Mabel's Destiny

Welcoming Mabel

Kobe's P.O.V

My head was whirling at how brave my wife was. I loved her and I loved watching her birth our daughter. I can't believe I have two daughters. Elise must hate me and I wouldn't blame her if she did. I never should have gotten involved with Kristina that night at the bar.

Corey was getting married so we were at the bar before going to the strip club and this beautiful Latina walked over and that is the last thing I remember. I woke up at her house the next day. She was a bank teller who was out for her girlfriend's birthday and neither of our friends had noticed we were gone. We must have had a lot to drink because the hangover was killer the next day. I got her number before I left. We had a quickie one last time even though the guilt in my chest was telling me not to. I thought about Elise every time after I cheated on her and how badly I would break her, but I still never stopped.

I look at Elise now, three hours after her operation, on the hospital bed in recovery thinking about how brave she is. She has put up with me and my bullshit all while also creating a home for our baby. I am terrified to tell her she may not be able to have anymore children with the severity of her ovary laceration. She started to hemorrhage really bad during the C-section and the source of bleeding was from above the left ovary in her body and it got sliced in the process of stopping the bleeding.

She looks so angelic in the bed with her hair dried to her forehead from the hours she spent in labor. I love the woman she is and how beautiful she is. I hate myself for all the pain I caused her. God, I am such a fucking idiot for wanting to leave her and lying to Kristina about it. I never should have kept seeing Kristina after the first time and I wouldn't even be where I am today. I love Darla with my entire heart and would kill anybody who tried to hurt her. I would never regret my children for anything, but not being around them every second of every day sucks.

I waited to see our baby until Elise woke up. I felt it was only fair we meet our child together while both conscious due to the birth plan failing. She woke up after a bit and we took our time getting to the Nursery wing of the hospital. It's a small little room with access only by a keypad code. Inside was nine little bassinet style beds that had little clips indicating what gender the child was. I noticed one on the end of the second row that had a pink clip on it. Only two girls in the nursery this time unlike when Darla was born and there was only three babies and only one was a boy. She looked just like Elise with my nose and length. Although being a small baby, she was long. She had her mothers dimple on her left cheek and the birthmark on her left arm close to the armpit. She was perfection. I looked at this baby and knew every fiber of my being would protect her.

"Love, she's beautiful." I say to Elise from above her wheelchair. She is pale but shoots me a tired smile.

"She took a while to make, huh?" Elise asked me.

"God, she is perfect though. All perfect works of art take a while to make, Elise."

" Kobe, why did you do this to us?"
I look down at her and she's sobbing. I hate seeing her so upset and I can do nothing but offer a hug and my deepest apologies.

"I don't remember meeting her and I regret never stopping it when I should have. I am so, so sorry my love."

I let out all my feelings during this time. We stare at this gorgeous life we created while I destroyed the one we knew. I am angry, heartbroken and alone.

"We should name her Mabel Ko. Mabel is strong, after my grandmother and Ko is the beginning of the name to the first man I ever loved. Kobe. A true example of a man."

The words almost sounded like heaven from her lips. Maybe this means we can work things out and finally be happy again. I'd give anything for that. She drew in another deep breath as we entered the nursery.  There was a connected room for parents to connect with their baby and to nurse away from other parents. Mabel will be joining us once Elise is cleared to go to the postpartum wing.
"Kobe, I love you with my entire being and this baby made me realize I am her role model. She will learn what is okay to put up with and will know her worth from watching me as her example. I know my worth now and I know how much this is going to break my heart. My best friend, my first love and the most wonderful father I have ever seen. Kobe, I have loved you endlessly for years. It's time for a divorce, my love. I deserve better, Mabel deserves better and so do Kristina and Darla. Honey, it's time to Divorce."