Happy Endings: A Hessa Story (3)

Chapter 41: Hardin

There she is.

Our daughter, born only seconds ago, laying on Tessa's stomach. Our daughter. She's finally here. Tessa opens her eyes and places her hand on our daughter's back. She's still screaming her little lungs out, but I heard it's a good thing for a baby to cry when she comes out. It means her lungs are working properly. Tessa glances up at me with tears in her eyes. She grabs my hand and places it with hers on our daughter's back, rubbing it gently.

"Would you like to cut the umbilical cord, Dad?" The doctor asks me, waving a pair of industrial scissors in the air. I don't want to have any responsibility with cutting anything associated my baby or my wife, but the doctor encourages me. Apparently most men do this to their wives. "It won't hurt her or the baby." He hands me a pair of scissors and points to the general area I should cut. I feel lightheaded. I avoid looking at where the baby just came out of, even though I've had that view on multiple occasions and it's one of my favorite views. I cut the cord and immediately hand the scissors back to the doctor.

"April 15th, 6:35 PM." A nurse calls out before removing the baby from Tessa's stomach and taking it over to a station to be checked out and cleaned.

Is this really happening? Are we actually parents?

"Hardin..." Tessa's voice is barely existent, but I walk back over to her side and kiss her forehead.

"You did it, baby. I knew you could." I assure her while moving her sweat soaked hair away from her eyes. I kiss her forehead at least another five times to show my appreciation to her.

"6 pounds, 9 ounces!" Another nurse announces, but the doctor calls her over and whispers something into her ear, which causes her to rush out of the room.

Tessa smiles. "She's... beautiful."

I catch a glimpse of our squealing daughter squirming around on the exam table. "Just like her mother."

"Just like her father." She laughs, but then shutters in what looks like pain. Her face is paler than I remember it looking before, but I just assume she's completely exhausted from pushing a whole baby out of her. Tessa closes her eyes, tears still coming out. Her breathing has slowed substantially.

"Baby, you okay?" I whisper in her ear, but she shakes her head. Tears still flowing freely from her eyes.

"I'm so... tired... and weak."

"I can imagine. Did you see how big she was? You pushed that whole being out-"

"Hardin." Tessa lazily bring her hand up to cover my mouth. "Don't... talk about that."

"You're right, I'm sorry. I just can't believe she's actually here."

"We're parents, Hardin." She shakes her head. "We are actually parents to that baby on the table."

I bring my lips to the top of her head and kiss it while she leans against my chest. Tears have been pouring out of our eyes since she came out, and I don't see how they'll ever stop. I have never felt anything like this before. Happiness and fear all laced into one powerful emotion.

"Would you like to hold your daughter?" Nurse Kate walks over to us with our baby girl wrapped up in a little blanket. Tessa's eyes immediately open all the way, and she reaches her arms out to accept our daughter. Nurse Kate places our daughter in her arms. Seeing Tessa holding our baby in her arms is the most beautiful moment I've ever experienced. The two most important girls in my life are right in front of me, and I couldn't be more grateful.

"Hey baby girl..." She begins talking to her in the cutest, raspiest, whisper voice. I can't take my eyes off of our baby. She's so small, and fragile, and beautiful, and perfect. Our daughter is perfect.