“Love you, too.” She gives me a smile before reaching for her ice water, then she begins to scoot off the bed. “I need to move around.”
I quickly dart to my feet and hover behind her as she begins to pace, then Carla stops and glances at me from over her shoulder. “You can sit.”
“Okay.” I keep standing, though. It’s as if my body is wired to respond to everything Carla does.
She’s just about to walk by me when her hand darts out, and she grabs hold of my arm. “Shit.”
I move closer and rub my hand over her lower back, wishing there was more I could do.
Carla begins to whimper, and it fucking breaks my heart.
“I’m going to throw up,” she groans. I dart for the pan. “Hurry, hurry.” I make it just in time as Carla loses all the fluids I managed to get into her.
When she’s done, I go empty it in the toilet before rinsing the pan with some mouthwash I got from the hospital’s drug store.
I set the pan back in its place for when she needs it again. “Are you okay?”
She nods as she slowly walks to the bathroom to rinse out her mouth.
Time crawls by as the contractions come faster.
Miss Sebastian comes into the room. “Are you okay with me assisting with the birth?”
“Hell yeah,” I answer before Carla can respond.
“Please,” Carla breathes through another contraction.
“Great, let's see how far you’re dilated.”
I help Carla back on the bed, and when Miss Sebastian is done checking, she grins at us. “We’re good to go. Let’s start doing some practice pushes. Okay?”
Carla nods, and my heart begins to beat faster.
Miss Sebastian helps Carla into position, and then she says, “Take a deep breath, and then you push as hard as you can for ten seconds.”
Carla sucks in a deep breath of air, and then she begins to push while Miss Sebastian counts to ten.
Seeing the strain Carla is under makes me feel helpless as fuck. Not knowing what else to do, I say, “You’re doing great.”
Carla lets out the breath she’s been holding with a cry.
“Let’s do another,” Miss Sebastian orders.
Carla shakes her head. “No. Wait. I need a minute.”
I wet a cloth in icy water, and after squeezing the excess fluid out, I pat it over Carla’s forehead. “The back of my neck, ” she murmurs. I’ve just placed the cloth there when she groans, “I’m going to be sick. Quick.”
I grab the pan wondering where the hell all this fluid is coming from, seeing as she hasn’t had anything else.
It feels as if everything is on repeat for the next hour, and then finally, Dr. Wells is called.
“Okay, Mommy, it’s time to push as hard as you can,” Dr. Wells says as she sits down in front of Carla.
Not knowing what to do with myself, I link my fingers behind my neck as I watch Carla push with everything she has.
Miss Sebastian grabs hold of my arm and yanks me to the foot of the bed, and then my mouth drops open as a sensation strips me bare. It’s a mixture of amazement, pride, and the most intense love I’ve ever felt.
My eyes keep darting between Carla’s face and Haley’s head.
Carla lets out a cry as she gives one last push, and then everything blurs as tears flood my eyes. I dart back to Carla’s side, and framing her face, I press a kiss to her parted lips. Pulling back, I don’t care that she’s seeing me cry as I say, “I love you so much. I’m so proud of you.”
Carla catches her breath as she looks down, and then she begins to cry as her gaze locks on Haley.
“You have a healthy baby girl. Congrats,” Dr. Wells says while Miss Sebastian cleans Haley. She wraps her in a blanket then comes to lay her in Carla’s arms.
Seeing the woman I love holding my baby girl is unbelievable. For a moment, I can only stare before I lean over them. I press a kiss to Carla’s forehead then murmur, “She’s beautiful. Just like her Mom.”
Carla smiles up at me, and then she says, “Hold your daughter, Daddy.”
My stomach begins to churn with nerves as Carla places Haley in my arms. “Hey, my Haleybug,” I murmur. I try to memorize every inch of my baby girl while my heart splits in two – one half belonging to Carla and the other to Haley.
CARLA
We’ve been home two days, and sitting in the rocking chair, I’m breastfeeding Haley. Noah’s seated between the stuffed animals on the windowsill, his eyes constantly darting between my face and Haley.
“What are you thinking?” I ask.
The corner of his mouth lifts. “That I want to marry you.”
I begin to blink, not sure I heard right.
Noah realizes what he said, and darting from the windowsill, he comes to crouch next to the chair. His gaze locks with mine. “Will you? Marry me?”