My Best Friend (9 page)

*
**

When he pulled up in the driveway, there were signs and banners that said
Congratulations! It’s a girl!
John and Amy had probably put them up. He walked up to the door with the car seat in hand, opened the door, and headed straight to the nursery.

“Welcome home, baby girl.” He took her out of the car seat and sat in the rocking chair. He rocked her back and forth, saying, “Mommy loves you. She’ll be home soon.” Angel smiled. That was the first time he’d actually seen her smile. A few tears rolled down his face. He’d been so close to having everything.

Angel fell asleep. She was the most beautiful baby he’d ever seen. Looking at her, he thought,
I never knew I could love something this little so much, he would never let anyone ever hurt her.
He was flooded with memories of the four years he’d had with Kay and thought about the years they’d wasted. He held his little girl close to his heart.

His mother woke him the next morning. “Jason, Jay its mom,” she said.

He opened his eyes and made sure Angel was ok.

His mom asked him, “Did you have her in your arms all night?” When he didn’t answer, she said, “Son, you don’t want to get her used to that. Give her to me.” He handed Angel to his mom, and she laid her down in her crib. “She’s such a wonderful baby. She has my eyes.” His mom walked back to Jason. “Jason, I got you some breakfast. It’s on the table.”

Jason got up from the rocking chair. “I’m not hungry.”

“Son, you need to eat something. Jason, have I told you how proud we are of you? You’ve turned out to be a wonderful man. We raised you well.”

He stopped and looked back at his mom. “Yes, you did, Mom. I hope I can be as good of a parent as you we
re to me. I’m going to wash up, after
I’ll be heading back to the hospital.”

“You’re going to be ok. No matter what happens, we will be here.”

“Nothing’s going to happen,” he said. “I know she’ll be ok.” He walked out and entered his room.

*
**

He walked into her hospital room. There hadn’t been any change in her condition. He sat down beside her. “Kay, I’m back. Angel is settling in at home; Mom is with her. She’ll be taking care of her while I’m here. Don’t worry. Mom loves to take care of her granddaughter. It’s better than shopping and spending Dad’s money.” He giggled. “I know you would tell me to stop teasing my mom. I miss you, sweetie. I miss you yelling at me or telling me how wonderful I am.” He smiled. “John and Amy send their love. I might have to leave early today. I have some paper work to give to John and I have to make sure everything is ok with my cases.” He held her hand and kissed it.

She squeezed him. He looked at her and whispered. “Kay?” but she didn’t respond. He ran out the room and got the nurse. She called her doctor. When he came, he did some tests, but she still didn’t open her eyes. He didn’t see any change.

“What do y
ou mean? She squeezed my hand.”

“It could’ve been a twitch. I’ll be back to check on her later,” the doctor answered.

He laid his head down on her stomach and fell asleep.

She opened her eyes a bit and looked down at him. She put her hand on his head. She couldn’t quite talk with the tube in her mouth. She ran her hand again in his hair, and he opened his eyes when he realized someone was touching him.

He picked up his head and saw that his prayers had been answered. “Kay, sweetie, I need to get the doctor.”

She tried to talk, to say, “don’t leave me.”

He stayed and kissed her, “I love you...” he whispered. He pressed the nurse call button and called for the doctor. The doctor came in and checked her. He asked Jason to leave the room while he took the tube out of her mouth. The doctor came out and told him she was awake and was having trouble talking, but not to worry because her throat was sore from the tube.

Jason had tears running down his face. “I’ve been waiting for this day when you’d finally open your eyes.”

She swallowed
and
start
ed
to get
hysterical
, when she
put her hands on her stomach.
“Where’s my baby?”
She tried to say.

He took her hands in his. “She’s fine, she’s wonderful. She weighed eight pounds and five ounces, and she was twen
ty-one inches long. She has
black hair and big beautiful hazel eyes.” He smiled. Tears rolled down her cheeks, and he wiped them. “Here is a picture of her.”

She’s perfect,
she thought,
I have a baby.
She asked. “What happened?” and he explained.

*
**

She was transferred
from the
ICU, and now
was in a regular hospital room. Jason went home to get Angel so she could finally meet her mom. Amy entered her room with flowers.

“Hey, girl, you gave us all a scare. How are you feeling Kay?”

“I don’t feel anything, Amy. I’m just feeling numb. Thank you for the flowers; they’re beautiful.”

