Page 29

Chapter 29

Gabi

T he wheelchair I'm sitting in has certainly seen better days.

Right now, it's seeing me, breathless and pushing through wave after wave of contractions that feel like they’re trying to break me in half.

The sterile smell of Chicago General Hospital is mixed with a hint of something floral.

Maybe a vase of wilting flowers somewhere nearby. Or the smell of my optimism dying with every foot the nurse pushes me forward.

My heart is racing as we approach the delivery room. It's not fear, exactly, but anticipation mixed with a healthy dose of anxiety.

I'm about to become a mother. I still can't quite wrap my head around it.

But I try not to think about that now.

My body is in overdrive, and I'm doing everything I can to stay focused on keeping this baby from making an appearance before I reach the hospital bed.

With every contraction, I grip onto the arms of the wheelchair, trying not to scream or cry. Lexi is right by my side, her usual smug grin softened with concern as she keeps pace, a nervous chuckle leaving her pink-painted lips as her heels click rapidly alongside me.

"You know, if I had known you would start having contractions on the way to the Blades arena, I would have picked up all those chicken wings we left in my living room."

I manage a weak smile. "Maybe next time."

"From that look on your face, I'm surprised you can even think about a next time."

"I'm not. I'm just thinking about how these contractions feel like a damn buffalo stampede."

"It'd be interesting if, after all that time of speculating whether or not you're having a boy or a girl, you ended up giving birth to a buffalo calf."

Lexi laughs, but it's cut off by another wave of pain that has me gripping the wheelchair even tighter.

She brushes back strands of my hair that have escaped from my messy bun. "We're almost there, Gabs. Just a little longer."

I nod, trying to breathe through the pain. We finally reach the delivery room, and the nurses quickly help me onto the bed, adjusting my gown and monitors. Lexi stands nearby, holding my hand as I focus on taking slow, deep breaths.

"You got this, girl." She squeezes. "And I'm not just saying that because I'm your best friend and contractually obligated to be here with you."

The medical team is already preparing me, moving quickly and efficiently around the room.

"I can't believe we're finally here," she whispers.

"Me neither." I squeeze her hand tightly as another contraction hits. I let out a shaky breath and try to relax my tense muscles.

But my mind keeps wandering back to the people who are not yet here.

Nonna, who's been transferred from the other side of the hospital. Gio, who Lexi says is on his way.

And, of course, Jacob.

Always Jacob.

I glance up and into Lexi's beautiful face. "Nonna's on her way, right?"

She nods. "The nurses are getting her situated in the waiting room."

"Good. And Gio?"

"He's on his way too. Just stuck in some traffic."

"Great...And how about...?"

Lexi hesitates for a moment, her eyes searching mine. "He's also on his way."

I release a long breath, letting my head fall back against the pillows harder than I expected. I close my eyes and try to focus on the rhythmic beeping of the monitors, but my mind can't seem to quiet down.

Suddenly, a new voice cuts through the chaos in the room. "Hey there, beautiful."

My eyes snap open and I see my brother Gio walking into the room, looking more handsome than ever in his loaner scrubs. My heart swells with love and relief as he takes my hand.

"Hey," I manage to say through tears.

"I'm here, Gabs." He brushes a stray tear from my cheek. "I wouldn't miss this for anything."

I smile weakly and squeeze his hand. "Thanks, Gio."

I look behind his shoulder, toward the door, waiting for the one person I've been longing to see. But he's still not here.

Swallowing, I smile back at Lex at my side. "You know, I'm counting on you to be the best aunt ever."

Lexi's hazel eyes twinkle. "Are you kidding me? I'm going to spoil this little buffalo rotten. I'm going to spend every red cent of my single, childless salary on that little bundle of cuteness. You can count on it."

My heart fills with warmth, thinking about all the love and support that will surround my child. And then suddenly, as if hearing my thoughts, there he is.

Pushing Nonna Chiara forward in a wheelchair of her own, Jacob appears in the doorway. For a brief moment, time seems to stand still as we lock eyes.

His blue eyes are on me and me alone, I can see that his handsome features are carved with worry. It's as if he hasn't slept in a million years.

But when we lock eyes, his face lights up with a love so fierce that it takes my breath away.

Without a word, he starts to walk toward us, his gait slow and careful, but determined. As he reaches the bed, he takes one of my hands in his and presses a kiss to its back before meeting my eyes again.

"Gabs," he says softly, "I'm here."

My voice catches in my throat as I try to respond. The emotions are too much for me to handle at once.

