For Those You Love
Chapter 5
Looking back on that day, Carley would never forget his shocked face… or the ecstatic 'yahoo!' that accompanied his face breaking out into a smile. Nor would she forget the hug that followed.
It was safe to say he was happy. God, it felt good to see a genuine smile on his face again!
"I've got an ultrasound scan, if you want to see." She laughed, handing him the piece of paper. He took it in his shaking hand and stared down at it. "I'm about three months gone…" Carley had never seen a man show so much love to a piece of paper. The way he looked at it… it showed how ready he was for a baby. She bit her bottom lip nervously and looked at him. "So… what do you think?"
"I think... Jesus…" He breathed out, his smile going slightly. Carley cocked her head, taking the picture back from him and sliding it in her purse. "My nuts work!"
She laughed, knowing that only her husband would react like that. It was like having him back again… how he used to be before he was told he was infertile.
"Yes, they do!" She agreed, smiling at him. He had the biggest, goofiest grin on his face. He pulled her in for a hug once again. When he pulled away, he let his hand rest on her abdomen. Carley followed his gaze and placed her hand over his. She looked into his eyes. "I love you…"
"I love you too…" He whispered, kissing her softly.
Six Months Later
Carley shot up, cupping her swollen stomach and gasping. It had been six months since that day, and she was due at any time. Another pain shot through her and she slapped Lee's bicep until he groggily sat up, rubbing his eyes rid of sleep.
"What's wrong?" He asked, his voice groggy and his eyes partially closed. Carley simply sucked in a breath and looked at him.
"It's time." She said, snapping him from his half-asleep state and shocking him into action. She smiled, realizing the situation. "Our baby boy's on his way."
Half an hour later, Lee pushed Carley through the doors to the maternity ward, her hand wrapped around the arms of the wheelchair and sweating.
"Mrs Everett. I called you about twenty minutes ago." Lee said, approaching the nurses' station and handing the matron Carley's notes. The woman had a lot of grey, curly hair and was unbelievably tiny (even for Carley's standards). She was old with a lot of wrinkles and had the smile of a grandmother. Her face was overcome with recognition and she directed the frantic man to their room.
"Thank you." He muttered, helping his wife out of the wheelchair and allowing her to grip his hand fiercely. She was terrified; no doubt about it.
The elderly matron left them to sort themselves out, knowing that they would be undergoing serious changes that night. Eventually, Carley shooed him from the room, telling him to call their parents and get them there.
He exited the hospital and pulled out his phone, dialling David and Jennifer. Eventually, he received a very groggy answer from the other end.
"Hello?" David asked, his voice thick with sleep. Lee would have laughed if the situation wasn't so serious.
"Hey! It's Lee!"
"Lee? It's two in the morning!"
"I know, I'm sorry." He apologised running his hands through his hair and sighing. "It's just… Carley went into labour half an hour ago."
He heard scuffling from the other end, obviously David waking his wife.
"We'll be there, son. Keep us posted. Tell Carley we're thinking of her." He said strongly, excitement now in his voice. He hung up and dialled his parents.
Ten minutes later, he walked back into Carley's room; coffee in hand along with a small, plush lion. He stopped short, seeing the nervousness on her face. He smiled, hoping to try and calm her.
"Your parents are on their way. They said they're thinking about you and told me to keep them posted." He said softly, setting his cup down and sitting beside her. She bit her bottom lip in fear. Her eyes landed on the tiny stuffed animal and a smile played on her lips.
"Where did you get that?" She laughed, noting how the mane was severely disproportionate to its body. Lee brought it over for her to look closer and grinned as she stroked its fluffy head. "It's really cute."
The simply stayed like that for a while, Carley occasionally grimacing in pain and Lee comforting her, coaching her breathing. Eventually, the door opened and her doctor, Janey, walked in.
"Hey guys!" She smiled, adjusting her stethoscope around her neck and clicking the door shut behind her. "You've got yourselves a fan club out there!"
"Hey Janey!" Carley greeted, shifting in the bad and sitting up straighter. Lee moved her pillow, placing it behind her neck and making sure she was comfortable. "I had a feeling they'd be here soon!"
"Yeah, they were causing a riot out there!" She laughed, coming to rest at the foot of the bed and unclipping the clipboard, reading it. "Okay… baby boy… eight and a half months…" Her forehead creased in confusion. "Has someone checked your dilation since you were admitted?"
