Sandi Lynn - Forever Us

“Look at the painting, baby. Focus on the painting, not the pain.”

“I can’t, Connor. The pain is too horrible. I can’t concentrate on anything but the pain!” I screamed.

Claire grabbed the cloth from the stand and wiped my forehead. “I remember the pain, Ellery. Just remember what the end result of that pain is.” She smiled as she pressed her lips to my forehead.

As I smiled at her and slowly closed my eyes, Connor got up and walked her out of the room. I heard him in the hallway, thanking her for bringing the CD and the painting. Nurse Bailey came back into the room and told me she had to check me again to see how far I was dilated. She sighed after she finished checking me, and Connor walked back into the room.

“Any progress?” he asked.

“No. She hasn’t dilated at all. I need to call the doctor. I’ll be right back.”

I looked at Connor as he leaned over and kissed my head. “I’m scared something’s wrong,” I said.

“Don’t be scared. Everything’s going to be fine. I just think our daughter’s stubborn. She’s starting to remind me of someone.” He smiled as he ran his hand down my cheek.

Just as I was beginning to relax, another contraction started. Connor looked at the fetal monitor.

“How can you be having another contraction already? It’s only been a few seconds since the last one.”

The pain was different this time. It was more intense and radiated throughout my entire back. The pressure was so bad that I had to push.

“Connor, I have to push. I have to!” I screamed.

“No, Ellery. I don’t think you can do that yet.”

He held onto my hand as the sweat dripped from my face, and I screamed in pain. Henry, Peyton, and Nurse Bailey ran into the room. As I looked at Nurse Bailey, Peyton came over and took a hold of my other hand.

“I have to push. I have to. Please help me,” I begged as the tears streamed down my face.

“Ellery, you can’t push,” Nurse Bailey said as she looked at Henry.

Suddenly, the monitor started beeping and all eyes went to it. Henry stood there and shook his head.

“Her blood pressure’s dropping and so is the baby’s heart rate. We need to get this baby out now!”

“I called Dr. Reed and he said he’s on his way, but he said it’ll take at least thirty to forty-five minutes for him to reach the hospital,” Nurse Baily said.

“I don’t give a shit how long it’s going to take him. Go make sure an operating room is available, and page an anesthesiologist, STAT!”

The voices around the room were getting deeper and slower. The room started to spin as Henry clasped my shoulders.

“Ellery, stay with me,” he said.

I wanted to give up. I couldn’t do this anymore, and I couldn’t stand the pain. My body was tired, and I could feel myself slowly drifting away. Suddenly, I heard Connor’s voice.

“Baby, don’t you dare give up. You better not give up on me. We’ve come too far, and we fought too hard to have our life together, and you will not give up! Do you understand me!” he yelled.

Suddenly, a group of people came running into the room and transferred me to another bed. I looked at Connor as I opened my eyes and the tears began to fall.

“I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. I love you,” I whispered.

Another doctor came from behind and put a mask over my face. “I need you to take in a deep breath, Ellery. This will help you to relax.”

With the mask on my face, I looked over at Peyton and saw that she was crying. They started to wheel me out of the room, but I wouldn’t let go of Connor’s hand.

“Don’t worry, baby, I’ll be right there. I promise you that I’ll be there with you.”

I followed them out of the room and stood there as they wheeled Ellery down the hall. I was scared shitless and worried. If something happened to them, I didn’t know what I’d do. I would never forget the look on Ellery’s face as they wheeled her away from me.

“I’m going to make sure that Ellery and the baby are fine,” Henry said as he put his hand on my shoulder. “Get changed and I’ll see you in operating room.”

I nodded my head as Ellery disappeared from my sight. Nurse Bailey handed me a pair of light blue scrubs and told me to change in the bathroom.

“She’s going to be all right, Mr. Black. Now hurry up and put those on.” She smiled.

As I walked into the bathroom to change, Peyton went to the waiting room and sat with my family. I quickly changed, and when I opened the bathroom door, Nurse Bailey was standing there, holding a mask in her hand.

“You need to put this on before we go into the room. It’s for the baby’s safety.”

