I opened my eyes. “She? What do you mean ‘she’?”
The resident held up what was definitely agirl.
“But the ultrasound technician said I was having a boy.” But really, what did I expect the resident to do? Wave her magic wand and turn the baby into aboy?
“Ultrasound isn’t a hundred percent accurate,” sheexplained.
Oh, sure. Now they tell methat.
The nurse placed my crying baby on me so we were chest-to-chest. And just like magic, my beautiful newborn daughter instantlyquieted.
“She’s gorgeous,” Kelsey exclaimed and kissed my sweaty forehead. “If you’re okay for a moment, I’ll go tellTrent.”
“Trent’s still here?” I saidweakly.
She nodded and smiled. “Of course heis.”
Despite feeling like roadkill that had been driven over several times, I smiled at her. “Thanks for being here for me, Kelsey. I don’t know what I would have done without you. But why don’t you take Trent home before the poor man collapses fromexhaustion?”
She chuckled. “Right—because he’s been working hard for the past few hours, pushing out a baby. But you’re right. I should probably get the big baby home. You good if we come back later today tovisit?”
“Absolutely.”
Baby girl and I were eventually wheeled into a private room. She was bundled in a blue receiving blanket covered with puppies, wearing a little pink hat Kelsey had picked up in the gift shop before leaving the hospital. The excitement of being born must have been too much. My daughter was fast asleep in the clearbassinet.
As I studied her perfect little face, I fell in love with her more than I ever believedpossible.
“It will be okay, little one,” I said. “No matter what happens with your daddy, I’ll always be there for you. I’ll be the best mummy any girl could hopefor.”
I’d be the mother I never really had—untilrecently.
Even if in the end I had to do italone.
27
Josh
“You may now useyour cellular phones,” the stewardess announced as we taxied toward the terminal shortly after our flight had touched down in SanFrancisco.
“Any word yet?” Travis asked as I checked mytexts.
Trent had sent one three hours ago.Congratulations, Daddy! Mother and daughter are doingfine.
I shut my eyes, positive I’d misread the message. I was tired. Clearly my brain wasn’t working at fullcapacity.
“Everyone,” Travis called out. “Josh’s girlfriend had agirl!”
Cheers and congratulations broke out from my teammates, coaching staff, and everyone else involved with theteam.
Guess that made it official—I had adaughter.
The unexpected pride? If I hadn’t been sitting, it would’ve knocked me on my ass. Holly and I had been so focused on a son that didn’t exist, I hadn’t even considered how I would feel if we had adaughter.
“And because of that,” Travis added, “drinks tonight are on him…even if he won’t bethere.”
That got snickers from myteammates.
“What were you thinking, man?” Mark asked, from across the aisle—the only HDF member with a boy. “Now we’ll have to watch more girlie kiddyshows.”
