"The Neighbors: A new Emaya story"
I wrote this after I got a painkiller shot in my leg. I don't know what tomorrow will bring as I don't know if I can sit up when that shot wears off. But I hope it helps in my recovery.
In the meantime, I hope you approve of the time jump!
Rated M for Mature Content.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Maya peers over the top of her seat, "Josh! Are you saying you think your parents found another way off that island?"
"Yep, that's exactly what I'm saying."
"I hope you're wrong Josh. She needs to be punished for what she did to Maya and me and you know that," Emily says infuriated.
"I know. I want her punished too. But like I said, it's Miriam…"
Chapter 43: Baby Grayson
Emily POV
Four and a half months later…
"How is she?"
"She'll be fine. She just needs to rest," the nurse replies.
"And the baby?"
"Would you like to see her again?"
"Can I?"
"She'll need her vaccines so we need to give her some extra attention in the nursery but you can see her from the window."
"That would be wonderful but I think I should wait for Maya. She should be there too."
"When she wakes up she really needs to start walking right away so you can bring her to see her baby. We'll have a wheelchair ready for you to take with you so she doesn't do too much too soon."
"Can I wait here until she wakes up?"
"I'm sure she'd like that. By the way, is the father going to be visiting as well?"
"He's actually on his way from New York. He should be arriving later today."
"Alright then, we'll be expecting him."
The nurse leaves me alone with Maya. She looks comfortable after her C-section. The doctors chose to use a surgical incision to deliver her baby because of her small frame and felt it would be the best way to ensure a healthy delivery. They made a small horizontal incision in the skin above her pubic bone which, I had no idea, is called the "bikini cut". And I kinda am looking forward to seeing that tiny scar once it's healed. It will be a constant reminder of her giving life and how precious that is. It deserves soft loving butterfly kisses, when she's ready, of course!
It was all so exciting! Maya was completely awake during the procedure. They gave her a regional anesthesia, an epidural, which numbed her from the waist down. The doctor did her thing and before you knew it she reached in and pulled out her baby! It was magical! I was at Maya's bedside the whole time. I held her hand watching her waiting for her baby to enter this world. It was a moment I will not soon forget and I know Maya cherished every second of her delivery as well.
The doctor asked if Maya wanted to cut the cord but instead she did something so selfless and amazing, it brought me to tears and I will always hold this moment close to my heart. She asked me to do it. And I did. And it was the most incredible experience! I think she wanted me to feel more involved with this baby coming into this world. We both cried as I kissed her lips softly. The doctor held her for us to see for a brief moment and then handed her off to the nurses to examine her and clean her. Then the doctor began the process of closing her up.
After the baby was examined, the nurse handed her to me. My heart lit up a thousand watts of love for this precious gift made by love and delivered with love. I held her close to Maya so she could kiss her and admire her and love her. She was not able to hold her at that time as the doctor was finishing stitching her up. But I made sure she could cup her hand over her moppet of black hair, and hold her tiny light brown hand, and gaze into the most precious brown eyes you could ever imagine, and love her as the one who gave birth to her, her beautiful, adoring mother, Maya.
Once her surgery was finished, she was wheeled into recovery and closely monitored for a few hours. And since her little girl was just fine, she woke up to her lying beside her in her room, all eighteen inches and six pounds of her!
When Maya felt fully awake, she sat up with her pillows supporting her and held her baby for the very first time. There wasn't a dry eye around. It was absolutely enchanting! Maya's big brown eyes lit up with joy as her arms cradled this little brown bundle of love. She kissed her and cooed her and nuzzled her. She's going to make an amazing mother. Her natural nurturing instincts are already showing and I can't wait to nurture her as well. We will be the happiest family on the planet!
After Maya became fully hydrated through an IV and could eat and drink on her own, it was now time for her to breast feed. She gently laid her newborn next to her, both of them on their sides facing each other. She latched onto her nipple after a few unsuccessful tries and without a fuss trying to extract the milk of her mother. It was like witnessing a miracle and I started to cry again! Maya giggled a little at my emotional state which actually made me giggle so I could really enjoy this special time with them!
But what I haven't told you is what we named the baby. Maya wanted to wait for Josh before putting her name on the birth certificate so that he could be named as the father at the same time. The birth was a week early so Josh had not arrived in California yet and neither have my parents. They should be landing in California soon so Maya's parents are picking them up. They will stop by tomorrow as the doctors want Maya to get as much rest as possible while at the hospital.
Maya is told that the baby needs to get her vaccines and vitals checked again as she was born a week early and so we can take her home on schedule. The nurse wheels her out of the room and into the baby nursery leaving Maya and I alone for the first time since we got to the hospital. She'll be here a few more days and then it will be about a six week recovery time and a reunion I'm desperate to have with her. To love her, every part of her, including that sexy bikini cut!
