Chapter 33
Graham
Charley’s eyes flutter open, finding mine. “Hi.”
“Hey, Sunny.” Taking her hand in mine, I bring it up to my mouth and press a kiss on it. “How are you feeling?”
“Like I could sleep for weeks and still be exhausted.”
I huff a laugh. “I don’t see that happening for either of us any time soon.”
“You’re probably right.” She gives me a sleepy smile. “What time is it?”
“Little after seven,” I say before yawning and stretching my arms over my head. My back is stiff from sitting in this chair all night.
“How long was I asleep?”
“A couple hours,” I reply. “I’m glad you got some rest. You needed it.”
“Did you get any sleep?” she asks, concern wrinkling her brow.
I nod. “Woke up about fifteen minutes ago. Don’t worry about me, Sunny. I’m good.”
Charley’s been a champ all night, bearing through the pain and continuing to walk and bounce on the birthing ball, but she was exhausted.
She finally got an epidural at around four in the morning, and I’m glad she did.
I hate seeing her in so much pain, knowing there’s nothing I can do to take it away.
Grabbing her phone, Charley asks, “Have you updated our families?”
“Yeah. Right after you fell asleep, I sent a text to your parents and then one to my family.”
Her gaze lifts to meet mine, her icy-blue eyes bloodshot. “What did mine say?”
“Just that they’d come later this morning once they had a chance to wake up.” I rub the back of her hand with my thumb. “No stressing about your mom,” I add, raising a brow.
Rolling her eyes, she chuckles and teasingly says, “Don’t tell me what to do.”
Last month, Charley told her mom that she didn’t want anyone in the room, except for me, when it came time to push, and Alice wasn’t very happy about it.
According to her, watching her grandchild be born was her “right” as a grandmother and Charley was stripping that away from her.
I try really hard to be nice and polite to Alice, but she makes it so damn hard when she treats her daughter the way she does.
Charley hasn’t spoken to her mom very much since we told her parents she was pregnant.
She and Jack came to the baby shower, and Alice made sure to remind us how much she hated that we weren’t finding out the sex.
She just can’t help herself, inserting her opinion where it doesn’t belong.
It’s no wonder Charley barely speaks to her.
“Graham, I think it’s time,” she says, her brows pinched as she grabs the phone attached to the bed and presses the call button.
My breath catches in my chest. “What? Why do you think that?”
She doesn’t have a chance to answer me before the nurse comes over the line. “How can I help you, dear?”
“Hi, uh, can you come check me, please?” Charley asks, her voice shaky. “I’m feeling the urge to push.”
“I’ll be right in.”
Charley’s eyes flit over to me, her teeth worrying her bottom lip. Then she surprises me when she says, “Final vote; you thinkin’ boy or a girl?”
I breathe out a small chuckle. Over the course of her pregnancy, we’ve had fun every couple of weeks saying what we think the baby will be.
When we first made the decision to keep it a surprise, I thought I’d hate not knowing, but it hasn’t been too bad, and now that we’re here, about to find out, I’m glad we decided to do it this way.
“Boy,” I guess, a smile curling my lips as the door opens.
“I think so too,” she murmurs.
The nurse comes over and checks Charley’s cervix, a wide grin on her face when she says, “It’s time to have a baby. I’ll go get the doctor.” As she leaves the room, more nurses file in. They set up the table with various medical tools, bring in the incubator, then gown and glove up.
“Time to meet our baby.” Charley’s voice is barely above a whisper, her eyes glassy.
Rising off the chair, I lean down and press a kiss on her forehead before meeting her gaze. “Time to meet our baby,” I parrot.
“I’m nervous,” she admits.
“You’re gonna do great, Sunny,” I remind her as I brush a strand of hair out of her face. “And I’ll be here every step of the way.”
Dr. Mitchell strolls in and sits on the swivel chair at the foot of the bed.
She examines Charley, then explains how she’s to push on the next contraction.
It’s go-time a moment later, and Charley is incredible.
With each push, I’m holding one of her legs back while a nurse holds the other, and in between, I’m applying a cool washcloth, alternating between her forehead and the back of her neck.
The delivery is slow going, and after about an hour, I can tell how exhausted and defeated Charley is.
“You’re doing amazing, Sunny,” I assure her.
