by Love, K. J.
“What did you see?” Kayla asks.
Trying desperately to change the subject, because I don’t want to describe what I just saw. “Not much. In just a minute we will see Brooklyn.”
She smiles at me, surprisingly she is very calm. Then we hear it, a sweet little cry. Then Dr. Martin holds her up over the drape for us to see. The love I already have for this child astounds me. He quickly hands her off to a waiting nurse.
“Wait, can we see her?” Kayla asks.
“She’s really tiny and her lungs may not be fully developed yet. As soon as we check her out, we’ll let you hold her.”
“Blake, go over there and check on her. Please.”
“Okay, Baby. I’ll be right back.”
Going over, I watch as they stick her tiny feet and check her vitals. Brooklyn is kicking violently. She is not happy with these people. My little girl is going to be a feisty one. Pride and joy, like I’ve never felt before, fills me. I have got to be the luckiest man alive. Finally, Kayla and I get to hold her and give her kisses. Seeing her in Kayla’s arms, I know that my life is complete. Knowing, now, how much my parents loved me, I feel kind of bad for some of the things I did growing up.
“Blake, she is so beautiful. Look at this hair, its dark like yours.”
“Yes, but her face is definitely from you.”
“We have to take the baby to the nursery. Dad would you like to walk her down?”
Looking at Kayla, asking what should I do with my eyes? She gives me the answer I knew she would.
“Go with her. I’ll be fine. Did you call the family?”
“I called Tessa and told her to let everyone know.”
“Well, all of North Carolina knows by now, I’m sure.” She laughs and then winces. Forgetting that her stomach is still being stitched up.
“I’ll be back.”
Leaning down, I give her a soft peck on the lips.
“Go see if the family is here too.”
Looking at her with concern because leaving her is not what I want to do.
“She’s going to be in recovery for a while. So you have time to do a few things, like let you family know your daughter is here. Plus, we need to get this baby girl checked out more thoroughly.”
“Okay.”
After Brooklyn is all settled in, I walk out to the waiting room taking the hat off of my head. As I walk in the room, I’m bombarded with questions.
“Woah! Give me a second. One question at a time please.”
“How is she? How is the baby? What happened?”
“We have a healthy 5lb 6oz baby girl. Mom and baby are doing fine. Brooklyn has some jaundice and she is going to be put under a light for treatment. Kayla went in for a check up this morning and her blood pressure was so high they were afraid for both of them. So the only solution was to go ahead and get the baby delivered. Kayla’s blood pressure is already going down.” Everyone sighs in relief.
Once Kayla is in a room. Everyone comes barreling in, I’m not sure how they kept the nurses from stopping them.
“Girl, I just saw the most beautiful baby in the world and let me tell you, I’m going shopping right after I leave here.” Tessa say enthusiastically.
“You better be saving that money for your wedding. I hear it’s happening soon.” Kayla says.
“Yeah, as soon as I get that diploma in my hands. Girl, we have been waiting a very long time.”
“Too long.” Asher chimes in.
“Whatever. Keep it up and I’ll push the date back some more.” Tessa replies.
“Oh, baby, you know I’m kidding. I’m just ready for you to be my wife.” Asher is trying to sweet talk her now.
Asher proposed to Tessa a year after high school graduation. Tessa said yes, but it would be a long engagement since she insisted on graduating from college first. Asher has been trying to talk her into an earlier wedding since the night he proposed.
“Brooklyn is so beautiful honey.” Lisa goes over and kisses Kayla’s cheek.
“Yes she is, Kayla. She looks just like her mommy.” Troy tells Kayla.
“Thank you. I think she is beautiful too. Did anyone call my parents?”
“I did. They are on their way. I called your mom’s house and Frank said she is in North Carolina but in Raleigh. He called her hotel and she should be here soon. Anne said your dad was out of town, but that she would get up with him and let him know.”
“Okay. Thank you.”
“We’re going to go, hunny, so you can rest.” Lisa says kissing Kayla’s forehead.
Everyone congratulates us and gives us hugs before they leave.
“I’ll be right back, I’m going to go get you some ice water.”
Following everyone out, we hear some commotion in the waiting room. As we enter I see that Anne, Paige, Nick, and Andrew are arguing. Leo is just sitting there shaking his head at them.
“Well, how did she get here so fast Andrew? And where were you really? With her?” Anne shouts at Andrew.
“You have no idea what you are talking about. If you think I’d ever do something like that… I would never do that.” Paige says to Anne.
“Hey! I have no idea what’s going on here and I really don’t care. What I do care about is that my wife would like all of you here, so shut up and put some smiles on your faces and go see your daughter and granddaughter. Because, so help me, if I have to, I will have every one of you kicked out and banned from coming back in.”
“Blake is right. We are all her for Kayla. And Anne you need to quit assuming things.” Andrew states.
“Kayla is in room one zero three. She is waiting to see you.”
