by Walsh, Chloe
“Shut your face, dipshit. If you can’t deal, then fuck off,” I grumbled, as I leaned into the car and hiked her dress up to her waist.
“Turn around,” I told Derek, as I tugged the edges of her panties, tearing them off.
Settling in-between Lee’s legs, I braced myself for the unknown, while I coaxed and praised her.
“That’s it, baby, you’re doing amazing. I’m so proud of you.” I rubbed her thigh. “You can push, baby, if you feel the urge, go with it.”
My calm voice betrayed my true feelings.
“Derek, go to the other door and rub her back,” I instructed, not wanting that douche anywhere near Lee’s crotch.
“Dude, I’m gonna be paying for years’ worth of therapy after this,” he muttered, moving away.
He opened the door behind Lee’s back, and slid in behind her.
“What do I do?” he asked in a choked voice.
“Ahh, Jesus Christ, it burns,” Lee screamed, as she threw her hand back to grip Derek.
I peeked up, and held in a chuckle.
She had Derek gripped by the ear.
He was gone snow white, and in any other situation his face would have looked comical. But the seriousness of the situation sobered me.
“It burns,” she yelled, once more before she leaned forward and started pushing.
“Great, that great, princess,” I encouraged. “Keep going.”
I ignored the blood and everything else, focusing only, on getting my baby out, and easing Lee’s pain.
She bore down and pushed, and this time I could see something. “Good, baby, I can see the head, keep pushing.”
“You can?” she asked breathlessly, panting.
I nodded, not having the heart to tell her that the minute she’d stopped pushing, it had popped back up.
Her face reddened as she began to push once again, and holy shit, I could see it clearly now.
“Great job, Lee. Go for it, push hard, baby.”
I held her legs apart, and scrambled to grab some clean towels.
“Derek, can you pass me the first aid kit,” I ordered.
Lee screamed and the baby’s head popped out.
Holy fuck. Sweet Jesus Christ.
A head of dark hair was all I could see. Hair plastered in clear, bloody jelly gunk.
I would never eat jelly again…
“Oh, that’s the most disturbing fucking image I’ve ever seen,” Derek muttered, tossing the first aid kit at my feet.
“Is there supposed to be that much blood?” he continued covering his mouth with his hand. “Dude…I can’t. You’re on your own.”
With that, I heard him retreat, and a few moments later, the sound of loud vomiting.
“Ignore him,” I said gently, focusing on Lee. “One more big push, princess, one big one and we’ll meet our baby.”
Lee whimpered, throwing her arm over her face.
“I’m so tired, Kyle,” she cried, tears falling down her face. “I can’t push anymore.”
Oh hell no, she’d gone so far, she’d practically run this whole show by herself. No way, was she going to start doubting herself now.
Her cries turned into grunts as another contraction rolled through her.
“Do it now, Lee, push him out.”
“I can’t.”
“You can. I know you can. Push this little guy out right this instant, or so help me, I’ll go in there and get him myself.”
Lee braced herself, pushing down, growling in sheer concentration.
Everything happened so fast after that…
Lee screamed and there was a gush and suddenly, I was holding a small bundle of blood and goo.
The most perfect creature I’d ever seen in my life, with a head of dark curls, and the most beautiful blue eyes, I’d ever seen.
“We have a daughter,” I choked out, blinking back the tears as my eyes roamed over the every inch of my daughter.
“Is she okay?” Lee asked anxiously.
Her body trembled from the incredible amount of work she’d just done.
“She’s perfect, just like her mother.”
With trembling hands, I wrapped her in a towel and leaned over, to hand her to her momma.
“Thank you,” I whispered as I carefully placed her on Lee’s chest.
Leaning down I brushed my lips over Lee’s forehead. “You did it, baby. You did it. I love you so much.”
“We did it. And I love you more,” was her reply, and Lee’s beaming smile was enough to kick start the tears, I thought I
had stemmed.
I moved away from them both.
