Chapter 39
THIRTY-NINE
THEO
“I know it hurts, but you can do it,” I say to Finley, my gaze holding hers as I smooth away the sweat-soaked hair that’s stuck to her forehead.
She’s been pushing for nearly an hour, and the poor girl is absolutely exhausted.
But we’re almost there, so I’m doing everything I can to pump her up just like I do with my team on the sidelines.
Being yelled at and apologized to within the same three seconds is new to me, but if it helps, she can scream as much as she needs to.
“I can’t,” she whimpers, her eyes showing just how tired she is. I wish I could take the pain away and do the rest for her, but unfortunately, I can’t. I can only hold her hand and encourage her to keep going when she feels like she has nothing left.
“Yes, you can,” I reply. “You’re a fucking badass, Mama. Look how far you’ve come already. I’m so goddamn proud of you.” I steel my expression, just like I do with my teammates. “You just have to give a few more good pushes, and she’ll be in your arms. You’ve got this, okay?”
She takes a deep breath, her glassy green eyes connecting to mine as she nods her head.
I’ve never been so in awe of another human as I am of her right now.
I watched her grow an entire life inside her, and now I have the privilege of seeing her bring it into the world.
If I thought I loved her before, that was nothing compared to how I feel as she wraps her dainty fingers around mine and prepares to bless me with the greatest gift I’ve ever been given.
“Alright, Finley,” the doctor says from her spot at the bottom of the bed. “I need you to really dig deep for me on this one. If you can give us everything you have during this next contraction, your baby girl will be here.”
She looks up at me, and I give her a tight nod to let her know that I’m right here.
A shaky exhale pushes past her lips, her expression twisting in pain as the contraction becomes more intense.
The doctors and nurses provide plenty of instruction and words of encouragement, allowing me a second to watch as Finley lifts her shoulders from the mattress, grabs hold of the back of her thighs, and pushes the baby’s head out.
“You’re doing so good, sweetheart,” I praise, unable to look away.
Fin takes a quick pause, her hand finding mine and squeezing so tight that I wonder for a moment if she might actually break it.
She lets out a loud scream, bearing down hard enough to free a small set of shoulders.
I’m speechless as she takes one more deep gulp of air, tucking her chin to her chest and grunting loudly.
And that’s when it happens.
Our beautiful baby girl is finally here.
Everything after that is a blur, from her sweet cries to me thanking Finley for being so strong and brave. It isn’t until the doctor hands me a pair of scissors that the weight of the moment really settles in.
“Do you want to cut the cord, Dad?” she asks, and just like that, my whole world flips on its side.
I’m a fucking dad.
I can’t hold back the hurricane of emotions that flows through me as I take them from her hand, looking down to where my daughter cries.
Her loud wails are like music to my ears as I attempt to listen to the doctor’s instructions and cut right where I’m told to.
Tears stream down my cheeks, and I turn my head just in time to see the two most important people in my life meet each other for the first time.
“Hey there, Norah,” Fin says, studying her adorable features like she’s never seen such perfection.
From her full head of red hair to her tiny, little fingers, everything about her is absolutely precious.
My eyes bounce back and forth between the two of them as they lie skin to skin, heart so full that I feel like it could leap from my chest at any moment.
They’re beautiful.
They’re mine.
Several minutes later, a nurse steps in and asks if she can take the baby to be checked over.
Not wanting to let her go, but knowing it’s all part of the process, Finley agrees, her bottom lip wobbling as the little bundle is lifted from her arms and brought across the room.
I take the opportunity to give my girl some love, pressing my lips to the crown of her head as she nuzzles into me.
“Everything looks good. You did exceptionally well, Finley,” the doctor says, finishing up between her legs before she moves to the sink to clean up. The whole thing feels so surreal, but here we are with a brand-new life in our midst.
“Seven pounds, two ounces,” the nurse says over her shoulder. “Nineteen inches long. You can come get her now, Dad.”
I move at a speed that rivals the one I display on the football field, my heart pounding in my chest as a much cleaner, swaddled baby girl is placed in my arms. I’m overwhelmed with emotion, so in love with her already, and she’s only twenty minutes old.
I make a silent vow to never let her down, and to show her how special she is each and every day.
She’s made all my dreams come true by bringing her mother to me, and I’ll be grateful for that until my very last breath.
“Damn, Calloway,” Finley says as I turn around, her tone exhausted but playful. “You look pretty hot holding a newborn.”
I raise a dubious brow. “Is that so? Does that mean you’re ready for another?”
She huffs a tired laugh, her eyes fluttering closed as she rests against the pillow. “Absolutely not. But ask me again when my vagina doesn’t feel like it’s on fire.”
I chuckle in response, walking over and carefully placing Norah back into her mother’s arms. She lets out a tiny cry, her head turning as she instinctively searches for something to eat.
As though she’s done it a million times, Finley pulls down the front of her hospital gown and offers her breast, which our sweet angel takes right away.
I’ve heard stories of newborns struggling to latch at first, but she doesn’t seem to have any issues as she suckles like a champ.
“You are so incredible,” I say, the words a choked whisper as I watch in awe, my heart swelling with pride.
This is by far the best day of my life. I’m so grateful to Sydney and the Grant family for making sure I didn’t miss it.
Fin and I may still have a lot to talk about, but we’re a family now, so whatever the universe wants to throw at us, we’ll figure it out.
My perfect girls will never go a day without knowing how much I love them, and that’s a promise I intend to keep.