“You’re one lucky lady.”
“Thanks,” I say as I suck on the icy treat. “I don’t know which one is the dad though, so it’s a bit awkward, if you know what I mean. Trust me when I say, you don’t want to be in this position.”
Her eyes go wide, as everyone in the room starts to laugh. My mom chastises me for saying such a thing. I shrug and continue giving my baby a massive dose of sugar.
“You can ask for their autograph if you want, but only if you give me a discount on my bill.”
“Um…”
“She’s only kidding. I’m Liam,” he says as he shakes her hand. I wasn’t kidding, but whatever. “That’s Harrison and JD,” Liam points to the guys, who are stuffing their faces in the corner. They wave, but make no effort to get up. I don’t blame them. Eating is my top priority too.
“I listen to you guys all the time.”
“Thanks, we appreciate the support.”
“Do you follow me on Twitter?” Jimmy asks, except it sounds like Twitt-errrrr. My nurse blushes. I roll my eyes and hand her the stick from my Popsicle. It was very good, but now I’m uncomfortable because the baby is kicking my bladder and kidney. Plus, my back still hurts.
“Are you okay?” Liam asks.
“Baby is kicking a lot and my back hurts.”
“Here, sit up.” Liam puts his food down and tries to crawl behind me to massage my back. It’s working except I feel like I have to go to the bathroom.
“Oh crap. I just peed the bed.”
People laugh, and yeah, it’s funny, but it’s also embarrassing.
“I’ll get you fresh sheets, Josie,” my nurse says as she leaves the room.
“Oh God, Liam, something’s wrong.” I close my eyes as pain rips through my abdomen.
“Mom?” Noah’s voice rings out.
“Everyone get out of the room. Mom, can you get the nurse?” Everyone except Liam files out of the room just as the nurse comes back.
“What’s going on Josie?” she asks me as she checks the printout next to my bed. “Let’s see if your water broke.” She lifts the blanket just as I let out a long wail.
“Well, it looks like we’re having a baby right now.”
“What do you mean, right now?” Liam asks, panic lacing his words.
“Oh god, Liam, it’s coming out. I can feel it coming out.”
He moves away so I can lie back on the bed. I grip his hand as another contraction comes. They’re so strong and it feels like nails are being scraped against my skin. I start breathing heavily in between and when my next one comes, I can’t help but push.
“No, don’t push yet, Josie.” The nurse tells me as she’s scrambling to get my bed ready.
The doctor comes in with a yellow gown on and a stupid smile on his face. I want to kick him in his smug little face for thinking this is the time to smile. Behind him are a team of other doctors and a machine that my baby will have to go in. They’re busy setting up and all I want to do is cry because it’s too early.
“Didn’t want to wait, huh?”
“Yeah you know I thought what the hellllllll!” I cry out as another contraction hits. Once it subsides, Liam is wiping my forehead with a damp cloth.
“Mr. Westbury, when I tell you to, help Josie to sit up so she can push,” The doctor says as he places my feet in the stir-ups and sits down between my legs.
“Look at me,” I say to Liam to get his attention. I know he’s getting pissed that a man is about to deliver the baby, but we have no choice.
“He hates his job,” I say, trying to lighten the mood even though I’m in pain.
“Here comes another one, Josie. Go ahead and bear down,” the nurse says as she and Liam help me sit up. I scream out and start panting.
“I need drugs.”
“It’s too late,’’ she says.
I turn and glare at her, but she doesn’t back away.
“It’s burning!” I scream.
“Almost done, Jojo. You can do this.”
“What do you know? You did this to me. I should’ve learned the first time I had one of your kids.”
Liam doesn’t balk at the fact that I just insulted him.
“I love you so much, Jojo. You’re my life, you and the kids. I can’t imagine what a day looks like without you in it. I’m so fucking lucky you chose me to be the father of your children. You’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen and I can’t wait to meet our baby. I hope she looks just like you.”
“It’s a boooooooyyyyeeeeeeeeeee!” I say as I bear down again.
“Okay, the shoulders are out. Suction,” he says. “Do you want to look?” he asks, looking up at Liam, who shakes his head. “One more push, Josie, and you’ll have your baby in your arms.”
When the next contraction hits, I grunt, pushing down as hard as I can to squeeze the little human out of me. The soft wail of a baby cry fills the room and everyone cheers.
The doctor holds the baby up for us to see.
It’s a girl.
She’s a girl.
We have a daughter.
“Oh my God, we have a daughter,” I say through tears.
“I told you, Jojo.” He says, as he kisses me. “I love you so much.”
“Dad, would you like the cut the cord?”
Liam nods and takes a pair of medical scissors from the nurse and cuts where she says to. Then she takes my little girl and places her on my chest. Liam is right by my side before I can even blink.
“Liam, look at her. She looks just like Noah did when he was born.” She’s tiny, but long and can fit in my arm. Her hair is dark, with a little nose and perfect lips.
“She’s beautiful, Josie. God, she’s so beautiful. Thank you.” He kisses me again before kissing her. His tears fall onto my hand as he looks at our daughter. “Look at how tiny she is. I could carry her like a football.”
I laugh and kiss him. “We have to give her a name.”
“Yeah we do,” he says as he runs his finger over her dark hair.
“Hey, baby girl, can you open your eyes for Mommy and Daddy?” I run my finger along her cheek, back and forth until she opens her eyes quickly before shutting them again. They’re dark, but will likely change.
“Aside from calling her Noah Junior, I’m stumbling for names. Mason?” Liam asks. I shake my head.
“What about Betty?” I ask, just as Liam blurts out “What about Page, with an i?”
“I like Paige,” I say.
“I like Betty, too.”
“Betty Paige Westbury? And we’ll call her Paige?”
“And not Mason?”
I shake my head.
“Hi, Paige,” he says. Her mouth opens in agreement.
“Sorry to interrupt, but we need to take her and get her vitals. Then we’ll be taking her upstairs for observation.”
I reluctantly let her go and tell Liam to go with her. I don’t want her alone.
“Before you take her, we need to introduce her to our family. They’re waiting.”
The nurse nods and carries Paige over to the station they’ve set up. Once she’s weighed, measured, cleaned and has had her Apgar test done, she’s bundled up and placed in Liam’s arms. He sits down next to me and pulls out his phone.
“Smile, Mommy.” I don’t, I lean in and kiss Paige’s head instead. This is how I want her first photo to be.
Once my delivery doctor leaves, the nurse opens the door to let everyone in. My mom walks in first and covers her mouth as tears start flowing.
“Oh my, it’s a girl. She’s so tiny.”
“Very tiny. She weighs five pounds, six ounces and is nineteen inches long. I bet she’ll be tall like her mom,” Liam says as he looks at me. I never thought he could look at me any differently until now. To see the love in his eyes when he looks at me is breathtaking. I lean in and kiss him in front of our family and friends.
Once everyone is in, Liam turns Paige to face everyone. Noah sits beside me, begging to hold her. It’s funny how his tune has changed now that she’s here. At first, he didn’t want a sibling, or maybe it was just another boy he didn’t want.
“Everyone, the Westburys are overjoyed to introduce you to Betty Paige Westbury. We’ll be calling her Paige.”