I needed a moment to breathe.
I stood outside the car, my body shaking, bawling like a baby.
I didn’t even realize Derek was beside me, until he wrapped an arm around my shoulders and shook his head in awe.
“You two… are incredible. I’m sorry I didn’t do more…”
I slapped him on the back. “You did what you could, man. Thank you.”
“Kyle, look at this.”
I crouched down once more fascinated to find Lee nursing our baby.
“She latched on,” she said amazed. “Oh, Kyle, I need to push the rest out,” Lee whispered suddenly. “And we need to clamp the cord.”
I stared at her dumbfounded, as reality slowly dawned on me.
It was one thing to deliver a baby; I had no fucking clue what to do with anything else.
The sound of a siren coming closer, was my saving grace.
Thank you Cam.
*****
Lee
“Lee, baby, the paramedics are here. They’re gonna get you all cleaned up and take us to the hospital,” I heard Kyle say from behind me, as he wrapped his arms around me, but I couldn’t turn my face to look at him.
My attention was entirely focused on my baby, lying in my arms.
I felt so many emotions in that moment, that I thought I might burst.
The unconditional love, the raw, undiluted purity and strength of my feelings for this tiny person in my arms, was almost too much to bear.
I loved her so much in that instant, and it was effortless and unequivocal.
She was so beautiful, so tiny and perfect, with wisps of dark curls, eyes the color of the ocean, just like her daddy.
I knew babies eyes changed color, but I hoped hers, would stay the same.
I didn’t want to change a hair on her head. She was perfect.
Giving birth on the back seat of Kyle’s new Mercedes, on the side of the road, had to top the list of most terrifying experiences of my life.
The fear I’d felt in those moments, had been crushing. But Kyle…Kyle had been amazing.
I had been sure, absolutely certain, that something terrible was going to happen to my baby.
Even when I’d heard her cry, I’d been petrified that the overwhelming sense of euphoria flooding through my heart, would be snatched away.
“Say cheese.”
I looked up at Derek, just as a bright light flashed in my face.
“Perfect, now how about one with a smile, Kyle?” Derek coaxed, before blinding us again with another flash.
I was extremely thankful, that Kyle had covered me with a blanket, now that it was apparently picture time.
“Jesus,” Kyle muttered as he nuzzled my neck. “He’s worse than a woman.”
I couldn’t help but laugh.
“I heard that,” Derek retorted, snapping away like a mad man.
“You were supposed to. Now, stop flashing that damn thing in my daughter’s face. You’ll blind her before she’s an hour old.”
I looked down at her, alarmed.
Her little face was scrunched up in distaste. I discreetly covered her face from Derek’s harassing camera.
“Oh, my god, Oh, my god,” Cam cooed, from outside the door.
Pushing Derek out of her way, Cam leaned over my legs, gazing lovingly at my baby.
“She’s so perfect,” she fussed, str
oking her head, and cheeks.
“And so beautiful,” she gushed. “Oh hey, look Kyle, she has your nose. But we won’t hold that against you, will we, gorgeous? No, we won’t. Cause you’re just too pretty. Who’s a pretty girl? Yes, you are. I told them that you were a girl. Derek, give me the damn camera, she’s opening her eyes.”
I leaned further into Kyle’s chest, as little, tremors of aftershocks rippled through me.
“Hey ya’ll, I came to deliver a baby, but I see you guys have had all the fun,” a female paramedic with a southern twang- I couldn’t place said, interrupting Derek and Cam’s photography session.
Her smile was so broad and friendly that I couldn’t help but return the gesture.
Cam reluctantly moved out of the way for the paramedic.
“So, sweetie, it looks like you and your husband have done a great job, so I’m just gonna get you cleaned up, then transfer you both to the hospital. My name’s Sarah, by the way.”
I introduced myself and Kyle, but didn’t correct the husband comment, and neither did he.
