Joe
Six Months Later
Chloe grabs my hand in a punishing grip as another contraction hits her. She does this weird moaning thing that her midwife taught her. Why she wanted to do this natural is beyond me, but my girl is strong, that’s for sure. She’s been in labor for the past four hours, and about a half hour ago, they started getting a lot stronger, especially after her water broke.
“You’re doing so good, baby,” I tell her as she pants as the contraction ends. “Our boy is going to be here soon, and he’ll be so excited to meet his momma.”
“I can’t wait,” she cries and then cries out as another contraction hits her. “I have to push.” Chloe moans as she again squeezes my hand.
Tara, the nurse that’s been taking care of Chloe, comes in and checks her. She looks at us with a smile. “It’s time to start pushing. Dad, grab her leg behind the knee. Chloe, I want you to bear down for the count of ten.”
I grab Chloe behind her knee and wrap my other arm around her back. The nurse signals for my girl to start, and she’s a trooper. She starts pushing and pushing, but it looks like nothing’s happening.
I kiss Chloe’s sweaty forehead as she cries.
“Come on, Chloe…give me a big push,” the nurse says.
A scream rips from Chloe’s throat. “It burns,” she cries. I look down, and I can see the top of my son’s head.
“Keep it up, baby. I can see his head.” Chloe pants as she waits for the next contraction to hit.
The midwife, Mary, comes in and puts some gloves on. “Okay, Chloe, you’re doing great. For this next contraction, I want you to push with all your might, okay?”
Chloe nods, and I bend down and kiss her lips. “You can do this, baby. We’re going to meet our son soon.”
The contraction hits, and she curls her body, bearing down. “Here comes the head, Dad,” the nurse says, and I look down, and sure enough my son’s head is coming out. “Chloe, give me another push.”
All of a sudden, his head is out. The nurse suctions out his mouth and nose, and then my boy begins to cry.
“Okay, Chloe, one final push.” Chloe pushes with all her might, and then my son slips free of her body. Mary lays him on Chloe’s chest as the nurse starts wiping him off. My son screams his little head off, but it’s the most beautiful sound I’ve ever heard.
I place my hand on his back and kiss Chloe’s lips as she cries. Even though our son is covered in gunk, I still kiss his head. “He’s so beautiful,” Chloe says as tears roll down her cheeks.
“He is. We still need to decide on his name,” I tell her as the nurse helps my boy latch on to Chloe’s breast.
“I like Joseph Dylan Carmichael, Jr. What do you think?”
Tears fill my eyes. “I’d be honored for our son to have my name.” I grab his little hand, and he wraps it around my finger, and my heart fucking melts. “What do you think, JJ? Do you like that?”
“JJ thinks it’s great.” Chloe begins to cry. “I…I’m s…so happy.”
***
I’m sitting on the bed next to Chloe with JJ in my arms when her parents and mine come in. My mom, always the baby hog, takes JJ first. “He’s so handsome. Hi, JJ, I’m your gigi, and I’m going to spoil you rotten. Chloe, he’s beautiful. He looks just like his daddy did as a baby.”
JJ gets passed around between the grandparents before the aunts and uncles come in and all hog him. Chloe falls asleep with her head on my shoulder, and my mom kicks everyone out so we can get some rest. I get her settled in bed and spread out on the little sofa bed. Our son is asleep in the little bassinet.
I’ve never felt this content in my entire life. I keep waiting to wake up from this dream. No one’s life can be this perfect, but mine is.
***
Chloe
Two weeks later
I step out of the shower, dry off, and throw on my robe. With quick strokes, I brush out my hair and then quickly braid it. After brushing my teeth, I head down the hall into the living room. Joe is lying on the sofa with JJ asleep on his chest. “How was your shower?”
“It felt so good. It’s amazing how much a shower can help. Do you want me to take him?”
“No, go lie down, take a nap. I’ll come get you when he’s up.” I bend down and kiss his lips and the back of JJ’s head.
“Thanks, baby.” I head back down the hall and crawl into bed.
Once I’m settled in bed, Ragnar and Lagertha curl up in bed with me. The first time I slept with Joe, I never expected it to go anywhere. But not only did I fall in love with someone who became my best friend, but he’s also given me the greatest gift of all.
I can’t wait to see what our future holds, but all I know is that with Joe by my side, we can make it through anything.
***
Two years later, our son Hunter Garrett was born.
***
Two years after that, our daughter Clara Marie was born, and after that, I made Joe get a vasectomy or he was never touching me again. Our life is crazy and chaotic, but I couldn’t be any happier than I am right now.
Our kids are healthy and happy and fill our lives with so much joy.
It had been a spur of the moment decision to go to Joe the night of Violet’s wedding. Little did I know that one decision was going to change my life forever in ways I never expected, and every night I go to bed with Joe and/or one of our babies beside us, I feel a sense of contentment that warms me to my soul.
The End