AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I was a father.
“Do you want to ride with us, Dad?” the EMT asked.
“Yes,” I said. “I’ll send someone for the car. I don’t want to be apart from her.”
“Hop on in, then,” he said, and I tried to make a mental note of his face so I could thank him later. He had been so sweet, so nice and helpful since he’d arrived.
The drive to the hospital was quiet as both Carmela and the baby dozed off to the rocking of the ambulance. Carmela kept waking up and looking down at her and then back up to me before her eyes fluttered shut again. She never closed them for more than thirty seconds or so.
Upon arriving at the hospital, I hopped out and followed them into the post-delivery room that was designated for her. A doctor arrived and introduced himself as Dr. Gibson before doing a checkup on Carmela and the baby. As he wrapped up, he sat down in a chair across from Carmela and looked over his notes.
“So, Dr. Murphy,” he said. “I’m sure I’m not going to tell you much that you don’t already know.”
“I wouldn’t say that,” I said. “I’m not a pediatrician. Please.”
“Well, that’s very kind, but your reputation precedes you, even all the way out here.”
“Even still,” I said.
“Fair enough,” he said. “Well, as you probably knew, the baby looks fantastic. She is a few weeks early, I see, but the midwife left extensive notes. You two did a terrific job with the pregnancy.”
“She did a great job,” I said. “I just hung on for the ride.”
Dr. Gibson laughed. Carmela did as well, but hers was weaker. She was so tired. I could see it on her face. But she was happy.
“Carmela, you did a great job, and both of you are getting a clean bill of health from me today,” he said. “The only thing I recommend now is that we continue on as if the baby were born here with the shot schedule and letting you both get some rest. I am sure everyone is exhausted after such a traumatic experience.”
“We will get some rest, no worry,” I said. “Thank you.”
Dr. Gibson nodded and stood, then stepped over to offer his hand for a shake.
“Nice to meet you, Dr. Murphy,” he said. “Your daughter is beautiful. The nurse will be in shortly to finish with the paperwork and go over the next steps.”
“Thank you,” I said.
“And you, young lady,” he said to Carmela. “You handled this labor and delivery like a warrior, by all accounts. You should be incredibly proud of yourself. Enjoy your new baby and get some rest. It might be some of the last bit of rest you get for a little while.”
With that, Dr. Gibson left, and I sat down next to Carmela again, reveling in being near them both and just enjoying existing in the moment.
“You should let everyone know,” she said. “Have you told Camden?”
“I texted him from the ambulance,” I said. “Nobody else, though.”
“You should,” she said. “And can you find my phone and text Jess and Gary? They will be so upset that they weren’t here and that I didn’t tell them if they find out through the grapevine.”
“Sure,” I said. “I’ll do that first.”
Nodding, she turned her attention back to our baby, placing her nose on the top of her head and inhaling deeply.
“So, did you decide which one you liked the most?” I asked as I dug through the bag for her phone.
She smiled.
“Did you?” she asked.
“I did.”
“Which one?” she asked.
“You first,” I said.
“No,” she said. “Together. On three. One, two, three.”
“Cassandra,” we said at the same time.
I laughed as she giggled softly, trying not to wake the baby, who had just drifted off.
“There it is, then,” I said.
“Cassandra,” Carmela repeated. “My beautiful angel, Cassandra.”
I smiled and pulled the phone out of the bag, swiping it open and finding her messages. Pulling up a group text between her, Jess, Gary, and Tom, I sent out a message, noting it was from me, telling them where we were and what happened. A string of emojis came back from all three of them, and I showed them to Carmela, who laughed.
We will be there tonight, Gary messaged. Jess, be ready.
“Tonight?” I asked. “I thought they lived out of the country.”
“I didn’t tell you?” she asked. “How did I forget that? They came back to visit their parents last week. They said they were going to be here for a month and told me I needed to have the baby while they were here.”
“Well, you did,” I said, chuckling.
“I think she’s full and very asleep,” Carmela said, looking down at baby Cassandra. “Do you want to hold her?”
“Of course, I do,” I said.
“Come take her. I need to switch to my other hip anyway. This one is killing me,” she said.