Kyle sat behind me patiently, stroking my arm, kissing me repeatedly on the shoulder and the top of my head, whispering words of praise and love.
Sarah proceeded to clamp and cut the cord. She injected me in the thigh, before delivering the after-birth and cleaning me up.
It saddened me that Kyle hadn’t been allowed to cut the cord, but I guessed the circumstances weren’t ideal and I was just so glad that my baby was okay.
I then, rather reluctantly, handed my baby over to be checked over.
“Wow, she’s a stunner, and look at all that hair. I bet you had a lot of heartburn?”
Kyle chuckled against my neck, as I nodded at the paramedic.
It definitely hadn’t been the easiest of pregnancies, but so incredibly worth it.
Every moment; good, bad, and heart breaking, was worth it to hold her in my arms.
“Wait, where are you taking her?” I asked alarmed, as I watched Sarah place my baby in the arms of another paramedic.
“Don’t worry, sweetie, Larry here is just gonna check your little girl over and get her cleaned up, she’ll be back in your arms in a jiffy.”
I sat forward, watching every step Larry took away from me, but Kyle pulled me back against his chest.
“It’s okay, princess, they’re just doing their job. She’s perfectly fine.”
I sighed, and waited, impatiently, as Sarah left to get a wheelchair.
Kyle helped me into the chair and again onto the gurney.
Those small movements left me shattered and I struggled to keep my eyes open.
The last thing I remembered, before my eyes closed, was Kyle’s soothing voice in my ear. “I’ll hold her. I’ll keep her safe. Sleep, princess.”
*****
Kyle
It turned out we were only a thirty minute drive from Jefferson Central Hospital, and only two hours away from home.
After both Lee, and the baby were examined and checked out at Jefferson, the doctor had agreed-it had taken a hell of a lot of pressure- to have them transferred immediately to St. Luke’s Hospital in Boulder.
I needed Lee around her own doctors, that knew her medical history.
Lee slept the whole ride back to the Boulder, and she’d only woken once, in the three hours we’d been back, and that was to nurse.
I was sitting in the chair beside Lee’s bed cradling my daughter in my arms when there was a tap on the door.
“Hey,” Cam whispered quietly as she stepped inside and walked over to me.
From the way she was hovering over me, I knew she was dying for a cuddle, but I wasn’t ready to give her up just yet.
I didn’t think, I ever would be.
“Have you guys picked a name yet?” Cam asked, stroking my sleeping baby.
I shook my head. “No, we haven’t had much time to talk. We had a couple of names picked out, but mostly boys names.”
I stretched out my legs in front of me, and nestled her into the crook of my arm.
“Hope.”
I turned around to find Lee awake and smiling at me.
“Hope?” I asked, tossing the name around in my head.
Hope.
“Hope sounds pretty, damn perfect to me,” I agreed, smiling.
She pulled herself up in the bed, stretching stiffly. “I mean, it’s your decision too, of course. But Hope just feels kind of fitting, considering everything we’ve been through. Maybe it’s silly, but the name’s kind of stuck in my head. Of course, we could go with something else if you would prefer?”
I stared at Lee, drowning in the emotion I felt for her.
Leaning over, I kissed her softly, before looking down at my daughter. “Hey, baby girl. Mommy and Daddy finally picked you a name, and it’s something you represent to us.”
“Oh Kyle, please, I can’t wait anymore,” Cam whined, holding her hands out to hold Hope.
Lee chuckled and nodded encouragingly.
“Fine, but sit down so you don’t drop her,” I said, standing up carefully.
Cam glared at me, but sat quickly in the chair I vacated.
“Support her head,” I instructed, placing Hope into Cam’s arms.
“Wow, overprotective much, dad?” Cam muttered under her breath.
Choosing to ignore her, I settled myself down on the bed, pulling Lee into my arms.
She sighed happily as I kissed her head.
