I saw God today
Just walked down the street to the coffee shop. I had to take a break. I'd been by her side for eighteen hours straight. Saw a flower growing in the middle of the sidewalk. Pushing up through the concrete. Like it was planted right there for me to see. The flashing lights the honking horns all seems to fade away. In the shadow of that hospital at 5:08 I saw God today.
Jim Clancy walked down the streets of Grand View to get a cup of coffee and call Delia and Eli so they could bring Aiden to the hospital. He wanted his son to be the first person to meet his new baby sister or brother. As he was walking down the street he saw a small wild flower growing in the concrete. He stopped and stared at it for a long time. A single tear rolled down his cheek after everything him and Melinda had been through this was a gift. He got his cup of coffee and then made his way back to Melinda's delivery room.
Melinda motioned for Jim to come over to her side. The pain from the contractions contorted her features a little bit. Jim kissed her hand, "Tired?"
Melinda nodded, "Jim you don't have to stay. Doctor Dawn can call you when the baby is coming. Please go home and sleep."
As soon as Melinda finished talking a nurse checked her progress. She looked up with a smile, "Mr. Clancy she's ready for delivery. Melinda at the next contraction I need you to push. Mr. Clancy hold her hand and coach her through this."
Fifteen minutes later Melinda opened her eyes to a sharp cry. The nurse smiled at the two of them, "Say hello to your new daughter. Any ideas on names?"
Melinda and Jim shook their heads. The nurse nodded, "Well you two think about it while I go clean this sweetheart up."
An hour later Delia, Ned, Eli, Professor Payne, Melinda's mother, and Aiden were crowded around Melinda's hospital bed. Melinda smiled at her son, "Come here baby. I want you to meet your new sister. You can touch her if you want just be gentle."
Aiden climbed up on the bed and touched his sister's hand, "Mom why is dad crying? Doesn't he want another kid?"
Melinda laughed, "Of course your dad wants both you guys. He's crying because he's so happy. Now he has two people to love and care for instead of one. Now your sister needs a name. Do you have any ideas?"
Aiden smiled, "What about Jessica?"
Melinda's mother smiled, "That's a good name. It means God's grace. Melinda can I hold her?"
The brunette smiled at her mother, "Sure."
Melinda's mother smiled down at the little baby in her arms. She hugged her granddaughter close to her. Then Doctor Dawn came into the delivery room, "We are going to bring Melinda to a private room. Then I think she needs to get some rest. I will go put this little princess in the nursery room. You are all welcome to come down their and visit with her. Mr. Clancy did you come up with a name yet?"
Jim smiled and answered, "Jessica."
Doctor Dawn took the baby from Melinda's mother's arms and wrote the name on the birth certificate. Then she carefully carried the baby down the hall to the nursery. Once the doctor was gone Jim saw Aiden yawn and picked him up, "Ok buddy I think Delia needs to take you home."
Aiden asked, "Is mom coming home to?"
Jim shook his head, "Bud we talked about this. The doctors want to make sure your mom and your sister are a ok before they come home. Aunt Delia will take you home. I'm going to spend the night here with your mom."
Aiden started to cry. Melinda saw this and opened her arms to her son, "Hey sweetie. I'm going to be ok. Go home and get some sleep ok."
Aiden sniffled some but then nodded his head, "Ok mom."
Delia gave Melinda another hug and then left with Aiden, Eli, Melinda's mother, Rick, and Ned. Melinda smiled at her friends, "Thanks for waiting here with me guys."
When Delia got Aiden home she tucked him safely into bed. Before she could turn out the light Aiden said, "Aunt Delia, I have to say my prayers first."
Delia smiled, "Alright sweetie. Then did you want a bedtime story?"
Aiden shook his head, "I'm really tired."
Delia knelt at the end of the bed beside Aiden and listened as he prayed, "God please bless my mom, my dad, my grandma, my Aunt Delia, Uncle Ned, Until Rick, Uncle Eli, and my new sister. Amen."
Delia wiped a tear from her cheek, "That was lovely sweetheart. Do you want the nightlight on?"
Aiden surprised Delia by saying, "No it makes it hard to see the shiny people. Just leave the door open a crack. They like it like that. Goodnight Aunt Delia."
