Stay(78)

My throat tightens with protective rage. My love for Eli almost drives me to finish what I started when I beat the shit out of this douchebag at the boathouse. Instead, I take a beat, look around. Emmy doesn’t need me in jail for manslaughter while she’s giving birth. I wouldn’t be much of a role model for Eli if that happened.

“I always knew you were a dick.” My voice is even and controlled. “Now I see you’re a real asshole, too. Eli’s a thousand times the man you’ll ever be, and he’s only eight.”

Burt’s fucking face screws up like he’s about to make some obnoxious comeback. I turn on my heel and walk away, taking an alternate route to the school. Everything inside me is demanding I punch his lights out, but I’m a dad now. I have to do what’s best for my family.

Damn, just thinking those words eases the fire in my veins. It cools my blood. I’m a dad to a great little boy, a baby girl on the way, and I’m a husband to the best woman I never knew I could be lucky enough to have.

I’m talking to my attorney. We’re starting the paperwork so I can legally adopt Eli.

It’s going to happen.



* * *



School registration complete, I’m walking in the door of my townhome ready to talk adoption, when I realize something has changed.

“Dad! Dad!” Eli comes running out.

I should note Emmy suggested Eli call me Dad. It caught on much faster than I expected, and I really like it. Another reason to make it official, stat.

My insides freeze when I see his worried face. I’m on the stairs, taking them two at a time as I shout, “What’s wrong?”

“Wrong way, Dad! Mom went into labor, and Aunt Bex sent a car. Did you have your phone turned off?”

Shit. Shit shit shit. I didn’t expect to run into the Dick. I figured I’d be back before anybody woke.

“Rookie mistake!” I yell, spinning in place and running back down. My chef walks out with two plates of omelets. “Let’s go, bud! Ted, take the day off! We’re having a baby!”

I vaguely hear his best wishes from the kitchen as I scoop Eli up, snatch my phone off the island, and we’re out on the sidewalk, waiting for the car service. I’m bouncing as I hold Eli.

“What happened, buddy?”

He pushes on my shoulder, and I lower him gently. It’s still such a habit to carry him, but he really doesn’t like it now. Another thing Emmy’s struggling with… Poor mama. He’s a little man.

“She said her water broke. Then she just started yelling a lot of stuff. Some of it wasn’t so nice about you.” His eyes are round, and his lips press together in a disappointed face.

I pat him on the shoulder. “It’s okay. She’s not herself right now. You’ll see. It’ll all be better once Selena’s here.”

Inside I’m silently praying, Jesus, please don’t let me miss this delivery, when the car pulls up at the curb. Eli and I hop in, heading north in a blink, and I’m thankful it snowed. Our pace is slow, but the traffic is light.

Finally, we’re at the hospital, and I scoop Eli up so we can run. “Sorry, bud.”

His head is a lot better, but he’s still supposed to take it easy. We don’t have time for that.

I get directions to the maternity ward. I’m running like a maniac when I finally spot Bex. Her eyes are wide, and she clasps her chest when I appear. “Oh, thank the lord! I’ve been praying like there’s no tomorrow! Go in! Go in…”

She takes Eli’s hand, and I strip off my coat, slowing down and trying not to be frantic as I enter what I imagine will be a serene, wondrous experience.

I couldn’t be more wrong.

Dr. Turner is shouting from the end of the bed where she’s crouched between my wife’s legs. “Come on, Emmy! You’re almost there… One more push!”

Emmy screams at her doctor. “I’m not having this baby until he gets here!”

My beautiful wife sits up in the bed, her blonde waves plastered to her red, sweaty face. Two nurses are on each side of her, holding her arms, and the hospital gown is falling off one shoulder.

From what I can see in the large mirror near the doctor, something dark is crowning between her legs.

“Emmy?” I’m not sure how this will go.

“Stephen!” She wails, dropping back and reaching for me. I’m across the room in two steps, replacing the nurses and scooping her into my arms. “Oh, thank God,” she cries. “I thought you wouldn’t make it. She’s coming so fast.”

I think she’s crying happy tears. I turn to the doctor and give her a nod.

“One more push, Emmy, and she’s here. You can do it.”

Sure enough, less than thirty seconds later, the room is filled with the shrillest, sweetest, most amazing little cries I’ve ever heard in my life. Emmy leans her head against my chest, gasping and crying, and dammit it, my eyes are wet as well.

I can’t believe it when Dr. Turner holds up the tiny red bean all covered in white goo. I love her already.

“She’s perfect!” The doctor sings as if I didn’t already know that.

Little Selena is quickly weighed, cleaned and returned to her mother, and with the help of a nurse, she latches onto my wife’s breast. Watching her eating steadily, I feel my heart grow another size bigger.