The Decision

by Patricia Roberts

  “I will give you some time with your daughter” he told them. Stephen came over to the bed to sit down and they just stared at their little girl. “She is so precious” Shelby told Stephen. “Just like her momma” he told her smiling back. A few minutes later there was a knock on the door.

  “Come in” Stephen called out. John walked in with a teddy bear and Cody brought in a package. John was about to say something when he gasped. “She looks just like your momma” he said with tears in his eyes. “You think so?” Shelby asked him. “Yes, she is absolutely beautiful.”

  “You want to hold her?” Stephen asked him. “Do you mind?” he asked them. “Of course not she needs to get to know her grandpa” she told him. Stephen picked her up and took her to John. He sat in a chair and rocked the baby. “Well I thought that you could use some comfort food so I made you two dinner” Cody told them. “Thanks so much” Shelby told him. “How are you feeling?” he asked worriedly. “I am doing great. I am so happy that she is okay” she told him. “Haley wanted to stay but they were short staffed at the diner. She told me to give you a hug and love on the baby and that she would see you tomorrow” he told her. “Thanks” she told him. “Samantha and Ryan went to get something to eat but told us they would be back later. If I know Samantha she probably is going shopping for the baby” John said laughing. “I wouldn’t doubt that” Stephen said laughing also.

  Cody had not seen Stephen this relaxed in months and realized that he was just happy to have his family together. They stayed a while longer and on their way out Samantha and Ryan came in. “Would you like to hold your niece?” Stephen asked Samantha. “Oh she is so precious” she said taking the baby out of Stephen’s arms. The baby started to cry a little and Stephen touched her cheek. “Can you believe the baby hasn’t even been here a day yet and she is already a daddy’s girl?” Shelby said laughing. “I had no doubt in my mind. I hope you don’t mind but Ryan has some clothes for the baby. I couldn’t stop myself from shopping for her. Hannah now that you’re here we can go shopping together” she told the baby.

  “God help us” Ryan muttered smiling at them. They left a little while later and when they did Shelby yawned. “Why don’t you get some sleep? I have a feeling were going to need it” he told her. “I will keep Hannah company,” he told her. “Alright but only because she is not crying” she told him going to sleep. “I think that your mommy is completely exhausted Hannah. You will have to keep it easy on her for the next few days” he said smiling down at her. It didn’t escape his notice that she was looking up at him like he held all the answers to the world.

  “I love you so much Hannah and I promise to be the best dad you can have. I don’t want you to worry about anything. We have been waiting for you to get here for so long and I am so pleased you’re here with us now. We will have to take you up hiking when you get a little bigger and show you where we first fell in love” he told her. Shelby closed her eyes and smiled. She was so happy.

  CHAPTER THIRTY

  Two months had passed since Hannah got to come home and Shelby and Stephen couldn’t believe how big she was getting. She was starting to smile at them and stay up longer. She was a complete daddy’s girl but loved spending the day with her mom. Shelby was playing on the floor with Hannah when the doorbell rang.

  “Who could that be?” Shelby said and went to answer it. She opened it to see Cody. “Hey, there is my good looking niece” he said taking Hannah from her. “What are you doing here in the middle of the afternoon?”

  “I can’t visit?” he asked smirking. “Of course you can but you’re usually busy around this time.”

  “Well this was important” he told her. “Alright, what is going on with you?” she asked sitting on the couch. Cody took the recliner and started to rock Hannah. “Dad has been acting really strange” he told her. “What do you mean?” she asked him. “He was acting like a nervous wreck all day yesterday and then when Sara came in to eat dinner with him he wasn’t paying attention to her. When she asked him what was wrong he bit her head off and walked out the door. I felt horrible for Sara.”

  “That doesn’t sound like dad at all” Shelby said concerned. “I know I was wondering if he has been acting strange to you lately.”

  “He came over a few days ago but it’s like I don’t exist when Hannah is around” she said laughing. “I know you should hear him at the diner. He is always talking about something new that Hannah is doing.”

