Nothing In This World (BWWM) ✅

Chapter Forty

1951

"I'm dying, Lance!" Charlene screamed to the top of her lungs while squeezing tightly on to the wrist Lance regretted offering to her. "I can't do it! I just can't do it!"

The nurse massaged her thigh while the others scrambled to make sure the baby was born as safely and efficient as possible. Lance planted kisses on her sweaty forehead and massaged her scalp to soothe her.

"You got this, Char, baby. I think one of them said they can see the head top!" Just as the nurse yelled to push one last time, the sound of a gurgled cry erupted about the room and for the first time in four hours it didn't belong to Charlene. "Oh my god!"

"It's a boy!" The nurse called out while placing the slimed, reddened baby onto Charlene's chest. She held him with every bit of strength in her despite her body feeling weak. "We're going to get the paperwork and give you time to bond."

Lance let out a small shriek when the baby's hand wrapped around his index finger. "God, Char. You cooked him up just right. He's absolutely handsome ain't he?" They smiled at the quiet little one. A nurse then came over and adjusted him to properly latch on for milk. This made Charlene sigh in relief. "Calvin had a hard time his first go. Little guy wouldn't stick for nothing,"

Lance wheeled Charlene out to the waiting room where Gloria and Calvin sat patiently. The three year old almost tore Gloria's clothes off trying to get out of her arms to greet his new sibling. "Wow! That's baby!" He smiled and placed a hand on the baby's swaddled up body. Gloria walked over quietly and cooed at the sight.

"Baby brother," Lance pointed at the newborn. "And big brother," Lance pointed at Calvin. He then repeated himself when Calvin tried to copy the words.

"Baby brother?" The adults nodded.

"Lowell. Your brothers name is Lowell Walter McCullough-Skinner and your Calvin Joseph McCullough-Skinner" Charlene giggled at Lance. "What? The more I say it then the clearer he'll be able to say it one day."

"Walter." Gloria picked up Calvin and placed him on her hip. "You named them both after your fathers. It's beautiful, really. I'm proud of the both of you. The house is looking new. The land is fresh. I get to see my grandsons whenever I like. Couldn't of asked for anything better."

"Thank you, mama." She cradled Lowell close to her chest when a small whine escaped his lips. "I'm just wanting to go home and rest. You get no good sleep in those damned beds."

"Oh, baby. You sleep the day away. I'll be waking you up though when the baby needs a feeding." Gloria laughed when Charlene began to pretend to doze.

Lance continued to push her to the car where Gloria strapped up Calvin in his metal car seat and Lowell had a newborn seat that lay flat. Charlene positioned herself in the middle and Gloria sat up front with Lance. "God been good to us these years. Pastor Rick prayed over each of Charlene's bellies and gave us two healthy ones."

"God gone give what you ask to receive. Whether you see it happening or not." Gloria smiled back at Charlene then turned back upfront. "Glad to see you sticking with the church after all this time. Even when your leg broke I heard you still showed up to Sunday school."

"I like it. They accept Charlene and I and Calvin. Calvin likes playing with the kids. No one says nothing about it. Pastor Rick even congratulated us both. We really need it. That church to be exact. Doctor was saying all types of complications when Charlene and I was trying."

"I know. You told me. But look what God did," Gloria smiled.

"Look what he did," Lance repeated.

The five arrived home and Charlene was immediately pushed to rest although she wanted to stare into Lowell's eyes that were closed in deep sleep. "You guys are trying to take away my baby. They're supposed to be with the mother for at least five hours."

"You was in the hospital with him for three days. Get some sleep," Gloria scolded. She then closed the door and left Charlene alone with Lance.

He massaged her shoulders before going over to draw her up a hot bath. "You do need to relax." She rolled her eyes while sitting at the edge of the bed. "Mama knew she was going to take the babies the moment they let you off that bed. I could see it in her eyes." The two giggled when they heard Calvin crying wanting to pick up Lowell. "We have years of that, you know."

"And I love every sound of it."

Once Charlene was undressed and in the bath, Lance sat across from her on the toilet and watched her run soap up and down her arms. "I love you, Char. I tell you every day. I know. I know. It's just... I can't stop looking at you. All these years and I ain't never stop wanting to look at you."

Her cheeks flushed when he leaned forward to rest his elbows on his knees and really look at his wife. "Get in," she said so faintly.

"Don't mind if I do." Lance quickly pulled off his shirt and pants and squeezed in the tub behind her. "We making another one, I see!"

"No! We're not! We're not making another one!" She threw a clump of bubbles at his face when he tried to lean in and kiss her. Wiping his mouth on her back. He slowly left a trail of kisses from one shoulder to the other. "I love you, Lance."

He softly rested his chin on the crook of her shoulder and pulled her closer to his body. "Can I have a kiss?" He whispered so softly.

"Even after we die," she turned to face him slightly. "You can kiss me for all eternity."