"Hey Mom, I'm back." I walked in the front door of the house, tossing my keys onto the table against the wall. Callie, Mom, and I had moved into a house about a year after they got married. So, after my sophomore year. I'm almost done with my senior year of high school, now.
"Olive!" Mom jumped up from the couch. "How was your day?"
I hugged her and kissed her cheek, "It was good. School was... well, school. Therapy was alright." That's right, I'm in therapy now. Finally. It was probably something I needed four years ago- back when I was 14 and Ben left. But, now is better than never.
Mom was right all those years ago. Therapy helps. A lot. If only I hadn't been so stubborn.
"That's great, honey!"
"How about you? How was work?"
"It was great! One of my coworkers brought in pizza for this doctors retirement, so we all got to have pizza."
"Cool!" I set my school bag down, walking toward the kitchen. "Callie's working?" I asked.
"Yup. She won't be home until like... 11, I think. So, just me and you for dinner." Mom nodded her head, sitting back down on the couch.
"Was she feeling any better?" I opened the fridge.
Callie is 35 weeks pregnant. Yeah, Mom and Callie decided to have a baby together. They did the whole IVF thing and it took forever. But, it happened. I was going to have a sibling.
This morning, Callie was telling me how she had been up a bunch of times during the night, though. So, I was hoping she felt better.
"I think so. You know Callie, she won't complain while she's working. Just when she's at home," Mom laughed.
I laughed, too. That was very much true. Something Mom and I learned just weeks into the pregnancy. Callie would go into work when she had had the worst morning sickness. She was crazy. Sometimes her boss just straight up sent her home and told her she couldn't work. She was just... very committed to her job.
"Yeah, hopefully she's alright." I got out some strawberries.
After cutting some up, I grabbed my school bag and pulled out my laptop.
"Lots of homework?"
"Just an english essay. Second to last essay of high school!" I smiled a little.
"So exciting!!" Mom looked at her phone "Ooh it's Cal."
I sat down as she answered, starting to read through my rough draft.
"Calliope? What?! Wait are... Oh my god. Are you ok?! Okay, I'll- I'll be there I..." Mom stood up, and our eyes met.
"What's wrong?" I mouthed.
She held up one finger. One second.
"I love you too. Okay, I'll see you soon." Mom hung up.
"What?" I asked.
"She's in labor. We need... oh my god." Mom was freaking out.
"Woah. What? Isn't that early?" I stood up, closing my laptop.
"Yeah. Oh god."
"Okay. Well, what do we need to bring? You guys had bags in your room, right?" I remembered Mom and Callie saying they packed hospital bags.
"I'll grab them," Mom rushed off toward their room.
I'm the meantime, I grabbed my keys, wallet, and phone. I was not letting Mom drive while she was freaking out this much.
"Okay, I think that's it. Oh and my keys I gotta-"
"Mom, we'll take my car. Come on, I'll drive." I stopped her. "You need to calm down, by the way. You're freaking out."
She laughed a little, "I know, sorry honey." She took a deep breath. "I'm just nervous."
I nodded my understanding. "Let's go," I started to walk toward the front door.
When we got outside, I unlocked my car. I had a cute little light blue Volkswagen Jetta. It was gifted to me for my 17th birthday by Callie's parents. The most insane gift I had ever been given. I was crazy grateful for them and the gift.
Once we got in, I glanced at my phone. "I should call Isa." I said, connecting my phone to the bluetooth and clicking Isa's contact, then I started to back out.
Isa is my girlfriend. That's right.
I guess you can say I'm gay. Queer. I dunno. Funnily enough, I don't know what label I fall under- even though I remember being so set on knowing what Mom's label was when she first came out.
All I know is that I love Isa. That's really all that matters right now.
She didn't answer, so I called again.
She picked up on the last ring, "Liv, what's up? I'm working. It's okay, though. I took a five."
"Oh shit. Sorry!"
"You're good." Isa reassured.
"You're on speaker. My Mom's with me. We're driving to the hospital."
"The hospital? Hi Ms. Robbins! What's wrong?"
"Callie is in labor!"
"What really?! Like... she's gonna have the baby?!"
I laughed, "Yeah!"
"Wow. Oh my god!" Isa laughed too.
"When do you get off?"
"Uh... Six. I'm covering an extra shift, so technically I'm working a double."
"Ew."
