Beauty To Broadway (Hamilton)

Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Seventeen

By the end of my 7th month being pregnant Lin's lawyer had received the signed paperwork from Brandon, giving up parental rights to Coral. Our preliminary court date was in about a month, which was the soonest we could get a date unless someone else cancels. In reality, Lin won't be Coral's adoptive father until she's about six months old, that's just how long these things take. Anyways, Vanessa ended up planning me a baby shower here at the house, it's this upcoming Saturday. All the Hamilton girls had been invited along with some of Vanessa's friends whom she was excited for me to meet. I think she said Lin's mom is coming too, which is cool because Coral will eventually be her granddaughter. It's so weird, making a family here. Yeah, in a perfect world, Brandon and I would've been a family with Coral, but if I decided I needed to move to Hawaii, we could've. But now I have this family that's going to keep me here, not that it's a bad thing. I love this city and I love everyone I've met here.

I woke up Saturday morning to a sharp pain in my back. Baby Coral had just reared up and kicked hard. I breathed quickly for a minute as the pain ceased. Lin came into my room.
"Today's the day!" He exclaimed. He must've been two cups of coffee into the day already, he had too much energy for it being before 10 am.
"Which day?" I asked as I rubbed my eyes.
"Your baby shower, but more importantly, the day you get to ditch the cane and walk on your own!" He replied.
"Hopefully my personal trainer's whimpy daily workouts have prepared me for such an adventure. I'm not so sure I want to walk unassisted just yet," I said.
"First of all, I'm your trainer and my workouts were amazing. Second of all, if you hadn't noticed, your cane is missing. I gave it to an old man walking by the house this morning," He replied.
"You're kidding, right?" I asked.
"Of course not silly! You're supposed to be far enough along in your recovery where you don't need any assistance to walk anymore. I'm confident in our training and if you don't get rid of it now, you never will," he replied. He came over to my bed and helped me stand up. I pushed him away.
"I'm not supposed to need help," I teased. He chuckled. I carefully walked towards my door and then to the top of the stairs. Lin rushed past me and stood on the middle of the staircase, looking up at me.
"Just in case you fall," he said.
"I love how much hope you have for me," I teased. I successfully made it to the bottom of the stairs and even beat Lin to the kitchen where Sebastian had already successfully covered himself in his morning  oatmeal. Vanessa had just set two plates of food at the table.
"Good morning! Oh Saint! Look at you walking!" She exclaimed
"I feel like I'm a toddler who just took my first steps guys, it's all over now, quit babying me," I said. Lin and I sat at the table. He stabbed some eggs with his fork and then shoved the fork towards my face.
"Heeerrrreee comes the train! CHOOO CHOOO!" he said. Vanessa, Sebastian, and I burst into fits of laughter.

Lin and I decided to go for a walk today with Tobi to Central Park. It was a twenty minute walk to the park, we decided to take Sebastian with so Vanessa could get the house ready for my baby shower. Lin was walking Tobi and I was pushing Sebastian in his stroller. We eventually got to the park and found a little playground that Sebastian could play on. Lin and I found a bench to sit on and watch Sebastian play.
"Five more weeks," Lin said. I looked at him.
"I'm scared," I replied.
"Coral will be fine," he assured me.
"It's not Coral I'm worried about, it's me. I'm terrified by how much it's going to hurt," I admitted.
"It's called an epidural," Lin said.
"It still hurts afterwords," I replied. Lin chuckled. "You're so mean," I said.
"It'll be worth the pain, being a parent is incredible. I didn't know how much I could love until Sebastian was born. I feel so much love for Vanessa, but having a child is such a different feeling of love," he said. I smiled and laid my head on Lin's shoulder.
"I'm glad I have you by my side through all of this. Coral and I wouldn't be here if it weren't for you," I admitted.
"You're welcome," he replied. A woman who was very pregnant approached us.
"Oh honey! When are you due?" She asked.
"September 8th," I replied.
"Is it your first?" She asked.
"Yes," I replied.
"Oh, the first is always the most fun, being a first time mother is so wonderful. Will the two of you have any more?" She asked.
"Oh I'm not-."
"I'd like to, later in life, I'm only nineteen," I interrupted Lin. The woman looked shocked.
"Well, whatever your age, motherhood is wonderful. Congratulations and good luck you two!" she said as she walked away.
"Why does everyone assume we're together?" Lin asked.
"Because you're hanging out with me and I'm pregnant," I replied. He laughed.
"I wish I would've brought out my feminine voice and said I already had one. I don't know, I love messing with people who don't know who I am," he said. Sebastian ran up to us and jumped on Lin. After another hour of walking around the park and seeing the sights, my hip started hurting and Sebastian was tired so we went home.