“I can’t do this anymore,” she says, her eyes finding mine. Her whole body is trembling, like she’s cold, but I know that’s not the case. “I’m tired, Graham.”
“You can do this,” Dr. Mitchell cuts in.
“I know you’re tired and you want to give up, but you can do this, Charley.
What you’re doing right now is one of the hardest things a human being can do.
But listen to me when I say you’re not alone, and you’re so much stronger than you feel right now.
You’ve come this far, and your baby is so close.
” Dr. Mitchell continues with an encouraging smile.
“Every single push gets you closer to meeting them. I wouldn’t ask you to keep going if I didn’t know you could do this.
You are strong, Charley, and you’re doing so good. ”
“Sunny, look at me,” I murmur softly, wiping the sweat off her forehead with the washcloth.
“I’m so damn proud of you. You’re doing so good.
You are the strongest woman I’ve ever known.
” My voice cracks, and I clear my throat.
“If I could take all of this from you and take your place, I would in a heartbeat. But right now, I’m in awe of you.
I know you’re tired, but you have to keep going. We have a baby to meet.”
Charley’s bottom lip quivers as she nods before shifting her gaze to the doctor. “Okay, let’s do this.”
Nodding, Dr. Mitchell says, “That’s it. Take this next contraction one moment at a time; don’t think about how many more you may have to do. You have to do this one, and we’ll do it together, okay?”
“Okay. I need to push.”
“Yes, you do. You’ve got this, Charley. Take a big deep breath, and then push with everything you’ve got. You are so strong, and you’re so close.”
After a couple more pushes, Dr. Mitchell glances at me. “Okay, Dad, you wanna help catch your baby?”
Heart thrashing in my chest, goose bumps blossom all over my skin as I look from Charley to her. “Y-yes. Am I allowed to do that?”
“You absolutely can.” She nods and smiles before a nurse helps me into gloves and a gown. Then Dr. Mitchell positions me at the foot of the bed. “Alright, I’ve got you. Crouch right here between her legs— Yes, just like that. Place your hands right here,” she instructs.
I peer up at Charley, and we share a smile before it’s time for her to push again.
Once the baby crowns, Dr. Mitchell says, “You’re doing great, Charley.” Then she looks at me. “When she pushes during the next contraction, the baby’s head is going to come out a little more. Support it gently with your hands. Don’t pull, just keep your hands there to guide.”
“Okay, got it.” Blood whooshes in my ears as anticipation builds in my chest. When the head emerges, my throat tightens and tears spring to my eyes. “They’ve got your dark hair, Sunny,” I murmur.
“Perfect, you’re doing great, Graham,” Dr. Mitchell offers. “Make sure you support the head. Good, good. There you go. On the next push, the shoulders will come. When you see them, you’ll need to gently lift the baby toward her belly. Ready?”
I nod, swiping my tongue across my lips, trying to bring moisture back to my mouth. “Ready.”
“Okay, Charley, I need you to push. You’ve got this, girl,” she says.
Charley gives it her all. I’m so fucking proud of her. From there, everything happens so fast. Everything except Charley, this baby, and what Dr. Mitchell is saying to me fades away. Their shoulders emerge, the whole thing incredible.
“There it is. Good. Nice and easy, Graham— Yes, like that,” Dr. Mitchell murmurs as Charley pushes one last time. “That’s it, great job. You did it!”
“It’s a boy, Sunny! He’s a boy,” I cry, our baby boy now in my hands. Blinking repeatedly, trying to clear the tears blurring my vision, I gently bring him to Charley’s chest. “You did it, Sunny! You did it! I’m so proud of you.”
Tears cascade down her face as she wraps her arms around the baby, her body relaxing into the bed. “Oh my god,” she cries. “Hi baby, I’m your mom. Look at you, you’re so beautiful.”
Leaning in, I kiss Charley’s forehead before doing the same to our son. “You did it,” I breathe. “I love you, Sunny. I love you so much. I’m so proud of you.”
With tears in her eyes, she peers up at me. “I love you.”
“You want to cut the umbilical cord, Dad?” Dr. Mitchell asks a moment later.
“Absolutely, I do!”
Once that’s done, one of the nurses swaddles our son before handing him to me. “Congratulations,” she says.
