Chapter 19 #2
His question reminds me to pull out my cell phone and text Birdie and Faith that I’m on my way. I’d prefer to call, but the helicopter’s too loud for that. I take a swig of the water bottle Hawk hands me. “It’s crazy, you know? It doesn’t seem like that long ago we were the kids.”
“And a bunch of trouble. Weren’t we?”
“Hell yeah,” I reply, sinking into the seat.
“The craziest part is that Maksim and Alex got this whole baby party started with Dmitri, and now you’re up. Weird how our family skipped right to the youngest brothers first. Well, except for Wolfe and Izzie. But you can hardly call our nephew and niece babies anymore.”
I can tell by the softness in his voice that there’s a hint of envy. It’s not surprising. Hawk has always struck me as the kind of guy who wants a family. But then again, my conversation with Wolfe showed it’s what I’ve always wanted, too. Even if I refused to admit it.
Once we’re off the ground, the rhythm of the helicopter gets to me. Despite the adrenaline surges I felt earlier with Kurt, I start nodding off, feeling the weight of the past few days consume me. The last thing I remember is Hawk turning up his radio a little more.
HAWK SHAKES my shoulder brusquely saying. “Helicopter ride’s over, you bum. Now, get out of here and go become a dad.”
I jump, disoriented by sleep and look around wildly for a moment. Sure enough, we’re on the Ophir City Hospital landing pad. Hopping out, I hug Hawk, thanking him.
He says, “I’ve got to figure out where to put my ride, and then I’ll be back to check on everyone.” I nod, thanking him one more time before turning to make my way inside.
I’m greeted by a nurse on the tarmac. Her face tells me everything I need to know about the way I look. The grubby, soot-covered image is confirmed as we walk quickly down hospital corridors, and I catch my reflection in the room windows of the ER. I’m unrecognizable, even to myself.
I’ve still got my helmet in my hand and my firefighter’s jacket on, and I feel like I’m floating down the hallways, thanks to days without sleeping and the anxiety building as I hope to make it to Faith’s side in time. I call out to the nurse, “How far along is my wife? Is she fully dilated?”
The nurse replies, “She’s in active labor at this point. As for how long, it’ll depend on the progress of her contractions and when she goes into transition. You know, after she’s fully dilated. But I know the doctor’s starting to hang out near her room more, so that’s a good sign.”
My heart races at her words. There’s no way I’ll ever appreciate all Faith is going through to bring our baby into this world, stoking the immense love I feel for her even more.
There’s nothing I wouldn’t do for her. We reach an elevator, and the nurse presses the button to go up.
We wait and wait until I’m strumming my helmet impatiently with my fingertips and seriously thinking about rushing the stairs.
Ding! The button lights up, and the door comes open. I start to rush in when a crowd of people hedges me back. Sighing loudly, I wait for the elevator to clear before claiming it. The nurse smiles sympathetically, pressing the button to take us up to labor and delivery.
Once out of the elevator, we pass through security doors, and I’m breathless and ready to break into a sprint to get to Faith in time. We pass by a waiting room, and I hear a soft baby cry.
Looking inside, I see Alex and Maksim trying to calm their two-month-old boy, Dmitri. Zane’s leaning against the wall fidgeting, and Dad is staring at the little crier adoringly.
I poke my head in, “Hey, everyone!” Now, I see Logan seated with his arm around Jess who smiles widely, and Cricket and Christian next to the Keurig getting coffee.
“Hi, son,” Wyatt hollers with a huge smile on his face. “You ready to be a daddy?”
Before I can answer, Chris pipes in. “You look like shit. ”
“I’ve kind of been fighting one of the worst wildfires in modern California history.”
“Hardly an excuse,” he replies, trying hard to suppress the proud older brother smile lighting up his face.
Cricket lightly swats him on the chest, saying “Shh.” The gesture and command only silence the blond-haired, tanned sheriff because he grabs his hazelnut-haired, gray-eyed beauty around the waist, planting a big kiss on her lips.
Dmitri’s still crying, and Alex brushes past, congratulating me with an exhausted smile. She’s got a mane of black, curly hair and piercing crystal-blue eyes. My youngest brother, Maksim, follows hot on her heels.
It’s funny seeing the grumpy blond-haired, bearded mountain man holding a periwinkle-hued diaper bag. “Get ready for no sleep,” he grumbles. But I can tell by the smile on his face, he’s never been happier.
Wolfe sits in the corner with his two kids, Matt and Stasia. They’re seven and five. Matt immediately recognizes me, despite the soot and gear and runs over, exclaiming, “Uncle Travis!” I lean down to hug him. But Stasia hangs back, pouting and staring at me.
Wolfe reassures, “Sweetie, it’s just Travis.”
She shakes her head, clutching her doll tighter and saying, “He looks scary.”
Before I can respond to my niece, Logan pipes up, “What are you waiting for, bro? Go welcome this baby into the world.” Next to him, Jess nods reassuringly before sneaking a love-filled look at my brother.
The nurse and I continue hurriedly to Faith’s room, and I’m comforted by the thought of my family here to support us.
As if reading my mind, the nurse says, “We’re already working on getting you the biggest room we can when you and your wife transfer to the maternity ward. We know how big your family is. ”
“That’s not even half of them.” Her eyebrows raise in surprise, and I realize how lucky I am to have so many people who love and support Faith and me. “But thank you, ma’am, the big room will help,” I reply, rushing into Faith’s room.
