Chapter 32

WELLS

Thanksgiving is here, and Delilah and I are getting ready to head to my parents' house for dinner. I'm trying to figure out the perfect time to tell her about the house. The offer I put in was accepted. The fear of her changing her mind now that it's finally happening is creeping in, but I can't keep the secret for much longer. Time is running out. It would be great to have everything organized and unpacked before the baby comes.

I know everything won't be perfect, but we can have the necessities done and worry about making it our perfect forever home afterward.

Forever.

That's what I want with Delilah. She's young, but the way she holds herself, you'd never know. She's strong, independent, intelligent, and sexy as hell.

"Babe! I'm ready. Are you sure we don't need to bring anything?" she asks as she steps out of the bathroom. The sight of her takes my breath away.

She looks stunning in her black yoga pants and a t-shirt that says "I Ate the Whole Turkey." Her blonde hair cascades down, framing her face perfectly, and her septum ring sparkles in the light. She does a slow spin, cradling her belly, and I can't help but smile.

"You look amazing."

"Thanks," she says with a small smile. "This is as good as it's getting."

"You're perfect Little Doe. The only way you'd be sexier is if you were naked."

She rolls her eyes, holding her hand out for me to take and together we walk downstairs.

I grab the car keys, and we head out. The drive to my parents' place is filled with comfortable silence. I keep glancing at her, trying to find the right moment to tell her.

When we arrive, my mom welcomes us with a huge smile. She wraps her arms around Delilah, her eyes sparkling with genuine warmth.

"Honey, you are glowing. I've never seen someone look so good pregnant," she says with a beaming smile.

"Thank you." Delilah's cheeks flush slightly.

As we step inside, the familiar sounds of my dad and Jonas yelling at the TV greet us. My mom rolls her eyes, letting out an exasperated sigh.

"They're watching the game. I'm sure poor Derek is bored out of his mind."

I laugh and kiss Delilah's cheek before heading toward the den. Sure enough, my dad and brother are glued to the game, their faces contorted with intensity as they shout at the screen. Derek, meanwhile, looks fully entertained as he records them on his phone, capturing their antics.

"I'm sending this on Snap to Delilah. She needs to know how weird her family is," he says with a grin.

"She'll appreciate that." I chuckle.

Derek glances at me, his expression shifting slightly. "Any word on Drew and Royal Flush?" he asks.

"No. Delilah hasn't heard from them, so it might have been just a rumor. We're not worried. We'll handle it if it happens, but until then, we're preparing for the baby."

"She doesn't need anything else to pop up." Derek nods in agreement.

"Speaking of that, how do you propose I tell your best friend that the house I put an offer on is ours now?"

He laughs. "Better to just rip the band-aid off with that one. But tell her sooner rather than later, 'cause she'll want to set up the nursery."

"Tonight then," I say, feeling excited yet nervous.

I sit and talk with Derek while they watch the game. After a while, Delilah decides to join us and makes herself comfortable by settling into my lap. I rub my hands up and down her belly as she talks to everyone, her laughter filling the room and making the game a distant memory.

Right at five PM, dinner is announced, and the aroma of my mom's delicious cooking wafts through the house, beckoning us to the dining room. Even though it's just the four... well, now six of us, she always goes all out. The table is laden with turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, and all the trimmings.

"Who's ready to dig in?" Mom asks, her voice full of cheer.

Derek grabs a roll and smirks. "I'm starving. I've been waiting all day for this." His playful tone makes everyone chuckle.

While we eat, laughter and excited voices fill the air as we plan for the upcoming Christmas festivities. The conversation flows effortlessly.

My dad tells us stories from the company fishing trip, complete with exaggerated hand gestures and booming laughter. Jonas chimes in with his own version of the story, teasing Dad about the "one that got away." The room bursts into laughter as Dad pretends to fend off an imaginary fish. But suddenly, Delilah gasps, and we all look her way.

"What's wrong, baby?" I ask, my heart pounding.

"My water just broke," she says, her voice trembling slightly.

The spoon I'm holding slips from my hand, and a messy explosion of mashed potatoes decorates my mom's elegant green tablecloth. My heart starts to beat a million miles a second.

"Okay. We have your bag in the trunk. Let's go to the hospital. Are you having contractions?"

"Yeah, I have been most of the afternoon, but I thought it was Braxton Hicks. It's too early," she says, her eyes wide with worry.

"Babies come when they're ready, sweetie. It's gonna be okay. Get to the hospital, and we'll meet you there," my mom says, standing and coming over to rub Delilah's back.

