Chapter Five
Doctor Snow finishes his assessment and takes his leave once Angela comes into the room. He leaves and goes to see Kate.
Alistair becomes upset; for what, I don't know. I can only imagine. Alistair's mother and father both died in their home from carbon dioxide poisoning when he was ten. Which was how our family adopted him. His mother, Elizabeth, was my father's sister.
Father sleeps and I hear cries of pain coming from the bedroom. Getting up, I go to my father and whisper into his ear. "I will be back. I think Kate is giving birth to my child in the other room."
A small smile crosses his lips and a soft 'go,' is barely heard.
"Call for me if he needs anything. I am going to check on Kate." Alistair nods and gets closer to my father.
I walk towards my room, somewhat amazed that I haven't seen Elise yet. Not that it is a bad thing.
I open the door to my room and see Doctor Snow checking how far along she is.
"Mister Whitlock, I was about to get you. Mrs. Whitlock appears to be ready to push now. Want to hold her hand?"
I nod in excitement.
"Take her left hand and pull her leg up to her chest to help her push. Watch how Angela has her leg."
I get over to Kate and watch how Angela has Kate's hand and leg; I follow suit.
Over the next several minutes, I let my beautiful wife know what an excellent job she is doing and how proud I am of her. How she is an amazing mother and our next little one is going to be perfect.
She tries to not scream, but a few times she does. A few times she hits me. My hand hurts by the time she delivers.
We hear a cry.
I kiss Kate to show my appreciation.
All this lovey-dovey stuff is what new fathers do, right?
"Daddy, want to cut the cord?" Angela asks.
"Yes!"
It takes everything to not cry. I grab the scissors and am ready for the next chapter in my life. I see baseball practices, football games under the stadium lights.
Until I see the face of my child…
My daughter.
I look over to my wife and feel disgust.
Nearly two years I have raised a child that was not mine, hoping I would get an heir for the family business.
"This is not my child. You are no longer my wife. Once you heal, we will be done. You and both your children will leave." I say with conviction. "My brother might have been okay with this disappointment, but I will never be."
I turn to leave and see Stephen at the door.
"You will be leaving with them. You can take care of them now. I wanted a son. Not a daughter."
He looks angry and frankly, I don't give a damn.
