The Recruit
Chapter 17
Shockingly, the girls were very accepting of Mike and Christine's decision to adopt the baby. It barely phased Katie and Hannah was very enthusiastic about it, hoping the baby was a girl. She had gone with Christine and picked out a gender neutral bassinet, clothes and plenty of diapers. Christine was a bit concerned about Katie's reaction, but Mike had talked to her and said she was fine.
The girl, Chloe was dangerously close to her due date and was asking a ton of questions about the pain. Not so much about the baby, but she did seem relieved to know that her baby would be in a safe place. About a week after Mike and Christine had made the decision to adopt the baby, Christine's cellphone rang. Mike was still snoring but Christine woke up and immediately answered it.
"I…thought I had peed my pants but I think my water broke, like you had told me would happen. And it feels like a vice on my stomach." Chloe said.
"Okay. I'll throw some clothes on and be there in just a couple minutes." Christine answered.
"Maybe I should just get a taxi?" Chloe said.
"You are not going to ride a taxi at two am and in labor. I'll be there quickly." Christine said.
"I just don't want to miss the window for the epidural." Chloe answered.
"You'll be fine. I promise." Christine answered. Mike sat up, looking disoriented as Christine disconnected the call and began throwing clothes on.
"Do I need to go?" Mike asked.
"Nah. You can get the girls to school and come to the hospital later. Given that its her first, I'm sure it'll be a long labor, although her water has broken." Christine said.
"Okay. I won't argue." Mike said as he laid back down.
"Good. I love you." Christine said.
"I love you too. Text me and let me know you've gotten her there and then what's going on?" Mike asked.
"I will." Christine promised. She gave him a kiss before leaving their bedroom. She drove to the apartment building and was glad Chloe was waiting on her. "How far apart are the contractions?" Christine asked.
"Less than five minutes. It really hurts." Chloe answered.
"I called your doctor already. You'll be admitted immediately. Just relax. The contractions will hurt more if you're tensed up." Christine said.
"I wish I had just had them induce me." Chloe said.
"We talked about that. All those chemicals going into the baby? You agreed?" Christine reminded her.
"Did it hurt this bad for you? Why would you have done it three times?" Chloe asked.
"Because I loved the feeling after the baby was born. It was just me, them and their dad. Someday, you will have that. Tonight, it'll be you, me and this baby and trust me; you will want to hold him or her." Christine explained.
"I am not so sure of that." Chloe remarked just as they got to the hospital.
Quickly, Chloe was admitted, an epidural was given and hard labor started. Christine barely had time to text Mike. The baby would be born before he got there. For Chloe, the labor was intense and long. For Christine, it was an easy and fast labor, having been through three of her own. By seven am, a tiny baby girl was put on Chloe's chest.
"She has heard your heartbeat. She needs a bit of time with you. It'll confuse her if you pass her to me immediately." Christine said. Chloe was not interested and in less than five minutes, the baby was passed over to Christine.
"How long do I have to stay?" Chloe asked the nurse.
"At least until tomorrow." The nurse answered.
"Did you have a name you liked for her?" Christine asked.
"No." Chloe said before looking at her phone.
"Ma'am?" The nurse asked, requesting that Christine follow her into the hallway. Christine didn't feel comfortable putting the baby down because Chloe had zero interest in her so she had to carry her out.
"What's wrong?" Christine asked.
"Nothing with the baby or Chloe. Just…we see this sometimes with mothers who have no intention of keeping the baby. Don't push her. I will bring in the paperwork and have the hospital social worker talk to her. We can set you and the baby up in another room. That might be the best thing." The nurse explained.
"I feel like I should…help her." Christine remarked.
"She doesn't want help. Its important she signs the paperwork so you and your husband can take that baby home with you. At least the baby is healthy." The nurse said.
"She is small." Christine remarked.
"Just under six pounds. How big were your babies?" The nurse, Nancy asked.
"My smallest, Katie, was nine pounds, four ounces. My son was eleven pounds. But, my husband is really tall and just a big guy." Christine explained.
"Any baby would be tiny compared to that. Seriously, this one is healthy. Her heart is strong, her lungs are healthy, she took her bottle and has already had a diaper change. You couldn't ask for much else." Nancy said.
"I hope my husband won't mind another girl." Christine remarked.
"Give Chloe a couple years. She might have another." Nancy said. It was not a nice joke but it wasn't too far from the truth. "I'll get you a room and I'll get those papers signed for you." Nancy said.
Christine went in to get her purse and to talk to Chloe for a minute, but the young girl had no interest in the baby. She signed the paperwork, signing off her rights to the baby without much thought. Some women were just not born to be mothers.
Finally, about nine; Mike arrived with a breakfast sandwich and cup of coffee for Christine, as well as a bag of clothes for the baby. While she ate and worked on paperwork, he held and bonded with the baby.
"We need a name." Christine remarked.
"Hannah suggested one I actually really liked. Hope Margaret. I kind of would like her middle name to be Christine but I don't think I can get you to agree to that." Mike said.
"I am fine with Hope Margaret. Not Hope Christine." Christine answered before giving him a kiss. The baby was sound asleep in his arms and looked completely content.
"I figured that would be the case." Mike remarked.
"Do you wish she had been a boy?" Christine asked.
"I think I enjoy having the girls. I miss Lucas and I think I would be constantly worried that I was replacing him. Course, had she been a boy, I would have been fine too. Seriously, don't worry about a thing. She's fine." Mike answered. He gave her another long kiss and smiled down at the baby who was sound asleep on his chest.
"She definitely loves sleeping like that." Christine remarked.
"I told Hannah I would bring her here after school. She is really thrilled to see the baby." Mike told her.
"And Katie?" Christine asked.
"She seems happy about Hope being a girl and is excited to meet her new sister. I do have it on good authority that Ian finally manned up and asked her on a date." Mike said.
"And what did she say?" Christine asked.
"I think he tricked her into saying yes." Mike remarked.
"Those two." Christine replied with a smile. She loved watching Mike hold Hope. He was such a natural with babies and was never nervous. Now, they just had to get her home.