Callan
C allan called Emily and she told him that she was on her way. He didn’t miss the concern in her voice when he told her that Mercy had started having regular contractions and he was worried that Emily wouldn’t get there in time. She assured him that she would be there before he knew it and that first-time pregnancies took longer to deliver. He was worried that their baby might have other plans, everything about the whole pregnancy seemed unconventional. He didn’t believe that their kid would follow everyone else’s rules especially now when he or she was about to make a grand entrance into the world.
He went back into their bedroom, not missing the look of concern on Mary’s face. “I think we should call an ambulance,” Mary said. She was stroking Mercy’s back while she panted her way through another contraction. “They are too close together.” Cash nodded to , and he knew that things were progressing much faster than anyone planned.
Joe took ’s cell from his hand and stepped into the hallway. “You should be with your family right now. I will call for an ambulance and wait out front for it to arrive.” nodded.
“Thanks, Joe,” he whispered. He wasn’t quite sure what to do until Mercy reached for him. He got onto the bed with her on the opposite side of Cash and he held her hand. Cash held her other hand and the worry on his face nearly did in.
“Oh, you boys, women have babies every day. Our Mercy will be just fine but I’m afraid that this little one will be here before the ambulance.” The thought of the three of them having to deliver their baby scared the shit out of him.
“I need to push,” Mercy panted.
Mary shook her head, “Okay, I’m going to deliver my great-grandchild and you two are going to help me.”
“Have you ever done this before?” was almost afraid to ask.
Mary smiled, “I had four children, and I think I remember how things work,” Mary said. Mercy growled, effectively stopping their conversation.
“This baby is ripping me in two. She wants out,” Mercy cried.
“So, it’s going to be a girl, little one?” Cash asked. knew that Cash was trying to distract their girl, and he had to admit he was grateful. With everything happening around them at top speed, he felt useless.
“Mercy, I’m going to need you to help me,” Mary moved some of the bedding and got onto the bed. “I know that you can talk us through having this baby and what we need to do for you both.” Mercy nodded.
“This is a lot different than watching someone giving birth at the hospital,” Mercy complained. “We need blankets to wrap her in and the ambulance needs to hurry the fuck up. I’m going to push.” Cash ran out of the room and came back seconds later with clean towels. felt helpless as he held Mercy’s hand, telling her what a good job she was doing. Mercy screamed, gripping his hand so tightly that his fingers turned blue. The baby’s head appeared, and Mary said she was crowning. Within minutes and a few more pushes, their daughter made her way into the world, squawking and screaming her way into his heart.
wiped his face, not ashamed of the tears that now freely fell down his cheeks. “She’s so fucking beautiful, baby.” kissed Mercy’s forehead as Cash took their daughter from Mary who wrapped her in some of the towels that had grabbed.
“ is right, little one. Our daughter is gorgeous, just like her mama. But what he needs to remember is that this little girl can hear him cursing and we need to watch what we say.” Cash’s sing-song voice almost made want to laugh but he knew that Cash was right. He would do just about anything for his new little family, even give up swearing.
“Sorry,” whispered.
Cash handed the swaddled infant to Mercy, and she held the baby to her chest. The sight just about took his breath away. He didn’t think that he could be any more in love with Mercy but up until this moment, he was wrong. He loved her so much more, especially now that she had given him the most perfect gift in the world.
“What are we going to call her, little one?” Cash kissed Mercy’s forehead and he sat on the bed next to her. took his spot on her other side and gently rubbed the baby’s little foot that stuck out from the makeshift blanket.
“Well,” Mercy bit her lip, thinking about a name for their daughter. They hadn’t had much time to talk about things like names or what the baby would call him and Cash. Having two dads might confuse their daughter and having names picked out might help cut down on any confusion.
“I was thinking of Katherine after my mother.” Mercy seemed so unsure as she looked between the two of them. “If you two are okay with that name?” Mary cleared her throat and the three of them looked over to where she stood in the doorway.
“Joe says that the ambulance will be here in just two minutes. And, if you’re looking for an old woman’s opinion, I think that Katherine is a beautiful name. Although I may be a little biased.” Mary winked at Mercy and walked back out of the room, giving them a few private moments before the ambulance showed up.
“I for one, love the name Katherine,” Cash said quietly. “How about you Cal?”
nodded his agreement, “I love it but it’s such a big name for a tiny girl. Can we maybe call her Katie, for short?” Mercy gifted him with her smile, and he couldn’t help but gently kiss her lips.
“I love that, it was my mother’s nickname too.” Mercy looked down at the sleeping baby in her arms and kissed her forehead. “Katie,” she whispered.