Note: Chapter 19 was edited so that Alan's role is decreased.
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Before Hugh and Hanna knew it, they had their first sonogram of their child. Amita, Charlie, Rose, and the Bellamys were there as well. Hugh had seen pictures of sonagrams, but seeing one live was very different, especially when he thought about the fact that it was his child.
"It's moving!" Hanna exclaimed. "Can you tell if it's a boy or girl?"
"Don't you want to be surprised?" Jane asked.
"No. I want to make sure I get the right clothes and stuff," Hanna said.
"It's too soon," the doctor said.
"I wanna name the baby after my dad or my mom," Hugh announced. "Depending on whether it's a boy or girl."
"That's flattering, but perhaps there are other names you could use?" Charlie suggested.
"Maybe you should ask what Hanna what she thinks," Rose smiled.
"Baby's doing fine," the doctor said, looking at the monitor. "Now you must take extra care of what you eat, Hanna. A lot is taken away for the baby even though you are still growing and developing yourself."
"I'm cutting down on my junk food," Hanna assured the Ob/Gyn.
"We've gotten a dietician," Jane said. "And make sure our cook prepares nutritious meals."
"Glad to hear it," the doctor said.
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Charlie, some weeks later, got another call from the school.
"Your son has been in another fight," the assistant headmaster said.
"Another fight?" Charlie repeated.
"Teenage politics," he told Charlie. "Hugh felt that some girl was insulting his girlfriend, and so he got into it with her, even calling the young woman a 'bitch'. Her boyfriend took offense to that, and attacked Hugh."
"Hugh is very protective of his girlfriend. I don't know if you're aware, but she's pregnant." Charlie felt that it was okay to disclose this information to a school administrator.
"That doesn't give him the right to go around being disrespectful and fighting."
"I'll come pick him up," Charlie sighed. "Will he get suspended?"
"For one day only. The other boy was suspended too."
"What about the girl who insulted Hanna?"
"A counselor will talk to her."
"Good."
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"Everyone's just pointing and staring at poor Hanna," Hugh said in the car as they drove towards Cal Sci. "Especially now that she's showing and can't go to PE. The girls are especially mean."
"How?"
"They pretend to be nice, but insult Hanna behind her back," Hugh said. "That's what happened today. I got so mad at Shannon, that the b word came right out. She called me a few things too."
"It can't be easy," Charlie sympathized. "But you have to stop getting into trouble."
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Around late June, after a long, hard labor, the baby was born. Hanna, with dark circles under her eyes, and a pale face, stroked the baby's brown hair, while nursing him. His blue eyes squinted. Visiting hours were over, and it was just her, Hugh, and Jane, for support, and as Hanna was a minor, in case of complications, one parent needed to be there.
"I think he's had enough," Hanna realized, feeling as though she had done several hundred sit ups.
"He's really into it," Hugh worried. "Are you sure?"
"I've done my research, and consulted the nurse," Hanna reminded him, and put a finger between the baby's mouth, and her right nipple.
"Let me burp him." Hugh gently got the baby from Hanna. After some effort, he burped the baby.
"You two need to think of a name," Jane reminded them, looking at the baby's bracelet. It said 'Baby Connell-Bellamy'. The young couple wanted the baby to have both their last names.
"We can't agree or make up our minds," Hugh explained. "My grandpa, and dad have this thing about naming the baby after one of them. They don't like it."
"And Hugh doesn't agree with any of the names I've suggested," Hanna tiredly explained.
"You two had months to come up with a name," Jane said, teasingly. "How about Keeland?"
"Keeland?" Hanna repeated.
"It's a Gaelic name, I got from a book," Jane said. "I planned to name you that if you had been a boy."
"I like it. What does it mean?" Hanna asked.
"Small, slender...? I forgot."
"I like it too," Hugh said.
"Great! We've got a name!" Jane grinned. "One less detail, at least, to worry about."
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When mother and baby were discharged, Hugh spent all day with Hanna and the baby, at the latter's home. At night, he'd return to the Craftsman. On Saturdays, Hanna would take the baby to the Craftsman so that Amita, Charlie, Suruli and Alan could be with him. One day, some weeks later, when Hugh arrived to the large mansion, Hanna was crying in her room, as the baby slept.
"What's wrong?" Hugh asked with worry.
"I'm just so tired. He cries and cries. I can barely sleep!" Hanna wailed.
"I'm sorry, baby." Hugh hugged her.
Jane entered to check up on her daughter. "Why don't you take him for the day, Hugh? That way Hanna can rest?"
"What about his feedings?" Hanna asked, still tearful.
"I got you a breast pump, for when you started school," Jane said. "You can pump milk now and Hugh can use it later."
"Okay," Hanna agreed.
"I'll get it," Jane said after giving Hanna a hug.
So Hanna pumped her milk, and gave Keeland to Hugh.
"I've never been so far from him," she worried.
"I'm a phone call away," Hugh assured her.
Jane reminded him, "Be sure to put the milk away in the refrigerator and put a hat on Keeland if you take him out."
"I will," Hugh promised. So, he got Keeland, his Burberry diaperbag, a gift from Hanna's grandmother, carrier, and his stroller and left for the Craftsman. Charlie and Amita were doing consulting work from home, while Suruli played. They were happy to see the baby.
"Hey!" Charlie smiled at the little one, picking him up gently. "How's my favorite grandson?"
"Hanna needed a break," Hugh explained. "So her mom suggested I take him for the day."
"Did you give Hanna the last check?" Amita asked.
"Yesterday," Hugh replied. "I'd better put the milk away."
"I still can't believe I've got a blue eyed grandson," Charlie remarked.
"Hanna's dad, and Rose have blue eyes," Amita shrugged.
Soon, the two had to return to work. So, Hugh decided to take the baby out to the nearby park. Just then, his cell rang. Charlie had gotten it for Hugh in the latter part of Hanna's pregnancy so that Hugh could keep in touch with Hanna, especially if something came up with the baby.
"Hello?"
"Hugh it's me," Jane said. "I need a favor from your uncle."
"What kind of favor?"
"As school aproaches, Hanna's father and I have to start looking for a nanny for Keeland for when Hanna is at school. I was hoping that your uncle could run the names of potential nannies through the databases he has access to when we start interviewing them."
"I'm sure he'll do it," Hugh said. "I'll call him. How's Hanna?"
"A little better. I'm taking the day off to take her shopping."
"Cool."
So, Hugh called Don, who happily agreed. As soon as he hung up, a fellow young man approached him, also pushing a carrier.
"It's so cool to meet another guy baby sitter. I thought I was the only one in this area," he told Hugh.
"Actually, the baby's mine," Hugh admitted.
"No way!"
"I'm serious."
"That's your kid?"
"Yes, it is."
"Oh...sorry."
"No problem."
"How old is he?"
"A few weeks." Hugh smiled. "How old is the kid you're babysitting?"
"Five months."
The two talked some more until Keeland started to cry piteously.
"What's wrong little guy?" Hugh asked, feeling the baby's diaper, noticing it was wet. "I'll change your diaper right now, and take you back home for a feeding."
When he arrived, there was an ambulance in front of the Craftsman.
TBC