Ophélie

Part 55

"She's almost here. You can do it. One more hard push." Dr. Cheron says calmly.

I squeeze Charles' hand tightly and bare down with everything in me, pushing as hard as I can. I let out a loud groan and then suddenly I feel relief.

I look up at Charles who is looking over at Dr. Cheron, tears running down his cheeks.

And then I hear it, the most beautiful cry I have ever heard in my entire life. My heart flutters.

"Do you want to cut the cord, dad?" she says to him.

He nods, squeezing my hand tightly before he lets go and moves further down toward the end of the bed.

He cuts the cord and then he moves back up to me. "You did it mon amour." he kisses the top of my head before he brushes his hand over my hair. "You did so well."

A nurse comes over and Charles moves as they place a little bundle on my chest.

I cradle her in my arms, tears immediately streaming out of my eyes. "Hello, baby girl."

I kiss the top of her head and hold her a little tightly, looking down at her. "Welcome to the world baby."

Charles leans over us, brushing his finger gently down her back before the nurse puts a blanket over the two of us.

"She's beautiful," I whisper, beaming up at him.

He nods, smiling at me. "Of course she is."

After a few minutes, they take her out of my arms and Charles goes with them where they clean her and wrap her into a blanket.

Dr. Cheron finishes up at the end of the bed and stands up, talking to me.

I'm barely listening as I watch them hand our baby girl to Charles, who beams lovingly down at her and walks slowly over to us, almost as if he's afraid he'll break her if he moves too fast.

Dr. Cheron smiles. "I'll come back a bit later to check on you."

I nod. "Thank you."

Charles hands our little one over to me and a nurse comes over, gently placing a hand on my shoulder.

"Let's try nursing." she smiles warmly.

I nod and shift myself up so that I'm sitting up.

She helps me undo the hospital gown and shows me how to hold our little one.

She latches immediately, causing me to gasp.

"It's okay, take it easy. You're in control." she walks me through feeding and then we switch breasts. "Oh, she's great at this. Congratulations on your little one. I'll come back in a few minutes." she smiles after the little one is done feeding.

Everyone leaves the room and it's just Charles and me.

I look up at him. "Look at what we did."

He lets out a little laugh. "She looks like you mon amour. Look at her. She's adorable. Her little cheeks." He leans down and gives her a little kiss.

We had discussed names over the last few months but decided that we'd wait for her to arrive and see what best suits her.

"She needs a name." I smile down at her.

"Hmmm," Charles says quietly, taking a seat and putting his hand on her legs. "What about Emily?"

We both look down at her. "Nah," we say at the same time.

"Oh, Carlie." I say.

We both shake our heads. "No."

We stare at her for a second and then speak at the same time. "Julie."