Chapter 6 #3
Love you both.
Love you, too.
When he entered the room, Vic was examining Kara as his wife gritted her teeth from the added pressure.
“You’re there,” Vic said. “We’re ready to push.”
“So no epidural?” Dan asked.
“Nope, but don’t worry. She’s got this. I’ll be right back.”
Dan went to Kara’s bedside and took the hand that didn’t have the IV attached, kissing the back of it. “I’m so proud of you, sweetheart. I already knew you were incredible, but now I know you’re a superhero.”
“I don’t feel like one. I’m scared of this next part.” Her eyes were full of tears. “I should’ve gotten the epidural when I could.”
“I’m sure you’ll rock this the same way you rocked the first part.”
“If you say so.”
“I say so, and you know how I love to hear myself talk.”
She laughed and then gasped at the start of another contraction.
Dan talked her through it while feeling ridiculous because nothing he said would help. “I can’t wait to meet our Dylan.”
“Me, too,” she said, panting through the aftermath of the contraction.
“Last chance to change your bet.”
She’d bet on a girl, while he’d bet on a boy.
“She’s a girl. I’m sure of it.”
He couldn’t wait to be a girl dad—or a boy dad. Either was fine with him, and he was thrilled to be naming the baby after his late brother. “You’re going to be a mommy.”
She turned her head so she could see him. “You’re going to be a daddy.”
“I’m so excited.”
“Me, too.”
“I just wish I had a magic wand to move things along for you.”
“That would be nice to have right now.”
Victoria returned with David and Katie, who were wearing gowns, masks and gloves and moved like a well-oiled pit crew who’d done this very thing many times before. Their obvious competence infused him with confidence that he badly needed as he prepared to support his wife through the birth.
They instructed him to get behind her on the bed while they positioned her legs and took their places, with Victoria leading the charge, Katie standing next to Kara and David waiting to care for the baby after the birth.
“On the next contraction, I want a big push,” Victoria said.
“Are you ready, honey?” Dan asked, surprised to be blinking back tears as the magnitude of the moment took hold.
“I think so.”
“I’ve got you. Lean on me when it becomes too much.”
Her hand gripped his arm as the contraction began and she pushed with all her might.
Time seemed to stop as they repeated the cycle at least ten times before Victoria instructed Kara to push as hard as she possibly could.
“Here comes your baby! Keep pushing.”
Over Kara’s shoulder, Dan watched as the baby entered the world into Victoria’s waiting hands.
“Congratulations! You have a daughter!”
Dan could barely see her through the haze of tears as he held Kara.
“You did it,” he whispered. “I love you so much. We have a daughter!”
“I told you.”
“Yes, you did. I’ll never bet against your mother’s intuition again.”
“You still owe me a hundred bucks.”
“Do you take credit cards?”
“You guys are too cute,” Victoria said, smiling up at them.
David brought their baby to them, wrapped in a receiving blanket with an oatmeal-colored cap on her tiny head. “She’s scored a perfect ten on all her tests.”
“She’s already an overachiever,” Dan said through his tears.
David transferred the baby to her mother. “Baby girl, meet your incredible mom and dad.”
Kara held her as tears streamed down both their faces. “Hello, Dylan Adele Torrington.” Adele was Bertha’s mother’s name, which she’d insisted they go with instead of Bertha for her middle name. No baby needs that old name, she’d said adamantly.
Kara kissed the baby’s cheek. “I’m your mom, and that guy behind me is your dad. I’m sorry about him, but we’ll handle him together.”
Dan laughed as he wiped tears from his face. “Hey!” He reached out to caress the softest skin he’d ever touched. “And this is your mom. She has a smart mouth, but overall, she’s pretty cool, and I love her more than anything, except you, of course.”
“We need to tell all the people. They’re on pins and needles by now.”
“Let me see your phone,” Katie said. “I’ll take a picture.”
Dan sent the first photo of their family of three to his family and Kara’s as well as all their friends on Gansett Island with the message, Welcome to the world, Dylan Adele Torrington, born at 7:38 pm on December 10th, weighing in at eight pounds, four ounces and measuring nineteen inches.
Mom was a stud, and Dad held up pretty well, all things considered. We’re overjoyed to have a daughter!
He hoped his late brother somehow knew that he had a new niece named for him. Dan would never cease to be amazed by how the best day could somehow also reflect the worst day, proving that life went on after an unimaginable loss.
“She’s so pretty,” Kara said, bringing him back to the present with his wife and daughter.
They had a daughter!
“Like her mommy.”
“I hate to say it,” Kara said dryly, “but she looks just like you.”
“Lucky kid,” Dan said, because that’s what she expected from him.
“We’re the lucky ones.”
“We sure are.”