One Simple Step (Journey #3)

I sucked in a breath, waiting to hear Kara’s answer. She had about a million different names picked out, but had never narrowed it down to just one. I looked over at Kara, and she just shrugged her shoulders.

“Um...” I licked my lips, having no fucking clue. A name was something that meant a lot, especially for girls. I didn’t want to screw up the very first thing I was in charge of for my daughter. “Let’s go with...” I paused again, and the nurse’s eyebrows shot up in surprise. I’m sure we were probably like the first parents that didn’t have a name for their baby. There were a whole nine months to plan and all. I scoured my brain for something that fit, and one suddenly popped into my head. It was just right. “Ariel Grace Bennett.” The nurse nodded her head in approval, and I turned to Kara to see if I had her approval.

“Ariel? Like from The Little Mermaid?”

“I guess.” I shrugged my shoulders, knowing that the name was perfect. It reminded me of Ally, but Kara would never know the true meaning behind it.

“Whatever.” She shook her head, and took the clipboard that the nurse handed her, adding her signature next to mine at the bottom.

The room was soon overtaken by a flow of my relatives, coming in and out to meet the new baby. I was surprised once my mom got her hands on her, that she actually gave her up to my aunts who had come to visit. My mom had already been spoiling my daughter before she was even born, I couldn’t imagine what it would be like now.

Kara ended up staying in the hospital until the next afternoon. I stayed with her and Ariel overnight in the hospital room, and I was definitely feeling the sleepless night the next morning. The nurses were more than helpful, showing me how to change, burp, and feed her.

By the time we were leaving the hospital, I felt like I was getting the hang of it, but then I suddenly panicked. What in the hell were we going to do once we got home and there weren’t any nurses around to help out when we had a question?

I shifted the car seat in my hands that I was carrying back to Kara’s room, and took a deep breath. Calm down, dude. I had my mom, and she knew just about everything. We would be able to handle it, and if we couldn’t, I knew I could always count on my mom.

We signed the discharge papers, Kara was helped out to the car, and the car seat was checked before we left. It all felt a little surreal. We were now responsible for this tiny little human being. We were in charge of shaping her life, and who she was to become. I had no clue how in the hell I was going to do it, but we would figure it out.

“How you feeling?” I glanced over at Kara as I pulled out onto the main road, and she rolled her eyes at me.

“Oh, just lovely. Childbirth is like a freakin’ walk in the park. I have no clue why women would actually want to get pregnant.”

“Ok-ay.” Well then, I guess the pregnancy hormones were still in effect, mixed in with the overall personality of Kara. It made for a lethal combination. I don’t know how I had gotten through that past month or so. I felt like my tongue was about to fall off after having to bite it so often.

By the time I went in to work each morning, I felt like I was literally going to explode. It didn’t help that she never wanted me to go anywhere, either. She made me feel guilty, even if all I wanted was to stop off for one beer with Danny. He eventually stopped calling, and I figured it was for the best. I had at least gotten a text back from him when I sent him a picture of Ariel.

I pulled into the driveway, throwing the car into park and jumping out to open the back door and unlatch the car seat. It killed me to have my bike in the garage, but it wasn’t exactly the best mode of transportation with a kid, so the car I bought off my parents would have to do for now.

“Gee, thanks for the help.” I heard Kara mutter behind me as I pulled out my keys and unlocked the door. Oh, yeah, the fun was just about ready to begin. I stepped aside, letting her pass by and kicking the door shut.

By the time I got her and the baby all settled, I was doubly exhausted. I got that Kara was sore and uncomfortable, but she really needed to start stepping up. She hadn’t even fed Ariel once.

The nurse shoved a pamphlet at me right before I closed my car door, and I at least caught on to the fact that it had to do with the baby blues. I had no clue if that’s what was going on with Kara, and right now, I couldn’t even think about it as I closed my eyes, hoping to get a little bit of sleep before Ariel was ready for her next bottle. This was definitely something to get used to.





Chapter 26


Ally



“Already missing Ben?” I smiled as I flopped down next to Remy on her bed where she lay, looking like a sad little puppy dog.

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