Where the Love Light Gleams

Part Two

Disclaimer: As usual, I own no one!

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"I look like a pear," Trish declared, breaking the silence. Randy sighed. The roads were getting worse, and he could barely see.

"Trisha, you don't look like a pear," he said, struggling to see through the white haze.

The lights of the hospital blazed in the distance. The huge building was barely seen in the snowy glow. Randy could admit he had never been happier to see the building.

"How long do you think it'll take Bob to meet us at the hospital?" Trish asked, rubbing her belly.

"About twenty minutes?" Randy suggested, knowing his father all too well. Bob was HIGHLY enthusiastic.

Randy pulled into the parking lot. He had been home less than an hour and already several inches of snow had fallen.

"Can you walk?" he asked. When Trish had gotten pregnant, Randy had vowed to NEVER be a nervous father.

Unfortunately, he was.

"Of course, I can walk!" Trish exclaimed. "I'm just having a baby,"

Randy wished he could look at it the way his wife did. He didn't see how she could be so calm.

Despite her LOUD protests, Randy still grabbed her arm and guided her into the hospital. He was afraid she would fall in the slick snow.

"Randy, I am not getting in that thing!" Trish exclaimed, pointing at the wheelchair. Her left hand rested on her hip. "Trish Stratagias-Orton has never and will never be an invalid!"

Randy loved his wife's independence. That had been what attracted him to her. However, on times like this, her stubbornness got to him.

"Please!" he exclaimed. "Come on," Reluctantly, she sat down. Pushing her through the hospital, he began to laugh.

"What?" Trish asked, grumpily. "What the hell is so funny?"

"Last Christmas, do you remember where we spent last Christmas?" he asked. She nodded.

"Cancun," she said.

"Our Christmas dinner was Pina Colada ice cream because you had sun poisoning," Randy said. She nodded. "Looks like our dinner this year will be hospital food," Trish laughed.

"Leave it to you (ow) to think of food at a time like this," she said, shaking her head. "I don't think we'll ever have a normal Christmas,"

Randy steered her into the elevator. For a woman in labor, she seemed especially calm. Once again, Randy wished he were as calm as she appeared.

"Holly Neva, it's like we were preparing for a Christmas baby," Trish said. Randy hated to admit he had no clue about what she was talking about. "Christmas is known for Holly and Neva means snow,"

"I see," he said. "Is she kicking?"

"I think my contractions lulled her to sleep," Trish said. She rubbed her belly. "Nope, she just kicked,"

Randy was amazed by the though of a little girl. He had never known he could be someone's dad.

A nurse met him at the reception desk. She seemed pleasantly calm, especially for someone stuck at work for the holidays.

"Hello," she said. "I'm Candy. I'll be your nurse for the moment. Let me guess, are you Patricia?"

"Call me Trish," Trish said. She groaned softly. "My water broke half an hour ago. I've been having irregular contractions all day."

Randy had to admit Candy was an angel. She knew just what to say to Trish. Even he didn't know that!

Taking Trish's hand, he followed Candy into an exam room. "You've got a room with a view,"

Randy glanced out the window. He could see the entire city blanketed with snow. The view was indescribable.

"Three and a half centimeters dilated," Candy declared. "Merry Christmas!"

Bob and his wife, Elaine walked in. Alice, Trish's mother and John, her father followed them.

Randy was surprised to see his siblings weren't there. He figured they'd be eager to meet their niece.

"Hello," Trish said, struggling to her feet. "Come on, Rand," She put her hand on his shoulder.

He led her into the bathroom. He was surprised she was allowing him to help her.

"Let's do this,"

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