It's Not Easy

You can do this

I feel the grip on my hand tighten and I'm fully awake again. I smile in sympathy at Stevie, who's been lying in this hospital bed for days now. She looks and is exhausted, our baby should be here any second now, but that moment hasn't come yet and it's been really tough on her. 

"If I don't get to sleep, neither do you."

"I'm trying, but..." I yawn, interrupting my sentence. "But it's hard to stay awake."

"It's hard for you?" Her eyebrows shoot up and I immediately regret what I just said. "Would you like to switch places with me?"

"No, I'm sorry, I didn't think before saying that."

"We're using protection from now on." Her sudden change of topic makes me laugh, but I think she might actually be serious.

"I doubt you could get pregnant again, sweetheart."

"I don't care, I don't want to take any chances. She just won't come out! She's got her little hands holding on to me from the inside, refusing to meet us."

"She will, be a little more patient."

"Lindsey, I love you, but you should just shut up already." Stevie looks away from me, not saying anything for some time. "There has to be a way to make this quicker. You put that baby in me, you think of how to get her out."

"Stevie, you can't be serious. I get it's tiring, but there's nothing you, much less, I can do."

"No way, smartass!" I've lost count of how many times I've been called that during this pregnancy. I don't take it to heart of course, she doesn't mean it. Or maybe she does, I can't really know.

"Let's try and get your mind off our child being already this stubborn."

"Okay. Why don't we talk about what we're naming her?"

I frown and cock my head to one side. "You mean... We're not having a girl, named Rhiannon?"

"No."

"That's news to me!"

"I just don't feel like she's a Rhiannon, besides, it's enough after all these years I'm still getting called a witch, I don't need that for my baby."

"Right, well then, do you have any ideas?"

"I really like Julia, I like saying it. Or Layla." She adds, when I don't give any comment about Julia.

"Layla is pretty."

"Amelia?"

"Someone had no baby name ideas ten minutes ago." I get a first genuine smile since we got to the hospital nearly three days ago.

"I feel that maybe us naming her, instead of me complaining about her being stubborn, might help to move the process along."

"Layla Buckingham sounds pretty good to me."

"Doesn't it?"

"Yeah, I could imagine us seeing Layla Buckingham winning trophies for swimming."

"She's not even here yet and you are going to force our daughter into the water!"

"A Layla Buckingham concert?" I correct myself immediately. 

Stevie seems to think for a minute, then nods. "We're having Layla."

Comfortable silence falls upon us, then my phone starts ringing, it's Lori. After I let her know I'll call back in a few, Stevie asks. "What's so funny?"

"Sara is very creative, let's just say that."

"What did she do this time?" She sighs, our daughter can be a trouble maker.

"Lori said that Alex is going nuts since you and I haven't been home for a few days and Sara told him that we've been abducted by aliens, poor guy is going crazy!"

"She really likes torturing him."

"That she does. They want to come see us, so I told Lori I'll let her know."

"Well, nothing's happening, so sure, she can bring them here for some time."

I call Lori and inform her that it's okay to come visit, she said they'll be here shortly. 

After about half an hour, a little more, Sara and Alex come running through the door, Lori desperately asking them to calm down.

"Mommy! Daddy!" They both squeal and hug Stevie and me in turns. "You're not in space!"

"In where? Oh that's right, Sara..." Stevie gives her a pointed look and she sticks her bottom lip out, chewing on it, trying not to laugh. 

"The things she came up with..." Lori shakes her head. "Her imagination is wild, let me tell you."

"It can be." I nod, hoisting Sara up on my lap. Alex isn't leaving Stevie's side.

"Anyway, how are you doing?" Lori pulls up a chair and sits down.

"I can assure you, I've been better."

"You're so huge!" 

"Oh my god! You did not just say that! This is the worst time to be calling me fat, Lori!"

"Oh relax, you're supposed to be like that. You have a baby inside you."

"Thanks, no need to remind me that."

"Has the doctor said anything?"

"It's all fine and I shouldn't worry, but it's so exhausting." 

"It's not long now, Stevie. You can do this." 

"I'm considering having you by my side, holding my hand when the time comes."

"Hey!" I shake my head. "That's my spot."

"You're not as encouraging, Lindsey."

"Thanks, but I think I'll pass." Lori says. "We're close and all, but I don't need to know that much of your anatomy. Let's just stick to singing together, okay?"

"Fine. Lindsey, you're back in."

We talk about everything for the next hour or so, it definitely helped Stevie not think much, but the kids have obviously lost interest and are ready to go home.

"Thank you so much for coming."

"I don't think I would have gotten these two to go to bed tonight if we didn't come see you." 

"Drive safe." I hug Lori goodbye and she rolls her eyes. "Hey, I care about my children."

"And I might as well just drive off a cliff?"

"I'm just saying." I ruffle Alex's curls after hugging him too. "Be good, okay?" He nods and I look over to Sara. "And you, dimples, stop torturing your brother."

"I was joking!"

"Yeah, of course you were."

"I'll call you when we get home." Lori says, almost out the door. "And you call me if the little one decides it's time to say hi."

We're alone and I take my seat by Stevie once again. We don't talk, just hold hands. 

"I love you."

"And I love you, too." I bring her hand to my lips and kiss the palm of it, then place kisses on each knuckle. "Why did you feel like telling me that?"

"Because you're amazing."

"I thought I was a smartass?"

"Do you want me to go back to calling you that?" She raises her eyebrow.

"No, I'm good with being amazing."

"You are. You're a wonderful husband and father."

"Because you deserve nothing less and Sara and Alex are fantastic kids." I stroke her belly with my free hand and lean to press a kiss to it. "And I can't wait to meet Layla too."