"Okay," Delilah whispers, nodding.

I rush to her side and help her to the car. The drive to the hospital is a blur of flashing lights and rapid heartbeats. I push the pedal to the floor, my knuckles white as I grip the steering wheel, running every red light and stop sign in my path. The speedometer climbs, but all I can think about is her labored breathing beside me.

What if we don't make it in time? What if something goes wrong? The hospital finally comes into view, and I silently plead for everything to be okay as we screech to a halt in a parking spot at the emergency entrance.

I can't believe this is happening. As Delilah's fingers tightly grasp mine, I draw in a deep breath, seeking solace in her presence, hoping it will steady my nerves.

This is it. This is the moment we've been waiting for.

Holy shit, we're having a baby.

"We're almost there," I tell her. "We're going to meet our baby today."

She nods, her eyes wide. Her courage amazes me, and I feel a surge of love so powerful it nearly knocks the breath out of me. I help her out of the car, and we approach the emergency room entrance. The automatic doors whoosh open, welcoming us into the sterile, brightly lit space.

A receptionist greets us with a warm smile, her cheerfulness a stark contrast to my pounding heart.

What if something's wrong with the baby? What if I'm not a good dad?

"Happy Thanksgiving! What brings you in today?"

"We're having a baby," Delilah tells her.

"Okay, let's get you up to delivery and into a room right away." She grabs a wheelchair, and Delilah sinks into it with a sigh of relief. My heart aches at the sight of her discomfort, wishing I could take her pain away. The wheels squeak across the polished floor, and I follow closely, every step feeling like a dream.

Inside, the staff moves with practiced efficiency, their calm demeanor somewhat soothing my frazzled nerves. Delilah changes into a hospital gown, the crisp fabric rustling softly as she moves. She climbs into the bed, and the nurses take her vitals as I settle into the recliner next to the bed. I pull out my phone and text my parents, Jonas, and Derek, letting them know we've arrived. Replies come in almost immediately, their love and support coming in bursts of messages.

The door swings open, and Dr. Maud steps in. "Happy Thanksgiving. I hear we're having a baby."

She pulls on her gloves, the latex snapping into place with a reassuring sound. "Okay, Delilah, I'm going to check how far you're dilated."

Delilah nods. "Okay."

Dr. Maud lifts the sheet gently, her movements practiced and efficient. A few moments later, she removes her gloves.

"We're at five centimeters," she says, her tone both professional and kind. "How's the pain? Do you want an epidural?"

Delilah hesitates, her brow furrowing slightly. "No, I'm okay for now."

"Are you sure?" Dr. Maud's voice holds a note of concern. "There comes a time when it's too late to get one, and I don't want you to miss out if you decide you want it."

Delilah glances at me, a flicker of doubt in her eyes. "Thanks, but I'm good for now."

"Alright," Dr. Maud says, offering a reassuring smile. "How about some pain meds then? We can keep you more comfortable while we wait."

Delilah looks at me again, her eyes searching for my support. I nod, trying to convey all the reassurance I can.

"Go ahead," she says quietly, her voice steady despite the nerves.

Dr. Maud exits the room, and shortly after, a nurse comes in with a small cup of pills and a cup of water. She offers Delilah a warm smile.

"Here are the pain meds Dr. Maud mentioned. They should help take the edge off."

Delilah takes the meds with a small sip of water, her face tightening momentarily as she swallows. The nurse sets the empty cup on the tray beside her and leaves the room, promising to check back soon.

Delilah sinks into the bed, her hand reaching out to mine.

"Thanks for being here with me," she says softly, her voice trembling slightly.

I squeeze her hand. "Always. We've got this." I try to sound more confident than I feel, but the reality of the situation is sinking in. I'm nervous, but I want to be strong for her.

We turn on the TV, the muted chatter of the Thanksgiving specials creating a soft background hum. We sit in silence for a while, occasionally breaking it to breathe through the contractions that come and go. I watch her face closely, noting each shift in her expression, trying to offer comfort in my touch and presence.

The room is filled with the sounds of the TV and Delilah's occasional sighs and gasps. Every contraction seems to pull her deeper into the moment, and I can't help but feel a mixture of awe and helplessness. I rub her back gently, trying to ease the tension that knots up with each wave of pain.

Time seems to blur as we wait. I keep glancing at the clock, my nerves making it difficult to concentrate. I'm so focused on her that I hardly notice when the door opens again, but the sight of Dr. Maud stepping in pulls me from my thoughts.

