“Okay Harper, are you ready?” Dr. Lowdry asked from the end of the bed, Brandon released my face and I finally looked to her, “We’re going to have to do this now, the umbilical cord is wrapped around his neck, but you’re both going to be fine. Just do exactly as I say, and we’ll have him out in a few minutes.”
I nodded and took a deep breath, squeezing Brandon’s hand like it was the only thing keeping me tied to this earth. Mom squeezed my other hand telling me everything would be fine, Brandon kissed me quick and hard and continued to say reassuring and loving words throughout the next six minutes. We all cried in relief when we heard little Liam’s piercing wail. While they cleaned him and did a quick check to make sure he was okay, Brandon leaned over and alternated between kissing me sweetly through our smiles and pressing his cheek against mine to tell me how proud he was. As a nurse brought Liam over to us, she repeated information they’d been saying sporadically throughout their mini exam. Fourteen point three inches, six pounds six ounces, born at twelve oh three in the morning.
She handed me Liam and I knew I would never be the same. He was no longer crying, his wide eyes were staring right into mine while his mouth was shaped in a perfect little quivering O, like he didn’t know if he should cry again or stay silent. He was beautiful. Mom was standing near my head, silently crying, Brandon was bent close to us, lightly brushing his fingers up and down Liam’s side. His eyes were bright and his smile breathtaking as he looked at our son.
“Hi Liam.” My voice cracked as I smiled down at him.
He wiggled his hands out of his blanket and was clasping his long fingers around each other. While still brushing his fingers down his side, Brandon let his thumb brush against Liam’s fists, and Liam instantly grabbed hold. Brandon’s breath came out in a huff and we looked at each other, smiling wide before looking back down. Mom rubbed her fingers over where Liam was holding onto Brandon, before kissing each of us on the cheek and leaving the room to let the rest of the family know.
The nurse took him out of my arms and placed him in Brandon’s while the Doctor did some last minute things with me. I understood immediately why Brandon wanted to see me hold him. Looking at Brandon, all six feet four inches, two hundred and forty pounds of pure muscle holding our six pound son was what finally had the tears rolling down my cheeks.
“Hey little man.” He whispered as he stood a couple feet from the bed.
“Babe,” his head snapped up to look at me, his smile the only thing I could focus on, “did you hear the nurse? About when he was born?”
Brandon nodded and looked back down to Liam, “You have pretty good timing son. You couldn’t have come on a more perfect day.”
I smiled at them and the nurse piped up, “Did you want him to be born on September eleventh?” She asked, her face gentle and sweet.
Looking over at Brandon, I saw the tears falling down his face and knew he wouldn’t be able to respond, “It’s not that we wanted it, we really weren’t expecting him yet. But it’s fitting for us and our family. He’s named after Brandon’s dad, Liam. He was on one of the planes that crashed into the twin towers.” I said softly.
Dr. Lowdry and both of the nurses gasped and fell silent. After Dr. Lowdry was done fixing me up, she looked at the baby, still in Brandon’s arms, and said, “This day will always be significant for you three. Loss and a gain, it’s bittersweet, but I agree, it is perfect.”
Brandon walked back over to me and gently placed Liam back in my arms. He kept one hand on him, the other on me. “You were amazing. I love you so much Harper.”
“I love you too. So much.” Liam let out a soft cry, and we both looked quickly back to him. “Look at him Brandon. He’s perfect.”
“He is.” Brandon agreed, “He’s finally here.”
“I know, this is so surreal.”
Liam started crying harder, sounding so precious, and so sad. But with his little arms waving and finally hearing him, I still couldn’t stop smiling. Brandon put one of his fingers near his shaking hand, and as soon as Liam touched it, he grasped it again and fell silent.
“Daddy make everything better little Liam?”
Brandon looked at me, his expression full of pride, love and so much joy I started tearing up again. “I’m a dad.” His voice was thick as he tried to speak around the lump in his throat. He pressed his lips to mine and pulled away slightly, “Thank you sweetheart, you have no idea how happy this makes me. How happy you make me.”
With the hand that wasn’t holding Liam, I ran my fingers down his jaw before cupping his cheek. “I think I have an idea. You are my world Brandon, I couldn’t do any of this without you, nor would I want to.”
Mom came back in then followed by Carrie. They both took turns holding him, and while they did, Brandon and I shared sweet kisses and meaningful glances. When he told his mom what time Liam was born, she smiled at us before seeming to understand what that meant. Her face fell soft, her eyes misting.