Chapter 2
You always see the beauty in a passing cloud,
You're the one who fixes me when I'm down.
(Hey You by Miranda Cosgrove.)
My phone rings.
(Kim is bold, Kelsey is italics)
Hello?
Kim? It's Kelsey.
Kels? You do realize that it is 4am, right?
I wish the baby knew that.
SHOOT! Really?
DO YOU THINK THAT I WOULD KID ABOUT THIS?
No, of course not. Do you need a ride?
Yes please.
Alright. Me and Jack will come get you. We should be there in 15 minutes. Can you make it outside of your house?
Will do. See you in a few. *click*
It takes me a minute to register what is going on. Kelsey, my 15-year-old cousin, has gone in labour. I run out the door and over to Jack's door.
"Jack? Jack? JACK? You better open this door before I kick it down." A minute later he appears in his doorway.
"Kim, it's 4 a.m. You know that right?"
"Yes, I just had this conversation with my cousin Kelsey. Interesting fact about Kels, SHE IS IN LABOUR RIGHT NOW!"
"Right now?"
"Yes! And I am supposed to help her during the delivery and she needs a ride and I need you to drive!"
"Going!" Jack runs into his room and grabs some clothes. I look down and see that I am wearing my pajamas.
"I am going to get dressed. You should leave your mom a note or something." I run over to my room and grab some skinny jeans and a tank top over a loose fitting t-shirt. I walk down the stairs to see Jack waiting for me at the door, holding my shoes and a hoodie. I put them on and run out to the truck.
"Alright. Where does Kelsey live?" HE asks when we are headed out of the driveway.
"Remember the time when you drove me to my aunts house after practice?" He nods. "That's where."
"She lives with her mom? Why doesn't her mom take her."
"She's out of town."
"Ah. What is Kelsey doing with the baby?"
"My mom is going to..."
"To?"
"Was going to adopt it."
"So now who's going to adopt her."
"I am." I say shakily.
"What? You're 17!"
"She's 15. That baby needs a caring parent. I was basically going to be the mother anyway. I basically raised Elsie because my mom was too busy."
"Alright. How are you going to pay for it?"
"We graduate this year. Then summer. Then college. I can get get a apartment."
"You mean, we'll get a apartment." I look at him funny. "What? You are my girlfriend. I'll help you with the baby."
"Thanks. There's Kels, standing on the curb, packed and ready to go." Jack stops the car and we help Kelsey in. The ride to the hospital is uneventful. While Jack parks, I get Kels into a room and bring her up to speed on who is adopting the baby. She thanks as the doctor tells us that she is 7 cm dilated and it will be around 2 hours before she can push. Jack comes running in.
"Sorry, my mom called. She said to call if we need anything."
"Will do." The next two hours are full of Kels screams. But, then she has to push. It gets much worse for my ears. But, it is worse for her. After three hours of screaming, a beautiful baby girl is brought into the world, kicking and screaming. I called Jack who was in the waiting room.
"Jack?"
"Yeah?"
"She's here."
"It's a girl?"
"Yeah. Can you come in here?"
"Okay." In five minutes, he is here.
"Hey."
"Hey. How is Kelsey?"
"She is sleeping."
"Alright. Where is the baby?"
"With the nurse." The nurse walks in. Her nametag says Judy.
"Who is Kim?" She asks.
"That would be me."
"It says here that you are the adoptive mother."
"Yes."
"Hi, nice to meet you. My name is Judy. I would shake your hand but my arms are pretty full."
"That's fine. Nice to meet you as well."
"Who is this fine young gentlemen?"
"This is Jack, the adoptive father."
"Ah. We do have some papers for you two to sign. Do you have a name?"
"Can her middle name be Catherine?" Jack pleads.
"Sure. can her first name be Alosia? It means warrior."
"I love it."
"So, Alosia Catherine..."
"Brewer."
"Alright." She puts the baby in the bassinet and grabs some papers and hands us each a pen. "Sign here and here." She points to two lines. We sign and hand back the pens. "Alright. I am going to get a bottle for her. Are you alright with her being on formula?"
"Yes."
"Alright, I will be right back." She walks out and I turn to Jack.
"Call your mother." He pulls out his phone. He always has it turned up really loud so I can hear the whole conversation.
"Hey mom."
"Hi Jack. Is the baby here yet?"
"Yes. It's a girl!"
"Did you name her?"
"Alosia Catherine Brewer."
"Catherine?"
"Named her after you."
"Thank you. How big is she?"
"5lbs 4oz. 22 inches long."
"She is a small little thing. Do you guys need anything?"
"Can you get us two turkey bacon clubs from Timmies?"
"Sure."
"And can you grab us some baby stuff?"
"Yep."
"And bring Elsie."
"I was going to anyway." I see Judy coming back with a bottle. Jack sees it too.
"Gotta go, mom. See you soon."
"Alright, here is the bottle. I will give you the brand. So, let me show you how to feed her. Jack, you better watch this, too." She says jokingly. The next hour and a half is spent learning how to care for her. After a while, Cathy and Elsie come. Jack and I inhale or sandwiches while they coo over 'Losa' as Elsie calls her. They give us the clothes that they bought. Also, with Judy's help, they bought a car seat so that we can take her home. We get to go home tomorrow. Kels already left. I can't wait to tell the gang that me and Jack are dating and are parents.