Chapter 44
Welcome to fatherhood.
Our Senior year has been kinda difficult. How could it not be; Melina was pregnant with our child, we were trying to graduate, I was working nights with her dad. He is a janitor at the junior high, and he got me a job. I want to do right by Melina and the baby. In addition, we're applying to the local university. I want to be a computer graphics artist and work for Pixar. No, scratch that, I want to start a company and be better than Pixar. Melina wants to be an accountant. We'll figure out how to juggle school and a new baby. We decided to be surprised, so we don't know what we're having. We're either going to name the baby Elizabeth JoAnn (Melina hates her name, so she vetoed naming a daughter Melina or Renae) or Matthew Dylan Junior (that was Melina's idea. I wanted to name him Aiden Roger, after her father.). We're getting married this summer, after the baby's born, and we're going on our Senior trip for our honeymoon. We're going to Tokyo.
Lanny and I have cleaned up our act. I've not touched beer or anything else since Melina told me she was pregnant. He's dating a girl named Raven, so we double date often. No, they're not pregnant. I think they've learned from our mistakes to wait before becoming parents.
Ahh, where was I? Oh yeah. Melina's sleeping right now. She's in labour, so we're at the hospital. The doctor said the baby should be born sometime today, so he or she will be born five years to the day after Lizzie killed herself. Mom was at the cemetery and dad was picking up Marin and the twins when Melina went into labor….
SEQUENCE BEGINS
Matt comes home from school and goes upstairs to his room. Melina is sound asleep. He kisses her on the cheek, and she stirs.
Melina: Matt, what are you doing here? I thought you had to come into work early. She returns his kiss.
Matt: No, your dad gave me the day off since it's been five years.
Melina: Oh yeah. Her face falls. I'm sorry. She embraces her fiancé.
Matt: I'm going to the cemetery in a little while. Do you wanna go?
Melina: Sure. Just help me up, and I'll get ready. She extends her arm, and Matt helps her up. Her eyes widen.
Matt: What's wrong? He asks, concerned.
Melina: I, I, OW, DAMMIT! She puts a hand on her abdomen, and hisses. I think we need to make a detour. She begins breathing hard.
Matt: Hospital?
Melina: Yessss.
Matt gets Melina's bags, and other supplies they'll need and puts them in the car. Then, he returns to his room and helps Melina down the stairs. They meet Sam and the kids at the door.
Sam: Coming in the door, holding a sleeping Brooke, with Marin and Ben in tow. C'mon kids. Let me put your sister to bed and I'll fix you a snack.
Ben: Daddy, I want ice cream.
Marin: I want a cookie.
Brooke: Mumbles. Mommy!
Sam: Sees Matt and Melina. What's wrong?
Matt: Dad, Melina's in labor. Meet us at the hospital as soon as you can.
Sam: Sure. I'll call your mother.
The couple races out the door.
SEQUENCE ENDS
Well, now we're here, and Matt McGuire's gonna be a father soon. Who knew that crazy, mischievous Matt would ever be a father? Melina's asleep right now; she's the love of my life. The anesthesiologist gave her an epidural a couple hours ago, so now she's asleep. She was in such pain; she threw a rice bag at my head. She missed!
Mom and dad are here. Mrs. Garrett agreed to babysit the kids. Marin's parents are also here. Melina wanted mom in the delivery room with us, but the others are gonna be in the waiting room. They've taken shifts staying with us. I thought for sure Melina would want her mom here too, but she said her mom would make too much of a scene. She thinks her mom's a drama queen. And mine's not? Mom's been sentimental the whole time, but she's been good too. Melina and her sister are adopted (they are biological siblings; Melina was three and Amanda was a baby when they were adopted), and her mom has never had a baby before. So, mom's been a help for Melina.
So, here I am, watching my future wife sleep and thinking about my future.
Melina stirs and Matt rushes to her side.
Matt: Are you okay?
Melina: AAAH! I've gotta push! She squeezes Matt's hand.
Jo: I'll call the nurse. She pushes the call button and the nurse answers. We need a nurse. My daughter-in-law says the baby's coming.
Nurse: I'm on my way. The nurse enters. Let's take a look.
Melina: NO TIME, DAMMIT! The baby's coming NOW!
Nurse: Examines Melina. The baby's just about out. Lemme get Doctor Baines.
Melina: Jo, get mom and come back.
Matt: You sure?
Melina: I want my mommy!
Jo gets Melina's mom: Susan, Melina's asking for you. The baby's coming!
