STAY

Seventy Eight

I had barely slept I was so nervous, tossing and turning in between getting up to pee. By the time I had to get up and ready, I was exhausted. I came out of the bathroom to find Jared up and dressed. "Happy Valentine's Day" he said as soon as he saw me. "Happy Valentine's Day to you too" I said leaning up to kiss him. "Come sit, I'll fix your hair" he said quietly, taking note of the brush and ties in my hand. He lovingly brushed out my hair and scooped it up, putting it into a bun. "You hardly slept" he said looking down at me. I nodded, "I'm sorry did I keep you awake?" I replied. "No, but I woke up a couple of times and could tell you were restless" he said kissing my forehead. I slipped my arms around his waist, leaning my head against his stomach, his hands lightly rubbing my back. We stayed like this, in silence for a few minutes, finally letting him go. I stood up and he pulled me to him, "We said no presents, but you're giving me the most amazing present today" he said against my lips. I kissed him again, soft and slowly. "Well then, you owe me a big one" I said laughing, he grinned kissing me again. "Alright baby, lets rock and roll" he said pulling back. I let go and gave him a small smile and nodded, "I'm ready" I said, trying to sounding more calm than I was. He grabbed my bags and we left. As we waited to be admitted, I was clutching his hand so tightly, "Gigi you're stopping the circulation" he said amused. I just nodded at him but didn't let go. We were taken to my room and after admitting me, the midwife Rosie, left us alone. I was quiet as Jared did up the ties on my hospital gown. He chatted excitedly, "my mom just messaged, they're coming up now" he said. I nodded and let him help me get into the bed. He pulled up the blankets and looked at me curiously. "Stop looking so terrified" he said softly. I nodded, trying to hold back the tears threatening. "It's going to be fine, I promise" he said sitting next to me and pulling me to him. I nodded again, not entirely believing him. There was a knock at the door and Jared called out for them to come in. It was his mom and Caroline. They looked so excited to be there, they were going to wait in my room so they could meet the baby. "Genevieve, don't worry my dear, it's all going to be fine" said Caroline coming over to the bed and grabbing my hand. "You all keep saying that" I said with a nervous laugh. "Because it's true" said Constance firmly. I nodded yet again, trying to smile, the tears finally escaping. I dashed them away quickly and looked up. They were all smiling warmly, but remained quiet, just letting me have my moment. And suddenly I felt a little more calm. The door opened again and Eve walked in with her hospital scrubs on. "Happy Valentine's Day! Today's the day! Are you ready to meet your baby?" she said excitedly. "Yes, I .... we're, ready" I replied, I felt Jared squeeze my hand. She started to go into detail about how they would proceed, but I quickly put up a hand, "just do what you are going to do, I don't need to know every detail" I said interrupting her. She laughed, "okay, well I'll see you in there" she said leaving us alone again. "You're dad is flying in tomorrow" said Caroline, "great, he can ring my mom" I said nodding. I hadn't seen my mom since the wedding, she'd been so busy, apparently. I hadn't told her that I was having the baby today, I'd let my dad tell her. She wasn't very interested and had barely messaged or phoned so I didn't too feel bad. "You are naughty" she said smiling. I shrugged, trying not to grin. The door swung open again and Rosie came in with an orderly. "We ready to go?" she said cheerfully. My heart started thumping furiously in my chest. I felt the baby kick and rubbed my belly nervously. "Yes, we're ready" said Jared cheerfully. I hugged both women tightly in turn, then we were on our way.