“Thank you.” A smile spreads across my face as tears fall hot down my cheeks. “Hi, peanut,” I whisper, taking in his every little feature. “He’s so tiny…and perfect.”
“He’s so perfect,” Charley murmurs, her voice shaky.
“Do y’all have a name for baby boy?” Dr. Mitchell asks.
Charley peers up at me, her blue eyes wet and red-rimmed, before she shifts her gaze to the doctor. “Baker,” she says softly. “Baker Thomas Astor.”
My throat tightens as I scratch my hand along my jaw, a fresh wave of tears blurring my vision.
“That’s beautiful,” she says. “Is there any significance there?”
“Baker is my dad’s middle name, and Thomas is mine,” I reply, my voice rough as my eyes find Charley’s.
When we discussed baby names, we had two picked out for each, and I told Charley she could choose whichever one she felt fit the baby once we met them.
I knew Baker was an option, but I didn’t know if that would be the one she picked.
Tear-soaked eyes cast downward as I rub our son’s cheek with the back of my thumb.
“You hear that, Baker? You’re named after your grandpa and your daddy. ”
Grace: We just got here. Is it okay to come up?
Me: Yeah, she just finished feeding him.
“They’re here,” I say, shoving my phone back in my pocket.
“I’m so excited for her to meet him.” Charley’s eyes are already glistening with more unshed tears. It’s been a few hours since Baker was born, and we’ve both been antsy for Ellie Mae to come here and meet her new baby brother. “You think she’ll be excited too?”
“Oh, absolutely.” I chuckle. “I’m gonna meet them in the hall so I can bring her in.”
Smiling, Charley nods.
In the hall, my sisters exit the elevator, Grace holding my daughter. Once Ellie Mae spots me, Grace sets her down, and she runs to me. “Daddy!”
Scooping her in my arms, I give her a tight hug and kiss her on the cheek. “Hi, baby. Your brother was born. Do you want to meet him?”
“Yeah, please!”
One by one, my sisters hug me before we walk into the room. Charley’s gaze lifts from Baker to us, and as soon as she sees Ellie Mae, she loses it. Tears stream down her face as we approach. Her smile’s so wide, it causes her eyes to squint, and a choked sob escapes her throat.
“Hi, sweet girl, you wanna sit beside your brother?”
Ellie Mae nods, giggling as I set her down between Charley’s legs. Her curious gaze flits all over his face, and she places a gentle hand on the blanket swaddling him, which causes Charley to sob harder.
“You guys,” Georgia murmurs. “He’s so precious.”
“And so little,” Gemma squeals. “It’s only been a few years, but my gosh, I forgot how small they are.”
“Can I hold him?” Grace asks, her eyes misty and her voice soft.
“Of course, you can,” Charley says, handing him off to my sister. Glancing at Ellie Mae, she asks, “Wanna sit in my lap, pretty girl?”
“Gentle, though, baby,” I tell her gently. “She’s sore so we gotta be careful.”
Ellie Mae nods, her face turning serious as she whispers, “I be careful.”
My breath catches in my throat, watching my daughter wrap her arms around Charley’s neck and snuggle against her chest.
“What’s his name?” Grace asks, keeping her voice quiet.
A smile tugs on the corner of my mouth, pride swelling in my chest as I say, “Baker.”
My sister’s bottom lip pokes out as a tear spills over. “Stop, that’s adorable. Does Dad know yet?”
I shake my head. “Y’all are the first ones to come here. We wanted Ellie Mae to meet her brother before everyone else.”
“He’s gonna cry when he finds out,” Georgia says.
Charley chuckles. “I can’t picture your dad crying.”
“He always gets emotional when a new grandchild is born,” Gemma says.
“God, he’s so perfect,” Grace murmurs. Lifting her gaze to her friend, she adds, “You did so good, Char.”
Ellie Mae eventually asks to hold Baker, and as Grace sets him in her arms, with Charley behind her, I can’t help but get choked up.
Pressure builds behind my eyes, my throat thick with emotion, watching my first baby hold our new baby.
The love pouring out of Charley’s gaze as she looks at them makes my chest warm.
Then when her eyes meet mine, I forget how to breathe.
My heart is so full.
Nothing could beat the way I feel right now.