Chapter 50
Mary Alice entered the room and looked at Parker.
"Kelly said you wanted me?"
Parker crawled back into bed.
"I feel like shit."
"Of course you do. You're going to have a baby."
Mary Alice took Parker's hand. "It won't be long now."
"The waiting is the hardest part. I still don't know what this baby's sex is. I want to know, but I want to be surprised."
Mary Alice smiled. She didn't want to give anything away. She and Kelly had made a pact that since Parker didn't want to know, she wasn't going to until she delivered. It had been a long 24 weeks keeping the secret. They had done it before with Philip. He was an easier secret to keep because Parker had planned on giving him up for adoption. Mary Alice knew better. She knew that the second Parker held Philip in her arms she would change her mind. Kelly, however, wasn't so sure. He had hired attorneys and was all set to go to court to get custody of his child no matter what. Fortunately, Parker had changed her mind just like Mary Alice had predicted.
"You'll find out soon enough."
Parker rolled over on her side.
"I think the hardest part is you can't get comfortable no matter what."
"Do you want to go out in the hall and walk?"
"No, not yet. I really just want to sleep, but I know that's not happening. And I really want a pizza from Lou's, but I know that's not happening either."
"After you deliver, I'm sure that Kelly will bring you one."
Parker looked at her grandmother with a get serious look.
"He'll be too busy handing out cigars."
Mary Alice smiled.
"He's a proud father. He likes being a Dad."
"He's a good Dad. Much better than I thought he would be. I'm just sorry I didn't give him that chance right out of the gate. But I was scared. I thought for sure all I was to him was a one nighter."
"You never were. He liked you from the very beginning. He told me that you were one of the best marine mechanics he had ever seen."
Parker lowered her head.
"No. Grandpa was," she said softly, trying to fight back her tears.
She had adored her grandparents. She missed her Grandfather every day.
"I wish Kelly could have met him."
"Phil would have liked him."
"He sure won you over."
Mary Alice sighed. "What can I say? I'm a sucker for a blue eyed Brit."
"He got me too. Only it was his smile and not his eyes."
Kelly poked his head in the door.
"Am I allowed back in?"
"Of course you are. Come in, Kelly."
He walked inside and over to Parker. He leaned over and kissed Parker's head.
"You doing okay?"
She nodded as another contraction hit.
Kelly took her hand.
"Breathe. It's okay, Park. Not going to be long now."
Parker reached for Mary Alice's hand.
Mary Alice took it and patted the top.
Another contraction hit her.
"Get the nurse!" Parker said, trying not to scream.
Mary Alice practically jumped out of her seat. Parker looked up at Kelly.
"You think she's a bit anxious for this baby to be born?"
"She just wants to feel useful, that's all."
"Kinda like making you guys boil water and bring towels?"
He chuckled.
"Yeah, kinda."
"I love you," she said.
"I love you."
Mary Alice returned with the nurse. Parker was checked out. Kelly eyed the nurse questioningly.
"Any time now. I'll go get the doctor."
Parker looked up at Kelly.
"No matter what I say, or how bitchy I get at you, I love you and I don't mean any of it," she apologized in advance.
Kelly kissed her forehead.
"It's okay, Babe. I know you don't mean it. I know women get crazy during Transition."
"Parker, it looks like you're ready to go," Dr. Smithton said as he slipped on his gloves.
"When the next contraction hits, I need you to start pushing."
"Ok, I can do this," she said more to herself than anyone else.
"Of course you can, Park. You've done this before," Mary Alice reassured.
"Yeah, five years ago. I think I've forgotten a thing or two."
"You'll be fine."
The contraction hit. Parker pushed. She caught her breath. She heard Kelly and Mary Alice talking to her, but she couldn't understand what they were saying. She heard the nurse say something that sounded like one more, but she wasn't sure.
"Head and shoulders are out. One more big one, Babe," she heard Kelly say in her ear.
He glanced over at Mary Alice, who was grinning like the Cheshire cat. Kelly shared a knowing glance with her.
"Push, Park. Come on, you can do this," Mary Alice encouraged.
Parker gave one more push.
"Baby's here!"
Parker heard the cry.
"Baby ok?" she asked weakly as she fell back against the bed.
"8," the nurse called.
"Scored an 8 on the Apgar," Kelly told her.
"Baby's ok," she said.
The nurse handed Parker the baby.
"She's absolutely gorgeous!"
Parker looked down at the baby. She looked up at Kelly.
"She looks like you," he said.
She handed the baby to Mary Alice.
"Grandma, meet your Great Granddaughter. I have no idea what her name is. Kelly got to pick it out."
Mary Alice looked at Kelly.
"Well, what did you decide?" she demanded.
"Alexandra Mary Allison Severide."
Mary Alice's eyes glistened beneath her glasses. She nodded. "You know I always hated the name Alice."
"That's why she's Mary Allison. I know you hated Alice."
Mary Alice sniffed. "I love you two."
