Wednesday, March 31, 2010

The beginning

Kathy shook her head and rolled her eyes. The ultrasound wasn’t able to tell them the sex of the baby but she didn’t need a machine to tell her she was going to give Nick a son.
“You’re doing great Kathy. I see a mass of black hair.” Kathy squeezed Nick’s hands until he thought they were going to break. "I’m so proud of you baby,” he said brushing back the sweat soaked hair from her face. You‘ll have to explain to our daughter why she‘s named Nick Junior.”
“Once more Kathy. It’s … a boy! You were right,” Dr. Larson said smiling. Kathy laid back onto the bed tears streamed down her face. Tears of joy and tears of relief.
“I knew you could do it, Kathy,” he said wiping the tears from her cheeks.
“Why isn’t he crying,” Kathy said struggling to sit up. “Is he alright?”
“Do you want to cut the cord dad? It looks like mom won the bet you got yourself a boy. I don’t know how you waited to find out. I’m not one for surprises,” Dr. Larson said.
Nick rose and walked to the foot of the bed. He cut the cord that had bound mother and son for the last nine months. The child was now a flesh and blood part of Nick’s world. The baby opened his eyes, looked at his father and screamed at the top of his lungs.
“Nick has that effect on people,” Kathy said, crying happy tears.
“I don’t think we’ll have any trouble knowing when he wants something,” Nick said proudly.
“Here you two can hold him for a minute. Dad, you look like you could use a cup of coffee. We need to get him ready for his debut. The paparazzi have been sniffing around.”
An angry look flashed across Nick’s face. “They’ll get a picture of him if and when were ready. Nobody comes near him.” Nick took the baby in his arms, he was so small, so fragile. He laid their child in Kathy‘s arms.
“Look what you did,” Nick said smiling.
“Look what we did,” Kathy chided. “He’s so beautiful Nick and so…” Nick and Kathy quickly counted fingers and toes.
“Perfect, just like his mother.” Nick leaned over and kissed her. “I knew you could do it.”
“Nick, I’m a mess don’t look at me.”
“You have never looked more beautiful to me.”
“Okay you two I’m going to start crying in a minute,” Dr. Larson said sniffing. She’d never seen two people more in love or devoted to each other and knew that devotion would be showered on their child.
“I’ll let Jack know then I’ll be right back.” He bent over and kissed her again.
Nick walked out and headed for the waiting room. Rose jumped to her feet a look of apprehension on her face. “Well…” Rose said.
“It’s a boy and they’re both doing fine.” Rose threw her arms around Nick and kissed his cheek. Tom slapped him on the back and shook his hand. “Brody just grew by one,” Tom said proudly hugging Rose. “We better hit the road honey, It’s almost dawn.”
“I didn’t realize it was that late,” Nick said shaking his head. “Thanks for being here. It means a lot to us. Here I got a picture of him on the phone.”
“ Look at all the hair. He’s just beautiful. We’re so thrilled for the two of you. Call us when you bring him home.”
“You bet,” Nick said.
“Well how does it feel dad?” Jack said throwing his arms around Nick. “You look like hell.”
“I don’t think it’s sunk in yet. Lets go find some coffee.” The two men headed for the elevator and the cafeteria. “Great it doesn’t open for another hour.” Nick pushed the button on the machine and watched as the various plastic wrapped food items spun past. Nick settled on a Danish and chocolate mini doughnuts for Kathy. “Don’t look at me like that I’d eat the wrapper right about now.” Nick sat down at a table and Jack brought him coffee.
“Let me see that son of yours,” Jack said holding his hand out for the cell phone. “Just don’t screw this up like I did Nick. They always have to come first.”
“I know Jack.” Nick mumbled his mouth full of Danish. “I don’t want to be gone too long. I guess the paparazzi are on the loose. I don’t want them bothering Kathy and the baby.”
“You mean Nick junior?” Jack teased.
“She said I get to name the next one. Let’s head up and I‘ll introduce him to his uncle Jack.”
“The next one,” Jack said looking at Nick out of the corner of his eye. “I never thought I’d see the day Kathy would settle down.”
“She’s going to make a great mother. If she’s as passionate about this as she is everything else. The poor kid will never be out of her sight.” Nick and Jack walked into the room. Kathy sat on the bed holding Nick Jr. in her arms.
“How you doing Kath?” Jack asked.
“I’m so happy Jack. I don’t ever remember being this happy. He’s so incredible. Do want to hold him?” she asked.
“Come here to uncle, Jack,” he said scooping Nick Jr. up in his arms. “You certainly are an arm full.”
“Eight pounds three ounces. He‘s so beautiful.” Kathy’s face glowed with pride.
“Definitely not your typical homely baby. You two did good.”
“I almost forgot,” Nick said handing Kathy a package of chocolate covered donuts. “The cafeteria was closed it was the only chocolate left in the machine.”
“Thanks Nicky. I don’t know what I want more food or sleep.” She yawned as she ripped open the package.
“You three need some alone time and I need some sleep. I’ll see you three tomorrow.”
Jack bent over and kissed Kathy on the cheek. “I couldn’t be more proud if you were my own daughter.”
“Thanks Jack,” she said her eyes filled with tears. Where was her own father during this momentous event. Absent as always. Maybe she thought things would be different with her expecting his first grandchild but she had heard nothing from him since she told him about the baby.
“Later Jack,” Nick said waving little Nicky‘s arm at him. Jack shook his head and rolled his eyes.
Nick turned back to Kathy her eyes were closed she was asleep. “It’s just you and me kid,” he whispered. He walked over to the window and stared at the sunrise. The new life in his arms greeting the new day, the first day of his life. The fear and uncertainty Kathy must have felt washed over him. He like her had no one to guide him in this new chapter of his life. They were starting off together in unfamiliar and uncharted territory. There was no margin for error with this precious little being depending on them making the right decisions. He bent his head down and kissed his sons cheek. That hole, that emptiness that had followed him around for the last thirty years had finally been filled. He now knew what it was like to be complete. Little Nicky blinked his eyes and yawned. “I think you’ve earned a nap you’ve had a big day.” Nick laid him down and covered him with a blanket. Kathy was still sleeping peacefully so he sat down in the chair and closed his eyes.

