Chapter 16: The Longest Night
865 Words
The first contraction jolted Becca awake barely after midnight.
She slowly sat up with one hand resting gently on her belly.
A dull pressure rolled across her lower back and then curled around her stomach.
Closing her eyes.
"Craig..."
He woke up instantly.
"What?" He asked groggily.
"I think..." She took a deep breath as another contraction rolled through her body. "... I think it's time."
Craig jumped out of bed before she could finish her sentence.
"Is it time?" he asked incredulously. His voice cracked an octave.
Becca couldn't stop laughing.
"I think so."
He froze for a moment, looking down at her.
Panicked is a better description of what happened next.
"The hospital bag!"
Craig sprinted out into the hallway.
Becca heard cabinets banging open.
Closet doors flying off hinges.
Something shattered on the ground.
"Craig!"
"I'm fine!"
Another loud crash boomed from downstairs.
Becca laughed so hard she was caught off guard by another contraction.
"Oh...okay...maybe not funny."
Craig stormed back into their bedroom holding three bags, two pillows, a comforter, and, for some reason, the fishing tackle box.
Becca blinked up at him.
"Why the heck do we need fishing lures?" she asked.
He looked down, embarrassed.
"I... honestly have no idea."
She laughed again.
"I think you're more nervous than me."
"I definitely am."
After what felt like hours but was only fifteen minutes, they drove in comfortable silence to the hospital.
Light rain tapped against the windshield as Craig glanced between the road and Emily.
"Another contraction?"
She nodded her head.
"Every... five minutes." She finished.
"Are you okay?" He asked gently.
"I will be."
He grabbed her hand at a red light and squeezed gently.
"You've got this."
"So do you."
The delivery room was mostly silent hours later except for the constant beeping of machines.
Becca leaned back against the raised hospital bed, breathing through yet another contraction.
Craig didn't leave her side the entire time.
Cleaning her forehead with a cool rag.
Taking her hand.
Massaging her back.
Whispering words of encouragement every time she wanted to quit.
"You are the strongest person I know."
Becca shook her head.
"I don't... feel... strong." She managed through gritted teeth.
He kissed her forehead.
"You don't have to be."
"I will... for us."
Tears sprang into her eyes.
"I love you."
"More than you'll ever know."
Morning sunlight started to stream through the hospital window as the doctor smiled down at them.
" Becca... One more push."
She took a deep breath and mustered every bit of strength she had left.
Craig squeezed her hand.
"You can do this, baby."
She pushed with everything she had left.
And then-
The sound of a newborn baby filled the room.
Strong. Loud. Perfect.
Becca gasped for breath.
Craig stared in disbelief with tears running down his face.
"It's our baby," he whispered.
The small newborn was carefully placed on Becca 's chest by the nurse.
Immediately, the baby latched onto Becca 's heartbeat.
Becca brushed a thumb across the soft dark hair.
"Hello, my sweet girl."
Craig placed one arm around Emily and their newborn daughter.
"This is...wow."
"I've never seen anything more beautiful." He managed through tears.
The doctor smiled down.
"Congratulations! You have a beautiful baby girl."
Becca looked into Craig's eyes.
"A girl?"
Craig laughed through his happy tears.
"Yes. Such a beautiful little girl."
Moments later, after the nurses did their exams, Craig finally took his daughter in his arms for the very first time.
His hands shook.
He looked like a terrified new father.
Becca smiled at him warmly.
"You're doing great, buddy."
The newborn baby stared up at Craig through sleepy blue-gray eyes and wrapped her ridiculously small fingers around him.
Craig melted into his new daughter.
"Oh..."
His voice broke.
"Hi, princess."
She yawned.
Becca chuckled.
"I think she has you wrapped around her finger already."
Craig smiled and never took his eyes off his daughter.
"She always will."
The afternoon sunlight spilled into the hospital room, bathing everything in a golden glow.
Becca sat in bed and stared at Craig, rocking back and forth with their daughter asleep soundly against his chest.
Humming quietly, a tune she didn't recognize but couldn't hear over the sound of her beating heart.
"You know, Craig," Becca said, staring into his eyes, "I don't think I've ever seen you this happy."
Craig looked up at her, his eyes shimmering with tears and wonder.
"I didn't know someone's heart could expand this much."
Becca smiled, pulling her husband close.
"What do you think we should tell her every day?"
Craig kissed the top of their daughter's tiny head.
"That she's loved."
Becca nodded.
"No matter what."
"No matter what." They both agreed in unison.
The rain had stopped outside, and a rainbow filled the morning sky.
Inside the hospital room, three hearts found a new rhythm.
Craig and Becca knew that everything they had gone through- every heartache, every disappointment, and every bump in the road led them to this very moment.
At that moment, they officially became a family.
And in the pudgy, tiny hands of their newborn daughter, they found the greatest miracle of all.
- Writer
