The Proposal

by Katie Ashley

  “I’m not a pill pusher,” Pesh snapped. Pain washed over his face. “The pills belonged to my late wife. She always got nervous flying commercially or in my plane. They’re expired, so they won’t be as potent, but it should be enough to calm you down.”

  Aidan opened his mouth, but Pesh started around the plane. “Fuck,” he muttered under his breath. He had just been a major dick to a guy who was just trying to help him get back home to see his child be born. Popping open the bottle, he threw back two of the pills since they were expired. He swallowed them down and then shuddered at the remaining taste in his mouth.

  Putting one foot in front of the other, he walked over to the plane and climbed inside. Pesh already had a head-set on and was flipping switches. “Hey,” Aidan said. When Pesh didn’t reply, Aidan reached over and touched his arm. “I’m sorry. That was a real asshole thing for me to say to you. I mean, you were only trying to help me—in more ways than one.”

  Pesh shrugged. “It’s all right. You’re just stressed.”

  “That’s no excuse for me to act like such a dick, especially about your late wife.” Aidan drew in a ragged breath. “Emma never told me you were a widower. I’m very sorry for your loss.”

  “Thank you,” Pesh replied. He gave Aidan a genuine smile before turning back to the cockpit and controls. When they lurched forward to start their descent down the runaway, Aidan gripped the side of his seat.

  Pesh handed him a set of headphones. “Here, this will help with the cabin noise.”

  Aidan reluctantly put them on. He heard a voice ringing in his ear. “Flight 33, you are now ready for take-off.”

  “Roger that,” Pesh replied.

  Aidan closed his eyes tight, hoping the expired Valium would start taking effect. He focused his thoughts on Emma, wondering how she was doing. He hoped and prayed that Noah would wait to come until he could be there. Aidan wanted nothing more than to see his first born take his first breath.

  The next time he opened his eyes they were climbing altitude. Darkness enveloped the plane as they careened through the wispy strands of clouds. Once they had leveled off, Pesh reached for his phone.

  “Dude, what the hell are you doing?”

  “I need to make a quick call.”

  Aidan shook his head wildly back and forth. “Uh-huh. Watch the skies or something. You don’t need to be distracted and make us crash!”

  Pesh chuckled. “Calm down. I’ve got this covered.”

  Aidan grumbled under his breath. He would have given anything if he had his rosary with him. Of course, he would probably have to dig through several of his drawers to find where it was. God, I will totally and completely go to Mass every day…well, at least every week, if you will get me safely out of this death trap and safe and sound to Emma’s side.

  Pesh’s voice snapped Aidan out of his thoughts. “This is Dr. Alpesh Nadeen. I’m requesting to be kept in constant contact on the condition of Emma Harrison, 4th Floor Maternity. Anything and everything on delivery status should be called in.” After a beat, Pesh nodded. “Thank you.” He turned his phone off and handed it to Aidan. “Now you’ll know everything that’s going on.”

  Aidan arched his eyebrows at Pesh. “Wow, thank you.”

  “No problem. I can’t imagine how hard this must be for you.”

  With a snort Aidan replied, “Whatever emotional hell it might be on me, I don’t even want to think about what Emma’s going through.”

  “You can rest assured she’s getting the best physical care.”

  Aidan grimaced. “Shit, I don’t even want to think about the physical part…especially the pain she might be in. I wanted to be there for her through all that.”

  “If there’s one certainty about Emma, she’s as strong as nails emotionally and physically. She’ll make it through.”

  “You think?”

  Pesh turned to him and grinned. “After the epidural takes effect, I’m sure of it.”

  They were interrupted by the ringing of Aidan’s cell phone. He snapped it out of his suit pocket. “Hello? Em?”

  “No, it’s Casey. Emma wanted me to call and make sure you were okay and in flight.”

  Aidan’s heart melted at the thought that even in her condition, Emma was still her usual compassionate self and worrying about him. “Tell her I’m fine, and to not give one more thought of me.”

  Casey started to relay the message and then Aidan heard a shriek. “Damn, Emmie Lou, lighten up with the squeezing! I’d like to be able to have feeling in my hand again,” Connor screeched.

  “Um, so how are things going?” he asked hesitantly.