Susan: Roger, our baby's having a baby! She embraces her husband.
Roger: Go see our daughter and grandchild.
Jo: Sam, we're gonna be grandparents!
Sam: Whoda thunk our Matt would be a father?
Jo: I still can't believe it either! They kiss. I'll see you later, grandpa!
Sam: We'll be here, grandma!
Jo and Susan enter the room at the same time as Doctor Baines.
Doctor Baines: I hear we're about to have a baby.
Melina: Get it out! AAAAH!
Doctor Baines: All right. Let's get you situated.
Melina is situated in the stirrups. Matt is by her head. Jo is on the other side with the camera. Susan is beside Jo.
Doctor Baines: Okay Melina, I want you to give me a good push.
Melina: Dammit, this hurts!
Matt: C'mon Melina. You can do it!
Melina: Okay tough guy, why don't you pass a bowling ball through your…
Susan: Cuts her off. MELINA! Watch your language!
Doctor Baines: I need you to push from below. Melina pushes and tenses up her neck. Don't tense your neck. Use your abdominal muscles.
Melina: I'm trying!
After an hour of pushing, the baby is about to be born.
Doctor Baines: I've got the head. I need another push.
Melina: So tired!
Matt: I see the baby! C'mon Melina!
Jo: Oh my gosh! She begins tearing up.
Doctor Baines: The shoulder's are out. The cords around the neck. Don't push yet. Pant. Like this. She demonstrates and Melina complies. Got it. Okay, give me another big push and you'll have your baby.
Melina: Don't think we'll be having any more after this one, Matt. AAAHHHGGGHHH!
Doctor Baines: Put your hands down here and grab your baby. Melina complies and pulls her baby on to her abdomen. You've got your baby! She flips the baby on the foot and it lets out a cry.
Matt: It's a girl! Tears stream down his face. I've got a daughter! I'm a daddy!
Melina: Oh my God, my baby! She strokes her daughter's head. Hi, sweetheart, I'm your mommy.
Doctor Baines: Hands Matt the scissors. Matt, would you like to cut the cord? He nods and cuts the cord.
The nurse takes the baby. She weighs, measures, and examines her. Jo snaps pictures throughout.
Nurse: She looks good. Apgar's a 9.5 on a scale of 10. Very good! Lessee. She's 8 pounds, 8 ounces, 20 inches long. So, what's this little girl's name?
Matt and Melina look at each other and answer simultaneously: Elizabeth JoAnn McGuire. We'll call her Bethany. Jo's eyes mist over.
The doctor helps Melina deliver the placenta and Matt accompanies Bethany to the nursery. Jo and Susan deliver the news to the new grandfathers in the waiting room. Sam andRoger see the new grandmothers and stand up.
Sam: So?
Jo: Grinning from ear to ear. It's a girl!
Sam: Our little boy's got a daughter!
Jo: Yes! She's beautiful.
Susan: She looks like Melina.
Roger: How's Melina?
Susan: She's good. She was a trooper.
Sam: And Matt?
Jo: You should've seen him, Sam. He was so good, coaching her all the way through it.
Sam: You mean he didn't pass out or anything?
Jo: Nope. Not like someone I know. Remember when Lizzie was born?
Sam: Okay, I'm a wuss.
Jo: That's okay. I love you anyway. She kisses him on the cheek. Let's go see our new granddaughter.
They make their way to the nursery. Susan and Rogercall their other daughter. Matt sees them and holds baby Bethany up to the window.
Jo: My baby's got a baby! Sam, look at them! She clutches his elbow. Oh, she's so cute!
Matt: Motions for them to come in the nursery. They comply. Mom, dad, meet your granddaughter. He places the baby in his mother's arms.
Jo: Hey Bethany, It's grandma. Her eyes mist over. Matt, she's beautiful.
Matt: Mom, dad, I don't know how you did it, five times. He looks at his child, sleeping in her grandmother's arms. I can't believe she's mine.
Sam: That's how I felt when Lizzie was born. I couldn't believe I was a daddy.
Jo: Lizzie. She looks down at her granddaughter. Bethany, you would've loved your Aunt Lizzie. She's been gone five years. Today used to be a sad day, but you've made it a happy day. She looks at her husband. Would you like to hold her?
Sam: Sure.Jo passes him the baby. Hey kiddo. Welcome to the world. He kisses her on the head.
Matt and Jo gaze at the baby and smile.
Matt: Silently says to himself, I can't believe she's my child. I love her so much. My child. That sounds nice. Hegently rubs his daughter's head.