Disclaimer: I don't own anything from Ladder 49; lyrics are Illume by Stevie Nicks.
Chapter 6
Linda was now 8 months pregnant. Her mother had moved in with her a month ago, and they had worked together in preparing for this baby, Katie and Nicky included. The kids picked out the sleepers, and other baby supplies while Gloria and Linda set up the crib. They had arranged for a neighbour to watch Nicky and Katie when Linda went into labour, and her and Gloria would go to the hospital where her mother would help her and hold her hand.
"Call Diane, mom. I just think I felt a contraction."
"Are you sure?"
"Mother, this is not a new experience for me. Take me to the hospital, now. Ask Diane to come over for when the kids get back from school, in about an hour. I'll go get my bag, can you also put some food in Charlie's bowl."
"Alright.'
In the recent months, the family had adopted a new puppy, Charlie.
As Gloria drove to the nearest hospital, and Linda did her Lamaze breathing exercises, the realization that the new baby would be in the car the next time she rode in it hit Linda pretty hard. She wanted Jack to be there with her, sharing this agonizing but amazing experience, coaching her and kissing her and comforting her every step of the way. She wanted Jack to help her pick out the name, a task she had delayed to the point where it hadn't even be considered yet. It was weird to pick out a name by yourself, not second opinion. There would be no Jack to cut the embilico cord of the still slimy baby, to smile down and hold and sing to his new child, no Jack to laugh as he brought in Katie and Nicky ater and showed them the new addition, to take pictures of all of them together for his wallet. Jack might be able to see from above, but his new child wouldn't even know who he was, would have to only listen to the stories about what a fun, brave, and loving dad couldn't be here to love him and cherish him.
"Linda, we're here! Get in the chair," urged Gloria as a nurse pushed a wheelchair to their direction.
"Ma'am, I'm going to need you to do this paperwork here," said another nurse to the adrenaline-pumped Gloria. Jack should have done this too, though Linda.
16 hours later, Linda gave one final push and was rewarded with a beautiful baby…GIRL!
"Katie was right all along," said a happy Linda as she held her new daughter. "Her name will be Jackie, in honour of her father, who I know wanted to be here more than anything in the world."
Not long after, Linda's neighbour Diane stopped by the hospital with Nicky and Katie. Katie, of course, was delighted with her new sister, but disappointed that they couldn't play dolls together, for now at least. But her disappointment was short-lived when Uncle Mike walked through the doors.
"Let's see this baby, shall we," he said as he hugged Katie. "She's beautiful, just like every other girl in her family. Oh, Linda, I got something for you. It's a gift from everyone down at the station. You're still very much like family there, you know," he assured her, handing her a basket with baby things. Inside, there was a picture frame that read "I love my daddy" at the top. They had inserted Linda's favourite picture of Jack on half, and the rest was reserved for baby Jackie's picture.
The end.