They walk out and down the hall all except for Nick.
“Thanks man. They needed that reality check. I’m going to go see my niece. I bought her a Carolina outfit. Girl or not she is going to be wearing Carolina blue.”
Laughing at him, I shake his hand.
“Agreed man.”
When I make it back to the room, my mom and dad are there along with all of Kayla’s family. Everyone visits and is on their best behavior. Seeing Andrew hold Brooklyn warms my heart. Knowing not long ago, Kayla and her dad didn’t even talk at all and now they have a great relationship. He is an awesome dad and I know he will be a wonderful grandfather.
“Let me see that baby.” Mom says to Andrew.
Andrew reluctantly hands her over.
“Son, she is perfect.” Mom says to me as she looks down at a sleeping Brooklyn
Seems I have a permanent smile on my face now. “She is perfect, isn’t she?”
Dad walks over and hugs me. “Son, I am so proud of you and the man that you have become. You’ve done well. I love you, son.”
“Thank you, Dad. I learned from the best. I love you too.”
Seeing my parents hold my child for the first time pulled at my heart. But the most precious sight I’ve ever seen was when Leo held Brooklyn.
“What’s her name, Rose?” Leo asks Kayla, looking down at Brooklyn.
With tears in her eyes, she answers, “Brooklyn Elle McGinnis.”
Leo jerks his head up and smiles. “Really? Elle?”
“Yes, after Grandma.” Kayla says and then bites her lip.
“She would have loved that and she would have loved to see this precious angel.” Leo has tears running down his face and there isn’t a dry eye in the room.
Taking a seat beside Kayla on her bed, I wrap my arm around her. Looking around the room at these people I have come to love. My family. I couldn’t be any happier.
“Blake?”
“Hmm?”
“Thank you.”
“Thank me for what?”
“For being you, for loving me, for saving me from myself. As I look at this life you’ve given me, I am so happy. The joy is overwhelming. I just know my Grandma is smiling down on all of us today. God has blessed us beyond belief. My life is complete. You and Brooklyn have brought me a peace like I’ve never known. Thank you for all of it
.”
“Baby, you don’t have to thank me for loving you. You’re easy to love. Thank you, for this life you have given me. I agree, God has truly blessed us.”
She hugs me tight being careful of her stomach. Rubbing my hand up and down Kayla’s back, I feel her relax into me. We sit there and watch as our family gives our daughter their love.
“This is a moment I will remember for the rest of my life. Look at the love our little girl is going to grow up with. She is a very blessed little girl.”
Looking around the room again, I can’t keep the smile off my face. The love in this room fills me to my soul. No matter where life takes us next, I just know that we’ll not only make it through, but we’ll be stronger, closer together.
Life is a journey and the path you choose is your own. I’ve learned that to truly find peace and to truly be happy we must follow the path that God has laid out for us. Sure, we’ll mess up and may even stray from that path, but you can always find your way back. Following God may not always be easy, but if we keep our eyes on him he will guide us through any obstacle that comes our way. God, family, and church, that’s our philosophy and we will teach this to our children.
Before Kayla, I never realized how empty my life truly was. That was until Kayla walked into my life. She is my greatest blessing. My daughter will be just like her mother of that I have no doubt.
What will the future hold for our family, I don’t know, but as long as I have God, Kayla, and Brooklyn, I have everything I need.
Coming Soon
Finding Us Again – Late Winter/Early Spring
Is love enough when the one you love broke your heart before?
Paige had the man of her dreams and the life she always dreamed about. But in a single moment her world fell apart. Everything she thought she would have wasn’t possible. Left with the constant reminder of her broken heart, Paige loses herself day by day.
Andrew has only truly loved one woman in his life. It just happened to be the one woman that he broke her heart. Not a day hasn’t gone by that he hasn’t been eaten alive by guilt and longed for the one woman he’ll never have again. When his world fell apart, he fell apart too. Focusing only on his military career, he lost his once close relationship with his daughter.
When the past comes to light Paige and Andrew are forced to look at their lives and what they lost so long ago. With so much needing to be said, Andrew is determined to get Paige to listen to him. Paige’s heart still hurts even now and she’s determined to keep from breaking it all over again.
Is it possible to find each other after so much hurt and pain? Can love be enough to heal hearts once broken?
About Author
K.J. Love is a wife, mother, nana, and an avid reader. Writing started for her when she had a story in her head that wouldn't go away, so she started writing it.
Photography is another passion of hers. She even shot the cover for Finding Peace. Singing in church is something she has done since she was a child. She has been married for 25 years and has 2 children and 1 grandchild, who are her world.
Spending time by the ocean is her favorite thing to do and she wishes she could do it more. Give her, her kindle and she can disappear for hours reading a good book.
To find out more visit her at:
https://www.facebook.com/authorkjlove
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/9831991.K_J_Love
[email protected]