I knew from looking at them that they were going to be bugging their dad and Charlotte for a baby sibling of their own.
I think Damien knew it too, judging by the look on his face as he watched his daughters interacting with their cousin. Charlotte took his hand and leaned her head against his shoulder, smiling as she watched them, too.
The tears started flowing freely down Nellie’s cheeks when she finally spotted her parents. They were more reserved than my over-exuberant family, letting them get in first to greet us, but they were there—and that was the important bit.
Nellie’s mom came up to her and gently hugged her, saying something quietly to her, meant only for her ears. Nellie hugged her back and nodded. They parted, and her mom turned her attention to the baby, her eyes bright and shiny.
“She’s so perfect,” Nellie’s mom exclaimed.
My mom stepped up to her and put her arm around her. “She sure is.” Mom agreed, unable to take her eyes off the latest addition to the family.
While our moms were having a grandmother moment, Nellie’s dad was hugging her. “I’m proud of you, Ellen,” he said, pressing a kiss to her temple. “She looks like you did.”
“Thanks, Dad.” Nellie smiled through her tears.
Everyone wanted to let us get settled, so they didn’t stay too long. Easton was the first to leave, then Nellie’s parents left. Damien and Charlotte took the twins home not long after that.
My parents lingered the longest, so Mom could take the lasagna out of the oven that she’d brought over and steal a few baby cuddles.
“You let me know if you need anything, anything at all, okay?” she told us, making sure she made eye contact with Nellie. “We’re around the corner and we are happy to help out.”
