Chapter 28
A/N Baby is born
Suzanne was working in her office after her morning appointment with Dr. Mathis. She was now 18 weeks and in 2 weeks, they would have the appointment with Dr. Michaels in New York. Benjamin wanted to fill their home with boys to carry on the Adams name. Suzanne wanted a beautiful little girl. She rubbed her now very noticeable baby bump. Her Mom had told her that she had not gained much weight during her pregnancies and looked like she was carrying a basketball the whole time. Suzanne was showing the same signs.
They had decided that the spare room would be converted from their office to the nursery. Eric and some of the farm hands had come into town to move all the furniture out. Benjamin was packing up files to take to his office.
"Eric, do you mind if I ask you some questions? I have absolutely no exposure to babies, I am nervous about becoming a father. I don't think that I am ready," he said nervously.
Eric slapped him on the shoulder and chuckled. "Trust me even with the most experienced people, a baby will throw a wrench into that. No one is ever ready to become a father. I thought I was ready, but I was no where near that. A baby will bring you both joy and terrify you at the same time. Joshua had taught me that there are unexpected events at every turn of life. Just relax and don't panic and you will be fine."
"I will try, I just don't want to fail Suzanne and our child. I will do anything to keep them safe and happy. They are my number one priority always," Benjamin said.
Two weeks later they were in Dr. Michael's exam room. He was the best GYN in the country. His Dad had insisted on her seeing him to ensure the health of the baby and Suzanne as well. Dr. Michaels and Dr. Mathis had consulted and it was agreed that Dr. Mathis would be her hands on Dr, performing her biweekly exams and Dr. Michaels would be consulted.
Dr. Michaels had explained in their pre exam consultation that a new tool had come on the market and he was lucky enough to be able to be one of the first to have it. It was called a sonogram and it actually would enable them to see the baby and determine the sex before it was born. He was very excited about it and assured them it was safe and not harmful to the baby or Suzanne. He asked them if they wanted to know the sex of the baby and both gave him a goofy smile and shook their heads. He placed some very cold gel on her tummy and took a wand and started sliding it over her. He flipped a switch and a swooshing noise could be heard in the room. He explained to them that it was the baby's heartbeat.
Suzanne and Benjamin both had tears running down their faces. He asked again if they were sure about knowing the sex and not letting it be a surprise. They both nodded yes.
"Well this beautiful baby girl is perfectly healthy and right on track," Dr. Mathis told them.
Benjamin leaned in to kiss her with a smile on his lips. Tears were running down both their faces. She was elated that the baby was a girl. She had pictured it in her mind. The baby being a mini of her and having a special mother/daughter relationship. She knew that Benjamin wanted a boy, but being a Girl Dad would be something special for him.
Benjamin wanted a boy, but as long as the baby was happy and healthy he would be very happy.
They had talked about it and decided that no matter the sex of they baby the nursery would be decorated in a neutral theme. Neither wanted a nursery full of pink looking like pepto bismol or all the blue for a boy. Since it was a girl they had decided on teal, white and some accents of purple.
The sex of the baby had been shared with the family and the Mom's were ecstatic. The Dad's were really indifferent, but were both secretly hoping for a boy, but were satisfied with a healthy baby.
Isiah and Suzanne were working in the office the next day. Ellen had called him the night before and shared the sex of the baby. He had never outright said it but everyone in the family knew that Suzanne was his favorite. His relationship with his granddaughter was special and now he had another baby girl to spoil. He chuckled at the thought. He walked over and placed a kiss on top of her head.
She looked up at him and smiled. "What was that for?" she asked.
"I am just happy about the baby and an extra bonus is a baby girl. Grandfathers have special relationships with their baby girls and this one will be no exception," he said as his hand patted her shoulder.
Suzanne wiped away a silent tear and went back to work. She caught herself throughout the day peeking at her Grandpop and smiling at the grin he had on his face all day.
A month or so later, Suzanne approached Benjamin about names for the baby. She had been thinking about it alot and she decided to bring it up to him and talk about it
"Benjamin, have you thought about a name for the baby? I have a few in mind, but obviously we need to decide this together," she told him.
He looked at her with a crooked smile on his face. "I have thought about this a lot and yes I think it is time we decide."
"Do you have a name that you like?" she asked him.
