A Slice Of Life
Chapter 24
The doctor turns, holding the crying baby in her arms. She walks over to the new parents and smiles at them.
"Congratulations Mr. and Mrs. Shortman, you have a son."
"It's a boy." Arnold whispers, "I have a son."
Helga reaches out for the child. The doctor hands the baby to Helga who takes him and places him against her bare skin. She cries tears of joy as she holds her son close and begins to coo to him in a soft, singsong voice.
"There we go sweet baby, your mommy's got you now. There's no need to cry."
Recognizing the voice he's been hearing for the past 8 ½ months the baby begins to calm down. He roots around looking to nuzzle and Helga places him to her breast. It takes a couple of tries but soon he latches on and peacefully suckles.
Satisfied that all is well for the time being the doctor and nurses leave the room giving the parents some alone time with their child. Arnold shoots Gerald a quick text letting everyone know the baby has come.
Arnold sits and watches mother and son, his heart so filled with love it hurts. But it is a good hurt, a hurt that says all is right with the world. Helga looks at him and he can't help himself, he leans in and kisses her deeply.
"I've never been more in love with you than right now." He whispers.
"I love you too, Arnold. I loved you then, I love you now and I will love you even after I die."
They sit together, each letting the last twenty plus hours sink in. Arnold looks from his son to his wife. She gazes up and their eyes lock, huge smiles cemented on their faces.
"I can't believe it." Arnold says, "Less then twenty-four hours ago it was just you and me, and now you're sitting there, breastfeeding our SON. Our son – I have a son!"
Helga's hand gently strokes their baby's head. "I can't believe how much I love him already."
Leaning in, Arnold kisses her again then stands up. "Before I forget, I have something for you."
He walks over to a chair where he had thrown his hoodie when they arrived. Reaching in to the pocket he brings out something small and holds it hidden in his palm. He hides it behind his back as he walks up to her.
"Close your eyes and hold out your hand."
"What is it?" She asks through a chuckle.
"Just do what I said and you'll see."
Giving him a questioning look she obliges and shuts her eyes. After a moment she feels something with a bit of weight to it being placed in her hand.
"Okay, open your eyes."
She looks at her hand and sees a small painted rock. She recognizes it immediately. It's the heart shaped rock she found at the beach. The one he picked up and wouldn't give to her. He's painted it in a shiny red acrylic, and then outlined it in an even glossier gold. The gilded outline made the heart shape stand out so it looked like the old locket she used to wear as a young girl. In the middle of the rock, written in a very delicate script are the words "Arnold Loves Helga."
She loses it now and starts to cry as she looks at the painted rock.
"Oh Arnold, I love this. Thank you so much. I will treasure it."
"It's just an old rock, but I'm glad you like it."
"Is this what you were working on the other day when you were being all secretive?"
"Yeah, it is."
Arnold reaches down now, gently placing a hand on his son's head. He studies its shape and is glad to see that it's not too disproportionate to the rest of his body. He thinks he'll grow in to it in no time and hopefully won't have to suffer the taunts that he did as a child. Although, as he got older, he too grew in to his head to where, yes, it may not be perfectly round, but it wasn't anything like it was as a small boy.
They spend another half an hour of quiet alone time with their child before the doctor finally comes back in to talk to them.
"So how does it feel to finally be parents?" She asks.
Arnold speaks for the both of them. "It's the most amazing feeling. We're still trying to wrap our heads around it."
"Have you given him a name yet?"
Helga and Arnold look at each other and nod. They had picked out names for both a boy and a girl over a month ago and Arnold smiles as he says his son's name out loud.
"His name is Phillip Jaden Shortman."
They had contemplated calling him Phillip Miles Shortman but Helga refused to have a son with the initials PMS, so Jaden it was.
Still holding the sleeping child against her chest Helga questions the doctor on his health.
"I can't believe how tiny he is. You never said how much he weighs."
"Oh, right." Dr. Johnson says as she looks at his chart. "Let's see, he weighed in at 5lbs, 2oz., and, 19" long. He's a little small weight wise, but his lungs sound clear and healthy. He is very slightly jaundice but that's not uncommon. Of course we will keep a close watch over him for the next 24 hours but so long as no complications arise I see no reason why he won't be able to go home with you when you leave the hospital."
Having answered their questions, the doctor leaves the couple alone once again. Shortly after she leaves a nurse comes in to give them a crash course in baby care. She shows them how to properly diaper and swaddle little Phillip so as not to disturb the umbilical cord. Before she leaves she hands the baby to Arnold and finishes answering the couple's questions, then lets them know that there is a group of anxious people in the waiting room hungry for information.
Arnold holds his sleeping son as he sits in a chair next to Helga's bed. "I love you so much Little Phillip, and I promise that I will never leave you."