They took Jared away for a few minutes to change. Before I knew it he reappeared. He was changed into scrubs, and was looking so amused, "I could pass for a doctor right?" he said grinning. I nodded, "sure you could" I laughed, he'd handed me his phone and I took some photos of him hamming it up. It was a wonderful distraction from the nervousness I was feeling. Not long after, I held his hands tightly as they prepped me with the spinal anesthesia for the c-section. "Gigi, breathe, it's okay" he whispered into my ear. I nodded exhaling nervously. It all started happening so quickly. Within minutes I was wheeled into theatre and the big blue drapes hung up, hiding my belly from view. Eve was chatting away with the other assistant and the nurses, I glanced at Jared who was suddenly looking a little nervous. He was holding my free hand firmly. "Do you want to look, when she's born?" Eve asked him. He shook his head, "no, I want Gigi and I to see her at the same time" he said. Everyone in the theatre awwwed at his comment and I felt tears well up in my eyes. "Okay, well get ready she's nearly here" she said excitedly. I felt lots of pushing and movement, it was all so weird. Jared just stroked my forehead, smiling at me. We heard her call to the pediatrician and suddenly there was a cry, a loud, very annoyed cry! I gasped, a moment later he appeared, holding a squirming, screaming little bundle, our baby. She was wrapped in a green sheet, her face scrunched up and pink, her little blue hands shaking as she cried. "Congratulations, here she is" he said bringing her in close. "Oh my God, she's so cute, wow she's really screaming there" said Jared laughing. I was stunned, I just stared at her, my hand lifted, shaking, I touched her face gently. "Shhh ...." I whispered, my heart was thudding loudly in my chest. I suddenly felt overwhelmed with love for this little human. "Let me check her out and you can give her a cuddle" he said. "Okay, sure" I said as he walked over to the baby cot. "She's cute" said Jared kissing me. "She's really cute, kinda loud though" I said smiling. He grinned nodding. She was still crying as he brought her back, telling us she was perfect. They pulled back my gown and put her on my chest, covering her with some warm blankets. Rosie took my free hand and put it on her upper back, then she instructed Jared to help hold her so she wouldn't slip. I watched his hand tremble ever so slightly as he patted her back gently. I kissed her forehead, shushing her again and she was all at once quiet, just squirming now and making little squeaks every now and again. Very slowly her eyes opened and she looked around. "She's looking at you" I said. "God she's just gorgeous" he said peering closely at her. He grabbed his phone and took some photos. I smiled and closed my eyes, feeling tired. I must have dozed off, cause I woke up to the sound of Jared's voice telling me they were done and we were going out to recovery. They took the baby and wrapped her warmly, giving her to him to hold as they wheeled me out. Eve had given the staff strict instructions about the importance of guarding our privacy. I watched her talking to Jared briefly, then she waved, dashing away. We were taken over to a little alcove and the curtains were drawn. "She'll come see you later, she's got another patient in labour" he said coming over. As they helped me get cleaned up and comfortable, I watched Jared cooing to her. Rocking her gently on the spot, kissing her face. She mewled and squeaked every so often, finally starting to cry again. "She's probably hungry" said Rosie. I glanced up at him, we had had so many discussions regarding this. He gave me a little smile. "So, if you show me how, I can give her a bottle" he said matter of fact. She looked up surprised, "oh, are you sure you ...." she started to say to me. He cut her off, "it doesn't look too hard, I'm sure I'll manage" he said firmly. "Of course, I'll just grab one. You take a seat and I'll show you" she said. He nodded and continued to rock the baby as she disappeared to go grab a bottle. "Thank you" I whispered, he replied with a firm nod. She appeared moments later and he sat down, listening to her instructions. Within a minute or so all I could hear was greedy sucking. "She's starving the poor thing" he laughed. I watched as she drank and finished it quickly. She then showed him how to burp her, I had a moment of panic as he looked like he was going to drop her! But he managed to put her over his shoulder and pat her back, looking thoroughly confident as he did it. "Good job" I said nodding at him impressed. "Pretty good right?" he said looking smug. "Do you want to hold her?" he asked me, "yes please" I said smiling at him. He carefully passed her to me, tucking her in next to my chest. She was quiet now, her eyes fluttering open every so often, then closing again. My fingers softly ran over her head and face, her little hands that were poking out of the blanket.