1Hot tears streamed down Victorias face as the pangs of child birthcovered her whole body. She tried her hardest to suppress a moan, but failed.
In the next room Victor stood, leaning on a lamp table trying to keep his shaky legs from caving in under his weight, too nerves to sit, but too frightened to stand steady. When he heard a moan escape the lips of his wife he nearly toppled over taking the table with him, Oh Victoria, please be safe, please be Okay, he prayed, and the baby too!
When at last, it seemed like hours later, her heard a cry, not Victoria, but ofa new born baby, he nearly let out a cry himself. He stood, absolutely silent, numb all over, he could feel sweat running all over his body, much as it had done the day they had found out that there would be a new addition to the Van Dort family.
About 10 minutes after the first cry was heard, the Midwife, Gabriel Everglot, apparently one of Victoria's second cousins, came out of the room carrying a small bundle of blankets, Victor froze as he saw her approaching him, "would you like to hold you new daughter, Mr. Van Dort?" she asked placing the bundle in his arms. He tried not to shake, he so desperately wanted to be a good father, but how good would he look if he were afraid of his own child.
Once the Midwife had seen to it that he was holding the new-born the right way, he looked down to see the most precious, sleeping face he had ever seen. Instantly a flood of joy, and love spread through him for his daughter. But he was anxious to hear news of his love, Victoria, "she's okay, thought, isn't she, I mean Victoria?"
The Midwife looked glum, "I'll let you be the first to know." She patted Victors arm soothingly and returned to the room she came from. Victor suddenly felt weak, and sat down on the chair nearest the door. All at once, thoughts flooded his mind, as many good as bad, but one thought stuck in his mind more than others. He thought of Emily, and whatwould have happened if Victoria had met the same fate. What if Victoria wasn't okay? What if she... he couldn't bring himself to think it, but it still nagged at his mind. Then, something saved him from his thoughts, he felt movement coming from the bundle that rested in his arms. His sleeping daughter was stirring, "sh, it's okay, it's okay," he cooed, afraid that she would start crying.
He sat there silently for a while, gently rocking the baby in his arms, trying not to think about anything. When Gabriel came from the room next door, "Victor," she said softly, "Victoria has been asking for you. I think it's ok for you to come in now." Slowly Victor rose to his feet, keeping all his attention on the child, his child.
When he entered the room he looked up and saw Victoria, laying on a mattress on the floor, damp with sweat and covered with blankets, "Victor!" she said weekly, but she was smiling.
Victor sank slowly to his knees beside her, placing the baby in her outstretched arms he said, "honey, are you okay? Feeling alright?"
Victoria sensed the desperation in his voice, but before she could say anything the Midwife stepped in, "I believe she will be. I think she's developing an infection, but it's still early, I'll giver her some antibiotics, and we'll monitor her for the next couple weeks, but with a good nights sleep, she should be feeling herself again tomorrow, but give her a couple days rest, just to be sure."
It irritated Victor that she was talking to him as if Victoria wasn't in the room, and apparently it irritated Victoria too, judging by the look on her face.
"Oh, dear me!" the Midwife said exasperated, "it looks like I've overstepped my boundaries again, I suppose you two would like some time alone now?"
"Yes, that would be wonderful," Victoria spoke the exact words her husband was thinking.
"Okay then," Gabriel said, a little put-out, "I'll just set this on the mantle over the fire," she pulled a small white bottle out of her bag, " take one with every meal, for the next 2 weeks. I'll be back in a week to see how you're doing. Good day."
"Thank you so much for everything," Victoria put in just before she was about to step over the threshold of the door, "you don't know how much it means to us."
Victor nodded his agreement. As the Midwife left, looking a sight more happy, Victor and Victoria both looked down at the sleeping child. Neither of them said anything, they just stared in amazement at the beautiful new joy in their lives.
"She is beautiful, isn't she?" Victoria spoke up at last.
"She really is," Victor agreed, "but, we can't just keep calling her 'she' you know, I think... I guess she needs a name now." He was smiling.
"I suppose you're right," Victoria said, "did you have anything in mind?"
"Actually," Victor thought for a minute, "I think I do."
"Well, go on , what is it?" she felt the excitement running through her at the though of giving her daughter a name.
"What about...Emily?" Victor looked up to his wife and knew that she was thinking the same thing he was. Out of respect to his friend, and so her memory would live forever in their hearts, they would call their child, Emily.