One Night in New York

Chapter Thirty

Some people need more time to truly get to know their partner before moving forward in a relationship. It may take years, or even decades, for them to say "I do." That, however, was not Liam and me. We both knew early on in our relationship that we wanted to marry each other, so there was no need for us to wait years to see if we were compatible. Do I still believe in love at first sight? No, I still don't, but I do believe that everything happens for a reason and that life eventually leads you to the person you were meant to marry. We just realized it earlier than most people. You won't realize it on the first night, but fate will drag you into the next chapter sooner or later.

Connie, Liam's mother, was the only member of our family who was not present that evening. She was with us in spirit, celebrating up in the heavens as we stood and declared for the first time as husband and wife, even though we knew she couldn't be physically present. Liam and his family were deeply moved by the dedication table we set up for his mother, complete with photos ranging from when Connie was a young girl to becoming Thomas' wife and her journey through motherhood. That night wasn't just about Liam and me; it was about celebrating with the people we cared about, and even though she was no longer visible, she was still and would always be a part of our family.

We had a lovely reception that lasted until nearly 2:00 a.m. The night was filled with eating, dancing, toasting, kissing, laughing, and spending time with friends and family. Liam, being the wealthy non-bachelor that he was, persuaded them to let us stay later than we had planned, giving us more time to celebrate. My sister Clarissa had driven Connie back to our house because they were both exhausted from the long weekend. I, on the other hand, was overjoyed and could have partied all night. That chapter was soon coming to an end, and a new one flipped open, ready for us to fill in the blanks with what lay ahead.

So, where did we end up, or where are we going? We can go wherever we want because our story isn't over; it's just getting started. We've decided to leave the city and build our dream home in Jericho, New York, raising our daughter in a lovely quiet suburb, as most people dream. We also decided to postpone our honeymoon in Italy until Connie is a year old. I couldn't leave her for weeks at a time with her being so young. So we decided to spend a long weekend in Niagara Falls while Liam's father, Thomas, looked after Connie. I could handle four days without her, but not fourteen. Liam and I also decided to start our own business. He has now added the Natalie Taylor line to his Liam Taylor label for his women's power suits.

It's been an adjustment and a wild ride, but I'm afraid it'll take a back seat once more. I made a name for myself before everything fell apart, but I couldn't be happier. I did it and finally succeeded, making my dreams come true. Sure, I had help from my wealthy husband, but that was the plan all along. He was exactly what I needed all along to make my dreams and goals a reality. He did more than just make me a partner; he pushed me when I said I would put off becoming a designer for a few years.

Liam and I also caved and moved Thomas in with us after he sold his house in the south. When I first returned to work, he graciously accepted the title of manny, giving me peace of mind that Connie was in good hands every day. That would be short-lived, as I am currently in the labor and delivery unit, preparing to give birth to our son. During our four-day honeymoon in Niagara Falls, I got knocked up again. The pregnancy was not planned, and if we had our way, we would have waited a few more years. But fate would have it otherwise. Liam Andrew Taylor was supposed to arrive this night as I lay in my hospital bed, and soon our family of three will be a family of four.

As I've been in full active labor for over twelve agonizing hours, I've done nothing but curse at Liam. I'm no longer waiting for him patiently as I scream in agony with each contraction. I'm curious about what's taking him so long, and why I agreed to a traditional birth. I had a c-section with Natalie, but because there were no complications with this baby, I begged my doctor to let me deliver naturally. For some reason, I feel compelled to feel it all, just as I do in every aspect of my life. She agreed it was fine because everything went so smoothly this time, and the incision sat low the first time, so I was relieved. I'm beginning to think that skipping another c-section was the stupidest decision I've ever made in my life. I just called my doctor and begged her to remove this baby, but she refused because I was too close to pushing. I can't take another second of this; the pain is becoming unbearable.

"What was I thinking? Who would actually want to put themselves through this?" At one point, I did, but there is no going back, only having the option now to push.

The rest of the delivery was a blur. I didn't want to go through labor without pain medication, so I got an epidural, which allowed me to relax a little before pushing my son out. Liam, the nurses, and the doctor were all screaming for me to push every fifteen seconds until he arrived. Liam handled my left leg admirably, while nurse Katie handled my right. He was an excellent coach, and I am now the proud mother and Liam the proud father of a nine-pound, nine-ounce perfectly beautiful baby boy. He is, indeed, the size of a watermelon. I'm now lying here, anticipating Connie's first meeting with her baby brother, whom Liam is currently holding while the doctor stitches me up. Why are Liam and our child being dragged from my room? I'm not sure what's going on, but I don't feel like myself anymore. Dr. Kennedy appears concerned because I am losing a lot of blood, as the baby caused a lot of damage when he came out, but he was worth it. My entire family is well worth it......