  “You don’t want to know.”

  “Well, Pesh has the hospital keeping us posted on her condition too.”

  “Good because right now she’s giving me the evil eye for being on the phone.”

  “Hey, Em, we could put you and Aidan on Skype if you’d like?” Connor suggested.

  “I do not want my vagina Skyping! I just want Aidan here, okay?” Emma shouted with a rage that Aidan hadn’t experienced very many times.

  “See what I mean?” Casey asked.

  “Shit, that’s intense.”

  “Oh thank God. The anesthesiologist just walked in. Be careful okay?”

  “I will. Give Emma my love.”

  “Will do.”

  Aidan hung up the phone and squirmed in his seat. “Things are pretty rough at the moment, huh?” Pesh asked.

  “Yeah,” he murmured.

  “It’s going to be fine, Aidan.”

  He turned to see Pesh’s reassuring smile. “She’ll still love you after this, too. You’ve made all her dreams come true. The moment she holds Noah in her arms for the first time any of the pain and suffering she experienced will just evaporate in an instant. And you will be the one who gave that to her.”

  “Damn, you really are a decent guy, aren’t you?”

  Pesh chuckled. “I guess I am.”

  The cockpit seemed to start spinning around, and Aidan had to close his eyes from the dizziness. “Is that you doing that or the drugs?”

  “It’s safe to say that it’s the drugs.”

  The next thing Aidan knew he was being shaken awake. “Come on, sleepy head. We gotta get in the car.”

  “It’s over? We didn’t crash?” Aidan asked as he rubbed his eyes.

  “Nope. We’re safe and sound here at McCollum.”

  The mention of the airport snapped Aidan into action. He fumbled out of his seat belt and then fell out the door Pesh had opened for him. “We’re only ten minutes from the hospital, right?”

  “Yep. Last call came through shortly before we landed. Noah’s still not here, and Emma’s only dilated to seven.”

  Aidan’s brows furrowed. All the pregnancy knowledge seemed to have flown out the window. “Wait, so that means…?”

  “No pushing until ten. We’ve got time.”

  “Thank God.”

  They slid into Pesh’s waiting Jaguar. At Pesh’s lead foot, Aidan raised his brows. “Not worried about cops?”

  “Being a doctor is like having a Get Out of Jail free pass. All I have to say is there’s an emergency.”

  Aidan grinned. “I’m liking you more and more every minute.”

  Pesh laughed. “I knew I would grow on you.”

  “I’m not sure about that one.”

  They pealed up to the entrance of Labor and Delivery. Aidan threw open the car door. When he went to close it, he met Pesh’s gaze. “I can never, ever thank you enough for this. I’m serious.”

  “I was happy to do it. For Emma…and for you.” Pesh smiled. “Now go meet your son.”

  “I will. And thanks again!” Aidan sprinted from the curb and through the mechanized sliding doors. He hopped onto the first available elevator. Once he got to the floor, he raced down the hallway to Emma’s room.

  He skidded in the door. At the sight of a nurse between Emma’s legs, he had an odd feeling of Deju vu from when he brought her to the emerg
ency room. Bending over, he propped his elbows on his knees and tried to catch his breath.

  “Hello there, Big Papa! You’re just in time,” Connor said, with a grin.

  “Really?” he panted.

  The nurse smiled. “Yes, she’s just dilated to ten, and we’re going to start pushing.”

  “Aidan, come here,” Emma said, her voice a little hoarse.

  He stumbled forward to reach her side. He cupped her face in his hands before kissing her on the lips. He then kissed both her cheeks and her forehead. “I’m sorry, Em. I’m so, so sorry I wasn’t here for you.”

  “It’s all right. You couldn’t help it.”

  “I know but—”

  Emma gave him a weak smile. “I’ll let you make it up to me some other time, okay?”

  He gave a playful groan. “Ah, so this will be the ammunition you use against me for years to come, huh?”

  “Maybe.”

  He brushed the sweat slick strands of silky auburn hair out of her face. “Has it been bad?”

  “The pain?” When he nodded, she made a face. “It was pretty horrible until the epidural kicked in.”

  “The bruises on my arms will vouch for that one,” Connor quipped.

  “So you’re not hurting now?”

