The Deception
Page 35
Alex grudgingly stepped out. A few more hours passed with little progress. Allison finally arrived around four-thirty.
"Uh-oh, so what happened to you?" asked Julia.
"Steve and I got a suite at the Double-Diamond Resort the night of Carrie's wedding, and now the joke around his office is if you want to get knocked up, go to the Double-Diamond. At least my baby bump isn't that big yet."
"Hey guys, I think something's happening," exclaimed Carrie. "I'm starting to feel some pressure and the urge to push."
The nurse examined her again. "Finally. You're fully dilated and the baby's head is beginning to crown. Do you want to watch in the mirror?"
"No thanks, but would someone please go get Alex."
"You got it," said Julia. "What about your dad?"
"It's up to him. I could care less right now about who else wants to come in here. I just want to get this baby out."
Julia stepped out, returning a few minutes later with Alex. Someone handed him a surgical gown while she explained that Steve had just arrived, and Jonathan wanted to stay in the waiting room with him. As Alex was getting into the gown, the nurse midwife took her position at the foot of the bed and examined Carrie.
"It's show time," she announced. "When I say, 'push' I want you to lift her up by the shoulders. When she's done pushing, let her rest. Dad, you can stay up there with her, or come down here with me. It's up to you."
"I think I'll stay and help with the lifting, for now."
Alex took Carrie's hand, and as she started having the next contraction, she was told to push. They lifted her by the shoulders and afterwards they let her relax. They quickly fell into a routine. An hour later the midwife announced that the baby's head was visible.
"You may want to come down here, Dad. You really don't want to miss this."
Alex squeezed Carrie's hand and walked to the foot of the bed.
"Whoa!"
He could see the top of a small head, covered with reddish hair, protruding out from between Carrie's legs. A moment later she pushed again, and more of the head began to appear. Alex watched in total awe. His child was coming into the world. As she continued pushing, one of the nurses began to suction the fluids out of the baby's nose and mouth.
"Just a few more, Carrie. We're almost done. Once the shoulders are out, I can ease the rest of the baby out."
"Come on, Carrie-Anne." Alex reached over and began stroking her leg. "One more ought to do it."
Carrie took a deep breath and gave one last, final push. The midwife pulled the rest of the baby out and she let out a loud squall. They quickly noted the time of birth. Alex stood in awe as the nurse handed her to him.
"Congratulations, Dad, you've got a beautiful baby girl. Did you want to cut the cord?"
The baby quieted down, opened her eyes and looked around the room. They were gray, just like her father's.
"You go ahead," said Alex. He was still in too much in awe. The cord was clamped and as soon as it was cut, he walked up and presented her to her mother. Carrie sat up and held her for a moment as the others looked on.
"You've finally got your family princess, Alex."
"I know, Carrie-Anne. I love you, more than you could possibly know."
After he leaned over and kissed her, one of the nurses tapped him on the shoulder.
"We need to get her cleaned up and checked out, and we have some final business to take care of with her mother, so why don't you come with me?"
"Go with her, Alex," said Carrie. "The baby clothes are in my bag. Could someone please get something for her to wear?"
"I've got it," replied Allison. She opened the bag, quickly picking out a little white outfit. The nurse told her to come and bring it along. He stopped to give Carrie another kiss before he took the baby and followed them out.
"I'll go tell the others," said Julia. She stepped out to the waiting room where she was met by two anxious faces.
"Well?" Jonathan finally asked.
"It's a girl." She walked up to embrace him. "I guess this means we're grandparents now."
Allison soon joined them, and a short time later Alex brought his newborn daughter into the room. She was dressed in her white outfit, with a little pink hat, and wrapped in a little pink blanket. His face was beaming.
"I'd like to introduce all of you to my daughter, Alexis Penelope Montoya. She came in at twenty inches long, seven pounds, three ounces, and no bullet burn."
Everyone gathered around to see the baby and to congratulate him as they took pictures with their cell phones. Alex handed the baby over to Jonathan to let him hold her while he got his phone and snapped a few photos. When he was finished he handed the phone to Julia. He stood next to Jonathan and they held the baby together as she snapped a few more photos. Afterwards, he handed the baby back to her grandfather while he sent the pictures to his parents and brother. Once he was done, he took the baby back so Steve would have a chance to see her. A few minutes later one of the nurses came into the room.
