“Hey, we’re in this together, baby. I can’t take on the pain for you. But I swear I am here for anything you need. I’m your rock. Whatever you need.”
Her eyes stay locked on mine but the machine starts the sound that means she’s having another contraction. She sits up like the warrior that she is and bears down when the doctor says to push.
“That’s it, baby girl. I’m so proud of you. You are fierce, Midge. You got this.”
After what feels like ages, we both hear the wail of our girl.
I smile, tears in my eyes while I wipe the tears off her cheeks. “You did amazing, Midge.” I lean over and kiss her lips gently, tasting the salt of sweat and tears.
“Can I see her?” she asks.
Jamie grins. “Just a second, Harvey. She’s getting cleaned up.”
Harvey nods.
I can see her on the table where they’re wrapping her up after they measure her and all the other stuff that they have to do. The whole time she wails like a little fire engine.
“She’s got good lungs,” Jamie giggles. She picks up the swaddled baby and brings her over to Harvey. She holds her arms out eagerly. Both of us stare down at her little wrinkled face and her wails stop, her wide blue eyes studying us.
“What are you guys going to name her?”
Both of us grin. “Harley.”
“Seriously, you two? Why can’t you just call her something sweet and simple?”
“No child of Harvey’s is gonna be sweet!” Amanda calls from the door, holding a huge teddy bear.
“Behave,” I call, my heart welling up in my chest when her tiny finger wraps around my finger, holding on like a bruiser.
I look up at my exhausted wife and we share a look of peace and happiness. “Love you, honey.”
“Love you too, Jeremiah.”
I lean down and kiss my new daughter’s cheek, laughing when her face scrunches up. “Love you too, Miss Harley.”
There’s something so right about this moment. About holding the two most important people in the world.
Our future is spreading out in front of us and I can’t wait to see what we have. But I know for sure we’ll face it together. I’ll never leave her side.
“You’re mine, princess.” I grin at my daughter’s yawn. “You too, princess.”
Precious doesn’t begin to cover it. Necessary. They’re both more important to me than my own life.
Harvey starts to yawn and I take the baby away from her. She turns over and falls asleep. I hold Harley and walk to the window, bouncing her. The room is emptying and I look out the window. A shooting star flies past and I chuckle.
It’s a harbinger of good things. Amazing things for her. And us. She closes her eyes and drifts off and I sit in the chair, my eyes drifting between the two of them.
I put her in her bassinet and crawl into bed with Harvey, smiling when she protests but cuddles in closer.
My eyes close on the two of them. My heart. Held in both their hands. Just like theirs are held in mine. Always.
Chapter Two: Harvey
∞∞∞
“I swear if you don’t stop teaching her those things, I’m gonna kick your ass, Jeremiah.”
He laughs as he teaches our little daughter to bang pans. “She’s gonna be a musician, honey. You can’t stop it.”