Lily’s POV.
After Christmas, we went back to New York to celebrate New Year with friends and I arranged a small party for our friends and family. It was the first time I hosted any party and it was fun too as nobody could complain about anything for two reasons. First because I was pregnant and second because I was perfect.
When the clock struck 12, Ryan and I kissed like every other couple in the room. We celebrated till late. For years, I had no one to be happy with so much other than my family but now that Ryan is here my whole world has started revolving around him.
Teddy and Lady have grown up to be so big now. It has become quite impossible to hold them in my arms anymore. But they have become mature enough to understand and take care of me. Through training and exercise, they have become quite smart too but they have stayed still a bit naughty.
January was kind of a difficult month as I used to get tired very easily and also because I got to see less of Ryan every passing day. I heard from somewhere that as a woman advances in her pregnancy, men start to lose interest.
But I don’t think Ryan has lost any interest in me. Even though we don’t make love anymore, there is not a thing that I can’t get if I ask from Ryan more like order him. He is still as attentive as he was before.
But him being not around me during the day as he has work too unlike me makes me feel… sad. I blame it on hormones and also the fact that I didn’t let Ryan know about it. But I think he could sense it somewhere.
I think about giving Ryan a surprise by making a romantic lunch for him the day before Valentine’s day. So I wear a peach colored sweater dress and thigh high stockings and a coat over it with gloves.
I make caprese garlic bread, cacio e pepe, minestrone soup and red velvet skillet cookie. I put them all in one basket and take the car to their company.
I feel giddy doing this again. The first time I surprised him with lunch in his office was in September and what a day it was. After the romantic lunch, we kissed and one thing led to another and we made love not only on his chair but also at the table. It was quite hot to throw the stuff off the table like that.
I get in the company and tell everyone to keep quiet about my coming. I use the key card especially made for me and go up to the executive floor. I am so excited. I don’t see Sarah on her desk and think maybe they are in a meeting and go inside his cabin.
He is not there and I think he is in a meeting. I text Sarah to know where he is and get to know that Ryan would be busy the whole day as he has a very important meeting going for an important project. This is what happens when you give surprise.
After waiting for half an hour, I hear the door opening and I look up to see Ryan entering the cabin rubbing his temple. He stops as soon as he sees me.
“What are you doing here, Lily?” He asks as he lays his head down on my lap.
“I am here to surprise you with a romantic lunch.” I say as I kiss him on the hand.
“Well I thought valentine is tomorrow.” Ryan says.
“Yes it is. But I was missing you.” I say.
“Let’s see what you bring for me as I don’t have much time.” Ryan says as he gives me a peck on the lips.
We have lunch together and spend some time together without saying anything and just enjoying each other’s company. Later I go home alone and still miss Ryan.
Something is going on with Ryan as I have never seen him so stressed about anything so much. I don’t know what it is but I will ask him after Valentine’s day. Until then I have to just take care of him.
Ryan comes home late at night and looks very tired, so I ask Lia to serve our dinner in our room only. We have dinner and go to sleep. In the morning, I woke up to pain in my back and Ryan was not beside me. Maybe he has gone to the office already, I think.
I go to the washroom and my water breaks. My doctor assured me about these things, so I got freshened and changed into the maternity clothes which I kept aside in case I go into labour. I don’t feel contractions that strong.
I will call Ryan first then doctor. As I am up to 38 weeks, it would be fine but I had to be careful. I go down slowly and see Ryan coming out of the kitchen with a tray in hand. He stops when he sees me.
“Why did you wake up? I was going to bring you breakfast in bed. Happy Valentines, my love.” Ryan says and kisses me.
“Happy Valentines.” I say with a smile completely forgetting my contraction. This can wait for sometime.
“Come. Let’s have breakfast then I am going to spend the whole day with you. It has been days since we had spent some quality time together. I have planned so many things for today like movies, games, romantic lunch and dinner or we could do anything you like.” Ryan says as we sit down on the couch.
“How about having our baby?” I say with a smile and he laughs.
“You really have a weird sense of humour dear.” Ryan says as he gives me a glass of juice.
“I wish it was a joke but it isn’t.” I say as I drink.
It takes a few seconds for Ryan to understand what I am saying but then he jumps up from the couch and goes here and there in worry and says, “You are in labour. We have to go to the hospital.”
“Not now. Just call our doctor and say that my water broke and my contraction is coming every 15 minutes and lasts for only 60 seconds. We will leave when it is just five to ten minutes apart. So we have some time. So what should we do for our Valentine?” I ask.
“How could you be so calm?” Ryan asks.
“I am saving my energy for actual action. So don’t waste your energy too, you will need it too.” I say as I drink more.
“Fine. I am going to make calls.” Ryan says.
