Chapter 58
Jeremiah
“How about this?” asked Kevin, holding up a baby carrier.
“We’ve got one,” I said.
He sighed frustratedly, running a hand through his sandy hair.
His eyes continued to scan the store. I watched with amusement at how seriously he was taking this.
This bachelor living his dream life of being a renowned photographer and sleeping with different women on location, shopping in the baby department like his life depended on it.
Earlier, I had taken a picture on my phone of him holding up two onesies as he debated between them with his brows knitted together.
“What about this?” he asked, picking up a bottle warmer.
“We’ve got one,” I said again.
“What the hell am I supposed to get the baby if you already have everything?” he asked, a hint of annoyance in his voice.
“It’s not my fault you missed the shower.” I shrugged.
“I was in freaking Africa!” he said, exasperated as he set the bottle warmer down roughly on the shelf.
I chuckled.
“How was it, by the way?” he asked.
“It was great. Sadie’s friends threw quite the party for us at a brunch spot in Soho,” I said, following him to the next shelf for him to peruse.
It really was quite the event. Erica and Gabriella had insisted on throwing her a shower, even though Sadie was reluctant.
She didn’t really like having all eyes on her, but I sided with her friends, saying it was important to celebrate her and the baby.
Afterall, it was a hell of a journey to get where we were.
She had been through so much. She deserved to be showered with love.
“Well, good. I’m glad. If anyone deserves it, it’s Sadie,” said Kevin, giving me a pointed look.
“Hey!” I put my hands up in defense. “I got my shit together.”
“Mhmm…” He chuckled, picking up a pacifier shaped like a teddy bear. “It’s about time.”
“Have that,” I said with a satisfied smile because I knew it would piss him off.
“Oh, come on!” he said, tossing the pacifier back on the shelf.
He looked around the store, musing. “I wonder if they have a onesie that says my dad is an asshole…”
“Ha,” I laughed sarcastically.
He walked to a rack of onesies he had already looked through before, and finally plucked a hanger from the lineup.
It was a cream onesie with baby yellow ducks printed on it.
It was perfect because Sadie loved going to the park to watch the ducks in the lake.
I gave him an approving nod and he sighed with relief, tucking it under his arm.
“Let’s get the hell out of here,” he said.
I chuckled and followed him to the counter where he paid. As the cashier carefully wrapped the onesie in sparkly tissue paper, Kevin looked at me and smiled.
“What?” I asked with a raised brow.
“Nothing.” He shrugged. “I just can’t believe we’re here shopping for baby stuff. I never thought you’d get here, man.”
“I know.” I nodded. It was hard for me to believe too sometimes. Even harder to believe I could be this happy.
“I’m proud of you.” He patted me on the back before taking the small bag the cashier handed to him. He thanked her and we headed out the door to the biting cold air. I tightened my coat, and buttoned it to the top.
“Another New York winter,” muttered Kevin, doing the same with his coat. “How about we go get a beer?” he asked.
“Why not?” I grinned. “It’ll warm us up.”
Kevin nodded and went to hail a cab when my phone rang in my coat pocket. I pulled it out and saw it was Sadie calling. I hit the green button and held it up to my ear.
“Hey, babe,” I said.
“Don’t freak out,” she said calmly.
My heart dropped and quickened its pace all at once. “What’s wrong?” I asked, thinking the worst.
“My water just broke,” she said excitedly. “It’s time.”
“Oh, my gosh!” I practically yelled. Kevin looked at me confused, as he held the door open to the cab. I rushed toward him. “I’m coming home,” I said frantically.
“No, no. Gabriella and I are making our way down to the town car now,” she said. “Meet us at the hospital.”
“Are you sure?” I asked, breathing a small sigh of relief that her friend was with her.
They had gone to brunch earlier and had plans to take it easy the rest of the day, watching chick flicks on the couch.
I had put my driver on standby the past few weeks, to be at Sadie’s disposal if she ever needed him.
“Yes. She has my hospital bag and we’re taking the elevator down now.” She assured me.
“Okay. I’ll meet you there,” I said, gesturing for Kevin to hurry up and get in the cab. He looked at me worriedly, but slid in the seat.
I ended the call and followed in after him.
“What’s going on?” he asked urgently.
“Sadie is in labor,” I said wide-eyed.
“Holy shit!” He leaned forward and told the driver to take us to the hospital quickly.
Fifteen minutes later, he peeled up to the curb and I hopped out of the cab in a hurry. Kevin rolled down the window and called after me. “Good luck, man!” I gave him a wave and ran through the hospital doors.
I impatiently tapped my foot as the elevator took me up to the seventh floor where the labor and delivery floor was.
When the doors opened, I spotted Sadie getting in a wheelchair by a nurse while Gabriella stood next to them.
When her friend saw me, she frantically waved me over.
I quickly greeted her and knelt down to Sadie’s level and took her hand.
“Are you okay?” I asked worriedly.
“I’m fine,” she said with a smile, that quickly turned to a grimace.
