Chapter 4
April 1922
It was a few minutes past midnight and he was holding their baby. It had been a long day for John. He had been working in the morning. And when he was finally eating his lunch. Mister Carson hurried in and told him that Anna was in labor. Mister Carson said John had to go to the hospital right away.
John walked as fast as he could, but it was still half an hour later when he arrived at the hospital. John was worried that the baby was already born. And he wasn't there for her.
When he saw a nurse walk by he decided to ask her about his wife.
" I am John Bates. Do you know where I can find my wife Anna Bates?' John asked.
" Mrs. Bates is still in labor" The nurse answered. "You can wait for her in the waiting room."
" Is it possible for me to see her for a moment?" John asked.
" I will talk to doctor Clarkson, but I must ask you to go to the waiting room for now". The nurse said
After John had walked up and down the waiting room, for what seemed like hours. Doctor Clarkson came in.
" Doctor Clarkson, how is my wife" John asked.
"Good afternoon mister Bates." doctor Clarkson said. " Your wife is doing wonderful. I will spare you all the medical details, but I am afraid that it will take a few more hours before your child is born."
"Can I see my wife doctor Clarkson?" John asked.
" I'm sorry but I can't let you in the room." doctor Clarkson answered.
"But I have to be with her" John pleaded.
" Why don't you take a stroll outside?. There is nothing you can do for your wife now." Doctor Clarkson said.
"No, I will stay here and wait for her. If I can't be in there now. I will be there for her as soon as our child is born."
"Well if you don't have anymore questions. I will go back to your wife now" doctor Clarkson said.
"Will you please keep me informed, doctor Clarkson?" John asked.
" I will and don't worry mister Bates. You have a strong wife, she will be allright." doctor Clarkson said.
After a few hours, it was seven o'clock in the evening now. John heard a baby cry.
The nurse came into the waiting room and said. "Congratulations mister Bates. You are a father now and mother and child are both in good health."
John smiled from ear to ear. And said " Thank you so much, can I see them now?"
" Yes you can, I will take you to them now." the nurse said with a smile.
When John finally entered the room. The sight of his wife took his breath away. She looked the way he felt, over the moon. And when she smiled up at him, John felt as if there were only three persons in the world. Anna, their baby and himself.
"Hello John" Anna said.
"Hello Anna" John said and he kissed her hair. " How are you feeling?"
" I feel wonderful and look at our perfect baby." Anna said.
John watched the baby for a while and could only agree with Anna. The baby was perfect, ten fingers, ten toes, dark hair and the cutest little nose he had ever seen.
" It is a boy John" Anna said. " Our son Edward John Bates."
"Oh Anna" John said with tears in his eyes. " He is so beautiful, thank you for giving me a son"
" And thank you for wanting to start a family with me." Anna said. " Would you like to hold him for a while?"
John carefully held his baby boy and he had never felt more at peace. Observing every inch of his son. He felt complete with his wife and his baby son. He would be very grateful, should God grant him more childeren. But if that wasn't meant to be. John would be perfectly happy with his son. Watching Anna now he could see she was very tired.
"Why don't you try to get some sleep, love. John said. "You have worked so hard today you must be tired."
" I am tired. But I don't want to sleep, what if I wake up and this was all a dream." Anna said.
"Just believe" John said " This isn't a dream, we will still be here when you wake up."
" Maybe I will take a little nap." Anna said." Will you wake me in an hour or so, I think I would like to see our son again then."
" I will, have a nice rest love." John said.
But Anna had already drifted of to sleep.
He decided to sit in a corner of the room. To whisper some words to his son, careful not to wake Anna.
"Welcome to the world my boy." "I hope you know how happy you have made your mama and papa." "Ever since we knew you were coming, we have thought of nothing else but you." "You will live in our little cottage, wich we prepared for you months ago." John chuckled. "And you will never be cold, because your mama spent all her free time knitting you clothes." "You will learn soon enough that your mama is the sweetest person on this earth." She is the one that saved me and she will be the one you can always turn to with all your troubles." As for me, I am your old papa." " I will always try to protect you and I will love you and your mother untill my dying day." "You live in our hearts now and you will always live there." "No matter how naughty you are, because I don't doubt you will be a stubborn little rascal Edward John Bates." "But that doesnt matter, my son, we all make mistakes and learn from them." As long as your heart is in the right place, and how couldn't it be with Anna as your mama, we will love you."