"I'm sorry," he continues, reaching out to stroke my hair. "I'm so sorry I couldn't get here sooner."

"It's okay," I reply, tears of happiness streaming down my face now. "You're here now."

"Yes, we are," Nonna Chiara pipes up, her voice full of joy and pride. "We might not look like much," she glances down at her own hospital gown and then at Jacob's dry-fit top and tights, "but we are a force to be reckoned with when it comes to love."

I laugh, the tension and worry of the past few days melting away in this moment. My heart is full to bursting with love for my family.

It'd be a euphoric feeling...if my uterus wasn't feeling like it was about to burst instead. Suddenly, the contractions are back with a vengeance.

Panic starts to rise in my chest. "Shit," I say through gritted teeth, "it's happening again."

Jacob's face falls, and he turns to the nurse who has been monitoring me. "We need a doctor in here now!"

As the nurse rushes out of the room, Jacob turns back to me, his hand still holding mine tightly. "It's going to be okay, Gabs. We're all here for you."

Nonna grabs for one of my hands, and I squeeze it, giving her a smile.

"I'm okay," I assure her, trying to keep a brave face.

She gives me a doubtful look but doesn't press further. Instead, she leans over and kisses my forehead. "You're going to do great, carissima."

Another nurse, ping forward, interrupts our moment. "Okay, ladies and gents. We're going to have clear the room to let the doctor come in and do their thing. I'm going to need everybody out..." She pauses. "Except for the parents, of course."

Jacob turns to her, tall and proud. "I'm the father. I'm staying."

The nurse raises an eyebrow but doesn't argue. She starts to usher everyone out of the room, including Nonna Chiara who protests as only she can.

"You think this is the first birth I've been around for? Hell, I've seen plenty of births in my day. I could probably deliver this baby if I wanted to."

Giving Nonna one last hug and kiss before she, Lex, and Gio leave, I breathe out a sigh.

"Okay, Gabs," Jacob says, taking my hand again. "Just you and me now."

I nod, trying to push away the fear and focus on the excitement of finally meeting our little one.

The doctor comes in, and I can feel my body tense up. But Jacob is there.

Every single step of the way.

He whispers words of encouragement and holds my hand tightly. He tells me stories—the same stories he'd told me in that treehouse of ours. Tales of dragons who could speak Italian and princesses with swords instead of crowns.

The same tales that made me fall for him over twenty years ago.

Tales to distract me from the pain and even make me laugh a few times.

Through the tunnel of pain and pushing, through my own screams and tears, Jacob is there.

Until the final push and a cry that fills the room.

A baby girl is here. Our baby girl.

As Jacob cuts the umbilical cord, tears fall from my eyes. I feel mesmerized as I look at her.

She has my dark hair and Jacob's bright blue eyes. By the time they place her on my chest, I can barely see. Through a blur, I see Jacob's face beaming, his blue eyes shining from somewhere deep inside of him.

He whispers in my ear. "You did it, Gabs. We're parents."

I whisper to our daughter. "Welcome to the world, cara mia." She grips tighly onto my finger like she knows exactly who I am.

Maybe she does. Maybe she's been waiting for this moment just as much as I have. Waiting for the moment I push fear out of my heart and make room for all the love that's been offered to me.

Love that Jacob has been giving me since we were kids.

Love that I now feel for this tiny, perfect human being in my arms.

I look up at him with tears streaming down my face.

He has never looked more handsome or radiant to me than he does in that moment.

"I love you," I say, my voice shaky but sincere.

"I love you too," he replies, kissing my forehead as we both gaze at our child with awe and wonder.

I sigh. "You know, I always thought fairy tales were just stories. But now I realize that we're living our own fairy tale."

"And it's only just beginning."

"No. What's just beginning is my fatigue," I joke, feeling exhausted but also exhilarated at the same time. “I need a cocktail. You think Nonna Chiara managed to sneak some of that vodka into the hospital?"

"Please. I'm sure she did. She's probably charging other patients for a swig of it as we speak.”

"You're right. Dammit. We're gonna need the cash out of my purse then."

"We can use the baby as payment," Jacob suggests playfully, making me laugh.

"I'm sure we can. I'm sure Nonna will give us whatever we want," I look down at my daughter, "for little Chiara."

Jacob smiles, smoothing my hair. "I couldn't have imagined a more perfect name for her."

"Me neither. But let's not tell Nonna until she's handed over the vodka. Deal?"

"Deal." Jacob agrees, pressing a kiss to my lips before we both turn our attention back to our sleeping baby.