"Yeah." Isa agreed.
"Maybe I'll come down and see you," I said, knowing her job was right down the street from the hospital, anyway. I wasn't planning on hanging out in the hospital room all day.
"I would love that. Tell Callie I said... good luck? I dunno." She giggled.
"I will. I'll keep you updated."
"Good, I'll keep my phone on me. I should get back before my coworker hates me forever, though. The afternoon rush."
" 'Kay."
"I love you, see you soon!"
"I love you," I leaned forward and hung up, then turned onto the road where the hospital is.
"You guys are too cute." Mom said to me, smiling.
I just smiled.
"Where do I park?"
"Uh. Go to the parking garage." Mom directed me to the parking garage and we found a spot, then we headed inside. I just trailed a little behind her, holding the two bags she needed.
Mom got the whole guest thing sorted, and all I really had to do was show ID. Apparently the front desk lady knew Callie. I mean, I wasn't shocked. Callie worked here.
She was nice enough to give directions to where Callie was, which Mom and I very closely followed, as Mom barely knew her way around the hospital. I didn't know anything about how to get around the hospital.
"Cristina!" I said suddenly as we walked past her.
Mom stopped, and so did Cristina.
"Arizona, Liv. Are you guys trying to find the labor and delivery wing?"
"Yeah. Are we anywhere close?" Mom asked.
Cristina shook her head. "Cmon, I was just up there with her, I'll bring you."
So, Cristina led us up some stairs, through some hallways, and eventually, to where Callie was.
"Thank you so much Cristina! You're the best!" Mom hugged Cristina and then barged right in to the hospital room.
"You gonna go in?" Cristina asked.
"Yeah."
"You're not moving."
"I don't know what to expect."
"Cursing. Cal curses a lot." Cristina said, smirking.
I laughed.
"They brought a lot of crap, how'd you end up holding it all?"
I shrugged, "I offered."
"At least go in and put those damn bags down."
I smiled, and then headed in, setting the bags on the nearest chair I saw. Mom was already right and Callie's side, holding her hand.
"Liv! Hi honey!" Callie smiled brightly the second she saw me.
"Hey. How are you doing?" I asked, standing at the end of the hospital bed.
"Right now I'm great. In a few minutes, my answer might change." She laughed. "How was school? Therapy?"
Even in a moment that should not at all be about me, Callie wanted to know about my day.
"It was good." I said quietly.
She smiled more, "Thanks for driving Mom. I bet she was acting crazy."
I laughed, "She was freaking out."
"Still is." Callie nodded toward Mom, who still was totally on high alert.
"I think she will be for a while."
"Until the baby gets here and you both are safe." Mom defended herself.
"You're sweet." Callie said, hugging Mom's arm.
Mom just smiled.
I ended up sitting in one of the chairs in the room for a while. There was casual conversation that got interrupted every time Callie had a contraction.
It was very, very clear to me that she was in a lot of pain, and I found it bothering me a little. So, after close to an hour, I stood up.
"I think I'm gonna go visit Isa at her work. Do you guys need me to get anything?"
Mom shook her head.
Callie looked at Mom. "Are you hungry? Have you eaten?"
"I had lunch when I got off work, babe, I'm okay." Mom answered.
"Okay. Then I guess we're all good, Liv. Thanks." Callie smiled.
" 'Kay. I'll have my phone on me."
"Be safe." Mom stood up and hugged me.
"Yes. And tell Isa we say hello!" Callie added.
"I will!"
With that, I left. I decided just to walk down the street to the smoothie shop where Isa worked, since I didn't want to have to go through the hassle of finding a new parking spot when I came back to the hospital.
Isa immediately ran around the counter when I walked in- luckily, there were no customers. Their rush must've calmed down.
"Liv!!" She hugged me, and then we kissed quickly, the top of her work hat hit my forehead.
"You taste like peaches." I said.
"Peach smoothie. Do you want something?" She asked.
"Maybe. Hi."
"Hi." She smiled.
"You look so cute in your work uniform."
"Shush." Isa blushed as she pulled away, walking toward the counter. "Strawberry Banana?" She asked. I came to visit her at work sometimes, and that was always what I got.
"Sure," I nodded. I got my debit card out as I watched her make the smoothie.
When she handed it to me, she shook her head. "This one's on me."
"It's always on you." I laughed.
"I get a discount!"