"Alright, Delilah," Dr. Maud says with a reassuring smile. "Let's see how you're progressing." Dr. Maud's hands move beneath the sheet and gown, and a moment later, she removes her gloves. "We're at seven centimeters. How are you feeling?"

"I want the epidural," Delilah says, her voice steady. I can see the pain etched in her features, and it tears at my heart.

"Okay." Dr. Maud smiles. "I'll get anesthesia up here right away."

"Thank you," Delilah says, leaning back against the pillows, her hand gripping mine.

I lean in, pressing a kiss to her forehead, murmuring words of encouragement. "You're doing amazing. I'm so proud of you."

Not ten minutes later, a man with a cart steps in, his expression serious but kind. "I'm here to administer anesthesia."

He gloves up, helping Delilah to sit on the edge of the bed. I stand in front of her, holding her hands as he cleans the area and administers the epidural. Delilah hisses, her body tensing, but she doesn't complain. The anesthesiologist finishes quickly and leaves, only to be replaced by a nurse.

"Okay, things are moving right along. You can push this button here if you need more juice," she says with a smile. "Now I'm going to insert a catheter, since everything down there will be numb."

She inserts the catheter and leaves the room. My phone starts beeping again, but I ignore it, as Delilah has another contraction. It's not as intense as before, but she's still uncomfortable.

The phone continues to alert me to incoming texts, and Delilah glares at me. "Shut that damn thing off or put it on silent."

"Yes, ma'am," I say with a grin, quickly silencing the device and sliding it into my pocket. I take her hand in mine, squeezing gently. "You're doing great, Delilah. We're almost there."

Time seems to stretch on forever. We talk in low voices, trying to distract ourselves as we wait for the next phase.

Dr. Maud returns and checks Delilah again, her expression turning serious.

"I'm seeing some meconium in the amniotic fluid. Don't be nervous, but I'll have the NICU team come up just to suction out the baby's airways. It's common and a normal practice for us."

"Okay," Delilah says quietly, her eyes wide. I can see the fear creeping into them, and I squeeze her hand reassuringly.

The NICU team arrives a short time later with a little baby bassinet and sets up in the corner. Dr. Maud looks at Delilah and smiles, checking her one more time. "Alright, Mom. It's time to push."

I stand up and move to Delilah's side, holding her hand as a nurse lifts her left leg. Dr. Maud rolls a stool between her thighs. "Okay, on this next contraction, we're going to push. I want you to push down like you're going to the bathroom. Dad, hold her other leg."

I grab her leg with one hand, mirroring the nurse, while my other hand remains wrapped around Delilah's. "Okay, and push."

Delilah pushes, her hand squeezing mine tightly. "Good, that was good."

We repeat this for what feels like an eternity, but it actuality is only thirty minutes full of effort and encouragement. Finally, Dr. Maud frowns. "The head just doesn't want to come out. I'm going to do an episiotomy."

She's handed a pair of scissors, and I wince at the thought of what's happening to Delilah. "Okay, the next contraction is the one."

Delilah nods, her face pale but resolute. "Okay, push, Delilah. Push hard. That's it. Keep going."

The baby slips out, and Dr. Maud immediately hands off our baby to the NICU nurse. My heart races as the seconds tick by in silence. I don't hear crying.

Isn't the baby supposed to cry?

Delilah looks over at the NICU team, then back at me, panicked. "Why isn't there crying?"

Suddenly, a loud wail pierces the air, and relief floods through me. Delilah smiles, tears streaming down her cheeks. It's the most amazing sound I've ever heard.

"We have to go to the NICU floor," a nurse says, wheeling the little bassinet past us.

"Wait!" Delilah calls, her voice cracking. "What's happening?"

"Your baby's heart rate is very high, and we need to get down to the NICU immediately."

"I didn't know what we were having. Can I at least know?"

The nurse smiles and quickly wheels the bassinet over. "You have a daughter."

I look down at the chubby little girl in the bassinet, her tiny head covered in the most blonde hair I've ever seen on a baby, though it's slick with goo.

"She's beautiful," I whisper, my heart swelling with love.

Delilah smiles and nods, her eyes shining with tears. "Take her."

And just like that, they leave, taking our whole world with them. I turn back to Delilah, seeing the worry etched on her face.

"We'll be with her soon," I say, trying to reassure both of us. "She's in good hands. Our little Posey Grace is strong, just like her mom."

Delilah squeezes my hand, her eyes reflecting the same emotions I'm feeling. "I know. I just want to hold her."

"We will," I promise, pressing a kiss to her forehead. "Soon."