“Glad we’re on the same page. Come hold her hand. She seems to calm when you hold her.” I follow her into the room and climb onto the bed next to Rosario.
“It hurts,” She’s breathing harder than she was. I glance at Sunny, who lets out a low whistle.
“I’ll be damned. You ready to meet your baby mama?” I stare in shock as she starts pulling Rosario’s blanket off.
“She’s ready?” I ask to make sure I understood correctly.
“All ten centimeters. This baby is coming now. Rosario, I want you to push on your next contraction.” I plant myself against the headboard and drag her up into my chest to support her back.
“Good job daddy. Your instincts are spot on. Help her lift her legs when it’s time to push. Whenever you feel the urge, don’t rush it.” Sunny’s voice turns almost hypnotic as she talks Rosario through the contractions and the pushing.
“One more mama! I see a lot of hair.” I hold her tightly as she leans forward and pushes with a scream that ends in the softest little cry I’ve ever heard.
“Oh mine, what a beautiful baby girl. Congratulations to you both!” Sunny puts my daughter on Rosario’s chest as my wife openly weeps.
I can barely see through my own tears, but I notice how pink her skin is and all the brown curls on her little head.
“She’s so small.” Sunny snorts as Rosario counts her fingers.
“She’s perfect and not small by any means. I’d wager eight and a half pounds.” I tilt my head and shake my head in disagreement.
“Hundred bucks says you’re wrong. No way is she more than seven.” Sunny chuckles up at me as she cleans the baby off while Rosario adjusts the squirming little thing on her chest.
“Your money, your loss. I’ll take that bet. Now let’s get her weighed and measured before that placenta is ready to pop out.”She takes my daughter over to the station she had set up, and what do you know, I was wrong.
She weighed in at almost nine pounds and was almost two feet long.
“Here’s your daughter, daddy. I’ve got to help your wife. Keep her warm.” She pushes me out of the room, and I go and sit near the fire, but not too close.
“Hello, gorgeous girl. Welcome to the world. What are we going to name you?” I play with a curl near her ear and run my pinky over the soft tuft of hair on her cheek.
I’ve been a fool to deny myself this pure joy all these years.
But if I hadn’t, it wouldn’t have been Rosey. I hum as I think over my life and what I had to do to survive to get to this very moment and realise I wouldn’t change a gpddamn thing. I’m exactly where I’m supposed to be with the two most important people on this planet.
“Mommy is doing great and resting. Go on in and cuddle that little one. I’ll want to get her up and bathed soon, but first she needs to eat.” I nod and point to the crockpot on the counter.
“I put some stew in earlier, figuring she’d need some red meat for iron.” Sunny smiles and wagging her finger at me.
“Damn natural.” I roll my eyes and walk into the bedroom.
“Is she okay?” I sit next to her and carefully lay the bed in her arms.
“She’s perfect. Thank you. I love you so fucking much.” Rosario starts to cry again, and this time, I let myself join her.
“Ugh, we’re happy we shouldn’t be crying.” I chuckle as she clears her throat.
“We need to name her.” I move the blanket away from her little mouth and smile at her rosebud lips.
“She reminds me of a flower, just like her mother. Violet?” Rosario scrunches up her nose in dislike.
“Magnolia?” She glares at me.
“That’s a tree.” Then her eyes light up.
“Willow.” A sly smile crosses my lips.
“I love it.”
