Instead, I push him forward. “Archie, less talking, more showing me where she is.” He nods and starts running, and I do the same to keep up.
Finally, I see my entire family, including Don, all waiting outside a room, Lacey’s voice coming from inside it.
Time slows down as I walk forward; everything has led me to this moment right here. I push open the door and see my mum, holding Lacey’s left hand and wiping her brow with a damp towel. The midwife sits at the foot of the bed, guiding Lacey through the contractions. As the contraction stops, she takes a breather and her eyes open, meeting mine.
The look she gives me knocks the air from my lungs. She has never looked more beautiful and strong than she does now.
“Cole.” She smiles at me, and that’s all I need to get my legs moving again before I’m at her side, grabbing her right hand.
My mum stands to leave, but Lacey clings onto her. “Please stay, May…I-I need you too.” My mum looks at me, tears lining her lashes, and I smile.
The midwife looks up from her seat. “Okay, Lacey, this is it. This next contraction is when we’re going to give one big push, okay?” Lacey nods her head. “Okay, sweetheart, now push!”
Lacey bears down with everything she has, a sheen of sweat on her forehead, and all I can do is kiss her. “That’s it, baby, you’re doing amazing. You’re so amazing, Lacey. I love you so much. You can do this.”
“I can see the head, that’s it, honey, keep going.” Lacey gives one final push at the midwife’s encouragement. “She’s out, your daughter is here.”
The books and movies tell you that, usually, a baby arrives screaming and crying; the seconds tick by, and it feels like forever before we finally hear an almighty wail.
The midwife looks at us and smiles. “She has a great set of lungs. Would you like to cut the umbilical cord?” She addresses me, and I look back at Lacey, unsure if this is something I’m allowed to do. She nods sleepily and smiles at me, and I follow the midwife's instructions as I cut the spongy cord.
She takes our little Peanut away to check her over, and I turn my attention to Lacey. “I am so proud of you, baby.” I kiss her gently, and she kisses me back.
“I was scared you wouldn’t make it.” A sob escapes her, and it breaks my heart.
“Never again. I will never make you worry like that again. I will always make it back to you both.”
My mum leans over and kisses Lacey on the cheek before rounding the bed and hugging me tight. I dip down and kiss her cheek. “Thank you for being here for her, Mum.”
“She will always be my daughter, not in blood, but I’ll always be there when she needs me. I just wish her mum could have been here for her.” She pats me on the cheek and, with a smile, she walks out to deliver the news to the rest of our family.
We hear whoops and cheers through the door, and the midwife brings our little Peanut to us. She places her on Lacey’s chest, and she seems to snuggle in closer to her.
“The first hour after the baby is born is crucial for bonding. Many parents enjoy practising skin-to-skin contact. It isn’t for everyone, and there is no judgment here if you don’t want to–”
“We want to!” we both say at the same time, and she smiles at us.
“I’m going to do a few more checks on you both, considering this not-so-little lady came a tad early and you had a fall and hurt your head, but after that, we can get you up to the ward and you can relax a little.” She smiles at us and goes about her business.
Lacey looks up to me, and tears shine in her eyes. “Isn’t she so beautiful?” I nod, too choked up to speak. “Are you going to hold her?” I nod again, and she carefully hands her over.
My arms shake as she places her in them, and I look down at the most beautiful little girl I have ever seen. Her eyes are closed, and her little fingers flex in her sleep. I stare at her in utter awe.She darts her little tongue out and sighs. She is utterly perfect. I look back at Lacey and smile. “She looks like you, so beautiful.”
I walk with her to the window. “I want you to know, little Peanut, that out there is a big, wide world, but I am going to be there with your mummy, every step of the way. I’ll never leave you.” I kiss the top of her head and close my eyes. I’m so thankful.
**********
We spent the next hour with our Peanut after receiving the all-clear from the midwife and feeding our baby girl her first bottle. Then, the midwife tells me it’s time for Lacey to go to the ward, a place I can’t visit, but she’ll give us time to say our goodbyes.
“Cole, I don’t want you to go.” Lacey’s bottom lip trembles, and my heart splinters.
“I wish I could stay, but I can’t, baby. I’ll go home, get your bag, and I’ll be back as soon as those doors open in the morning, I promise you.” She nods, tears falling down her cheeks. I kiss them away and place a soft kiss on her lips, “I am so proud of you.”
“I’m proud of you, too.” She gives me one of those beautiful smiles when the midwife bustles in.
She looks at us and sighs. “I don’t have the energy to argue with them. You have a whole room full of people out here that want to make sure you’re okay and meet the little lady.” She looks behind her, then levels us with a glare that says she isn’t messing around. “But if you tell me no, if you’re too tired, then I’ll remove them myself.”
Lacey looks up at me and nods. “It’s okay, they can come in for a moment, if that’s okay with you?” The midwife softens at her request and nods before she opens the door, and our entire family spills in.