As I took the mask from her, she led me down the hallway to the operating room where Ellery was. She told me to wait outside the double doors while she went to make sure they were ready. A few moments later, she walked through the doors and motioned for me to follow her. When she led me into the sterile room, Ellery turned her head and looked at me. Immediately, she held out her hand. I smiled as I walked over to her, gently took her hand, and sat on the stool next to her.

“Hi.” I smiled.

“Hi back,” she whispered.

“Okay, Ellery, let’s have this baby,” Henry said as he started making the incision.

As she stared into my eyes, I leaned over and lightly rubbed her forehead with my thumb.

“I remember the first time I stared into your beautiful eyes.” I smiled.

“In your kitchen, after you accused me of breaking your rule.” She smiled back.

“Yeah, but I’ll never forget the feeling that overtook me the moment you turned around and looked at me.”

“I thought you were an ass,” she whispered.

“I know you did, and I was, but you changed me, Ellery. You swooped in, broke all my rules, and completely turned my life around.”

Suddenly, the cries of a baby jolted us back into reality. Ellery and I looked at Henry as he held our daughter up. “Congratulations, Mom and Dad.” He smiled.

She was screaming as she moved her little arms and legs around. Henry handed her to the nurse, who took her over and cleaned her up.

“You did so good, baby. I’m so proud of you,” I whispered as I kissed her.

“You look very sexy in that mask and those scrubs.” She smiled.

“Well, that was random.” I smiled back.

I got up and walked over to where my daughter was being cleaned up. The nurse wrapped her in a pink blanket and handed her to me. I was incredibly nervous to hold her, but it was what I’d been dreaming of since the day Ellery told me she was pregnant.

“Ellery, I’m going to start stitching you up now and, when I’m done, then you can hold your baby,” Henry said.

“Thank you, Henry, for everything.” She smiled.

As I walked over to Ellery’s side, she held out her hand. I sat down on the stool and brought our daughter closer to her so she could touch her. At this point, she had stopped crying, and she could barely keep her eyes open. She wrapped her delicate little hand around Ellery’s finger. I watched as a tear fell from her eye.

“She’s so beautiful, Connor,” Ellery said.

“Of course she is. She’s your daughter.”

Ellery reached her hand up and softly stroked my cheek. I’d never felt this kind of feeling before. I loved Ellery so much that my entire existence revolved around her. I didn’t think it was possible to love her or anyone else even more. Looking down at my baby girl, seeing the love of my life in this child, and knowing that we both created this miracle, made my love grow even more for both of them.

“I want to talk to you about something,” I said as I looked at her.

“What is it?” she asked.

“I know we talked about a couple of different names for her, but I think we should name her after your mom, Julia.”

Ellery stared at me for a moment as tears sprang to her eyes. “I love it, Connor.”

“I think she should have a name that’s a part of all of us. I would like to name her Julia Rose Black.”

“I love that name.” I smiled. “Julia Rose Black is a beautiful name, and I think it fits her perfectly.”

Connor leaned over and kissed my lips. Seeing him sitting there and holding Julia was one of the happiest moments of my life. Anyone who looked at him could see and feel the love he had for that child.

“All stitched up, Ellery,” Henry said. “If you want, you can hold Julia now.”

Connor looked at me and smiled as he put Julia in my arms.

“Are you feeling okay?” Connor asked.

“I’m feeling great.” I smiled as I kissed Julia’s forehead.

Henry cleaned up and walked over to me and Connor. “Congratulations, you two,” he said as he kissed my head and shook Connor’s hand.

The nurse wheeled me out of the operating room and back into my room. I couldn’t believe that our daughter was here. It seemed like only yesterday that I found out I was pregnant. Once I was back in the room and settled in bed, Connor left to go tell our family and friends that Julia had arrived. As she was sleeping in my arms, Peyton walked into the room and instantly covered her mouth with her hands.

“Ellery, she’s beautiful,” she said as she walked over and kissed Julia on the head.

“Isn’t she? I just can’t believe she’s here.” I smiled.

Connor walked into the room with his mom, dad, Cassidy, and Denny following behind.

“Let me see my beautiful granddaughter,” Jenny said with a tear in her eye.

As much as I didn’t want to let Julia go, I handed her over to Connor’s mom. Denny walked over and sat on the edge of the bed. He took my hand and gently kissed it.