I took a sip, nodding my approval.
"How's Callie?"
"In pain. I didn't really wanna hang out there anymore." I told her.
"Ah. That stinks."
"Yeah. I mean, not shocking though. I'm pretty sure having a baby hurts pretty bad."
Isa giggled. "Probably."
I held out the smoothie, and she took a sip. Then I took another sip. "You have anywhere to be after your shift?"
"Nope."
"Wanna come hang out with me? We can get lost in the hospital."
She smiled, "I'd love to."
"Great, it's a date!" I teased.
"You didn't have work today?" She leaned against the counter.
"Nope. I do tomorrow though. Right after school." I worked at this little art place for kids. It was a fun job- I loved kids, and I basically just got to teach them how to paint on different shaped ceramics.
"Nice. You think the baby will be here by then?"
"No clue." I shrugged. "Hopefully, I wanna meet them."
"Me too!"
I was actually pretty excited to have a little sibling. I didn't know what it was like to have siblings, so the idea of it was exciting. Plus, the age gap would be kind of fun. I'll always be able to drive them around and show them different things.
Isa was excited too, clearly.
Eventually, I left Isa to actually do her job and headed back to the hospital. Not too long after that, Isa was calling me and asking me where she should park so she could find me.
I just told her to park in the parking garage and that I would come get her.
"Hi!" Isa ran towards me the second we came into eachothers view.
"Hey. You changed." I hugged her.
"I did. I didn't wanna look like a weirdo sitting around the hospital in my bright pink polo that says smoothies and stuff on the back."
I laughed. "Good call."
"So, are we gonna get lost or do you know the way?" We locked hands as we walked through the doors of the hospital.
"I think I know the way." I led her to the elevator.
"Alright. How's Callie and your Mom?" We waited for the elevator doors to open, then stepped in.
I clicked the 14 button. "My mom is freaking the hell out and Callie is cursing. A lot."
"Oh?" Isa rose an eyebrow.
I shrugged, "Pain, I guess. I'm not too sure. Apparently it shouldn't be much longer. Well, that's what Callie's OB said."
"So the baby will be born soon?!"
"I hope so. Mom might have a heart attack within the next six hours if it keeps going like this."
Isa laughed.
"I'm so serious."
"Jeez."
The doors opened and we stepped out. "I can't remember if we go left or right." I announced.
"Hm. That seems like a pretty crucial part in the directions. At least there's a 50/50 chance of being right."
I shook my head in amusement. "Let's try right."
"Maybe that is the right way." Isa laughed at her own dumb joke.
"You're so annoying," I said, but I was smiling. She was cute.
Eventually we learned that I had gone up the wrong elevator.
Whoops.
As we were finally nearing the labor and delivery wing my phone beeped.
Mom: Where are you?
Liv: Coming.
Liv: We got lost
Liv: Why?
Mom: Hurry up!!
"My mom told me to hurry..." I told Isa.
"Well than let's hurry!!" She started to pick up the pace.
"Why do you think she would say that though?"
"Maybe the baby was born? I mean, we've been walking around for at least an hour by now. You got us pretty lost." She giggled.
I laughed, starting to match Isa's pace.
As we approached, I saw that the door to the room Callie was in was open, and a bunch of doctors or nurses or whatever were moving in and out of the room.
Isa looked at me. "I'll be out here." She said quietly.
I leaned toward her and gently kissed her, gave her hand a little squeeze, and then made my way into the room, leaving her in the hallway.
"You're kidding?" I said quietly.
There were a few medical people in the room, but I was focused on Mom- she was sat on the side of Callie's bed. Callie was holding a baby. The baby was wrapped in a white hospital blanket, sleeping.
Mom and Callie both looked at me, and Mom quickly motioned for me to come.
"Liv, do you wanna hold your little sister?" Callie asked, smiling up at me.
I quickly nodded.
Sister. I have a baby sister.
Mom took her from Callie, and then placed her in my arms.
She was tiny.
Super cute.
"Oh my god." I looked down at the baby in my arms. "That was really fast."
"It was, yeah," Mom laughed a little.
"A girl. That's gonna be a lot of women in our house."
Callie and Mom both laughed.
"I mean, two moms, a sister, and Isa." I laughed, too.
"She's surrounded by great women." Mom said with a smile.
I nodded slowly, "Does she have a name?"
