After a few years of living happily married, Chase and I finally decided to try for a baby again. We were happy, our life was in order, and thankfully no other disasters had yet to occur. It was truly amazing and I was in awe at how perfect it all had finally panned out.
Caleb was one of the happiest eight year old boys I knew, which wasn’t a lot I guess, but I was always one to brag. Roy had stayed a permanent fixture in his life and had finally settled down with a perfectly nice, sane woman. We insisted on a background check when they first started dating, that’s how paranoid I was. Roy, thankfully, didn’t argue and although his new girlfriend found it a little strange, she agreed as well.
Another contraction pierced my body and I sucked in a quick breath, while Chase tried to remind me of the breathing techniques we had learned in our Lamaze classes. I squeezed his hand so hard, I was sure the circulation had been cut off and he finally shut up. Who in the hell really used those when they were in this much pain? More power to those women who did this drug free, but I definitely wasn’t going to be one of them.
I let out a sigh of relief as soon as Dr. Schneider walked in, already dressed in his gown. I knew him well since I worked on the labor and delivery floor. And right now, he was my new best friend. Screw Ally.
We worked closely together and now I could easily relate to those women who I thought were crazy when they would actually kiss Dr. Schneider when he was finished.
“Ah, Leah. Ready for this, are we? No worries dear, you are my top priority right now since you’re my favorite person. You’ll be relaxing in no time, I promise.” His bushy gray eyebrows bunched together as he laid all of his needed materials in front of him on the rolling metal tray and then moved behind my back to prepare the area.
“Okay, just hunch your shoulders forward, relax your body as much as possible and don’t worry, this will all be over soon.” I clutched Chase’s hand as I tried not to move and almost immediately felt relief radiate through my body. I was so ready for this now. Game on.
My labor progressed pretty quickly after that. And now that I was in a much better mood, Chase seemed to be too and squeezed in a small nap before the real action started.
I looked down at my husband, his head resting against my leg, the way his eyelashes fanned against his cheeks because they were so long. I felt so lucky for making it this so far, and really it was all because of him.
He was always there to push me when I needed one, even if I didn’t know it, and I truly appreciated it. We probably wouldn’t be here today, if he wasn’t as stubborn as me. I leaned my head back just as the door creaked open and the doctor walked in.
“Well, dear. Let’s check you out here and see how far along you are.” Chase sat up almost immediately, dropping a kiss to palm as I was examined. One of my friends, Maxine, that I worked with on all the late night shifts, popped her head in and smiled at me. “How’s it going, doc? Is our favorite patient about ready?”
“In fact she is, I think a few pushes should do it and baby O’Neil will be having a very happy birthday. What do you think, Leah? Are you ready?”
I nodded my head, the reality sinking in that a little human body that Chase and I created would soon be coming into the world. And I was actually going to be pushing it out of my body. I guess it didn’t matter if I was ready or not, it was definitely game on now.
Within the hour, a cooing baby girl was being set against my chest, with a head full of dark curls, while Chase leaned his head down feathering light kisses down onto our cheeks, the love in his green eyes so apparent it was almost overwhelming. “Welcome to the world Ava Marie O’Neil. You’re already as beautiful as your Mommy,” Chase whispered as her eyes drooped close.
I loved the way her name rolled off his tongue. We had decided together on using my mother’s name as her middle name. Marie had never been the mother that Caleb or I had deserved, but without her being the way she was, our lives probably would have been set on a totally different path.
As our family members and friends filed in quietly to get a peek at our baby girl, I couldn’t help but be thankful for the life I had been given. Caleb led the herd, the ever proud beaming big brother. He was growing up way too fast, I wished I could just freeze time.
Mary and Chris followed closely behind and Ally and Teddy directly behind them. Those two had baffled everyone, and were going stronger than ever, even with Teddy having one of the most popular bands right now.