“What? What is it?” I cried out.
She shut her eyes tight.
“It’s just a contraction,” said the nurse soothingly. “I take it you’re the father?”
I stood up, still holding Sadie’s hand, who was now squeezing my fingers together tightly. I winced slightly before answering the nurse.
“Yes. Jeremiah Mason. I’m the father,” I said through gritted teeth as Sadie squeezed harder.
The nurse looked amused, as if she’d seen this hundreds of times.
“It will pass soon,” she said, more to me than Sadie, who was already loosening her grip. “Let’s get her back to a room, shall we?”
I nodded eagerly.
Gabriella leaned down and placed a soft kiss on Sadie’s damp forehead. “You’ve got this, girl. I can’t wait to meet baby. I love you!”
Sadie looked up at her gratefully as the nurse wheeled her away toward a long hallway lined with rooms. I followed next to her, feeling like I was in some sort of dream.
I knew this day was coming, but now that it was here, it felt so surreal.
Despite the contractions, Sadie seemed calm. Ready. I was in awe of her.
The nurse and I helped Sadie into a mint green hospital gown and into the bed.
I stepped back and gave the nurse room to get Sadie hooked up to the monitors.
My heart was pounding out of my chest, and my brain was full of questions.
Despite the baby books I had read, I wondered about every single thing.
What the lines on the monitor meant. What the beeping sounds meant.
What the nurse was doing as she said random numbers out loud to herself.
Nothing could really prepare me for this.
“Baby is coming fast,” said the nurse, turning to me. “I’m going to go get the doctor.”
I nodded, my nerves in my throat. I watched the nurse go worriedly.
“Jeremiah,” said Sadie softly.
I looked at her lying on the bed, her beautiful red hair cascading past her shoulders and her green eyes tired from the consistent contractions that ripped through her. She looked so beautiful. I rushed to her side and took her hand, stroking it gently with my thumb.
“You okay?” I asked, looking her over.
“Mhmm,” she nodded, wincing slightly. “Stay by my side.”
“Always,” I assured her. I was not going anywhere. I gently squeezed her hand.
Just then, Doctor Lambert and the same nurse came in. I felt comfort in knowing she was here, and had seen us through the whole pregnancy so far. I knew Sadie felt safe with her. I did too.
“Looks like this baby is eager to meet you two,” Doctor Lambert smiled as she pulled on her latex gloves.
She gave the nurse some instructions and pulled a stool up to the foot of the bed, instructing Sadie to scooch down slightly.
I helped adjust her before my hand found hers again, interlacing our fingers together.
The next hour was a blur. It was almost like an out-of-body experience, except my senses felt everything.
My ears were full of Sadie’s labored breaths and groans, and the doctor’s coaxing.
My hand was sore and clammy from Sadie’s tight grip, as my other hand stroked her hair gently.
I watched her in awe as she gritted her teeth, and pushed her feet against the bed, giving every push her all.
“Breathe,” I said soothingly, running the tips of my fingers across her damp forehead. “You’ve got this, babe.”
She looked up at me unsure, her red face in pure agony as another contraction hit her, sending a tremble through her body. I felt helpless in that moment, wanting to take her pain away. But I stayed as calm as I could and smiled down at her proudly.
“You’ve got this,” I repeated more adamantly. “Keep your breathing steady. Your voice low. Don’t tense up.”
She nodded and gritted her teeth as the contraction rolled through her.
“Just think of it like a hill. You’re almost on the other side of it.”
She let out a throaty scream as she closed her eyes, and squeezed my hand until it was numb.
“Push, Sadie,” the doctor coaxed.
“We’re so close to meeting our baby,” I said softly, leaning in to kiss her forehead.
I kept my face close to hers as the doctor told her to push again.
Sadie screamed again and her whole body tensed as she pushed before collapsing back onto the bed breathlessly.
She had done it. The doctor smiled as she looked up at us.
“It’s a baby girl!” she exclaimed loudly.
Sadie let out a loud sob as she buried her face against mine. My eyes immediately welled with tears and I sobbed right alongside her, kissing her through the salty tears.
“You did it, babe. You did it. I’m so proud of you,” I said against her lips.
Seconds later, a shrill cry filled the room, and we both turned to watch as the doctor lifted our baby girl into her arms, wrapping her gently in a blanket.
It was the most beautiful sound I had ever heard, and then I saw the most beautiful thing I had ever seen when the doctor carefully walked our baby girl over to us, placing her in Sadie’s arms. She was the most incredible thing I had ever laid eyes on.
“Oh,” I breathed out shakily as I took her all in. Her small fingers and toes. Her tuft of auburn hair. Her little lips. Her tiny nose. She was beautiful, just like her mother.
Perfect. Just perfect.
Sadie looked down at her in the same disbelief, clutching her to her bare skin and crying quietly as she kissed the top of her delicate head. These were my girls. My life. My world. Right here in this room.
As I looked down at our baby girl, I promised that I would always take care of her. Always protect her. Always be by her side.
Always.