“I can’t tell for now.” Was his only answer.
His expression was meaningful and also revealed a sense of evasion, as if he was testing something and not offended. I ignored my thoughts about him assigning Lee in a far city. As much as I wanted to talk to him about last night, I felt somewhat embarrassed, so I just did not open up about it instead. I looked at him enjoying his food and so I did the same. Nobody spokes anymore till we finished eating breakfast.
The day passed quietly, Mira didn’t show up again from then on. I only vaguely heard Sara mention later that Mira was in France now, she had opened a large chain of law firms, maybe because she was very busy with her business, she doesn’t have time to look after us. I think that it was a good thing. Since that night, I avoided every thought of Haden and Mira being together in the past and what is there between them now. I trusted Haden’s word of reassurance that everything between them was already over even before they had the baby. So the thought of Mira being in a faraway place now gives me peace somehow. But that has nothing to do with me either. Our life together continued as we get along better and better as the days count.
Haden is still very busy with his work and the baby is due in a month. I can feel he was also excited for the baby to finally come. He made the initiative to ask me out so we could buy baby’s stuff. He would always check on me in between meetings. He always makes sure that I am very well taken care of especially when there are times that he’s away or out of town. He always makes sure he came home from work on time every day, and we talked a little more than we used to. But then it was just all about the baby. After I have given birth, will this illusion of mine continue? That thought would always hit me so hard.
My belly was getting bigger, and my whole body looked awkward as my due went fast approaching. I already noticed some changes with my physical appearance, my swollen nose and feet, my body which gained a little more pounds compared to before I was pregnant, and I can’t even move faster now. I did not feel beautiful anymore as these changes occur in my body. But I always convinced myself that it was part of this whole pregnancy journey.
One day when Haden got home, he also noticed that my feet were a little swollen, I couldn’t even fit into shoes that were two sizes big. “What’s wrong with your feet?” asked Haden. “They’re swollen now.” Haden picked up my feet and immediately took off my socks and started massaging me.
“What are you doing, what if others see?” I asked him while looking around.
“This is my home. I could do whatever I want.” Ignoring what I said. “You know, massaging can reduce swelling. From now on, I will massage you every day for an hour.” I told him that it was just part of being pregnant as I was already near my due date. But still Haden insisted on giving me an hour foot massage. He even came back an hour early every day, as he said, to give me a foot massage.
Anyway, Haden was a good husband. He was someone that every wife wants their husband to be. Everything seems so perfect but I also knew he was just doing all this for the sake of the baby in my belly. And not because he loves me. When this pregnancy thing is over and the baby already came out, everything between us will be back to how it was before. I had to constantly remind myself with that.
My due date was approaching, and it was the time of warmth and spring, when the flowers in the garden bloomed and the grass leaves shone green. Everything was settled and prepared for the baby but I didn’t expect the little one to be in such a hurry. The due date was the next week, but three nights before the due date, the little one couldn’t wait to knock and kick my belly.
Haden had just finished massaging my feet when I suddenly felt a sharp pain. I thought it was just what they call fake contractions, but the pain went from tolerable to I can’t bear it anymore. I, then looked down and saw that the chair I was sitting in was wet. I was shocked and with a panicked look on my face, said to Haden, “What am I supposed to do, my brother , it seems my amniotic sac is broken. I can’t bear the pain anymore. Rush me to the hospital. Now!”
Haden immediately held me in bridal style and rushed to the door, put me in the back seat then ask the driver to start the car directly to the hospital. The pain intensified, and I bit my lip hard, I can’t help but scream in pain. I even prayed that we get to the hospital already. The sharp pain is getting all of me. I felt weaker and weaker. I had to bite my lips every contraction. Suddenly, Haden slid his finger into my mouth. I was shocked with what he’s done. He said in a low voice, “Bite me, don’t bite yourself, if you bite again, you’ll bleed.”
I hesitated, but a sudden pain came again that made me bite him directly.
He looked out of the car, an inexplicable discomfort flashed in his eyes, for a few moments, then huffed at the driver, “How much longer? Is the hospital far from here?” The uneasy tone made the driver shiver, and he replied anxiously, “Almost there, Sir.” The hospital wasn’t far, but the trip seemed extraordinarily long, as I felt the pain increases. And when I arrived, Haden’s arm was swollen with my bites.
Haden carried me straight to the VIP operating room. The hospital light bulbs flickered one after another overhead, the strange, drab white walls all around, the agitated nurses made my heart pound with uneasiness, and what made me more uneasy, Haden was in the operating room.
The nurses were also nervous because it was the first time a man had been present when a woman was in labor, especially such a man like Haden.
I was scared and my heart was full of fear. Haden took my hand and said, “Don’t be afraid, I’m here. We can do it.” The tone of his voice was calm and steady, with a sense of reassuring strength, as if nothing was a problem in front of him and that anything, we can do as long as he’s holding my hand. Grasping his hands, slowly, I calmed down.
“Push, use your strength, come on, push!” I couldn’t see the nurse’s face. All I can see were the light bulbs from the delivery room and the white walls surrounding us. I used all my strength in giving labor. Haden’s hands tighten as I tried my very best in pushing. I can feel his tension but he’s still comforting and cheering me up as I push the baby out. I almost give up with the pain but after less than an hour, the room broke out a cry of an infant. I felt relieved and accomplished. The nurse held a new baby and said, “It’s a little prince.” It’s a little Haden.
As Haden took one look at the baby, it was magical for me. Seeing him happy as he looked at his son. I pictured that moment on my mind and promised myself to keep it forever. He then ran back to my bed to check on me. Before he had even gotten to me, I had lost my consciousness.
Haden’s POV
I asked the nurse, “How is my wife?”
The nurse said, “She’s just sleeping.”
“Is she okay?”
“Yes, she’s fine. Just let her take a rest.”
I breathed a sigh of relief as I stepped out of the door. Outside of the delivery room, Mom Serina alongside Sara were waiting. They asked me lots of question about the baby and if Elena was okay.
“Yes, but she needs some rest.” I told them.
The nurse then took out the baby and gave it to mom Silena, while we were waiting for Elena. Mom Sirena looked at the baby, held the child in her hands and made a satisfied expression, “Come look at it, it looks just like you Haden, how cute!” I have a little experience of taking care of a child, my posture is very stiff when taking over the kid, he looked at the swaddled child in mom’s arms. Suddenly, a strange feeling of happiness lived in my heart. This is the kind of happiness that even on any amount of money, achievement or possession can’t be compared. This is fatherhood and this is priceless!