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"No, I'm just asking to calm you down so you can be a pillar of strength for her when she needs you. It's going to be a long night, son." The doc put his hand on Wade's shoulder.
Wade nodded, but it was easy to see he didn't understand why the doc was moving so slow.
Holding her hand, Wade felt helpless when a pain would hit her. She'd squeeze his hand so tight he'd almost yell, but he bit his tongue, knowing she was in greater pain than he'd ever been.
He wiped her brow several times with a wet rag and encouraged her as much as he could. But how could he encourage her when she was so wrought with pain?
Along about midnight, he went to get a cup of coffee from the dining room. The cook was just finishing up in the kitchen.
"How is she?" The cook asked, as he wiped a pot clean.
"The same I'm afraid. Having babies is a miserable task." Wade shook his head.
"My son took all night and the next day to be born, I should know." The cook smiled.
"No one prepares you for this kind of thing." Wade told him.
"Have patience my friend, you will feel like a King when it is born."
Wade returned but because the doctor was examining her, he couldn't go inside. He waited outside, and heard the moans from Beth, wishing he could do something to ease her pain.
After seeing all the pain, she was suffering he wasn't sure he ever wanted to put her through so much again.
He sipped his coffee and catnapped while the doctor tended Beth.
A mid-wife on the boat offered the doctor her assistance and together they were puttering about constantly.
Hours passed and dawn made Wade realize he needed to check on things, so he told the doctor he'd be back and to send someone if the baby was born while he was working.
It was nearly noon by the time Wade got back to the room where Beth lay moaning, and sometimes screaming.
But around three o-clock that next evening the cries from a baby were heard and Wade came bursting through the room, anxious to see his wife and child.
"It's a boy," the doctor said with a smile. "A big, eight-pound baby boy, and your wife is just fine."
He handed the baby to Wade and it was instant love. Wade stared down into the baby's face which was sometimes peaceful, other times fretful. The baby's little finger curled around Wade's and every now and then the baby would squeeze.
Beth was being taken care of, so Wade had a few minutes to enjoy just holding him. He had a thin patch of black hair and beautiful blue eyes that squinted up at him when he'd gaze at him.
Wade couldn't be prouder.
But when the doctor walked out with a smile and left them alone, Wade put the baby in Beth's arms. "He's beautiful."
She smiled, "I was so sure it was going to be a girl." She laughed.
"I'm just glad he's healthy." Wade smiled with a pride that beamed all over him.
"You should see your face…you look so…. proud!"
"I am, of both of you!" He cried and leaned to kiss her tenderly on the mouth.
"I thought he'd never get here. The doctor said he was big for a first baby." She grinned.
"He's gonna be a strong one." Wade beamed as she snuggled the baby against her. "Have you thought of a name yet?"
"Not yet, how about you? What would you like to name him?" Beth smiled into his shining face.
"I'd kind of like to name him after Jacob since it was his leaving that inspired your labor. What do you think, maybe with middle names after both our fathers?"
