AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“You’re bossy when you’re in labor.”
“I’m allowed to be. I’m about to deliver our baby, and you haven’t done a damn thing.”
“I did my part, or we wouldn’t be here.”
After the contraction had passed, I demanded, “Tell me. You said you couldn’t until I was ready. I’m ready. What is it?”
“I’ve always wanted to be a father, so I started learning about pregnancy probably a year before us.”
“Why?”
He shrugged. “I think my mom was preparing me for you.”
I winced, loving his reply. “That’s the sweetest thing I’ve ever heard you say.”
“You weren’t ready to hear it then, and I didn’t want to scare you away.”
“Babe, if you’re stubborn, controlling ass ever did, trust me, it wouldn’t have been that.”
Ledger nodded, kissing my forehead one last time as Dr. Malone walked in.
“Are you ready to be parents?” she asked, examining me.
“Yes! Please… take her out. I can’t do this anymore… she needs to come out… now!”
Just when I was about to tell them I couldn’t do it anymore, another surge of pain shot all the way through me. Unbearable sensations I wasn’t sure I was strong enough to handle.
My hand squeezed Ledger’s again. “Ahhhh, ahhhhh, ahhh!” I screeched, huffing and puffing out through the agony. “Aaarrrggghhh…” The torture consumed me.
“Push!” Dr. Malone ordered. “You’re doing great. Keep pushing, pushing, pushing. And relax,” she praised. “The baby is crowning. A few more pushes and you can meet your daughter. Whenever you are ready, Hazel.”
Ledger brushed my hair away from my damp forehead and kissed my lips. “You’re doing great. I’m so proud of you, sugar. You look so beautiful.”
“Shut up…” I demanded, feeling pain in a way I didn’t think was possible. “I need drugs! Please…”
“We’re long past that. Come on, Hazel. You’ve got this. Now push,” Dr. Malone urged.
I shot her a death stare as I tried to govern my breathing while pushing.
“Just need to get past the shoulders, and it will be smooth sailing,” Dr. Malone soothed, looking up at me.
I spent the next few seconds doing nothing but pushing and breathing, breathing and pushing. I’d never been so nervous in all my life. Never had an adrenaline rush quite like this before, pumping wildly through my veins and straight to my heart. I felt as though it could beat right out of my chest.
Things moved pretty quickly after that.
“Push, push, push, push!” Dr. Malone guided. “Good. And relax. Okay, you’re doing great, Hazel. Are you ready to meet your daughter? Here we go again. Push, push, push, push!”
I would never forget the look of pride on Ledger’s face when we heard a loud, piercing scream coming from Hallie.
“She’s so perfect, Hazel. Just like you.” He kissed all along my face before they placed her in my arms.
I tried to listen to everything they said, but I was beyond enraptured by the baby girl in my arms. This would be a day I’d never forget. Everything about it was embedded into my memory, becoming just as much a part of me as my family.
The loves of my life.
When she started fussing, I brought her closer to my face, murmuring in her ear, “Shhh… Hallie… shhhh…”
Ledger took off his shirt to hold her and do skin to skin, and the moment I saw Hallie in his arms for the first time, I broke down crying again.
