Page 18 of Open Net

I moved back against a wall as things moved in fast-forward around me.

I never imagine something like this. I didn’t let myself. This was worst case scenario. I closed my eyes and wished Coach was in here with me.

We’re going to get through this. I opened my eyes and checked on Emma. Her color was improving, but she wasn’t awake.

“Found the source” Dr. Hopkins announced and I noticed Kelly relax.

Within a few moments Emma was stitched up and being moved to the recovery room. Kelly pushed the bed while I followed dumbly behind. I was at a loss. I didn’t know what to do.

The baby. I turned and looked around. “Where is he?”

It had been less than an hour and I’d already lost him. Panic flooded my entire body. Emma was going to kill me.

“He’s at the nursery. We’ll bring him in once Emma is situated,” Kelly replied. I nodded, thankful someone had half a brain around here.

Kelly led us into a large room, much nicer and more spacious than the one we were in before. She and another nurse lifted Emma to the new bed and switched her monitors and tubes over as well. Once they were done and left, I slumped onto the leather chair and dropped my head into my hands.

How had this happened? I left her for just a second and she almost died. Thank goodness she was alert. She was going to be fine.

Someone knocked on the door and it swung open. Coach and Marie stepped in, seeming cautious. “Kelly said you looked like you could use your parents right now.”

I nodded and stood. They rushed over, wrapping their arms around me. It was just what I needed and somehow, they knew.

“What’s going on, Olli?” Coach asked with concern over his face.

I shook my head and gestured to Emma who was sleeping peacefully. I kept my voice low so I wouldn’t wake her up. “She did so good. The baby came out and he cried--”

“It’s a boy?” Marie asked.

I nodded and smiled a millimeter. “He’s so perfect. I was watching him get his measurements taken then I turned to tell Emma and the doctor was yelling. The nurses were running around. She was hemorrhaging. When I got to her, she had lost consciousness. They got it under control, and said she will be okay, but I don’t know. Then I forgot the baby. I thought I lost him, but he’s at the nursery.”

Marie smiled gently and rubbed my arm. “Olli, you just went through a lot and I think you’re in shock. Let’s sit down.” She led me back to the chair and sat in the matching one next to me. “Emma is going to be okay. It’s common for bleeding to happen. All that matters is that you have a great doctor who saw it before closing her up. Your baby boy is just fine. The nurses will take good care of him.”

As if on cue, there was another knock and a new nurse came in pushing a white bassinet. “Hi.” She whispered with a smile. Her eyes darted to Emma before resting on me. “I have someone that would like to meet you.”

I went to stand but Coach held my shoulders down and looked next to me. The nurse had parked the bassinet at the foot of Emma’s bed then picked up the little blue bundle and came to me. “Here you go, Dad.”

I took my son and held him against me for the first time. I glanced up to see Marie beaming and Coach holding out his phone. I appreciated him having the thought to memorialize this moment. Not that I would ever forget.

The nurse smiled and backed out of the room. I peered down at my little man. There was nothing that could have stopped the flood of tears. I’d never been much of a crier, but today was unlike anything I’d ever experienced. I’d felt more emotions in the past few hours than I normally did in a year.

“He’s perfect, Olli.” Marie whispered while leaning over to see him. I adjusted so she and Coach could admire our creation.

“Do you guys have a name picked out?”

I nodded. “Jackson Oliver.”

They sighed in unison.

I used one hand to wipe the tears off my face. “Thank you, guys, for being here. It means more than you’ll ever know.”

Coach patted my shoulder. “There’s no place else we’d be, son.”

I choked down the rock in my throat then turned to Emma. I hoped she would wake up soon. I couldn’t wait for her to meet our son.

5

Emma