"No…"
"Well, I'll soon fix that." She assured. Before they knew it, Carley's legs were up in stirrups and Janey was doing… god knows what down there. Eventually, she looked up, grinning from ear to ear. "Five centimetres. You're halfway there!"
"Seriously?" Lee asked, his eyebrows retreating into his hairline and his voice getting higher. He was sat by his wife's side, holding her hand and comforting waiting patiently for Janey to finish up.
"Seriously." She said, her face completely stoic. Carley sighed in relief and leaned her head back. "You should have about an hour left, if he keeps this pace up."
"Thank god! I'm so done being pregnant!" Carley laughed, moving her legs down and covering them with the blanket. She turned to her husband. "Lee, honey, could you go get my parents? I know they'll be kicking up a fuss."
"Sure thing." He smiled, standing and kissing her softly. He made his way out of the room and was met with the sight of their families. David sat with his arm around his wife, whispering in her ear. James and Christine were sat beside them, fiddling with their hands nervously. None of them had noticed his presence, until he spoke up. "Hey guys."
"Oh my God, Lee!" David breathed, standing and wringing his hands. Everyone else copied him, staring at the man in the doorway. "How is she? How's our grandson?"
"She's fine." He assured, hugging his mother-in-law tightly, calming the woman's nerves. He smiled at the others. "She told me to come out here and fetch you guys."
"You sure you don't want to be in there?" David asked, taking Jennifer's hand and gripping it tightly. Lee shook his head and chuckled.
"She really wants to see you two." He laughed, shaking his father-in-law's hand and showing him her room. "Plus, she's already threatened to castrate me."
"Fair enough." The older man laughed, entering the room and disappearing with his wife.
Lee sat down next to his father and sighed, leaning back in his chair.
"How're you holding up, son?" James asked, looking sideways at his son. Lee shrugged, leaning forwards to put his elbows on his knees.
"Truthfully? I'm terrified."
Forty Five Minutes Later
"Okay Carley, you're at ten centimetres." Janey said, a grin spreading across her face. Lee smiled at his wife and gripped her hand lovingly. "Time to start pushing."
Carley's face blanched, nerves taking over her features. She turned her head to look at her husband, who was staring at her in awe. How the hell was she doing this? She had refused painkillers, not wanting their son to come out 'drugged up to the eyeballs.'
"It's okay, Car." He soothed, kissing her forehead as Janey prepared her for the delivery. He obviously looked scared, but he wouldn't tell her that. She would have a human coming out of her, for Christ's sake!
"Okay, sweetheart. On the next contraction, I want you to push as hard as you can." Janey's voice called, alerting them once again to her presence. "Also, feel free to shout profanities. It's not like we haven't heard it before." She laughed, comforting Carley slightly.
Suddenly, the monitors beeped, announcing an oncoming contraction. Carley looked at her husband one last time before gritting her teeth in pain and squeezing his hand tightly. Lee grimaced, feeling pain shoot through his arm.
"Come on, baby… you can do it." He murmured so only she could hear. After a while, she relaxed, tears already down her face.
"You did this to me!" She groaned, gripping his hand as if he would leave if she didn't. Once again, she gritted her teeth and pushed, this time though, she let out an almost inhuman noise. "You are never touching me again, Everett!"
Only two more pushes, and Janey called out from between her legs.
"The head's out! Well done! One more push and it's all over!"
Determination came over Carley's face. Everything went in slow-motion. Carley arched her back and screamed, bringing their baby into the world.
Then, it stopped. A baby's cry filled their ears.
"Congratulations! You've got a perfect baby girl!" Janey's voice called over the noise. Lee's head snapped around to meet Carley's. She had tears streaming down her face in happiness and relief.
"A girl…" She muttered, her body shaking with sobs. Lee was completely awestruck when Janey held her up. Red and screaming, but the most beautiful thing he had ever seen. "We've got a little girl, Lee…"
Janey brought her over and laid her on Carley's chest. The tiny girl settled almost immediately, relaxing at her mother's touch. Carley felt overwhelming love take over her. How had they made this perfect little girl?
"Oh, Lee… She's gorgeous…" She sighed, a huge grin taking over her. She just couldn't get enough of the baby in her arms…her daughter.
"Yeah… she is." He agreed, staring down at the tiny infant. She was covered in god knows what… but she was the most perfect thing he had ever set eyes on.
"I'm sorry, guys but we have to get her cleaned up and weighed." Janey interrupted, looking apologetic. She took their daughter off Carley's chest and walked away, leaving the two new parents alone.
