meet mine and they’re shimmering with tears.
“He’s so beautiful, Garrett. He’s absolutely perfect.” I move to sit on the bed beside her and we lovingly watch our son as he sleeps peacefully in his mother’s arms. I lean over and kiss Shelby on the top of her head before placing my arm around her back so that at this moment, we can be with Liam, together like a family.
***
Jeff arrives around ten o’clock that night and he looks a little worse for the wear. I can only imagine what his flight must have been like. He was out of touch for a few hours while he was at the airport and also in the air so he wouldn’t have gotten the message that Shelby and Liam are fine until he’d landed. His clothes look rumpled and his hair’s sticking out in places as if he’s been pulling on it.
Shelby finally drifted off about an hour ago, after putting up a good front for all of her family and friends. I knew she must be exhausted and in some serious pain. Liam’s in the bassinet sleeping peacefully after being passed around from one set of arms to the next. He ate up all the attention from Shelby’s brothers and her father. Cory arrived after he got done at the office and he and Hailey were oohing and aahing every time he moved. It’s so funny to watch how grown adults make themselves look like fools for a newborn baby, myself included. I was making all kinds of exaggerated and silly faces at our little guy as he looked up at me with his big eyes. He seems so aware for a newborn. I don’t remember my niece being like this, but in all honesty, I wasn’t paying as much attention since she wasn’t mine.
As Jeff walks over toward where I’m seated beside the bed, I stand up and hold out my hand for him to shake. Now is not the time to fight or let any of our lingering history or bitterness get in the way of being civil. He must be sharing the same sentiment because he takes my hand firmly in his and pumps it up and down.
“How are they?” He asks, the concern evident in his tone.
“They’re both doing well. Shelby is expected to recover fully. She’s going to be sore for the next four to six weeks from the emergency C-section she had, but other than that she’s fine. Liam is perfect. He came through all this like a little champ.” Jeff steps closer to the bassinet and leans in for a closer look. The lighting in the room is dimmed so they can both sleep so I know he’s not getting to see Liam very well. I pull out my phone and open up my flashlight app, shining it over toward the bassinet so Jeff can get a better look. He smiles at me and says thanks before he continues on with his close study of the baby.
“He’s so little,” He says. “I’ve never seen a newborn before.”
“He weighs eight pounds five ounces, so he’s a pretty good sized baby. If she had carried him for two more weeks, he might have weighed over nine pounds.”
Shelby slowly begins to wake up and when she sees Jeff, her whole face lights up with a beaming smile aimed in his direction. I can’t help but feel jealous that she’s so happy to see him. I only want her to be that way with me. Jeff looks equally ecstatic to see her and he takes her gently into his arms, holding her close. He’s tenderly stroking her hair and I can tell how much he still loves Shelby, just by the way he is with her. Then again, who wouldn’t fall in love with her? She’s one of a kind and after being away from her for three plus years, I know this better than anyone.
Jeff remains at the hospital for another hour and then he takes a cab back to his friend Lee’s apartment, where he’s staying. I settle into the uncomfortable recliner for the night, in spite of Shelby urging me to go home. I know that Liam’s going to wake up at some point and I don’t want her to have to get out of bed to get him from his bassinet. I know she’s
“He’s so beautiful, Garrett. He’s absolutely perfect.” I move to sit on the bed beside her and we lovingly watch our son as he sleeps peacefully in his mother’s arms. I lean over and kiss Shelby on the top of her head before placing my arm around her back so that at this moment, we can be with Liam, together like a family.
***
Jeff arrives around ten o’clock that night and he looks a little worse for the wear. I can only imagine what his flight must have been like. He was out of touch for a few hours while he was at the airport and also in the air so he wouldn’t have gotten the message that Shelby and Liam are fine until he’d landed. His clothes look rumpled and his hair’s sticking out in places as if he’s been pulling on it.
Shelby finally drifted off about an hour ago, after putting up a good front for all of her family and friends. I knew she must be exhausted and in some serious pain. Liam’s in the bassinet sleeping peacefully after being passed around from one set of arms to the next. He ate up all the attention from Shelby’s brothers and her father. Cory arrived after he got done at the office and he and Hailey were oohing and aahing every time he moved. It’s so funny to watch how grown adults make themselves look like fools for a newborn baby, myself included. I was making all kinds of exaggerated and silly faces at our little guy as he looked up at me with his big eyes. He seems so aware for a newborn. I don’t remember my niece being like this, but in all honesty, I wasn’t paying as much attention since she wasn’t mine.
As Jeff walks over toward where I’m seated beside the bed, I stand up and hold out my hand for him to shake. Now is not the time to fight or let any of our lingering history or bitterness get in the way of being civil. He must be sharing the same sentiment because he takes my hand firmly in his and pumps it up and down.
“How are they?” He asks, the concern evident in his tone.
“They’re both doing well. Shelby is expected to recover fully. She’s going to be sore for the next four to six weeks from the emergency C-section she had, but other than that she’s fine. Liam is perfect. He came through all this like a little champ.” Jeff steps closer to the bassinet and leans in for a closer look. The lighting in the room is dimmed so they can both sleep so I know he’s not getting to see Liam very well. I pull out my phone and open up my flashlight app, shining it over toward the bassinet so Jeff can get a better look. He smiles at me and says thanks before he continues on with his close study of the baby.
“He’s so little,” He says. “I’ve never seen a newborn before.”
“He weighs eight pounds five ounces, so he’s a pretty good sized baby. If she had carried him for two more weeks, he might have weighed over nine pounds.”
Shelby slowly begins to wake up and when she sees Jeff, her whole face lights up with a beaming smile aimed in his direction. I can’t help but feel jealous that she’s so happy to see him. I only want her to be that way with me. Jeff looks equally ecstatic to see her and he takes her gently into his arms, holding her close. He’s tenderly stroking her hair and I can tell how much he still loves Shelby, just by the way he is with her. Then again, who wouldn’t fall in love with her? She’s one of a kind and after being away from her for three plus years, I know this better than anyone.
Jeff remains at the hospital for another hour and then he takes a cab back to his friend Lee’s apartment, where he’s staying. I settle into the uncomfortable recliner for the night, in spite of Shelby urging me to go home. I know that Liam’s going to wake up at some point and I don’t want her to have to get out of bed to get him from his bassinet. I know she’s
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