“How does everything look?” Trevor asks, not taking his eyes away from the monitor.
“Well, let me take a few measurements,” Dr. Spark says, clicking around on the screen. “From the measurements and the blood that I had taken the other day, everything looks good.” He does some more clicking with the mouse and presses around on my belly, before he goes back to looking at the screen. “Alright. Well, let’s see if the little guy or girl will cooperate.” He keeps running the device all over my belly, then finally he stops. “Well, it seems to me that she is going to be stubborn,” he says. It takes me a second to realize what he just said. I look over at Trevor, who is staring at the doctor.
“We’re having a girl?”
“You’re having a girl,” the doctor confirms, smiling.
“Holy shit.” Trevor stands, looking closely at the monitor. “You’re sure?” he asks the doctor.
“Well, I’m not really supposed to say it, but yes, I’m sure.” Dr. Spark laughs, looking between the two of us. “Let me just get you cleaned up. Everything looks great. When you’re done getting dressed, just set up your next appointment at the front desk,” he says, leaving the room. I sit up, pulling the robe off and tossing it in the garbage. I pick up my sweats off the chair, pulling them on, then sit and start to put on my shoes. That’s when I notice that Trevor has been quiet this whole time.
“Are you okay?” I step towards him. When he is able to reach me, he wraps his arms around my waist, kissing my small bump. I run my fingers over his head.
“I thought I would be afraid if he said we were having a girl, but I’m really fucking happy about it.”
“I wanted a boy,” I tell him.
“You did?”
“I did. I wanted a boy that looked like you.”
“You never said anything.”
“Well, I knew that I would be happy with whatever we have.”
“My daughter is in here.” He lifts my tank, his hands spanning my waist.
“She is.”
“That’s fucking crazy.” He smiles up at me, before kissing my belly. “Let’s get my girls home.”
“Can we stop for ice-cream?”
“Anything you want.”
“Anything?”
“Absolutely anything.”
Trevor
Four months later
“Breathe, babe. Breathe.” I pull Liz back into me, wrapping myself around her. “You can do this, baby. Just breathe.”
“I can’t…I can’t do this anymore!” she cries. I fucking hate this. We have been here for the last thirty-three hours. She’s just now dilated to nine centimeters, and my baby is exhausted. She hasn’t really slept since her water broke.
“You can do this.”
“I don’t think I can.” She falls back into me when the contraction passes.
“Alright, hun. I’m gonna check ya and see where you’re at so I know if it’s time to call the doctor,” the older nurse says, lifting the sheet at the end of the bed. After a second, her eyes meet mine, then Liz’s. “I do believe it’s time.”
“Thank you,” Liz says, her sweaty face going into my neck. “I’m so tired.”
“As soon as this is over, you can sleep. I promise.”
“Okay.” She says softly. The doctor walks in and sits down at the end of the bed.
“Are you ready for this, Liz?” Dr. Spark asks. I get off the bed from behind her, taking one of her hands. Once everyone is in position, we begin the whole process of pushing. Rita and my mom are on the opposite side of the bed from me. Liz’s mom and I each have one of Liz’s legs, holding them up to her chest. The doctor is instructing her when to push. Liz bends forward, her face red and sweaty, looking more beautiful than I have ever seen her. I bend forward, whispering encouragements into her ear, and telling her how much I love her. When I hear a very loud cry, and look down and see my daughter, she’s covered in blood and slime. Tears come to my eyes, watching her take her first breath. Someone wraps her in a blanket before setting her on Liz’s chest.
“You did so amazing, baby.” I look down at both my girls…my life.
“She’s so tiny, so perfect,” Liz whispers, looking at her little fingers. I run my hand along hers, and she latches on to me, her tiny hand gripping my finger firmly.
“I love you, baby girl,” I say, leaning in and kissing her blanket covered head, before turning to kiss my wife. “So, are we sticking with Hanna?” I ask, running my finger down her smooth little cheek.
“Yes, I think Hanna fits her perfectly. Don’t you?”