"I'm so proud of you, Car." Lee spoke, looking right into his wife's eyes. She brought her hand up to cup his cheek and leaned in to kiss him. "You did it."
"No, Lee… we did it." She corrected, a small smile playing on her lips. Before they knew it, Janey walked back over to them, a pink bundle wrapped in her arms.
"Here you go, mommy…" She cooed softly, handing the baby to Carley and smiling at them. Lee stared up from his seat, his eyes filled with emotion. "It's okay, Lee. You're welcome." She said and left. His gaze went back over to his wife and daughter.
"She's not goopy anymore." Carley laughed, her eyes never leaving the tiny girl in her arms. He nodded, taking in every detail on his daughter's face. Carley looked up to him, biting her bottom lip. "What're we going to name her?"
He felt like slapping himself. They had thought of boy's names, not girl's! Then, from out of the corner of his mind, a song started playing.
' Oh my darling, oh my darling,
Oh my darling, Clementine!
Thou art lost and gone forever
Dreadful sorry, Clementine'
"How about Clementine? Clem for short." He asked, touching the small pink cap on her head. It kind of made sense, seeing as Carley's main craving were clementines. He looked up to see Carley thinking hard.
"How about Clementine Hope Everett?" She asked after a while. Lee grinned. "Because she was the only thing we'd hoped for."
"It's perfect. She's perfect."
"You want to hold your daughter, Lee?" Carley asked, adjusting the tiny girl for him to take. He nodded his head and took her into his arms. Love overwhelmed him. He never knew he could love that easily. He felt as if one wrong move would break her.
"Hello, baby girl…" He spoke softly, allowing her to take his finger into one of her tiny hands. It was at that point, he knew he was a father. He knew he would do anything for the small girl in his arms and no harm would come to her. Not on his watch. "You are so beautiful… Yes you are…"
Tears leaked from the corners of his eyes and he didn't bother to wipe them away. Happiness was the only thing he felt.
"I love you so much already, Clementine. Especially after…" He stopped, not daring to look up at his wife. "Especially after I was told I'd never have you. I didn't know I could miss someone I'd never met… but I was wrong."
Tears now rolled down his cheeks freely. It still broke his heart that he had a low sperm count. What if Carley wanted another baby? What if he couldn't give her one?
"Now you're here… it feels so surreal! I've got a daughter!" He laughed, running his hand over her soft cheek. He felt the soft pressure of Carley's hand on his shoulder. "I love you so much, sweet-pea."
He leaned forward and kissed her forehead softly, feeling her squirm at the unusual touch. He looked up to his wife and smiled.
"Give her here and go get the grandparents?" She asked, deciding against mentioning the private moment between the two. He did as she asked, kissing her softly on the lips and exiting the room, still dressed in his green hospital gown and wearing his wristband.
They were on their feet the moment he approached them, asking questions frantically.
"Alright, calm down!" He chuckled, hugging his mother and smiling down at her. "One at a time!"
"How's Carley? How's our grandson?" James asked, running a hand through his hair in the exact same way Lee would when he was nervous. Lee held his hand up, silencing the murmurs of agreement.
"Carley's fine… so is your granddaughter." He said, letting them take all of the information in. "Follow me if you want to see them."
He led them back down the familiar hallway and opened the door to Carley's room quietly, peeking his head through and grinning as she gestured them in. At that moment, with their family around her, he could fully take in her appearance. Her stomach wasn't as swollen, her hair was plastered to her forehead and had a glow surrounding her that only came to new mothers.
"Oh, sweetheart… she's gorgeous!" Jennifer gushed, hugging her daughter and getting a good look at her granddaughter. "She looks like you, Lee." She commented, smiling at him and looking back at the baby.
"Are you kidding me?" He responded, laughing at the incredulity of her statement. "She's gorgeous! She's all Carley!"
"Shush you…" Carley muttered, a blush creeping up her cheeks. "Her skin's more of a blend… Lighter than Lee's but darker than mine."
"She's perfect, son." James said, clapping his son on the shoulder and bringing him in for a manly hug. "Congratulations."
"What's her name?" Christine asked, walking to her daughter in law and hugging her tightly.
Carley locked eyes with Lee for a millisecond, silently agreeing.
"Clementine Hope Everett…" Carley said, letting her daughter take hold of her finger and smiling as her little eyes opened for the first time, revealing light brown orbs.