Birdie stands on the right side of Faith’s bed, and there’s a doctor sticking his head between my girl’s bent, parted legs. Under any other circumstances, I’d beat the shit out of him, but now he’s my lifeline to make sure our baby arrives safely.
Faith’s face contorts with pain. Her cheeks are flushed and dappled with perspiration, and I rush to her side, handing my helmet to the nurse as I take my wife’s hand.
She looks up at me with a huge smile, exclaiming, “You made it.” But then another contraction grips her, and Faith screams, crushing the blood out of my hand.
“How’s she doing?” I call across the bed to Birdie.
My ebony-haired sister-in-law replies, “We’re getting there. Thank God you’re here. She needs you, Trav.”
The doctor pipes in, “She’s in active labor and almost fully dilated. But I don’t want you pushing yet,” he cautions Faith. “Normally, transition takes anywhere between fifteen to sixty minutes. So, we’re nearly there. With a first birth, it usually falls on the longer side of that range, though.”
My heart races as I hold Faith’s hand and talk her through another contraction. She’s beyond words at this point. All I can do is try to remember what we did in the hypnobirthing class and walk her through the breathing.
Within thirty minutes the doctor returns. Faith has gotten more agitated, and he confirms what the nurses have told us. “She’s crowning now. You’re about to be a dad, Mr. Cartwright. Alright, Faith, now you can start pushing.”
“Thank God!” she screams.
I’m a mixture of concern, apprehension, and excitement as I look at Faith, stroking her moist cheek and hair and inadvertently leaving little bits of soot behind. “Almost there, sugar,” I encourage as she squeezes my hand with another gut-wrenching shriek.
“That’s it,” The doctor confirms, and the next thing I know, a lusty baby cry fills the room.
Holding up a robust, pink infant covered in little bits of white, the doctor declares, “Congratulations, Mr. Cartwright. You have a healthy baby boy. You better go wash your hands, so you can cut the cord.”
I head into the bathroom, washing up in the sink and leaving it looking like it’s been doused in ink. I make a mental note to come back and clean it up later.
After the doctor talks me through cutting the cord, the nurse bundles the baby and hands him to his mama. Faith’s eyes lock with mine as I come back to the side of the bed, crossing to a chair Birdie’s pulled out for me.
I sit down next to Faith, reaching my hand up to touch our son. His tiny, perfect little hand grabs my forefinger instinctively, and I laugh as I look at my wife in amazement.
“Can you believe we did this?” I ask, my voice thick with emotion.
Faith reaches out, resting her hand on my cheek. “He’s the best gift you’ve ever given me.”
“Shouldn’t I be saying that to you?” I ask, leaning forward to kiss her. I leave a trail of dark soot on her cheek and lips. Thank God I started stacking hay and grain sacks at the Jenkins Feed Store. Best fucking decision of my life.
Birdie stands up, excusing herself. “I’m going to go let everyone know the baby’s here. Good job, you two. He’s absolutely perfect.”
Faith’s voice catches as she says, “I don’t know how you managed to get here in time. But seeing your face enter the room was the best surprise I’ve ever had. Well, that and the plus sign on the pregnancy test.”
“I’ve been working non-stop since your first call this morning.
But it took a while to get the hand lines where I could leave because we couldn’t get air support in, and the fire kept jumping.
Fortunately, we also got reinforcements from the Tahoe Hotshots.
I wasn’t about to miss this for the world.
I love you, Faith, and I can’t thank you enough for making us a family. ”
I stare at our son, and he looks up at me, his dark eyes round and curious and his mouth pursed.
“He looks just like you, Trav,” Faith says, giggling. “Well, without all the soot.”
“Yeah, I need to wash up.” But instead, I sit there transfixed by my adorable baby and the breathtaking sight of Faith as a mom, the mother of my child.
Cocking my head to the side, I can see the resemblance in the shape of his tiny eyebrows and how dark his eyes are, even though they’ve still got the newborn blue hue to them.
I add, “I think he’s got my nose, don’t you?” Faith nods, her eyes aglow with love.
“But his lips are all yours, sugar. And those thick eyelashes, too. He’s perfect.”
Faith looks up at me, tears pooling in her eyes.
“It wasn’t that long ago that I felt like my family was going extinct.
With my dad’s death and my mom going into memory care, it felt like Birdie and I were it.
And with the ranch about to go into foreclosure, I couldn’t bear it.
The best day of my life was when you walked into the feed store, offering to help out.
I couldn’t have guessed it at the time, but the joy you’ve brought me is immeasurable.
You’ve given me the family I’ve always wanted.
A huge family, and now our own little one, too. I love you so much, Trav.”
My voice catches in my throat as I stand up leaning over her and Ryder to plant another kiss on her face.
“I love you, too,” I whisper wiping ash marks from her face.
“Alright, I’ve got to clean up a bit because if I keep kissing you like this, you’re going to start looking like a Rough & Ready Hotshot, too.
And as soon as we move to the maternity ward, you’ve got a ton of family to show our baby to. ”
She beams at me, her eyes overflowing with love, and I know that everything I need in this entire world is right here in this hospital.