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TYLER

2 YEARS LATER

DAMN!

The curse synced with my pulse as I hopped on one foot in the dark after stubbing my toe against a chair. Quickly, I straightened up and looked over my shoulder at the form curled up on the bed.

Just for a few seconds, my eyes rested lovingly on my beautiful girl. Even with just the light of the moon, I could see her face flushed from sleep, her hand curled in a loose fist near her soft blonde curls. Blue eyes gazed back at me, and a huge smile lit up her face, just before it wrinkled in frustration.

A soft cry reminded me why I was up at the crazy hour of a little past three in the morning. I hurried to her bed where her arms reached for me.

Elizabeth Claire. My daughter.

My ‘sweet lil’ E’Claire’ I called her. Sometimes I’m still in shock over how blessed I’ve been. It hasn’t been the easiest road; both of us occasionally still suffered from nightmares about that fateful evening, but not as many as we used to. But as my beautiful wife said, we wouldn’t appreciate all the blessings if we hadn’t experienced some challenges along the way.

I checked to see what had caused me to trip. A pink starfish toy was the culprit. It brought back a memory of one such challenge, Elizabeth’s birth. Jen’s due date wasn’t for another three weeks, and Jen and I decided to have one last quiet weekend away at a bed and breakfast near Asheville, only a few hours from home. It had been perfect; we’d gone for lazy walks, browsed quaint shops, and made slow, sweet love every evening. On the ride home, Jen began to squirm uncomfortably.

“What’s wrong?”

“I’m not sure. I think it’s just Braxton Hicks, but they feel worse than ever,” she groaned.

I took the nearest exit and pulled into a parking lot of some store that felt like it was in the middle of nowhere. “Let’s walk a bit and see if stretching your legs helps.” I assisted her out of the car and slowed my steps to match hers. I was growing concerned as I saw her face pale and her lips tighten. We were still over two hours away from home. At some point, she had to pause walking. While her nails dug into my forearm, I used my other hand to Google the nearest hospital on my phone. It was twenty miles away.

“Come on, kitten. I’m taking you to a hospital.” I smiled and commended myself on speaking so calmly. But panic filled her eyes anyway.

“I’m not in labor,” she insisted. “It’s too early.” No sooner had she spoken then she stiffened. I placed my palm over her swollen belly. It felt as hard as a rock.

“Well, you might want to tell our daughter that,” I chuckled.

“It’s just Braxton Hicks,” she insisted.

“Could be,” I humored her, “but let’s make sure.”

We slowly made our way toward the car as we spoke. We were a step away when she grabbed my arm. “Um, Doc? We have a problem.”

I saw the puddle at her feet. “Okay, sweetheart, looks like your daughter has your determination and doesn’t want to wait.” Her withering glance was quickly replaced by one of pain.

I grabbed a blanket from the trunk and put it in the front seat and hurried her into the car as fast as you can hustle a pregnant woman in labor. I stepped on the accelerator, grateful to still have the horsepower even if it wasn’t in a sports car.

Eleven miles down the road, she gave a harsh cry. “Oh, my God, Tyler! There’s so much pressure. I’ve never had a baby before, but I think she’s coming!” One look at her face, and I didn’t doubt her. I prayed hard that I remembered everything from my obstetrical clinical. While I pulled over to the side of the road, I dialed 911 and explained the situation and need for an ambulance. Still talking to the operator, I half pulled, half dragged Jen into the backseat where she could lay down. Her cries of pain nearly gutted me, but even in a hospital setting, I knew it would be too late to administer pain meds.

I grabbed her hand. “Look at me, Jen,” I coaxed in between contractions. A pink starfish teething ring we had found over the weekend caught my eye. I gave it to her to hold since I needed my hands to deliver our daughter. “It’s going to be okay. Just focus on the starfish and remember how strong you are. You can do this, baby.”

Ten minutes later, with sirens and flashing lights screeching toward us, our beautiful Elizabeth Claire came into the world. She was perfect . . . just like her mother.

Baby gurgles punctuated with small cries brought me out of my memory. “Hey, baby girl,” I sang. My heart still beats extra hard when I remember what it had been like to help my daughter enter the world. Definitely unexpected, but that had become normal for us.

I scooped up my precious bundle, reveling in the smile she blessed me with as she heard my voice. “We’re gonna let your mama rest, okay sweet girl?” Her mouth puckered into a little bow and her head bobbed as if in agreement. I carried her into the kitchen, softly singingTwinkle Twinkle Little Star,the song that seldom failed to calm her if she was upset. I held her against my shoulder, bouncing lightly, as I warmed the bottle up in hot water. Jen had done her best to nurse Elizabeth, but despite every effort, her breast milk just wasn’t enough to support our growing girl, so we had to supplement with formula. Jen was in tears at first, feeling like a failure that she wasn’t able to provide for our daughter. Once I reminded her that it would allow me to take over some of the night feedings, she seemed more okay with it. Jen was an amazing mother, but I knew she was exhausted and needed a break once in awhile. And I enjoyed the private father-daughter time, even if it was in the middle of the night.

While the bottle warmed, we bounced back to Elizabeth’s room where I changed her diaper. Once she was all cleaned up, I couldn’t resist blowing raspberries on her soft tummy. It never ceased to make me laugh at the way she drew her legs in and batted her arms and made the sweetest little laughing sounds. “That’s daddy’s little girl,” I laughed with her, snapping up her pink sleeper. We retrieved the now warm bottle and settled into a rocking chair in her nursery.

While she sucked down the ounces, I talked quietly. “Do you know how much your daddy loves you? Your mama told me to wish on a star, and you were my wish. I guess wishing on a star works, huh? And Mommy doesn’t know it yet, but Daddy’s hoping there are a few more wishes the stars are willing to deliver. Yes, he does,” I cooed close to her face.

“Really, Doc? Already?” I looked up to see Jen smiling sleepily against the door frame. She walked over to the chair where our daughter and I rocked to and fro. She bent to kiss Elizabeth’s head and then rested her lips on mine.

JEN

I FELT HIMtry to prolong the kiss, but Elizabeth began to fuss, so I pulled back. “You just want your daddy’s attention all to yourself, don’t you, sweet girl?” Tyler chuckled softly. Elizabeth might only be four months old, but she had her father wrapped tight around her little finger. I loved it.