"I have one, but I am not sure about it. Do you think we need to name her after a family member or go with something different?" he asked.
They both threw out names back and forth and after 2 hours were not even close to deciding on one. They decided to leave it for the night and come back to it. They were leaving for New York in the morning and decided to turn in and get a good night's sleep.
They walked into his parent's house and greeted them. Emma had called her a bunch of times and was checking in on a regular basis. She was so excited about the baby and was not afraid to express it. Benjamin had laughed every time she called and her level of excitement.
The next day the girls were going baby shopping while Benjamin joined his Dad at the office to give him an update of business.
After a day of shopping the girls walked into the house arms loaded with bags and laughing.
Benjamin walked over to greet them and laughed at them. "Did you two leave anything in the stores? Looks like you bought everything in the city," he said waving at all the bags.
"We just bought the essentials and I have to spoil my grandchild, so you hush and take the bags to your room," Emma told him.
They stayed 3 days with his parents. Benjamin had caught his Dad watching Suzanne several times and decided to ask him about it.
"Dad, what is up with you? I have seen you looking at Suzanne with a weird look on your face. Are you not happy about the baby?" he asked.
William shook his head at him, "Quite the opposite. I am totally happy and overjoyed about the baby. I am just finding it crazy that my son is going to be a father. I knew this day would come, but I am still finding it hard to believe that it is going to happen."
"Dad, you are going to be a great grandfather. I can't wait until she is born," Benjamin said.
On the flight home, Benjamin told Suzanne what he had been up to with his Dad while they were there.
"I worked with Dad and we drew up a trust fund for the baby. We need to decide on a name so we can make it official. I want to make sure that with my blood disease if something should happen to us that the baby would be taken care of. I did not do this to scare you, I just want to be prepared in case the unthinkable happens. I had it set up to add additional children when we have them in the future," he said.
She smiled at his last statement. He was thinking of more children in the future and she had not even had the first one yet. "I think we need to slow down, let's have this little one first," she said, rubbing her baby bump.
"I agree it is something I don't want to think about, but it is necessary. You are such a wonderful thoughtful father for doing this," she said.
The weeks and months passed by and she was now a week late from her due date.
She was miserable. Having to pee every 5 minutes, swollen ankles, not being able to get comfortable no matter what position she got in. Benjamin had been so caring and attentive to her every need. He would not let her lift a finger and spoiled her every chance he got. She craved creme filled donuts all through her pregnancy and he made sure she always had them. He was on his way to the bakery to restock her supply when he decided to stop into the baby shop next door and pick up something special.
The lady behind the counter had been the same one that had helped them pick out the furniture for the nursery. "I wanted to get my wife something and I saw it a few days ago in the window."
She wrapped the gift and handed him the box. He returned home with her gift and her pastries.
He gave her the pastry box and she rewarded him with a smile and a kiss. He then pulled the gift box from behind his back. She smiled and took the gift. She walked over to the table and sitting down gingerly, she opened the box.
She pulled back the tissue paper to reveal a folded shirt. She pulled it out and shook it out. On the front the words, GIRL MOM, were embroidered on the front. She looked up and he had unbuttoned his shirt and had the exact shirt that had GIRL DAD on it. He had a sly smile on his face. She stood and held the shirt up to her front.
"I thought we could wear them when we left the hospital," he said.
"Yeah, don't think mine would fit with this whale of a stomach I am currently walking around with," she said laughing.
They ate dinner, cleaned up and settled in for the night. Around 1 am, Suzanne was thrashing around in the bed. She was moaning in her sleep and had a grimace on her face. He shook her shoulder to try and rouse her from her sleep.
"Baby, wake up, are you okay?" he asked.
She moaned and placed her hand on her stomach. Raising up she propped up on the headboard. The pain of what she thought was a cramp hit her across her stomach. She bent over and tried to breathe through the pain. The pain subsided and she leaned back, blowing out a breath. Benjamin was concerned and wanted to take her pain away. He climbed out of the bed to get her a cool cloth. He returned from the bathroom just as another pain hit her.
The pain subsided and she felt a wetness between her legs. She raised the sheet and suddenly realized her water had just broken.
Okay a little cliffhanger was in order..haha I had written this whole chapter and was far down the road when I realized that the birth took place in the 60's and sonograms were not commonplace, a lot of AU in there.