"Mom says to bring her back, right now, or else she's coming out to get her."
"I take it she's ready for visitors," said Alex.
"Ready and waiting."
Alex led the troupe into Carrie's room. She'd had a chance to freshen up and change into a pair of pajamas, and she was now comfortably relaxed in her bed. Her face was also beaming as she reached for the baby. Alex handed her over as he greeted her with a kiss and took a chair next to her.
"So, how are you feeling, Carrie?" asked Allison.
"Relieved." Everyone had a laugh. "And I'm looking forward to finally being able to see my feet again."
The nurses stepped out, giving Carrie and Alex some time to bond with their daughter and share the moment with their family and closest friends. Before long, Alex's phone started ringing. His parents and brother had just received their first pictures of Alexis and were calling to congratulate him. In a family with a propensity for having boys, a girl was a welcome surprise.
"Of course you know the next one will be a boy," he said to Carrie once he ended the calls.
"I know that, Alex, but let me recover from having this one before we start working on the next one, okay?" She watched as the baby yawned and fell asleep. Alex took her and gently laid her down in the bassinette.
"Then I guess that's our cue," said Jonathan. "Come on everyone, dinner's on Grandpa."
"No, it's on Dad," argued Alex. He stopped to kiss Carrie goodbye, telling her he'd be back soon. The others stopped to give her a hug and a kiss as well. The two men were still arguing over who would pick up the dinner tab as they all began to exit.
"Julia, I really want to thank you for being here," said Carrie as she reached for her stepmother's hand. "Today's been one of those days when I've missed my mother terribly, and I'm so glad you're here with me."
"My pleasure, Carrie. You get some rest. We'll be back to check on you later." She bent down to kiss Carrie on the forehead before she stepped away.
The following morning Alex took his wife and daughter home. Julia would stay with them for a few days, and Alex's parents would come the following week. Once Alexis was taken to the nursery, fed, changed and settled into her crib, Carrie went into the kitchen. She found a bottle of fruit juice in the refrigerator, and after she poured herself a glass she gazed out the kitchen window. A technician was installing an alarm on the pool fence while a landscaper was starting to work on the backyard. As she watched, she began to reminisce. It was a year to the day since she'd sat on the patio watching Alex as he took an evening swim. That was the time when she'd wondered who the future mother of his children would be, thinking the day would come when she'd have to step aside for her. She smiled to herself as she lifted her glass and took a drink, relieved in knowing that day would never come. She and Alex would be best friends forever.
Alex’s Macaroni & Cheese
2 cups macaroni, cooked and drained
2 ½ cups milk
1 cup sour cream
&n
bsp; 2 ½ cups grated Mexican cheese blend (or 2 ½ cups cheddar)
½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
4 tablespoons butter, divided
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon dry mustard
¼ teaspoon paprika
1/3 cup breadcrumbs.
Preheat oven to 350° and cook pasta for 8 to 10 minutes. Drain. While pasta is cooking whisk milk and sour cream in a medium-sized mixing bowl and add seasonings. Set aside. Chop two tablespoons of butter into small pieces. Chill in refrigerator until needed. Melt remaining 2 tablespoons of butter in a small mixing bowl. Add breadcrumbs, blend thoroughly and set aside.
Layer half of the cooked and drained macaroni, chopped butter, and cheese into an 8 x 8 inch baking dish. Top with remaining macaroni, butter and cheese. Pour milk mixture over the top and sprinkle the breadcrumb mixture on top. Bake for approximately 30 minutes, or until the top is crispy and brown.
If desired, ham or sausage may be added to the macaroni mixture.
About the Author
Just like Gillian Matthews, the heroine in her debut romance novel, The Reunion, Marina Martindale began her career as a graphic designer and artist. After submitting a few articles to trade publications she discovered that writing was her true calling. Her life experiences, and those of the people around her, are the inspiration for her novels.
Marina Martindale is currently working on her third romance novel, The Journey. She resides in Tucson, Arizona, and in her spare time she enjoys traveling, photography, quilt making, and cooking.
For more information about Marina Martindale please visit her website at www.marinamartindale.com, or her blog at www.marinamartindale.net. A print version of The Deception is also available. Please visit www.marinamartindale.com for more information, as well as for more information about other Marina Martindale books.