“Come back soon.” I say and he nods.
It’s not that I am not nervous and scared but I don’t want to panic and make Ryan and my baby scared too. But more than anything I am excited to meet my baby. I have been waiting for this moment for so long.
Ryan’s hovering irritates me more than contractions. He calls everyone in his family and mine too. They will be here soon. I take Ryan’s hand and make him sit down.
“Stop worrying so much, Ryan. We are going to have our baby soon and I want to calm down and not get scared of… this” I say as I point at all of him.
“I am sorry if I am scaring you. I am so happy and excited that is why I am acting like this.” Ryan says.
“Just keep me in your arms and you will be fine.” I say and he does that.
We leave for the hospital after Ryan has lunch and I eat fruits only and some crackers. Soon my contraction took less time and I am shifted to a private ward and try to control my scream through pain.
I meet our family who are there for me and my time to push comes. I ask Ryan to be with me during labour and he tries his best to not show me how scared he is. But time for being considerate towards others is long gone.
“Push, Lily push. You can do it.” Ryan says irritating me more.
“I am pushing Ryan, not playing hold your breath longest. Stop irritating and let me focus. You just hold my hand.” I say as I try to breathe.
“Lily, now is the time to push with every strength.” Doctor says.
“How I wish to kick you both out of here! But obviously I can’t.” I say loudly and focus all my strength in that last push.
My labour goes on for 12 hours and finally at 7 in the evening my little bun comes out of his oven looking all red and crying on the top of his lungs. When Ryan brings him to me wrapped in white blanket, I see his eyes shining with tears.
“Why are you crying? He looks so cute. Is there any problem?” I ask with worry as I take my baby in my arms.
“He is so beautiful and he is ours. Thank you so much, Lily, for this little bundle of joy.” Ryan says and kisses my head.
I look at my baby and I feel my eyes welling up too. He looks so beautiful. “He has my eyes.” I say.
“He does.” Ryan says.
Soon the baby is taken from me after I feed him to do some checkup and Ryan goes with them while the doctor looks after me. After that I am so tired that I go to sleep.
The next time I wake up is to see Ryan dozing off on a chair beside me with his head beside my hand. I run my fingers through his messy hair to straighten it a bit and he wakes up with a start.
“What happened? Are you okay? Do you need anything?” Ryan asks in a whisper.
“Why are you whispering?” I ask him.
“Because our boy is sleeping.” Ryan says as he points on the left side of me. I turn around to see our baby sleeping and my heart melts.
“How is he?” I ask.
“Good. Very good actually. He made everyone cry with tears of joy.” Ryan says as he looks at him.
“He is our Valentine baby.” I say.
Ryan calls for the doctor while a nurse does a routine check up and brings me ice chips. Doctors say that I could be discharged in the afternoon. We already gave the name which would be written on our son’s birth certificate.
“So did they like the name?” I ask.
“They all loved it.” Ryan says and we hear the faint cry of our baby.
Ryan brings him to me and I coo to him and say, “Hello, Adam Ryder Anderson. I am your Mom and I love you so much.”
“So does your Dad.” Ryan says as he puts his arm around my shoulder. I smile up at him and we kiss each other.
Next day in the afternoon, I get discharged from the hospital and get details about our baby from his pediatrician. Ryan brings the SUV for me and I raise my eyebrows.
“Days for sports cars are gone. Now I am a family man.” He says and I giggle.
He puts the baby in the backseat with Viola who stayed behind with us. I thanked her again for being there. When I asked Ryan why nobody else came, he said that they are waiting to welcome me at our house.
“Where are we going? You took the wrong turn, Ryan.” I ask Ryan when he goes in a different direction.
“No, I have not.” Ryan says.
“No you did.” I say.
“Don’t worry. This turn would also take us to our house.” He says and when I go to complain he asks me to just rest.
I close my eyes and try to relax as I know Ryan would take us home safely. I keep checking on Adam and Viola that if they are okay or not and soon our car stops in front of a huge iron gate.
“Oh My Goodness.” I exclaim as I see a Victorian style home of red, black and cream colored.
“Welcome to our new home, honey.” Ryan says as he stops the car in front of the main door of the house.
“Our… new house?” I ask in astonishment.
“This is what kept me busy all these days and also away from you. Come, everybody is waiting.” Ryan says and gets out of the car.
He opens my door and I get out. I take Adam in my arms and Ryan puts his arm around me to take us inside. I am surprised to see our family and Williams there with balloons and cake.
“Welcome home.” Everybody says and I smile as I see the interior of the house is still a bit empty.
“The interior of the house is all yours to decide.” Ryan says, “So, did you like it?”
“I love it. I love you.” I say and kiss him.
This day is getting better every second. Finally I have my home and my family.