"Too late. But I'm not looking at the goods. I'm looking at the baby and what they're doing. How the hell do they know what to do?" Xan asks, not looking away.
"Don't ask me," Jace replies, “but I'm going to punch you in the face when it's over."
"Worth it. This is awesome, right Kadi girl?" Xan asks.
"It's pretty cool," she admits. "Mama Summer, there's a head sticking out of your vagina but no body. It looks kinda funny."
"It doesn'tfeelfunny," reply.
She straightens up. "Oh, no ma'am. I don't think it would."
"I need to push," I announce.
"Okay," Nana replies, “but not quite so hard this time."
I do as she says and I can feel the baby slipping out, and then I'm empty, but oh-ho does it feel fucking fantastic. No more weight on my belly. Just a little pressure.
They're wiping the baby clean with some towels as Dr. Mac and Nurse Sandy walk in.
"Well, would you look at that," Dr. Mac announces.
The baby starts wailing and my eyes fill with tears.
Xander pouts as he gets a look at the baby.
"What's wrong, son?" Dr. Mac asks.
Xan sighs. "Me. I was wrong. It's not a boy."
"It's a girl!" Lucy shouts as Nana holds the baby and my Dad kneels down to help with the cord.
"A girl," I whisper to Jace. He leans forward and kisses my sweaty forehead.
"You're magnificent," he tells me, and more tears fall.
"She's a beast," Xan announces. "Seriously." He meets my gaze. "Respect."
I cry some more.
Then Nurse Sandy's putting a goopy squirming baby girl on my chest. I wrap my arms around her and Jace reaches out to touch her cheek.
"She looks like you," he says.
"She's got your lips," I tell him. He has beautiful full lips.
"All that hair. Kadi was born with a lot of hair, too," Jace tells me, motioning Kadi over.
"She's all wrinkly," Kadi says with wonder. "But she's so pretty." She looks at us. "I have a baby sister."
I nod at her. "We were thinking, that is, if you don't mind, of naming her Sydney Allegra. Sydney after your mom and Allegra after mine."
Kadi's eyes fill with tears. "I love that. Mom would too. I know it."
I smile at her and pull her into my free arm for a hug. Kadi reaches out and touches the baby's hand. It curls around her finger and she laughs through tears.
I look up and see Xander filming and Lucy taking pictures, and I'm so grateful. I never want to forget this moment.
"Summer," Dr. Mac announces. "I need one more push to deliver the placenta."