  “Why don’t I go talk to him after Stephen gets home and I can find out what is going on.”

  “Alright” he told her and stayed awhile to play with Hannah.

  A few hours later Stephen got off work and rushed home to see his family. He loved to come home and be greeted by his wife and daughter. Hannah was growing so big. She was up to eight pounds now and she loved to smile at her parents. The first few weeks after she got home Stephen was convinced that she would never sleep through the night and that they would be tired for the rest of their lives but she is finally starting to sleep through the night. Stephen usually comes home and eats dinner with Shelby. They read her a story after dinner and give her a bath, and then Stephen likes to take her into her room and rock her to sleep singing to her. He knows she is getting big and is not going to take one thing for granted. As he came in he heard Shelby laughing and walked into the living room to see her playing with Hannah and their daughter smiling at her mother.

  “Hey baby” he said coming in. “Hey your home” she said standing to give him a kiss. “How is my little girl?” he asked laying on the floor. She seen him and gave a big smile. “We have had a great day. We have played on the floor, taken a nap, and got to visit with Uncle Cody.”

  “Your brother came over?” he asked her. “Yeah I actually wanted to talk to you about that. He said that dad has been acting strange and that he bit Sara’s head off last night. I was going to see if you were alright keeping Hannah while I go talk to dad.”

  “Of course” he said concerned. “I love you both and I will be back soon. She will need a bottle in thirty minutes” she told him. “Alright see you later” he told her. “Why don’t you come sit with daddy and we can talk about my day. I started out with four new tires to put on a vehicle” he began. A few minutes later Shelby arrived at her dad’s house and knocked on the door. He came to answer and was shocked to see Shelby standing there.

  “Shelby is everything okay?” he asked concerned. “Of course can’t I come and visit my dad?” she asked him smiling. “Of course I just know how busy you have been” he told her. “How have you been?” she asked him. “I have been alright” he said uneasily. “Really? That is not the way I have heard it” she told him. “What have you heard?” he asked her.

  “Cody came to see me today and told me that you have been irritable and then took it out on Sara. That doesn’t sound like you at all. What is going on with you?” she asked him. John sighed and sat down. “How did you know you wanted to be with Stephen?” he asked her. Shelby smiled thinking about it. “He was all I could think about. We were good friends first and then it progressed to something more. Why do you ask?” Shelby asked him. “I want to ask Sara to marry me” he told her looking down. “Oh dad that is great” she told him. “Yeah” he said frowning.

  “Well shouldn’t you be happier about it?” she asked him. “I feel guilty about asking her. I feel like I am betraying your mother.”

  “Dad, mom has been gone for a long time and I know that she wouldn’t want you to be lonely for the rest of your life. She loved you but she would want you to move on.”

  “I don’t even know if Sara still wants to be with me. I acted like a complete jerk last night.”

  “I am sure she is just worried about you. Why don’t you put her out of her misery and ask her to be your wife” she told him smiling. “How did you get so smart?” he asked her. “I had a pretty good dad” she told him giving him a hug. “I better get home” she told him. “You make sure and give Hannah a good hug and kiss
from me.”

  “I will” she told him and left. Shelby arrived home to see Hannah and Stephen asleep in the recliner. She laughed and went to wake them up. The next day when Sara got off from work she arrived home to see John standing there. “Hey” she told him smiling. “Hey, would it be alright if we talked?” he asked her. “Sure” she said and went to open the door. When she turned around John was on one knee with a ring box opened. Sara gasped and looked at him.

  “I love you Sara and I want you to be my wife. I am so sorry for getting angry at you the other night but I was nervous about asking you. Will you do me the honor of becoming my wife? Sara Bishop will you marry me?” he asked her. “Yes” she said with tears coming down her cheeks. He slipped the ring on her finger and stood up. He hugged her to him and then gave her a sweet kiss on the lips. “I can’t wait to start this journey of life with you” he told her smiling. “I can’t either” she told him hugging him again. John smiled and knew that he had made the right decision.