“Hello, baby girl,” Cam crooned. “I’m your Aunt Cam. I’m the cool one. Mommy and Daddy are pretty cool too, but Uncle Derek is a douche. Yes, he is. Oh, we’re gonna have so much fun, Hope Bennett.”
“Carter,” Lee corrected, and my heart stilted.
“You’re sure?” I croaked.
Lee nodded, and leaned over to stroke my cheek.
“Absolutely,” she replied. “Besides, look at those dimples. Apart from my hair, she is all you, Kyle Carter.”
“I hate to admit it, but Lee’s right,” Cam added, not taking her eyes off Hope. “You’re packing some pretty powerful genes, in your jeans.”
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Lee
Hospitals were becoming a habit of mine. But this time, it was for all the right reasons.
Hope had just had her six week checkup with the pediatrician, who confirmed she was perfect.
I’d to practically wrestle the buggy from Kyle this morning, eventually using emotional blackmail in a bid to get him to go to work.
“Do you not trust me with our daughter,” I’d asked, pretending to be upset.
Kyle had immediately conceded, apologizing repeatedly.
It was pretty terrible of me, but Kyle was obsessed with being involved. He was like a clucking hen, fussing over me, as well as Hope.
I also wanted to pick up something special for tonight.
Dr. Ashcroft had cleared me with a full bill of health, which meant, my man was getting some tonight.
The sun was throwing out some serious heat, as I walked down 11th street, towards the hotel.
I’d fed Hope and settled her before leaving the hospital earlier, and was looking forward to a coffee and catch up with Cam.
We usually met here, since she and Derek were uncomfortable around each other and I refused to go to Mike’s apartment.
I loved Cam, and couldn’t be too angry with her, for her choices. But I still couldn’t believe that she was with Mike.
It was so crazy.
Derek was so perfect for her, I didn’t understand how Cam could walk away from a man who was so deeply devoted to her.
And Derek, oh, poor Derek…
Derek was carrying on with things, joking around as always, but I knew he was hurting. I could see it in those lonely green eyes of his.
Cam had wrecked him. I didn’t know if he would ever get over the betrayal.
I knew how he felt, except, that when Kyle had destroyed me, he’d fought for me, and he had kept fighting, until he won me back.
It
was so much worse for Derek, because Cam didn’t want him back.
I felt incredibly loyal to Derek, therefore, I wasn’t speaking to Mike. I knew it took two, to tango, but what Mike had done, first to Kyle, and then to Derek, in my opinion, was downright unforgivable.
I couldn’t condone what they had done, so I refused to visit Cam at Mike’s apartment, where she was living…
Plus, I couldn’t wait to show off my gorgeous baby at the hotel.
I gushed to myself, as I stared at her, sleeping soundly in her forward facing buggy.
She looked incredibly cute, in a yellow dotted sundress, with a matching headband and white socks and cardigan.
I didn’t look too bad either.
I was still carrying a little bulge around my middle, and I didn’t think my hips would ever go back to their not so former glory, but I was happy. So freaking happy right now, that even in my khaki capris and black vest, I felt completely at ease with my body.
I guess it didn’t hurt that Kyle complemented me every chance he got.
That boy was something else.
I was closer each day, to asking him to repeat the question.
Not yet. But someday real soon…
I reached the entrance of the hotel, when a hand snagged me back roughly.
“I hear, congratulations, are in order.”
My mouth dropped open in surprise.
“What the hell do you want?” I snarled, pulling my arm free.
Rachel towered over me, her face contorted with malice.
I thought she was supposed to be in hospital?
“It’s quite simple, really,” she said coldly. “I want what you stole from me.”
Her gaze slipped from me, to Hope. “Well, what you and your bastard, stole. You couldn’t have done it without the runt.”
“Fuck you,” I ground out, moving in front of Hope’s buggy to block her from Rachel’s twisted sneer.
“Walk away,” she threatened. “Pack up your kid, and get the hell out of Kyle’s life, or I will bury you both.”
I shook my head in disgust. “My god, you really are sick,” I whispered.
