There was something so magical about what was happening. This was a baby. A sweet, innocent child coming into this world, and I was going to be his or her father. Tears fell down my cheek as I held Liberty’s legs, and she let out a loud grunt when the doctor told her to push one more time.
The nurse told Waylynn to sit in the recliner. They took her shirt off and gave her a gown. My heart was beating so hard I was positive everyone in the room heard it. Waylynn’s tears nearly brought me to my knees.
The doctor’s voice pulled me out of my trance. “Come on, Liberty. Push down, sweetie, your baby is not pulling back in. You’ve got this. I only need one more.”
My gaze drifted to Liberty. She was so young and had such an amazing future, and she was giving us this gift. I would forever be grateful to this young woman, and she would remain a part of our family no matter how big or small she wanted that part to be.
“Here the baby comes!” The doctor announced. I looked back to Waylynn who was watching the baby being born in the mirror. Her hands covered her mouth as she cried.
I held my breath as I watched our child come blazing into this world.
“It’s a girl!” the doctor announced, causing both Liberty and Waylynn to cry harder.
“Okay, Mr. Turner, are you ready to cut the cord?”
Our baby’s cry filled the room, and it was the most amazing song I’d ever heard in my life.
Liberty didn’t take her eyes off of the baby while tears flowed. She smiled big and bright as the nurse made her way to Waylynn. I focused in on Waylynn and when they placed our child in her arms, everything in my world changed. Nothing else mattered but the two beautiful women I would forever be able to call mine.
Chapter Thirty-Five
Waylynn
I sat in the chair in awe as I watched Liberty do one last push. The baby came out and I covered my mouth to hide my sobbing.
One quick glance at Jonathon and my heart nearly burst as he wiped his tears away. I loved this man, and I loved that he was on board with this crazy, beautiful idea.
“It’s a girl!” the doctor cried out. When I heard Liberty start to cry, I cried harder.
A girl.
A little girl to dress up with and have tea parties. A little girl to teach the perfect way to do an arabesque and how to ride a horse.
“Okay, Mr. Turner, are you ready to cut the cord?”
I watched Jonathon’s shaking hands cut the cord. I could see the love in his eyes, and it filled my heart with such joy. I thought I’d never be this happy again in my life. I was proven wrong when the nurse carried our daughter over to me.
“Are you ready to meet your little girl?” she whispered.
Nodding, I reached for her. The moment the nurse placed her in my arms and adjusted my gown so that I could place her on my chest, I knew I was right this time: this would always be the happiest moment of my life.
My chest was about to burst with love. My dream had finally come true and even though I hadn’t carried this beautiful baby for nine months or brought her into this world, I knew with all my heart she was mine. She was my child, and I would forever love her with every ounce of my being.
Jonathon made his way over to me, and we gazed down at our little girl.
“She’s beautiful,” he whispered as he wiped the tears from my face.
“Yes, she is. The most beautiful little girl in the world.”
My gaze lifted to see Liberty watching us. She wore a bright, beautiful yet teary smile and my heart felt both happiness and sadness. When she had said she wanted me to hold the baby first, I’d nearly broken down. This girl had no idea the gift she had given us, and I was hell bent on making sure she knew.
“Liberty…” I said with a sob.
She nodded and reached a hand for mine as she whispered, “She’s beautiful.”
“She is, just like her mother,” I stated.
“You’re her mother now, Waylynn. She’ll always have a piece of my heart, and I will love her until the day I die, but you’re her mother.”
Closing my eyes, I tried not to cry harder than I already was.
Jonathon moved to my other side, causing me to open my eyes. He leaned over and kissed Liberty on the forehead. “You were amazing. Thank you for giving us this gift. We are so blessed to have you in our life.”
Liberty wiped her tears away. “Thank you, Jonathon.”
Moving back to my side, Jonathon sat in the chair one of the nurses had brought in. I repositioned the baby so that I was looking straight down at her.