Two Weeks (The Baxter Family #5)(75)

The whole way to the hospital and while she parked the car, on the elevator ride up to labor and delivery, Ashley told herself she could handle this. That Cole wasn’t the father and she wasn’t about to watch her own grandchild come into the world.

But nothing could’ve prepared her for what she saw when she walked into Elise’s labor room. Cole was standing at her side, squeezing her hand, talking her through a contraction. “You’ve got this, Elise.” He looked at the monitor. “Come on, you can do it. This one’s almost done.”

Ashley took a step back. Until the contraction passed, she just stood there, taking in the scene. Of the army of emotions surrounding Ashley, a few stood out. First, Cole was going to make a wonderful doctor someday. And second, when the time was right, Cole was going to be an incredible father.

She wouldn’t let her other thoughts take hold. The idea that Elise could still change her mind, and Cole could, too. Instead, when the contraction was over, Ashley stepped in to do what she’d come to do. What everyone in the room desperately needed.

She joined Cole beside Elise’s bed and they prayed.





22




It was almost time.

Cole and his mom had been at Elise’s bedside for seven hours, the last ninety minutes of which she’d been pushing. The whole time he had stood near her head, looking away whenever a doctor or nurse came in to check her. Being here for her was one thing. But he had no intention of seeing her in such an intimate, vulnerable way. Because of the hospital sheet, all Cole could see were Elise’s legs. He was grateful for that. And now, the moment was clearly getting close because three nurses and Elise’s doctor had entered the room.

“Any minute,” the doctor said. He helped position Elise’s feet into the stirrups on either side of the table. “You’re doing great, Elise. I can see your baby’s head.”

The room tipped, and Cole gripped the top of the hospital bed so he wouldn’t look dizzy. The baby’s head? This was really happening. It was more than Cole could believe.

His mother still stood across from him, and now she leaned in near Elise’s face. “You okay?”

“I . . . think so.” Elise squeezed her eyes shut. “I feel sick.”

Cole didn’t know what to do. “I can get you a cold cloth.”

“Yes, please. Hurry.” Elise’s face was red. As Cole left, out of the corner of his eye he saw her lift up her legs and hold her knees. “I need to push!”

“Not yet, Elise.” The doctor’s voice was kind but urgent. “Not until I tell you to.”

There was a sink in the room, so Cole took a clean cloth from the cupboard above it and got it wet. He was back at Elise’s side in seconds.

“Thank you.” She smiled at him through weary, anxious eyes.

Cole nodded. “Of course.” He had read that sometimes girls could be mean during labor. Not sure what they wanted and snapping at everyone who tried to help.

Elise hadn’t been like that at all. Cole laid the cool rag on her forehead just as the next contraction hit. This time the doctor moved into position. “Okay, I’ll talk you through it, Elise. Here comes the head.”

Cole shared a look with his mom. He had never known exactly what she’d gone through to bring him into the world until now. His mom squeezed Elise’s hand. “You’re doing it. She’s almost here!”

This time Cole couldn’t help but look. From his angle he could only see the baby’s head. Wonder came over him. Here was the greatest miracle the Lord had given them, the miracle of life. To stand by and watch was as much proof of God as anything Cole could imagine.

“There you go, Elise.” The doctor had hold of the infant’s head now. “Okay, push again, just a little.”

Elise grabbed her knees and pushed and then in a quick movement, the baby girl was out and the doctor laid her on Elise’s stomach. At first the baby didn’t cry. She was gray and slimy and covered in some kind of white cream. Also she was still attached to the umbilical cord.

Cole could never have imagined a moment like this. While he was trying to remember how to breathe, the tiny baby did a few gasps and began to wail. Loud and strong.

“She’s perfect.” Cole’s mom put her hand on Elise’s shoulder. “How are you feeling?”

Elise laughed but it was a mix of elation and relief. “I can’t believe I did it.” She seemed to instinctively know to put her hand on the infant’s back. “It’s okay, baby girl. It’s okay. Mama’s here.”

Cole still hadn’t said a word. But now, watching Elise with her newborn, he finally understood the full weight of the decision she faced. The one she thought she’d already made. After all this, placing her daughter with another family would be brutally hard.

“You did great, Elise.” Cole still stayed near her head, allowing her a fraction of privacy as the doctor delivered the placenta. Cole took a deep breath. It was crazy that he even knew that a placenta had to be delivered. He’d learned so much because of Elise.

Again he watched her with her baby. This bonding time was the attorney’s idea. Mr. Green seemed intent on Elise not missing out on anything. If she could go through all this and still place the baby with the adoptive parents, then it was meant to be.