"Josh should be here later today. So will you be ready to name your little girl?" I ask as I scooch next to her so she can snuggle into me.
"You mean am I ready to name our baby?" she looks up at me with glistening eyes, so sparkly and inviting.
"Yes," I smile, "Our baby."
"You know we've had her name picked out for months now," she rests her head on my shoulder.
"I know that. I guess I'm just anxious. I want to say it out loud when it's finally official," I kiss the top of her head.
"And the last name?" she questions.
"What about it? It's going to be Grayson, isn't it?" I'm not sure what she's getting at.
"Well, she is a Grayson but she's also a St. Germain and a Fields," she settles against me.
"St. Germain-Fields-Grayson, that's an awfully long last name dontcha think?" I chuckle at its complexity.
"True. When Josh gets here it will all come together though."
"I think so too."
"Em, I'm so glad you were here through it all. It really was magical. And I can't imagine having gone through that with anyone else. I love you so much," she reaches for my lips with hers.
It's the perfect kiss for the perfect moment; light and sweet with a little added measure of love.
"I love you too Maya. You're the most amazing, beautiful woman I've ever come to know."
She falls asleep in my arms. I hold her gently and visualize our future together, raising our daughter as wife and wife. Something we haven't quite gotten around to yet but something we plan to share with our daughter and our loved ones once her divorce from Josh and my divorce from Ryan is finalized. These things take time and we understand that but it doesn't keep us from being anxious about sharing each other's names and lives legally as wife and wife.
I have managed to fall asleep myself and after a couple of hours the nurse comes in to check on Maya's vitals. She wakes me and I slip out from under Maya as carefully as possible so as not to wake her. The nurse tells me when Maya wakes up that we should take a walk. I suggest walking to see her baby and the nurse agrees that it's a good idea. By that time, hopefully Josh will be here so we can officially name her…
We walk half way to the baby nursery and then she needs to be wheeled the rest of the way. I help her to stand as she watches her baby sleep. It says baby Grayson on her card inserted into her warming bed. There are several other babies in there as well so she doesn't feel alone. After a few minutes, the nurse is ready to place her footprints on the birth certificate just as Josh arrives…
"How's mom doing?" he asks like the proud papa he is.
Maya smiles as he hugs her gently, "I'm kinda tired but I wouldn't miss this for the world."
"And you, her other doting mom?" he asks kiddingly but I kinda like it. He has changed so much after getting the therapy he needed and he still goes once a week to stay on track. I think it shows his dedication to being a better man and the best father he can be.
"I'm just as excited as the both of you," I smile a welcoming smile.
"I wish I could've been here for her birth but I'm sure Emily filled in admirably," he winks.
"Yes she did, thank you for saying so," Maya slides her hand up and down his arm as a thanking gesture.
"Well, it looks like I'm just in time to see her make her mark. I can't wait to hold her and see those tiny little toes on those tiny little feet," he beams.
The nurse does one footprint and then the other. She brings the birth certificate to the window to show us. And then she asks through the intercom if we're ready to officially name her.
Maya looks at the both of us and then presses the intercom to say, "Can we all go back to my room with her and do it there?"
"Absolutely," the nurse responds.
Josh takes over the reins, wheeling Maya back to her room. I don't mind. I think it's wonderful that he came through in the end in such a way that he can truly be the dad he wants to be and who Maya needs him to be.
Once Maya is settled into her bed and her vitals rechecked, the nurse wheels baby Grayson into her room. This is the moment we've all been waiting for. This is the moment that makes her an official member of the family.
"Okay, you two," Maya says, "Are we ready?"
"Most definitely," I say smiling, holding her hand.
"Let's do this," Josh says while holding her other hand.
The nurse hands the baby to Josh who releases Maya's hand to hold her football style so to speak. She's swaddled in her baby blanket and tiny cap to keep her head warm. And I must say, Josh is doing a great job rocking her in his arms.
"I have the pen and birth certificate in hand," the nurse says excitedly.
"Hold on a second, Maya, I think you should hold her when we say her name out loud for the first time since her birth."
He hands her to Maya kissing her on the cheek as he secures baby Grayson in her arms.
I'm proud of him for making that choice. It really was the right thing to do.
"Maya, you went through quite a bit while pregnant and I think it's only fair that you officially name our baby," he says "our" while looking at me and Maya. He really is a changed man.
She looks at our baby smiling and says, "After much thought and much love, on this seventeenth day of May, we've decided to name you…"
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
To Be Continued…
What should we name her? Any ideas? ;)
And don't worry, you'll all find out what happened to Marion and Joseph!