60. Ian
The welcome rumbleand grind of engines interrupted the quiet tears Madison and I shared, and I nearly wept with relief. I had just delivered the placenta but had held off on cutting the cord.
Hopefully, there was an expert on that machine out there who’d know what they were doing. I was impressed with what I’d accomplished, but I was more than ready to just be daddy and not a self-made obstetrician/pediatrician.
I planted another kiss on my amazing baby mama. “Sounds like the calvary has arrived.”
She grabbed my shirt and pulled me back. “I love you. I’m not just saying it because I’m emotional. I mean, I am, emotional, but I really do love you, Ian.”
I cupped her face and kissed her hard. And long. Long enough to blink back the tears threatening to fall. She wasn’t the only one who was emotional. “I love you too. So fucking much.”
After planting kisses on her nose, eyelids, and forehead, I hustled to answer the knock on the front door. I had to hold myself back from hugging and kissing each of the three men who stomped their way into my house dressed in bright red and black insulated snowsuits, beanies, and heavy boots. Emotional, remember. Ashwood Fire and Rescue was emblazoned on a patch on the front of the suits, while reflective stripes were on the arms and down the sides. An enclosed ambulance/snowmobile and a regular snowmobile idled just outside the door.
“Just in time,” I announced, as my little girl let out a cry.
The first guy stepped past me, carrying a medical bag and flashlight “Just in time?” he asked. “I’d say we’re a few minutes late.” He pushed the coffee table out of the way and knelt in front of Madison. “How are we doing?”
Her smile was tired but wide. “We’re great.”
“Can I get a look at the baby?”
“I haven’t cut the cord yet,” I butted in.
“How long ago did you deliver?” he asked.
I glanced at my watch, grateful that I noted the time after the baby had slid into my arms. “She was born at 2:07. She’s two weeks early.”
“Welcome to the world, little girl,” he said, gently lifting the blankets off the baby. Maddie quickly covered her breasts. Good thing, because I was about to dive over the guy in front of her and throw my body over her before I’d let anyone else see her.
Having turned into a caveman, I wanted to pound on my chest and scream, “Mine!”
“Do we have a name?” he asked.
What’s with this we crap? I glared at the back of his head.
Madison looked up at me. “I think so,” she said, her voice tentative. My heart melted just looking at the sweet picture of her and our baby, despite the guy poking around in front of them. When I nodded, she shared the name we’d agreed to just yesterday.
“This is Quinn Elizabeth Donohue.”
When we’d discussed it, Madison had been adamant that the baby’s name be hyphenated with both of our last names. This was a complete turnaround. “Maddie?”
Her eyes were starred with tears. “I changed my mind.” Looking back to the paramedic, she smiled as she repeated herself. “This is our daughter, Quinn Elizabeth Donohue. I’m Madison and that tall, tattooed man glaring over your shoulder is her daddy, Ian Donohue.”
The guy cocked his head up at me. “From The Gravel Hill Boys?”
“Yup.” I’d lose my shit if he attempted to make any of this about me. Fortunately for him, and the other two guys, that didn’t happen. Instead, he slipped his finger into Quinn’s tiny hand. I nearly cried when her little fingers wrapped around his. The guy was here to help us, so if she wanted to thank him personally, so be it. I could behave like an adult and not get jealous.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, young lady,” he said. “I’m Jeremy. That’s Alan, and the guy hovering near the door is Dave.” Relinquishing my daughter’s hand, he checked Madison’s blood pressure. “One-forty over ninety. A little high, but your body has just done a lot of work during what I imagine was a pretty stressful situation.”
Madison looked up at me, her gaze watery. “I wasn’t worried. We were in excellent hands.”
“I’d have to agree. Everything’s looking good here. I’m going to clamp off the umbilical cord, and Dad, if you want to do the honors, you’re welcome to cut it.”
“Ian? Please?” Madison asked.
My throat was too thick to swallow, so I just nodded. Once the cord was clamped, he handed me a pair of sharp scissors. “This isn’t going to hurt, right?” I’d already read that it didn’t, but there was no way I could do this without reassurance.
“Absolutely not. There are no nerve endings in the cord.”
The cord was tougher than I’d expected, and I needed to apply more strength, but then again, this rope-like tube had been life-giving. Of course it wouldn’t give way with a simple snip. My hands shook as I handed back the scissors.
“If you can get your wife bundled up, I’m going to swaddle little Quinn here, and we’ll keep them both warm until we get down to the main road where we’ve got a rig waiting to get them to the hospital. Everything looks good to me, but I’m sure you want them both checked out by the pros. If you want to go too, you can ride on the back of the snowmobile with Dave.”
“I’d rather stay with Madison and the baby.”
“I’m sure you would, but there’s only enough room for the patient, the driver, and me. Little Miss Quinn here is going to ride in her mama’s arms. You and Dave will be right behind us, and we’ll let you ride along in the ambulance since the roads are still dicey, and it would be better for you to stick with us.”
Since I didn’t have a choice, I nodded and went to gather some clothes and a few essentials for Madison. There were sleepers and other things for the baby, but they were all packed in the back of my SUV for the trip to the airport. Whatever else we needed, I’d have my mom or one of my sisters grab once the roads cleared.
Shit, my mom. I’d have to call her later. And Madison’s family. My head was spinning. Here I’d been brave enough and smart enough to safely deliver my own kid, yet suddenly I was overwhelmed trying to figure out what comes next.
Once I finished packing a bag, the paramedics stepped aside with the baby while I helped Madison into a fresh pair of panties and a clean pair of leggings. I slipped a pair of my heavy wool socks on over her bare feet and finished up with her jacket, hat, and gloves, while Dave and Alan brought in a stretcher and set it up alongside the sofa for Madison to slide onto.
I took my daughter from Jeremy, taking a moment to study her sweet face, then kissed her and placed her on Madison’s chest.
“You’ll be right behind us, right?” Madison asked, a quiver in her voice.
“You better fucking believe it. I’ll slide down the driveway on my ass if I have to. I’ll meet you at the bottom of the hill. I promise.”
Her lips were pressed tightly together, and she nodded. She was as reluctant as I was to be separated right now. Had the circumstances been different, and Quinn made her debut in a hospital as planned, we wouldn’t have had to split up. But it was important both she and Madison were properly examined, so I’d just have to suck it up.
I finally understood what Ma was always saying about her heart living outside her body when it came to me and my sisters, because my heart was about to hitch a ride along with my woman and my baby.