  A few weeks later John and Sara got married in a small wedding in John’s backyard. All of their friends and family were present and it was a beautiful ceremony. They had decided that since spring break was coming up they would take their honeymoon then. “It was such a beautiful ceremony” Shelby told them. “Thanks so much for helping me get things together” Sara said giving her a hug. “We are really happy for you but we better get home. Hannah is getting irritable” Stephen told them holding his daughter. “I am going to go say bye to Samantha and Ryan” he said walking away. “Did you ever think he would be that great as a dad?” John asked her. “Yes I always knew that he would make a great dad. He just had to believe in himself to make it happen.”

  “I am so happy for you guys” John told her. “I am happy for us and happy for you guys to. I will talk to you both in a few days” she told them giving them a hug goodbye. Stephen went over to say goodbye to Samantha and Ryan and noticed Samantha grabbed Hannah as soon as she came over. “She is getting to big” she told Stephen. “I know” he said sighing. “I can’t wait to take you out shopping” she said giving Hannah a kiss. Stephen smiled and took his daughter back. On the way home Shelby thought about what her family had gone through in the past few years and how far they had come. She looked up at the sky and smiled. She had no doubt her mother was smiling down on them.

  EPILOGUE

  Two years had passed since Hannah was born and they had decided to have a small birthday party at their house. They were going to have hamburgers and hotdogs and celebrate Hannah turning two. The morning of the party Shelby was curled up in Stephen’s arms when they heard her babbling through the baby monitor. “Daddy” she yelled out and Shelby couldn’t help it and laughed. “I guess she is up” Stephen said smiling. “Well don’t let me keep you. You can get her changed and I am going to go and get breakfast ready.”

  “Sounds like a plan” he said giving her a kiss and getting up. Stephen walked to Hannah’s room and couldn’t believe she was already two years old. She was such a happy child and loved to do things with her parents. She didn’t get upset and was sleeping through the night. “Hey sweet girl” Stephen said coming into the room. “Daddy” she said grinning. “Are you ready to get up? You have a big day today. You’re going to have a party and all of your family is going to come” he told her. “Papa?” she asked smiling. “Yes your papa will be here” he said laughing.

  Hannah was definitely a daddy’s girl but she also had her grandpa wrapped around her finger. They went downstairs and had a nice breakfast and got ready for the party. Shelby was giving Hannah a bath when the doorbell rang. “I will get it” he yelled out. He opened the door to see John, Sara, Cody, and Haley standing there. “Hey guys come on in” he told them. He put her presents on a table and took them in the living room. “Shelby is just getting Hannah ready and she will be down in a minute.”

  “Great I have been so busy this week building onto Cody’s house that I haven’t seen her” John said.

  Six months ago they were all shocked to find out that Cody and Haley were having a baby. They were even more shocked when she went in for the ultrasound and found out she was having twins. Cody started to freak out as soon as he found out and decided they needed to move somewhere bigger. When Shelby brought up the idea of building on he was all for it. Stephen didn’t think anyone wanted them to move so he was happy to help out on the weekends when he could.

  “How are you feeling?” he asked Haley. “I am only six months pregnant and I am exhausted. I want these kids out of here” she said laughing. “Well I think Hannah will make a good big cousin for them.”

  “I know she will” Cody said smiling. A few minutes later Shelby came downstairs and was holding Hannah. She was wearing a pretty pink dress and was about to run to her dad when she seen John. “Papa!” she yelled out running to him. “How is my princess doing?” She hugged him real tight and John sighed. He had always been close to this child and he knew he would be just as close to his other grandchildren when they came. A Few minutes later everyone arrived outside and Shelby heard the doorbell ring. She went to answer it and see Samantha and Ryan standing there.

  It was so good to see them. A few months ago the business was doing so well that they opened a second garage up at the other end of town. Samantha and Ryan had been so busy getting everything busy that she barely got to see them anymore. “It’s so good to see you guys” Shelby told them. “It’s great to see you also” Samantha told her. “Sorry were late I woke up with an upset stomach” Samantha told her. “Oh no, are you alright?” she asked concerned.

