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“Who wants to cut the cord?” the doctor asks.
Melanie gazes up at me, her face flushed and damp with sweat. “Molly can, if you want to, I mean.”
I nod. “I’d be honored to.”
Dr. Schaeffer places two clamps on the baby’s umbilical cord. Then she hands me a pair of scissors and indicates where to make the cut. Jamie cups my hand, and together we cut the cord.
The delivery nurse whisks the baby to a clear acrylic bassinette, where she does a quick wipe-down and checks the baby over. Then she wraps the baby in a hospital receiving blanket and brings her to the bed for Melanie to hold.
“Let Molly hold her first,” Melanie says in a shaky voice. Her teary eyes meet mine. It’s obvious this isn’t easy for her. “This way, you’ll be able to tell her that your arms were the first ones to cradle her. Yours and Jamie’s.”
I don’t know how I manage to not break down sobbing right then and there. My heart is breaking for Melanie. As the nurse hands the baby to me, I hold her like she’s made of spun glass. Jamie moves in behind me, his hands on my shoulders, as he leans in close.
“She’s perfect,” I whisper around the knot in my throat. Reality is still sinking in. We’re holding our daughter.We’re parents.It feels like a miracle.
Jamie’s hand slips beneath mine, and he helps me support her slight weight. “Tell me everything.”
“She’s so small,” I say quietly. “Her face is round and sweet. Her nose is a tiny little button. Her lips are pink. She has lots of brown hair. She keeps squinting because of the light. Her complexion is a bit red, of course, but that’s natural.”
The room goes silent as we hold our new daughter for a few precious moments. Finally, Cindy comes up beside me and says, “Let’s let Melanie hold her for a few minutes before the baby goes to the nursery to get cleaned up and assessed.”
I hand the baby to the nurse. “Of course.” While Melanie is holding her, Jamie and I return to the sofa, wanting to give Melanie some space and privacy as she meets her daughter.
My heart is in my throat. I desperately want this adoption to go through, but if it doesn’t—if Melanie changes her mind—I certainly can’t blame her. In fact, my heart breaks for her, knowing she has this difficult decision to make.
Jamie reaches for my hand and brings it to his lips to kiss. “No matter what happens, it’s going to be okay.”
I squeeze his hand. He’s right. No matter what happens, we’ll be okay. We have each other.
Christy leaves the room for a few moments, and when she returns, she walks over to us. “There are two men at the maternity reception desk who are asking to speak to you. Jamie, one of them said he’s your brother. Shane.”
Jamie nods. “Yeah. Shane. The other one is probably our attorney.” Jamie stands and pulls me to my feet. “We’ll go talk to them and give you and your sister some time alone with the baby.”
Christy nods. Her eyes are red, and I suspect she’s been crying. I’m sure this is an emotional time for her as well. After all, the baby is her niece. “There’s a nice café downstairs,” she says. “You guys could go sit there and talk. I’ll come get you if there’s anything going on you should know about.”
I reach out to gently touch her arm. “Thanks, Christy.”
As she gazes up at me and smiles, her lips tremble. Yes, she’s hurting.
“I want you guys to know I’m really happy you’re adopting the baby,” she says. “I know she’ll have a good life with you. I wouldn’t have recommended you to Melanie if I didn’t believe that wholeheartedly.” She blinks back fresh tears. “It’s just hard, you know?”
“You’ll still be part of Hazel’s family, Christy,” Jamie says. “You’re still her aunt.”
Christy’s smile brightens, and she seems genuinely happy at the thought. “Thanks, guys. Both of you. It means the world to me.”
We quietly step out into the hallway and head for the waiting room, where we find Shane and Troy seated. Troy has his briefcase with him. There must be some lawyering business we need to do.
Shane and Troy both stand as we approach. Troy looks dashing in his black Armani suit, briefcase in hand. He’s a strikingly good-looking man with his dark hair and green eyes.
“Everything okay?” Shane asks. His expression is guarded, as if he too is prepared for the possibility of bad news.
“Everything’s fine,” I say. “The baby is doing well, and so is Melanie.”
Shane nods, clearly looking relieved. “And everything’s still on track for the adoption?”
Jamie nods. “As far as we know, yes.”
Troy lifts his suitcase. “Is there somewhere we can sit and talk? I have some paperwork I need to go over with the two of you. Now that the baby’s been born, the clock is ticking. In seventy-two hours, Ms. Maitland can relinquish her parental rights, and then the judge will award you temporary custody until the official adoption hearing in six months.”