  “Nope. In fact, they have to tell me I’m having a contraction.”

  Aidan glanced over his shoulder at Casey. “Guess you guys got to have all the fun without me, huh?”

  Casey grinned. “From the brief glimpse you got on the phone with me, I’m not sure how you can categorize it as fun.” She shook her head. “When Em’s in pain, she’s scarier than Reagan in The Exorcist.”

  Aidan laughed while Emma blushed. “Was I really that bad?”

  “Yeah, but I still love you,” Casey replied. She leaned over and kissed Emma’s cheek.

  The kind, middle aged nurse thrust her hand out to Aidan. “I’m Annie. I assume you’re the proud father-to-be?”

  Aidan bobbed his head. “Yes, I am.”

  “I’m so glad you made it in time to see your son come in to the world.”

  “So am I.” His gaze went to Emma’s. “I never thought I would say this, but thank God for Pesh.”

  She smiled. “We do owe him a lot.”

  Aidan held up his hand. “Let’s not get carried away now.”

  The door pushed open, and a female doctor not much older than Emma entered the room. She looked familiar, and Aidan remembered that he had met her once before when they were doing a Round Robin with all the OB doctors in the practice. The name on her white coat read Dr. Karen Middleton.

  She smiled at them. “So Baby Noah has decided to make his entrance into the world?”

  Annie nodded her head. “Yes, he has.”

  Slipping on a pair of rubber gloves, she glanced between Aidan and Emma. “Then let’s get the show on the road. Shall we?”

  CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

  Emma drew in a deep breath. This was it. When it came down to pushing, it was the real deal.

  “Okay, Emma, if you’re ready,” Annie said.

  She nodded, and using her hands, she pushed herself up in the bed.

  “If you don’t object, we’re going to put up a mirror, so you can watch Noah be born. Is that okay?” Annie asked.

  “Sure. I want to see him.”

  “Um, where can I stand to ensure I won’t be seeing Em’s vagina?” Connor asked. Emma shot him a look, and he held up his hands. “I love you, darlin’, but I’ve made it eighteen years without seeing your vajayjay, and I’d like to keep it that way.”

  Annie chuckled. “Stand there behind the bed, and you won’t catch a glimpse or a reflection,” she instructed.

  “Thank you so much!”

  Annie then motioned at Aidan. “If you’ll take one of her legs and,” she paused to look between Casey and Connor. Immediately Connor shook his head. “Like I said, I’ll be back here in the corner.”

  Casey laughed. “I would love to help.”

  Aidan took Emma’s left leg while Casey took her right. “Okay, Emma, breathe normally, grab the backs of your legs, and push down while we count,” Dr. Middleton instructed.

  Emma sucked in a deep breath and then started pushing as hard as she could. She barely heard Dr. Middleton and Annie counting to ten. “Good. Stop.” Emma had just caught her breath when Dr. Middleton said, “Okay, again.”

  Pinching her eyes shut in concentration, she went through three more exhausting rounds when Annie exclaimed, “Open your eyes, honey. He’s crowned.”

  Emma’s eyelids flew open, and her expectant gaze honed in on the mirror, peering in wonder at Noah’s tiny head. “Aw, Em, it looks like he’s got strawberry blonde hair!” Casey commented.

  Aidan grinned. “Nah, I think it’s redder, and he’s more of a Ginger.”

  She gritted her teeth at him. “Don’t you dare call our son a Ginger!”

  Connor and Casey laughed while Aidan leaned in and kissed her cheek. “I’m only teasing you, babe. I just hope it will darken up and be as beautiful as yours.”

  Emma opened her mouth to thank him, but Dr. Middleton interrupted her by saying, “Okay, now another big push.” When Annie got to ten and Emma started to relax, Dr. Middleton shook her head. “Keep going, keep going.” Just when Emma thought she couldn’t go anymore, Dr. Middleton said, “Okay, stop.”

  Emma’s head fell back against the pillow from the exertion. She didn’t know if she had any strength left within her to push again. Closing her eyes, she drew in a few deep breaths to try to dispel the exhaustion.

  “Just one more big push, Emma,” Dr. Middleton said.

  Gripping her hands tight into the backs of her thighs, she put everything she had left and then some into the push. Dr. Middleton’s voice echoed over the loud groan emitting from Emma’s lips.