  “I will be fine” she said grinning at Ryan. They walked outside and Hannah came over. “Auntie” she said running to Samantha. “Oh how are you?” Samantha asked her. “I am two” she said. “You’re such a smart girl” she told her. “How is it going?” Stephen asked coming over. “Great how are you doing?” she asked him. “I am wonderful. I have a loving wife, a healthy daughter, and a thriving business. What more could a guy want?” he asked her.

  Samantha smiled at him and thought about how lucky they all were. They had a great afternoon eating and talking with each other. Hannah got cake all over her when she ate hers and she loved all the new clothes, and toys she received from her family.

  “I just want to thank you all for coming out to celebrate Hannah’s birthday. She is such a blessing to us and couldn’t imagine our lives without her in them.” John looked at Stephen and smiled. Gone was the man that had once left his wife because he found out that she was pregnant. In place was a man who couldn’t get enough of Shelby and Hannah. They had a wonderful life now and he couldn’t ask for more.

  “You okay?” Sara asked him. “I am just thinking about how blessed we all are” he told her kissing her cheek. “We are very blessed” she told him hugging him. Shelby looked around and smiled at her family. Cody was trying to feed Haley and she was swatting her hand at him, John was whispering to Sara and making her laugh and Stephen was trying to clean off Hannah while she was giggling up a storm. He shook his head and winked at her.

  “I love you” he mouthed to her. “I love you two” she mouthed back to him. She seen Ryan sitting next to Cody and talking to them but didn’t see Samantha. Samantha had disappeared inside so Shelby went to go find her. She could hear her getting sick in the bathroom and went to the kitchen to get her a glass of water. “Hey are you okay?” she asked when Samantha walked back into the kitchen. “I am sorry about that” Samantha said looking down. “Do you need some medicine?” Shelby asked concerned. “I will be better in about nine months” she told her smiling. Shelby looked up at her smiling. “You’re pregnant?” she asked happily. “Yeah I had been sick for a few weeks and went to the doctor last week.”

  “Why didn’t you say anything?” Shelby asked coming over to hug her. “I knew you guys were excited about Hannah’s party and I didn’t want to take anything away from her” she told her. “I am so happy for you” Shelby said hugging her again when Stephen walk
ed into the room. He could see that Samantha’s eyes were watery and he was worried.

  “Hey what is going on in here?”

  “You’re going to be an uncle” Shelby told him. “I know you should see your brother out there. He is sitting on the ground talking to her stomach while Haley rolls her eyes.”

  “I was talking about your sister” Shelby told him. “What?” he asked looking at Samantha. “I found out last week” she told him smiling. “Come here” he said opening his arms for her smiling. “Are you feeling okay?” he asked her. “I am doing great I just don’t handle food that well” she told him. “Have you told anyone else?”

  “No you two are the only ones that know. I would like to keep it to myself for a while. I am going to go find Ryan and tell him I blabbed” she told them laughing. “Were about to get a lot of nieces and nephews” Shelby said coming over to him. “I can’t believe it” Stephen said smiling down at her. “What is it?” she asked him.

  “I just think about myself two years ago. I thought that there was no help for me and that I was going to die from loneliness. I had lost my wife and child and wanted nothing to do with anyone. Then I go over to John’s house and you walked into the living room. I knew in that instant that I was in trouble. You were the most beautiful woman I had ever met and I tried to fight it but in the end I am so glad that I didn’t. You became my home and I wouldn’t trade it for anything in the world” he told her.

  “I agree I didn’t know what was going to happen with us that first night but I knew that we would both never be the same” she told him smiling. “I better go back out and attempt to dress our daughter. She is running around in a diaper” he told her chuckling. Shelby laughed with him and gave him a kiss on the cheek. “I will be out in a minute” she told him. Shelby picked some things up in the kitchen and went back out to look at her family and smile.