Delia turned out the light, "Goodnight sweetie. I'll see you in the morning."
I've been to church. I've read the book. I know he's here. I don't look as often as I should. I know I should. His finger prints are everywhere. I just look down and stop and stare. Open my eyes and then I swear I saw God today.
Delia left Aiden's room and settled on to the sofa. Tears rolled down her cheeks the emotions that were running through her were too much for words. Ned came into the room, "Mom are you ok?"
Delia shook her head, "I was just thinking about your dad. He would have been so proud of you. He loved you so much. You are just growing up so fast. Seeing Melinda give birth today just reminded me of how I felt when you were born. I love you Ned."
Ned put his hand on his mother's shaking shoulder, "Mom I know. When I saw Jessica for the first time I saw a light around her. It made me feel like nothing bad could ever happen again. Aiden mentioned something and I need to know if I should mention it to Melinda."
Delia sighed, "Let me guess the shiny people?"
Ned shook his head, "He mentioned something about the shadows. He was scared. That's why he wanted Melinda to come home. Should we tell Melinda?"
Delia put her head in her hands, "Ned Melinda just had a new baby. She is under a great deal of stress. If she thinks Aiden is in danger it will cause her to have a melt down. Promise me you won't breathe a word of what Aiden said to you."
Ned started to protest then he realized his mom was right. He stood up and went to go drive to his house. Delia closed her eyes and prayed silently, "Lord please watch over me, Ned, Aiden, Jim, Melinda, Eli, Rick, and Jessica; Lord especially Jessica. In your name amen."
I saw a couple walking by . They were holding hands. She had that glow. I couldn't help but notice she was starting to show. Stood there for a minute taking in the sky. A splash of amber melted into shades of red. Got my face pressed up against the nursery glass. She's sleeping like a rock. My name on her wrist. Wearing tiny pink socks. She's got my nose. She's got her momma's eyes. My brand new baby girl she's miracle. I saw God today.
Jim woke up that morning and went to see his baby girl. He asked a nurse if he could go in and hold her. The nurse said it was ok. He went inside and picked her up, "Good morning Jessica."
Jessica whimpered in response. Jim kissed her head, "Daddy's here. Daddy is always going to protect you. Daddy loves you."
Jessica stopped crying and snuggled into Jim's chest and fell asleep. He rocked her in his arms and hummed softly to her. He didn't ever want to let this feeling go. He then decided he wanted to go outside. Doctor Lisa said it was alright for him to take Jessica out with him since it wasn't cold. He sat on a bench and watched the sunrise. A woman and husband were walking down the street. Jim smiled when he saw the glow about the woman. The couple waved at him and the woman came over and touched Jessica's tiny hand, "My she is a beautiful baby. I hope mine will be just like this one day."
Jim laughed, "If you don't mind how far along are you?"
The woman blushed and then kissed her husband, "I'm about a month a long. I can't wait for the day I see him or her."
Jessica started to cry in Jim's arms so he carried her inside. He took her to Melinda's room and gently shook his wife's shoulder, "Mel? Melinda I hate to wake you but Jessica is hungry. The nurse told me to ask if you wanted to breast or bottle feed?"
Melinda smiled, "Both. I want her to bond with both of us like Aiden did. Have the nurse get you a bottle. You can feed her while I sleep."
Jim got a bottle from the nurse and fed his baby girl. He rocked her gently humming random lullabies. Suddenly He was attacked by someone yelling, "Dad!"
Jim heard Jessica crying and said sternly to his son, "Aiden you can't launch at me when I'm holding your sister. Look you frightened her. Say you are sorry."
Aiden looked down and sounded like he was about to cry when he said, "I'm sorry Jessica."
Jim set Jessica in her crib and got down to look his son in the eyes, "Buddy I'm sorry I snapped at you. You just could have hurt your sister. Come here and give me a hug."
Aiden gave Jim a hug and then said, "I love you dad."
Later Melinda was brought out into the nursery. A smile lit up her face when she saw Aiden sitting on Jim's lap holding Jessica. She wheeled herself over to the three of them. Aiden handed his sister to Jim and went over to his mom. Melinda opened her arms to her son, "Hey baby."
Aiden hugged his mom, "Morning mom."
Jim watched his wife and son together and thanked God that he had been given one more miracle.