"We were thinking Cassandra." Callie answered.
"That's a good nick name name!" I said excitedly, looking back down at the baby. "She looks like her nickname would be Andi." I loved that I was able to have a couple nicknames- I figured anyone would. I wanted this baby to have a good nickname, like my own.
"Andi is cute." Callie commented.
I saw Mom nod her agreement. "Liv is gonna form her into a nickname girl, too." She laughed. "Liv used to cry if I called her Olivia when she was younger."
"Andi is gonna love her nickname!" I smiled, stroking her little cheek. She was sleeping so peacefully, looking super cute.
"Cassandra Rae Robbins-Torres?" Mom said.
I looked up immediately. Rae is my middle name.
"We'll have the same middle name?" I asked.
"What do you think?"
"I love it." I said, nodding my head. It would be special to share a middle name with my sister. It made me happy that Mom and Callie had thought that much into it.
"Well, then, it's settled." Callie said.
"You hear that, Andi? You've got a name!" I cheered quietly. "She said she loves it." I looked up at Mom and Callie, my smile big.
"Well, that's good." Callie laughed.
"Wait, can Isa come in and see her?"
"Where's Isa?!" Mom asked.
"In the hallway."
"Go get her!!" Callie told Mom.
I turned to watch Mom open the door and usher Isa inside the room, Andi still in my arms.
"The baby's here!!" Isa whispered.
Mom laughed, "She is! Hi honey," She hugged Isa.
"She? It's a girl?" Isa hugged back, then walked toward me. "Hi Callie, how are you?"
"I'm good, thanks. Yes, it is a girl."
"Andi!" I looked up at Isa, proudly showing off my little sister. "Well, that's her nick name. Cassandra Rae is her actual name."
"Aw, Rae like you." Isa smiled, placing her hand on the baby's head. "She's so cute."
"Isn't she?" I agreed. She was pretty adorable. Everyone always says newborn babies aren't cute, but Andi proved that to be wrong. Cutest newborn ever.
Maybe I'm biased. She's my sister.
"Oh, she looks upset." I said, noticing Andi's little face scrunching up. Then, she started fussing.
"It's okay, just rock her." Mom said. She was sitting with Callie again, who was fully leaned against her.
"Livy," Isa laughed as she took the crying baby, "Shh, Shh. It's okay." Isa only had to hold and rock with Andi for a few seconds until she calmed down. "Your sister is crazy," Isa cooed, "I promise she will get better."
"Hey," I laughed.
"Here, Ms. Robbins," Isa passed Andi back to my mom.
"Look at you, Isa. Such a natural."
Isa laughed, reaching her hand out and grabbing mine. "I have baby cousins." She looked at me. "You'll get used to it." She said sweetly. "Do you guys want me to go get you anything to eat? I don't mind running out."
Isa is literally the sweetest person I've ever met.
"You don't have to do that, honey! I was going to head out to get this one food, she hasn't eaten in a while," Mom pointed to Callie.
"I can go. What do you want me to get? Seriously, it's no big deal."
"If you're sure."
"I am!"
"I was just going to go down to Wendy's." Mom said, passing Andi over to Callie, then standing up. "Babe, what do you want?" Mom walked to her purse.
"Baconator? And... if they have a chocolate frosty?"
That was always Callie's Wendy's order.
"Mom, what do you want to eat?" I asked.
Mom got some cash out of her wallet. "Grilled chicken sandwich. Why don't you go with her, honey?"
"I will. Anything else?"
Mom handed me the money.
"Well, get something for yourselves, too." Callie piped in.
"Yeah! Is 40 enough?"
"More than enough, Mom."
"Alright. Thank you guys. You're the best."
"No problem," Isa smiled.
"Do you know how to get out of here?" Callie asked.
"I think so." I could figure it out. I think.
"Left out the door, all the way down the hall, down to the elevator. Are you in the parking garage?"
"Yeah." Isa nodded.
"Click the P button."
"Thank you!" Isa said.
Then, off we went. Hand in hand.
"I love you," I told Isa.
She looked at me, smiling, "I love you too. You're gonna be the best big sister a girl could ask for, Livs."
I squeezed her hand a little tighter.
I guess I got a happy ending, too.
A baby sister, the best girlfriend in the world, an amazing mom, and... Callie. The most wonderful second parent.
I don't think this is an ending, though.
It's a beginning.