Helga watches the precious interaction between father and son and grabs her phone. She takes their picture making sure to turn off the cameras flash. "Smile daddy." She says.
Arnold looks at her wearing a huge, cheesy grin on his face.
He can't stop looking at his perfect baby, and Helga hates to disturb him, but there is a waiting room full of anxious family and friends that are dying for information.
"Um, I hate to break this up, but don't you think you should go let everyone know what's up?"
"I know I should, but I just don't want to leave you two, not even for a second."
"You don't have to be gone long. They've waited all this time, you really should go show your face."
"Alright, if I must. Are you up for visitors?"
Exhausted, Helga wants to say no but figures they should at least let family stop in for a quick hello.
"I guess I could handle family, and Geraldo too. Ugh, I feel bad turning anyone away though. Perhaps a quick hello and peek at the baby will be okay."
Reluctantly, Arnold hands the baby over to Helga, giving them both a quick kiss on the forehead before leaving the room. Alone with her baby Helga talks softly to the sleeping child.
"Oh, my precious little baby, if you only knew how many people you have made so very happy today."
….
It's been a good hour since Gerald got the text from Arnold about Phillip's arrival. Big Bob is beginning to lose his patience and is pacing the floor.
"Criminy," he says, "How long does it take to clean up a baby?"
"Now B," Miriam says, "They're going to want to spend some alone time before we all parade on in there. Give them time to be a family."
After another minute of pacing the elevator doors open and reveal to Arnold a waiting room filled with his closest friends and family. He is touched that they cared enough to sit and wait well in to the wee hours of the morning just to be a part of their big day.
As he steps out of the elevator Gerald is the first to greet him. Offering Arnold his fist they engage in their signature handshake, one that they've done since they were kids.
"Congratulations Bro."
"Thanks, Gerald."
Soon he is surrounded by Patty and Harold, Sid and Brainy. Even Lila and Stinky made the trip, driving in from their farm outside the city limits.
Helga's family comes up to him now and it is Big Bob who finally asks the question that's on everyone's minds.
"So what is it, a boy or a girl?"
"With great pride Arnold puffs out his chest and proclaims, "It's a boy! Phillip Jaden Shortman."
The announcement is met with another round of handshakes and hugs. The most noticeably touched by the news is Big Bob as he stands humbled by the fact that Arnold has been able to achieve the one thing he could not, which is to have a son to carry on his name.
Bob walks up to Arnold, grabbing his hand to shake it.
"Congratulations, Son." He says, thoroughly catching Arnold off guard.
It's as if Bob has suddenly gained a new respect for Arnold and from that moment on things changed between them with Bob finally accepting Arnold as part of the family.
With Bob still holding a firm grasp on his hand, Arnold continues to awkwardly shake it until Olga finally pipes in.
"When can I see my precious nephew?"
"Helga's pretty exhausted but she's agreed to letting whomever wants to see the baby stop by, but only if it's a quick hello and good-bye. I hope you understand."
"Of course we do!" Olga says as she runs to push the elevator button.
They gather outside Helga's room quietly talking in hushed voices so as not to get chased away by the nurses. The friends say their hellos in groups of two, each person marveling at the small miracle that lays asleep in Helga's arms.
Finally there is just the family and Gerald left. They surround Helga's bed, talking softly. Helga looks to Bob and, letting bygones be bygones, asks if he wants to hold his grandson.
"Oh, I-I don't know if I can, he's so small." Bob stammers.
"Nonsense." Arnold says as he places the baby in Bob's arms.
Little Phillip gets lost in Bob's huge arms as he awkwardly tries to rock him.
"Well what do you know," Bob says, a tear hanging in his eye, "He's a Pataki alright, just look at his eyebrows."
"My turn!" Miriam speaks up as she reaches for the baby. "Oh, well aren't you just the cutest thing!" She says before placing a kiss on his little forehead.
Next in line is Olga who gushes over her nephew, calling him the most beautiful baby she's ever seen. Even good old Samuel takes a turn at holding him.
The family doesn't stay long and soon say their good-byes stating that they will come back later in the day. The only one left now is Gerald who sits in the chair next to the bed. Arnold walks over to him and hands him little Phillip. He is stiff as he holds the child, afraid to do anything that might hurt him.
"Relax Geraldo," Helga teases, "he's not going to break."
"He's just so small! Hey, take my picture with him so I can send it to Phoebe."
Arnold takes a few good shots with "Uncle Gerald's" phone then has Helga take one of the two of them with the baby.
Gerald notices Helga having trouble keeping her eyes open and decides that that is his que to be going. He hands Phillip to his father and says his good-byes. Helga is asleep before the door closes.
Placing the baby in the crib that is provided by the hospital, Arnold turns out the lights and lays down in a second bed that is provided for him.
He sleeps soundly for about an hour before being woken up by the loud cries of a hungry baby, a sound that he is to become very familiar with over the next few months.