Greyson
Skylar was still sleeping soundly when I woke up the next morning. I kissed her cheek, and then her nose, and then realized I had been lying in bed staring at her for nearly fifteen minutes. So I rolled out of bed, careful not to disturb her, and slipped away downstairs to begin making breakfast.
Renee was already downstairs when I emerged in the kitchen. She had brewed a pot of coffee and was standing near the sliding glass doors to look out into the gardens.
“Morning,” I said.
She jumped and spun around. Her cheeks flushed pink as she smiled at me. “Sorry, you startled me. I didn’t think either of you would be up for a while.”
“I’m an early riser,” I said.
“I made coffee,” Renee said, nodding towards the still steaming coffee pot.
“Wonderful,” I said, grabbing a mug from the cupboard and pouring some for myself. I sipped the rich fuel and went to the fridge, where I grabbed some eggs and milk. “How late did the two of you stay up last night?”
“I’m not really sure, to be honest, but I don’t think it was any later than midnight. I painted Skylar’s toes for her and then she was toast. I sent her to bed.”
“She’ll be happy you did that for her. I offered to paint them weeks ago but she turned me down. Apparently I would do it wrong.”
“Probably,” Renee said with a crooked grin.
I shrugged. “It’s nice to have you here, Renee, and not just to paint her toes. I know she appreciates your support. So do I. Skylar wasn’t lying yesterday, I’m a bit scared of this whole thing. Of being a dad.”
Renee leaned on the counter on the other side of the stove from me and wrapped both her hands around her coffee mug. “Can I be honest with you, Greyson?”
My stomach did a back flip and I paused with one egg in my hand, poised over the edge of a bowl. “Of course you can.”
Renee sipped her coffee and then met my eye. Her gaze was intense. “Men who worry and stress about becoming fathers are the men who make excellent dads. It means they care. This little girl has no idea how lucky she is. Her daddy is going to love her more than he knows he is capable of loving anything, and her mommy is going to teach her how to be a strong woman. Her parents are a great combination of strengths. You guys are going to rock at this whole parenting thing.”
Her words eased my mind and I felt my body deflate like a balloon.
“You really were worried, hey?” Renee asked, peering up at me with a grin. My relief was clearly evident.
“Yeah,” I admitted, “I was.”
Renee rested a hand on my arm. “Trust me. You have nothing to worry about. Not until she starts dating, at least.”
I blinked. Renee laughed.
“I think that will be Skylar’s forte, not mine,” I said.
“Maybe,” Renee nodded, “Maybe not. Time will tell. Give it fourteen years or so and then-”
“Fourteen years?” I asked incredulously.
“Well, yeah. How old do think girls wait until they start dating? Until their twenties?”
I frowned and finally cracked the egg I had been holding on the edge of the bowl. I proceeded to do this with three more eggs, and then I added the other ingredients to make pancakes. “I was hoping they would wait until the prospect didn’t give their fathers a heart attack.”
“That only makes it more fun,” Renee whispered.
I groaned and shook my head.
“Don’t stress. You have Skylar. She’s like a walking talking plethora of knowledge. She’ll handle every parenting curve ball like a pro. Do you doubt that?”
“No,” I said, “Not at all.”
“Good. See? You’ll be fine. The two of you have totally got this.”
“I’m glad I have her,” I said more to myself than to Renee.
But she heard me, and she paused with her coffee halfway to her lips to look up at me. “She’s glad to have you, too.”
“Are the two of you gossiping about me down there?” Skylar called from up on the loft.
Renee and I both looked up at her. She was leaning forward on the railing. She was wearing a pair of loose gray sweats and a baggy shirt- my shirt, I realized.
“Come on down,” I called, “Pancakes will be ready soon.”
“I think we will have to pass on the pancakes,” Skylar said.
I detected a note of tension in her voice. I put down the whisk I was holding and looked back up at her. She gave me a smile that conveyed a lot of things: joy, fear, excitement, anxiety.
“Are you okay?” I asked.
Skylar nodded. “Yes, but I think we have to go. My water just broke.”
It felt like someone had just driven into my gut with a semi-truck. I sucked in a sharp breath, and then my body took over for me.
I rushed out of the kitchen and took the stairs two at a time. Skylar watched me the whole while with a nervous smile playing on her lips.
“I’m going to grab the bag then we’ll get in the car. Are you okay? Do you need anything?”
She shook her head and patted my arm reassuringly. “I’m okay. Don’t rush, I don’t want you to forget anything.”
How she was staying so calm, I had no idea. I raced by her and went into our bedroom, where I grabbed the bag we had packed over two weeks ago for this trip to the hospital. We had everything we needed for the stay in the hospital and the trip home.
