So This Is Love?

Part 15: Color Me Pink

*** August 13, 2012***

She got the call from her brother in law that it was go time.

Baby Grace was on her way into this world.

She has waited years for a baby in the family. Though, she preferred it would be her own- a niece was just as exiting.

So she found the pink teddy she was going to give her and the pink pacifier balloon and made her way to sit in the hospital waiting room.

She was last to arrive of course- having been out in Manchester for filming- but she somehow managed to make it.

"Where's Luke?" Her brother Dom asks as she plops down beside him- tired, yet overly exited.

"He couldn't come. Busy with some sort of nonsense."

"So he doesn't want to meet his niece?"

"His niece? He hasn't proposed yet- I think it's hardly appropriate to be giving him such a title when he hasn't hardly earned it." She states matter of factly.

True, Freema loved Luke with all her heart, but lately he's been distant and her wishful thinking is that maybe it's a ploy to surprise her when he pops the question.

"Well excuse me for thinking a mate who's been shagging my sister for nearly a decade deserves a bit of family recognition."

"When he proposes and we marry- then he can receive as much family recognition as he deserves."

"Are you two done arguing?" Their mother asks as she comes in with a faint frown."

"What's wrong, Mum?" Freema asks, noticing the distress. "Mum?"

"Leila...she and the baby are in distress...they aren't sure if she's..." Her mom gives way to tears and both children quickly go to her and wrap her in their arms.

"She'll be okay, Mum. She and Lacie are going to be fine." Dom confidently says and after a few minutes the doctor comes in and removes his medical cap.

"Mrs. Agyeman?"

"Yes?"

"They're alright. Your daughter is stable and the baby is doing great."  The young man says and smiles at Freema. "You may go see them if you would like."

Without hesitation, they all take of flying out of the family waiting room and down the hall. Freema excitedly passes everyone and makes it in first- finding her sister looking overly tired and pale while holding her baby.

"Lei....honey- how are you?" Freema asks as she comes closer and her brother in law, David- gives her a big hug.

"Tired...but perfect. She's perfect..." getting close to the bed, Freema gently reaches out and strokes the dark small curls on the baby's head and places a kiss on her sister's forehead.

"She's beautiful, Lei. I'm so excited for you." But inside, jealously and pain consume Freema. She's the oldest. She should have the baby and the husband- the family waiting to see her pride and joy be birthed into the world.

"You want to hold her?"

"Absolutely!" Picking up the child, gently swaddled in a pink knit blanket- Freema gazes longingly at the child- needing one of her own, praying for one of her own in the not so far future.

She is thirty three after all. She should have had one years ago. Yet now she's in the two year window- where having her own baby is a necessity because after 35- the risks out weigh the good and being a really old Mum is hardly worth it.