Kathy turned off the water after cleaning the mess Nicky made at lunch time. He had managed to get more food on the floor than in his mouth. She was glad to start him on solids he was always hungry. Demanding like his father but in a way that made her want to give. There were no sounds coming from the living room so she peeked around the corner. She found Nick on the floor with Nicky sleeping soundly on his chest. Kathy smiled and grabbed the camera. She took several pictures and then stared at her two men, he was his father’s son. His hair was growing in dark and thick and he had his father’s devilish dimple. She had never seen a more devoted father they were inseparable.
“You want to grab him mom or I’m going to have to spend the night down here.”
She bent over and gently picked him up. Nick grunted as he rose from the floor.
“He’s a handful I don’t know what we’re going to do when he starts walking.”
He took Nicky from Kathy’s arms and carried him upstairs to the crib. They’d left it in the master suite with them; neither wanting him out of their sight. In one swift move he gently threw Kathy onto the bed; pouncing on her like a cat on it’s helpless prey.
“When were you going to tell me about the movie? Am I going to have to tickle it out of you.”
“You know I’ll scream and then we’ll wake him up. How did you find out?” She whispered glaring at him.
“It’s my job to know things.”
“I guess I was a little embarrassed they want me to come out and read for the part. Can you imagine?”
“No one’s seen you in almost two years, baby.”
“They just want to make sure I’m not fat after the baby. Am I fat Nick?”
Nick rolled his eye. She wasn’t bony like before she was soft and curvy and he loved her new body.
“No, baby you’re built for comfort.”
“Am I a car or what?”
He ran his hands down her body. “You’re like the Ferrari, sleek, hot and always a wild ride.” He kissed her and felt the familiar passion stir.
“Maybe we should go down stairs and take a test drive. It’s been a while.
“Are we talking about sex or the car?”
“I don’t know. Let’s just hurry before he wakes up.”
Kathy grabbed the baby monitor and they held hands as they headed down the stairs.
“Maybe we can take a nap when were done,” Kathy whispered.
“Sounds good to me.”
Kathy sighed and snuggled into his arms. She was more happy with her family and life than she ever could have dreamed possible.
“What about another baby next year?”
“Only if we can have a daughter as beautiful as it’s mother. You know me. I am always ready, willing and able to do my part.”
“You are such an animal,” she giggled.
“But that’s what you love about me, baby. Why don’t you set this movie thing up and we’ll all go out. Uncle Jack wont believe how much he’s grown. You can tell me anything and I’ll support you in anything you want to do. I don’t ever want you to doubt that I want you to be happy.”
She smiled. “I am Nick. I am.” She pulled him down on top of her and they made love until they collapsed, blissfully sated

1 comment:

  1. wow lovely the way you wrote the birth and the touching moments!

    ReplyDelete