When we opened the front door pink EVERYTHING covered the house. The living room had a ton of chairs and tables set up with pink tablecloths. The kitchen was filled with pink cupcakes, cookies, candies, and pink lemonade all over the counters.
"Ummm Vanessa?" Lin asked.
"Okay, so it seems like a little much, but I'm just so excited," she replied. Sebastian went up to the counter and snuck a pink cookie. "Come on Saint, follow me." Vanessa led me to the living room, I got a closer look at everything. There was a snack table that was half set up, there was a pink and white three tier cake sitting on the table. There was an empty present table with some balloons flying from it. In the corner of the living room was a photo booth area with pink accessories that guests could put on to make lasting memories for Coral and I.
"It's very... Pink," I said.
"You don't like it?" Vanessa asked.
"I love it.. I was just thinking that since her name is Coral that it would be ocean themed, no big deal. I love it, thank you for all your hard work," I replied.
"You're welcome honey. Now go get ready, the party starts in two hours and you'll meet Coral's soon to be grandmother," she said. I laughed as she started pushing me towards the stairs. I went up to my bedroom and into my bathroom where I took a shower. Sad though, I've forgotten what my toes look like. When I finished my shower I dried and curled my hair. I went to my closet and found the pink floral dress I'd bought for the shower. I put it on, but then I couldn't zip it.
"Vanessa! I can't zip my dress!" I yelled.
"Linny! Go help her!" I heard Vanessa yell. Lin was in my room within a minute.
"I can't reach my hands behind my back," I whined. Lin burst out laughing. My pregnancy hormones made me start crying. Lin continued laughing and then I started laughing while I was still crying. Lin zipped up my dress and then he hugged me.
"Oh Saint, I love you," he said as he hugged me again and continued laughing.
"Stop laughing it's not funny. Will you paint my toenails later? I can't see my toes anymore," I asked. Lin laughed again.
"Of course," he replied, still laughing. He was about to leave.
"I need you to put my shoes on for me too," I said before he left. I swear, he laughed at me for the rest of the day.

The party was wonderful. I met Lin's mother who was incredible. She brought me a couple of dresses and some shoes that I would be able to fit into after my pregnancy. She even bought me an adorable lounging chair that I could put in my room, it rocked and swiveled, which would be perfect for putting Coral to sleep. I got tons of baby clothes, diapers, wipes, burp cloths, literally everything I would need, Renee and Lin's mother brought knitted blankets. Phillipa got me an adorable diaper bag, Vanessa and Lin surprised me with a stroller and a diaper genie, which was totally amazing. We played loads of baby games and told stories, I was given really good advice by everyone that was a mother. Vanessa was an excellent host and everyone had such a good time. But by the end of the night, my feet were swollen and I was exhausted. We were able to get everything put away and were able to get the party cleaned up. I was laying in bed doing a little bit of writing when Lin came in.
"Well, did you have fun?" He asked.
"Yeah, loads," I replied. I shut my laptop and put it on my bedside table. Lin took a look around the room.
"It looks like a nursery and that you're just living in your baby's room," he teased.
"Yeah, it's so pink and flowery and I love it. After tonight, I'm less scared and more excited," I said.
"Has your mom told you when she's flying in?" Lin asked.
"She told me today that her fight was booked and she'd be here on September first," I replied.
"Do you know where she's going to stay?" He asked.
"She just wants to sleep in here with me, if that's okay. I'd like for her to be as close as possible to help during the night," I replied.
"That's perfectly fine, I'm excited to meet her," Lin said.
"She's excited to meet you too," I replied. Coral started kicking, I squirmed a bit, her kicks were starting to hurt more and more. Lin came and sat on the bed.
"May I?" He asked. I nodded. He put his hand on my moving belly and smiled. "Hi! Lin here, I can't wait to meet you! Take it easy on your momma now," he said to my belly. Coral seemed to calm down a bit, I was able to relax. Lin stood from the bed and went to the door. "Goodnight Saint," he said as he turned the light off and shut the door. I laid onto my side and pulled my blankets up to my chin.
"Goodnight Lin," I whispered.