Rags to Riches

Chap 12 "The Real Me"

Lorie's POV

Months passed and I am now a few days away from having our baby girl. We just moved into our new home, two months ago. We got everything unpacked, but Jay and I still haven't decided on a name for our baby. I've been on maternity leave, day two, and I haven't gotten as much stuff done as I wanted to. Jay walked in after his shift. "Hey, babe," I stated. "Dinner is on the table."

"Thank you," Jay sat at the table. I went to sit with him as he ate. "How was your day?"

"Well, I still haven't put up the wall stickers in the nursery if that's what you're asking," I sighed. "And I can't really put that up until we choose a name for our baby girl."

"What are the two we're looking at?" Jay asked.

"Rosangela or Vanina," I replied.

"The meanings?"

"Rosangela is a do you know name of Italian, American origin. It's an incredible name derived by combining two names, Rose and Angela, meaning Rose of an angel, or messenger of God. The name sounds feels and is beautiful, due in part to the romantic first syllable. Overall, it's a very unique name. According to statistics, within the United States, you're likely to find more Roseangela's in the state of California than in other states."

"Good thing we're never moving to California, right?"

"Right, we're staying in Chicago," I nodded. "But that's the first name." I pulled up my phone. "That's why I like Rosangela. Now, you chose Vanina." I looked at my notes. "The name means bringer of good news. The name is popular in France and Germany, mainly."

"I don't like that description," Jay made a face. "What middle name did we agree on?"

"Teagan," I stated.

"Let's go with Rosangela," Jay stated.

"Really?"

"Yeah," Jay nodded.

"Okay, can you go ahead and put up the wall decor then?" I asked. He looked at me. "I already got her letters up on the wall, because I figured you'll choose the same name."

"Yeah, okay," Jay smiled. "Let me finish dinner and then I'll go do that."

"Okay, I'll be in my office," I smiled. I went to our office and got on my live feed. "Hi, everybody. So, a lot of you have had questions. I'm here to address those questions by giving you an autobiography of my life. We're going to go back to 2023. Gotta start before I became famous." I read the comments. "Okay, so I had gotten married to a doctor in 2023. I do not have any resentment towards him. We're still good friends who butt heads a lot. Uhm, we had our marriaged annulled and I moved back to Turner. During that year and a half after, I was working on my music, got into the police academy and became an officer and a cover artist in the process. I was also talking to a good friend of mine at the time. We started, uhm, dating." Jay opened the door. "Yes?"

"I got the thing set up," Jay stated.

"Okay, I'll check it out in a second," I nodded. Jay hid his face and sat at his workspace. I saw the comments. "Moving on...so, a year after we started dating, I moved to Chicago with my dad. Five months after that, we got engaged." I smiled. "That was wow — we've been engaged for six months. Anyways, I know you guys have been wondering why I zoom in on my lives the past couple months. Well, we're going to lay it all out on the table." I zoomed out. The comments were going crazy. "I am pregnant with my baby girl. My fiancé is the father, yes."

"Sweetheart," Dad poked his head in. "I'm home. I'm going to head to bed."

"Okay, goodnight, Dad," I smiled. He closed the door. "Now, the reason you always see the back of my fiancé's head is because we have our workspace back to back." I looked at the comments. "Yes, we are going public. Everybody, this is my fiancé, Jay Halstead."

"Hi," Jay turned around in his chair. "I'm Lorie's infamous beau."

"They're saying you're got, good looking," I pointed. "Okay. Stop drooling, over my fiancé."

"I'm gonna head to bed," Jay stated.

"Okay, I'll turn in soon," I nodded. Jay left. "So, I won't be on for a good couple of weeks. I won't be live, I should specify." I looked at the comments. "With my baby's due date being so soon, we're just going to be busy, but I will post one minute videos to keep you guys updated as much as I can." I looked at the time. "You guys have a good night. I love you all, my litle lighters." I ended the live. I walked to the nursery and Jay did a good job. I smiled. I went to the room and Jay was passed out. I got in bed and Jay wrapped his arms around me. "I love you."

"Likewise," Jay smiled.

"Good night," I stated. "Our daughter will be here soon."

Jay's POV

A couple days passed. I was working a late shift. My phone rang and I picked up. "Yeah," I stated.

"Jay, it's Maggie," Maggie stated. "Lorie's here and she's in labor."

"The baby's not supposed to be here till tomorrow," I replied as I grabbed my jacket.

"She's on her way," Maggie stated.

"On my way," I hung up. "If Voight asks, Lorie's in labor." I ran out and drove to Med. I ran in and April pointed me to her room. Natalie was in there. "Lorie, I'm here, baby." I got by her side and held her hand. "I'm right here."

"Lorie, you're fully dialated," Natalie stated. "I'm going to need you to push."

"Let's do this," I nodded.

"One, two, three," Natalie stated. "Push!"

"Ahh!!!" Lorie screamed.

"Relax!" Natalie stated. I could barely feel my hand. "Alright. We're gonna go again. One, two, three...Push!"

"Ahh!!" Lorie screamed as she pushed. We heard a baby crying. "Oh..."

"She's here," Natalie smiled. She let me cut the cord. "Born at 00:02."

"She's beautiful," I stated as Natalie handed her to Lorie. "Just like her mom."

"Rosangela Teagan Halstead," Lorie nodded. "We call her Rose, for short."

"Our baby girl is finally here," I smiled. I let Lorie have a couple of hours rest before I decided to call everybody. I had to wait till she got to a room before I could. Once she did, her friends showed up. "Hey guys."

"Whoa," Natalie walked in. "How are you feeling?"

"I think I'm okay," Lorie nodded.

"So, we'll like to keep you at least 48 hours just to make sure you're healing okay," Natalie nodded. "After that, you're good to go home."

"Thank you," I smiled.

"Yeah, and April will get your discharge paperwork ready when the time comes," Natalie nodded. She put her hand on my shoulder. "You guys have a beautiful family."

"Thanks," Lorie sent her a fake smile. Natalie left. "Jay, I swear to God. I'm not gonna go through this again."

"Hey," I walked over to her and held her hand. "Nothing is going on between me and her. I can't control her feelings, but she's married to my brother and I have brushed off every single move she's put on before I ever got with you." I kissed Lorie's forehead. "You and Rosangela are the only two girls in my life that matter most to me."