Chapter 25 #2
Abby could not hear every word. She caught fragments about rights, family, and Evan’s interference, followed by Julia’s voice telling him to lower his.
The nurse offered to close the room door. Abby asked her to leave it open because not knowing felt worse.
“Evan is standing near the elevators,” Sadie said after checking the hallway. “He isn’t speaking to Hudson.”
“Hudson probably hates that more than an argument.” Abby tried to smile, but another contraction pulled her attention inward. “Tell Evan I’m all right.”
Sadie sent the message, then returned to Abby’s bedside. The voices outside continued for several minutes before Julia spoke loudly enough for Abby to hear clearly.
“Being the biological father does not give you access to Abby’s body,” Julia said. “This is her medical care, and she decides who enters that room.”
Hudson answered too quietly for Abby to understand. Julia’s response came without hesitation.
“Evan is waiting outside because Abby asked him to wait,” she said. “He has respected her wishes all day. You will respect them now, or security will remove you.”
The argument ended soon afterward. Julia returned with red eyes and a security guard walking several steps behind her.
“He left the maternity floor,” she said as she removed her coat. “Security is escorting him out of the building.”
Abby held out her hand. Julia took it and sat beside the bed.
“Thank you,” Abby said as she squeezed Julia’s fingers. “I’m sorry he put you in that position.”
“Hudson put himself in that position.” Julia looked toward the monitor and drew a steadying breath. “I spent too many years protecting him from the consequences of hurting people.”
The doctor arrived before Abby could answer. She examined Abby, smiled, and announced that it was time to begin pushing.
The next hour lost any recognizable measure of time. Abby pushed until her entire body shook, rested when the nurse ordered her to rest, and pushed again while Sadie counted near her ear.
Julia held one of Abby’s legs and repeated the doctor’s instructions without adding encouragement Abby had not requested. When Abby said she could not continue, both women reminded her that she was already continuing.
The pressure changed suddenly. The doctor told Abby to push once more, and the room filled with movement as the nurses prepared the warmer.
Abby bore down with everything she had left. A thin, furious cry cut through the room several seconds later.
The sound stopped every other thought. Abby lifted her head and saw a small, wet body in the doctor’s hands, limbs moving and mouth open in protest.
“She’s here,” Sadie said as tears ran unchecked down her face. “Abby, she’s here.”
The nurse placed the baby on Abby’s chest. Warm weight settled against her skin, lighter than Abby expected and more real than anything she had imagined during the previous months.
Abby covered the baby’s back with both hands. Dark hair lay damp against a perfectly shaped head, and one tiny hand opened against Abby’s collarbone before closing again.
“Hello, Hannah,” Abby whispered as the baby’s cries softened. “I’ve been waiting for you.”
Julia turned away long enough to press a tissue beneath both eyes. Sadie kissed Abby’s temple and took several photographs only after the nurse nodded.
The doctor and nurses continued working around them. Abby heard explanations and answered questions, but most of her attention remained on Hannah’s breathing and the astonishing movement of her mouth against Abby’s skin.
“Do you still want Evan to wait?” Sadie asked quietly after the room settled. “You can take as much time as you need.”
Abby looked at Hannah’s face. She had wanted the first minutes for herself, and she had them now, held safely between the women who helped bring her daughter into the world.
“Ask him to come in,” Abby said as she touched one finger to Hannah’s cheek. “Tell him we’re ready.”
Julia stepped into the hallway. She returned a minute later with Evan behind her.
He stopped just inside the door. His gaze moved first to Abby’s face, checking what he could see of her condition, then lowered to the baby against her chest.
Evan’s expression broke open. He covered his mouth with one hand and remained near the door until Abby extended hers toward him.
“Come meet Hannah,” she said as tears blurred his outline. “She has strong opinions about being cold.”
Evan crossed the room and took Abby’s hand. He bent to kiss her forehead, then looked down at Hannah with a wonder so unguarded that Abby felt her own tears return.
“She’s beautiful,” he said as his thumb moved carefully over Abby’s fingers. “Are you both all right?”
“We’re tired.” Abby shifted Hannah slightly higher against her chest. “The doctor says we’re healthy.”
Evan released a breath and lowered himself into the chair beside the bed. He did not ask to hold the baby or touch her without invitation.
Abby watched him for several seconds, then lifted Hannah and guided her into his arms. Evan’s body went rigid until Julia adjusted his elbow and showed him how to support the baby’s head.
Hannah opened her eyes briefly before settling against his chest. Evan looked at Abby over the small bundle between his hands.
“Hello,” he whispered to the baby. “I’m Evan… I am…” he looked at Abby, then back at Hannah. “I am whoever you need me to be.”
Abby rested her head against the pillow and watched them. Nothing about the life ahead would be simple, but simplicity was no longer the standard by which she measured whether a life was worth choosing.