“You do too.”
Elly smiled. “Well, I DID just finish delivering a huge wedding.”
“Yeah, well, I had a baby.”
Elly winked at Kim. “You win.” They chuckled together.
Elly tilted her head. “Was it scary? Are you okay?”
“It happened so fast. One minute I was in the shop – it’s a disaster by the way, have fun with that – and then next thing I knew I felt liquid running down my leg. My water had broken. Then these gigantic contractions started, and I couldn’t even move. I was so lucky that Keith had run by his shop to grab some appetizers….he called the cab and wanted to come with me. I didn’t let him go.” She looked over at Elly, her eyes glazed over. “He likes you, you know.”
Elly pressed her lips together. “Mmm hmm.”
Kim smiled weakly. “I made it to the hospital. I think I might have yelled at the cab driver a little.” She winced. “Oh gosh, I think I called him something very insulting.”
“You’re allowed, just this once, to call people names.”
“Oh no. Did I call you a name when we talked earlier?”
Elly shook her head, pushing a lock of Kim’s damp hair out of her eyes.
“Sean was waiting for me, my knight in shining armor, right outside the hospital. From there, I don’t remember much. He came fast. It was horrible pain, but it was quick, thank God…I think I yelled at Sean, too.”
“Also allowed.”
“And then he was here. He just arrived into this world, screaming his little head off, announcing that he was very angry to be mistaken for a girl this entire time.”
Elly laughed. “Are you shocked about that?”
Kim smiled. “I always thought that it would be so awful if we were wrong, but it was always…him. It was just us who were wrong.” She bit her lip. “I hope he likes his bright pink room, and all the pink baby clothes that Auntie Elly bought.” Elly groaned. “And the princess-themed crib bedding.”
“Yikes,” whispered Elly.
“I think Sean was secretly hoping all this time it would be a boy. I bet he’s out high-fiving his doctor buddies right now,” Kim mused.
“Oh, absolutely.”
The door squeaked open slowly, letting bright light fill the room as Sean walked in, carrying a tiny bundle. “Are you ready to meet him?” he whispered.
Elly nodded, suddenly nervous as the prospect of dropping a newborn. “I’m really klutzy, maybe I shouldn’t…”
Kim put her hand on Elly’s. “You’ll be fine. I’m right here.”
Sean delicately put the baby into Elly’s waiting arms, moving ever so carefully. Elly sat so still she was barely breathing.
“Elly, this is Hadley.”
Elly pulled back the blue blanket and stared at him. He was perfect, in every way. Tiny long lashes brushed his pale pink cheeks. He had Kim’s blond hair, light wisps of cream that covered his somewhat peaked head. Elly looked at his tiny fingers, running her hand over the unbelievably small nails, the miniature thumb, the wrist no wider than an inch. Love washed over her, twisting through her brain and dulling out all other background noise. There was only Hadley, his little sleeping face holding her heart captive. She knew immediately that she would be at the mercy of this little person, that anything he wanted she would hand over with glee. Oh boy, she thought, I’m in it for the long run with this kid. Tears ran down her cheeks, and Elly cautiously raised a hand so that they wouldn’t drip onto Hadley’s angelic face.
Kim laughed. “You are such a weeper.”
Elly giggled and stifled a choke, “It’s true. He’s just incredible, I don’t know what else to say…except for good job. He’s a miracle, a gift… I mean, look at him!”
Kim laughed.
“Hey, how was the wedding? I’m dying to hear how it went.”
Hadley gave a small yawn and Elly dissolved into happiness.
“It was fine.”
“It was FINE? Elly, I need more details than that. I just pushed a baby out, and I demand a play by play.”
Elly’s eyes never left Hadley’s face. “Aaron was there.”
Kim pushed herself up so quickly that Elly jumped. “As in you saw him?”
Elly nodded.
“Did you talk to him?”
She gave another nod.
“Well…what happened?”
Elly gazed down at the sleeping baby and shrugged. “It’s not important.”
Kim’s mouth fell open and Elly continued. “Today is Hadley’s day, and your day. Maybe someday I’ll tell you about it, but Aaron will never be important again.”
Kim put her hands over her mouth. “Oh, Elly.”
Hadley let out a low cry. Elly turned to Kim. “Go see your mama.”
Kim reached out her arms, took her child gingerly and ran her finger over his baby pout. “Shh, shh baby, you’re mine.”
Elly looked at Kim. “Already a natural. You’re going to be an incredible mother.”
“You’ll be around to make sure, right?”