The trip home.
The next time we came back here we would have our daughter.
I fought back the urge to cry and slung the bag over my shoulder. Then I joined Skylar and helped her down the stairs, one step at a time.
When we reached the bottom step Renee was there. She took Skylar’s other hand and the two of us led her out to the garage and to my car. Before she climbed into the front seat she clutched at her belly and gritted her teeth as a contraction tore through her.
I rubbed her back and whispered comforting words in her ear. As soon as the pain had passed Renee and I got her into the car, and moments later I was peeling out of the driveway and racing towards the hospital.
My fingers were gripping the steering wheel so tight that my knuckles were turning white. Sweat had gathered at the nape of my neck, and all of my skin felt hot. I had never been so filled with adrenaline and nerves in my entire life.
This was more intense than the day I had gone to Luccio Bravo’s house to save Skylar.
“We’ll be there in ten,” I said, looking over at Skylar before quickly returning my gaze to the road. There was as sheen of sweat across her forehead and her jaw was tight. She was in pain, and I hated it. I hated not being able to make it go away for her.
“It’s okay, Greyson,” Skylar said through clenched teeth, “We have plenty of time. I’m alright. Everything is fine.”
I saw her hands ball into fists as another contraction took hold.
I grabbed her hand and we held on to one another for the rest of the drive.
When we arrived at the hospital Renee ran inside to grab a wheelchair and alert the nurses behind the check in counter. She was already rushing back outside with the wheelchair when Skylar managed to get out of the car with my help.
I eased her down into the chair and she let out a pained moan and held her belly. I put my hand on her shoulder as I pushed her through the sliding doors into the hospital.
We were met with a swarm of professionals. Everyone was smiling as the buzzed around us. They took Skylar’s name and confirmed that I was the father. They scribbled on clipboards as they asked Skylar more questions.
When did her contractions start?
How far apart were they?
How long ago did her water break?
Was she experiencing and dizziness or fatigue?
The rest of the questions were lost on me, and I found myself standing behind Skylar’s wheelchair like a fool as Renee hovered over my shoulder. I shot her a nervous look and she offered me a warm smile.
She put her hand on my back. “It’s going to be fine, I promise.”
I swallowed and couldn’t find the words to thank her. So I gave Skylar’s shoulder a squeeze to remind her that I was there as she continued answering questions.
When the nurses were done with the mini interrogation they told us they were going to take us to the delivery room. The words ‘delivery room’ thundered around my skull as I started pushing Skylar down the hallway. Renee was hot on my heels as I leaned over to whisper in Skylar’s ear. “We’re about to have a baby.”
She looked up at me. She was still beautiful even when she was in pain. “I’m scared,” she whispered.
I hadn’t been expecting those words to come out of her mouth. I continued pushing her down the hall behind the nurses, but I never took my eyes away from hers. “This part will be over before you know it, and we’ll be holding our little girl. I’m going to be beside you the whole time. Whatever you need, I’ll make sure you have it. It’s going to be okay.” I kissed her forehead and she closed her eyes. I kept my lips pressed to her clammy skin for a lingering moment, and then I straightened and she turned back around in the wheelchair as I pushed her through the doors to our delivery room.
The nurses helped Skylar up and she got onto the bed in the middle of the room. I assumed my position beside her and grabbed her hand. She gave it a tight squeeze and watched everyone work with wide eyes.
“Hey,” I said softly, directing her attention to me. Her wide eyes look settled on me. “Good thing you painted your toes last night. Can you imagine if these poor people had to see those hideous feet of yours in their natural state?”
A nurse snickered as she walked by me and Skylar managed a playful scowl. “Really?” She breathed. “You’re going to try to be funny now?”
“Try to be funny? I am funny. I’m hilarious.”
Skylar took a deep breath and closed her eyes. “You’re the funniest person I know.”
I looked up when a new arrival came into the room. He was a middle aged man dressed in a white coat. He wore glasses and was clean shaven. His brown hair was flecked with gray and the corners of his eyes wrinkled as he smiled at me and Skylar. “Good morning, folks. I’m Dr. Browning. Looks like we’re going to be delivering a baby today. You think you’re ready to be parents?”
Skylar and I nodded.
“You’re sure?”
Skylar nodded and I arched an eyebrow. Dr. Browning caught my eye. “This is kind of a non-refundable thing,” I said, “So we’re sure.”
Dr. Browning pointed a finger at me and grinned. “I like you. You’re going to be a good father. Alright people,” he called, “Let’s do this.”