  “And here he is!” she exclaimed, holding a wailing and bloody Noah up for both Emma and Aidan to see.

  The world around Emma shuddered to a stop, and all she could focus on was Noah’s strong cries. It was as if every molecule, every cell, and every fiber of her being hummed and buzzed with the new life in front of her. Noah—flesh of her flesh and bone of her bone—was the most beautiful thing she had ever seen or heard for that matter. Tears stung her wide eyes.

  “My, my, he’s still a big boy for being three weeks early,” Dr. Middleton remarked with a smile.

  Unable to speak, Emma reached out her arms for Noah, desperate to hold him. He wouldn’t feel real until she could put her hands on him. “Hang on, Mama. Let’s get him cleaned up a bit,” Annie said.

  A towel was placed on Emma’s belly, and then Noah was laid in it. He continued to scream as Annie toweled him off. Once he was cleaner, she wrapped him in a blanket. An eternity seemed to pass before she handed Noah into Emma’s waiting arms.

  After kissing the crown of his head, Emma gathered him against her chest. His wailing immediately ceased. His eyes, once pinched shut in anger, popped open, and he stared up at her. The moment their eyes met, Emma’s heart stilled and then restarted. Her emotions spiraled out of control, and she wasn’t sure if she could keep them in check. “Hey my little angel. I’ve been waiting for you for so, so long,” she murmured.

  When Aidan leaned over the side of the bed to rub his thumb over Noah’s cheek, Noah kept his gaze on Emma. “Looks like he only has eyes for you,” Aidan mused.

  She didn’t bother wiping the tears streaming down her cheeks. Glancing up at Aidan, she asked, “He’s beautiful, isn’t he?”

  Aidan smiled. “He’s the most amazing and beautiful thing I’ve ever seen in my entire life,” he replied, his voice choking off with emotion.

  “Daddy, are you ready to cut the cord?” Dr. Middleton asked passing Aidan a pair of surgical scissors.

  Emma watched with amusement as Aidan’s shaky hands took them from her. “Um…where should I…?”

  Annie motioned to an area, and Aidan hesitantly cut Noah from Emma. “Good job.”

 
; “Okay, Mama, I hate to take him away, but we need to weigh him and get his PKU done. Then you can have him back for awhile.”

  After kissing each of his cheeks and his tiny button nose, Emma reluctantly handed Noah over to Annie. Craning her neck, she watched as they set him down on the scales. “He’s seven pounds, seven and a half ounces.”

  “Imagine if he would have stayed in cooking for another three weeks or longer,” Aidan said.

  Emma shuddered. “Don’t even joke about how big he could have been. He was plenty big enough!”

  With a chuckle, he kissed her. “Speaking of amazing and beautiful, can I just say how proud I am of you?”

  She grinned up at him. “Really?”

  He bobbed his head. “I just saw life come out of you. It’s…well, it’s fucking intense!”

  “You know, some men have a hard time ever looking at their wives or girlfriends the same way again after experiencing birth,” Dr. Middleton said, finishing up with Emma’s post delivery care.

  “I can see why,” Connor murmured from his corner perch.

  Aidan shook his head. “She might be a mother now, but she’ll always be my Em,” Aidan replied.

  “Damn, Big Papa, that was sweet,” Casey remarked, swiping the tears from her eyes. She leaned over to brush the hair out of Emma’s face. “That was both exhilarating and terrifying. But I wouldn’t have missed it for the world.”

  Emma kissed Casey’s cheek. “I’m so glad you were here with me.” Glancing over her shoulder, she smiled at Connor. “And you too.”

  “I’m just glad I got to see it all without having to really see it all…if you know what I mean,” Connor replied, with a wink.

  Emma and Aidan laughed while Casey shook her head. “I can’t believe you’re so scared of a vagina.”

  “I’m intimate enough with Emma without having to get up close and personal with her vagina!” Connor countered.

  Emma turned her attention away from Casey and Connor’s bickering and back to Noah. She watched as he had his footprints taken, screamed as he was stuck for the PKU, and then finally was swaddled into a blanket and a cap placed on his head. “Ready to hold him, Daddy?” Annie asked with a smile.