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“They’re ready,” a redheaded nurse said when she peeked into the room. “Time for everyone to clear out.”
It took everything I had to pull myself away from Rachel after working so hard to get to her side, but after giving her a last kiss on the forehead, Tom guided me out into the waiting room where we joined the other spouses. When they wheeled Rachel past, Blake gave us a wave, and though I was sad I wouldn’t be with her during the procedure, I knew she was in good hands.
An hour passed as we practically wore holes in the floor waiting for news. Finally, Blake walked into the waiting room with a smile so wide I was certain his face would tear.
“Rachel did great. She’s going to be okay. And ... it’s a girl.”
“A girl!” I screamed, and the Widows joined me as we jumped up and down holding hands.
I turned to Tom and tossed my arms around his neck. “You’re a Pops! You’re a Pops!” I cried out as I hugged him tight.
“Congratulations, Nana,” he said back.
My tears flowed freely as I hugged him, the wonder of this miracle of life happening because of our love for one another. Even though it had taken us a long time to find each other again, it was all worth the wait for this moment when we got to celebrate the birth of our granddaughter together.
“Want to see her?” Blake asked.
I wiped the tears from my eyes and nodded fast. “Yes! Of course!”
“Come on,” he said with a wave.
“We’ll be back soon,” I said to the Widows who were still grinning as widely as me.
“Take your time. We’re more than happy here. We’ll see the baby later after Rachel recovers,” Doris said. “Enjoy this special moment.”
“I will,” I said with a soft smile, still shocked I was so close to meeting my granddaughter.
When we got to the recovery room, Blake gently pushed open the door. I stepped in first, and when I saw Rachel holding the baby to her chest and she looked up and smiled, I pressed my hands to my mouth and cried.
“Come and meet Emma,” Rachel whispered.
“Emma?” I smiled, my heart cracking wide open knowing they’d given her my middle name.
Rachel nodded and gestured for us to come in. Tom and I tiptoed in, and Rachel pulled back the blanket just enough we could see little Emma’s face. When she opened her eyes and looked up at me, I gasped.
“She has your eyes,” I said to Tom. “Your exact eyes.”
“That she does.” He leaned down and pressed a kiss to her head. “Hello, my baby girl. I’m your Pops.”
“And I’m your Nana,” I said. “And we love you so much already.”
“I’m so glad you made it, Mom. I wouldn’t have wanted you to miss this.”
“You can thank my Widows,” I answered. “I never would have gotten here without them.”
As I said those words, I realized I meant more than just here in the hospital. I’d never have gotten here to this place with Tom beside me greeting his grandchild. Without them, we never would have reunited. Without them, we never would have married. Without our marriage, Rachel never would have met Blake. And without Blake, baby Emma never would have been born.
My life was infinitely better because of the three women who I knew would be by my side always. The three women I had to thank for all the blessings in my life.
After we spent some time with Emma, Rachel started getting drowsy, so we kissed her goodbye and went back to the waiting room to the excited Widows. They swooned over her pictures, and everyone agreed she had Tom’s eyes and my nose.
“She’s perfect. A miracle.” Doris pressed her hands together and closed her eyes.
“So freaking glad we didn’t miss this,” Marge said.
Alice nodded. “We went through hell to get here, but this was completely worth having to wear a snowmobile suit.”
I chuckled and gave Alice a bump with my shoulder.