They talked for a few minutes about what had happened to Kay. “How did Jason handle this?” Kay asked.

Amy sat down next to he
r. “Well,” she said, “Y
our husband stood by your side nigh
t and day. He prayed and
believed that everything was going to be ok. Kay, he has to be running on empty. He has been here day and night and still had time to go home and be Daddy to your beautiful baby. Girl, you have one of the few good men. Don’t ever give him up.”

“How many days have I been out?” she asked.

“It’s been six days. Angel went home three days after she was born. Jason bounced back and forth between here to your house.” Amy answered.

“Anything else?” Kay asked.

“We did the presentation you prepared. The clients loved it and are in the process of signing the contract, but
our clients
want you to head the campaign. Just thought you’d like to know. If Jason hears me talking to you about work, he will probably kick me out. I’ll be back tomorrow to see you and let you know what’s going on at work.”

“Thank you for coming,” Kay said. Work was the last thing on her mind right now. She just wanted to see and hold her baby.

***

She sat up in her bed, still in pain and a little dizzy. When she looked up, Jason was there with Angel in his arms.

“Sweetie, say hi to your baby girl.” He looked at Angel then at Kay. “Angel, this is your mommy. She’s been waiting to meet you.”

Angel was wearing a pink dress with a bow in her hair. She was beautiful. She stretched her hands excited to hold her, and Jason leaned in and gave her their baby. She looked at Angel’s big beautiful eyes, and tears started rolling down her cheeks.

“My baby girl, I lo
ve you so much,” she whispered, smiling
and kissed her rosy cheek. “I’ve waited for you for months. You’re beautiful.” She held her until Angel starting crying. Kay tried to calm her, but it didn’t work. She kept crying. “Jason,” she whispered, “take her.”

As soon as Jason picked her up and started whispering to her, she stopped crying. He whispered, “Hey, baby, Daddy’s here.”

The sound of his voice seemed to calm her. Kay stared at him. The wa
y he was so gentle with her,
caressed and calmed her, made her love him even more.

He rocked her to sleep close to his heart. “She loves the sound of my heart.”

She whispered, “She doesn’t like me.”

“Sweetie, that’s not true. She was just a little fussy. Give her some time. She had a few days to bond with me. Now she needs to bond with you.”

“You’re so good with her. Thank you for everything,” she said with tears in her eyes.

He wiped her tears. “Doll eyes, you don’t have to thank me. It’s my duty as your husband and her dad. I love you guys. You and Angel are everything to me.”

Kay wondered,
how did I get so lucky? Why did I waste so much time?
She finally had her own family, something she’d never thought possible.

Chapter
Nine

Two days passed, and it was time for Kay to go home. She was happy to be finally going home to her family.

“Hi, doll eyes, are you ready to go hom
e?”

She smile
d at him. “Yes, where’s Angel?”

“She is at home with my parents waiting for you,” he
answered, helping her get up.

Kay grabbed his hands. “Can we go somewhere?
Just you
and me, just for a little bit.”

“Where would
you
like to go
?”

“Can we go down by the lake
? I just need some time, please.” S
he said, sitting in the wheel chair.

“Ok.
” He was a bit confused, but he thought,
She needs this.

***

He pulled the car around, opened the passenger door, and helped her into the car gently. They drove to the lake in silence. He would wait until she was ready to talk.
Finally pulling
up to the lake, and she was the first one out. She walked out, inhaled the fresh air, exhaled and sat on the grass looking up at the sky. He c
ame up behind her, sat down, wrapping
his arms around her waist.

“Why are we here, Kay? Why aren’t we
home with our baby?” he asked.

She remained silent, and tears started running down her face. She whispered, “Why Jason?”

“Why? Why what?” he asked.

“Why do you
care so much for us?”

Her question confused him, but he whispered in her ear, “It’s simple because I love you. I’ve always loved you. Don’t you know that by now? Haven’t I shown you yet you’re everything to me, Kay? And when it comes to Angel, I love my little girl, and I would give my life for her. You’re my family.” He turned her face to look into her eyes. “What’s wrong? Are you changing your mind about us?”

She stared back
at him. “No, Jason, I would never change my mind about you. I love you too much. You’re everything I’ve always wanted in a man. I just want you to be sure.”

“Sure of what?” he asked. “That I can’t live without you? Do you know the hell I went through when you were in a coma? I would’ve traded places with you in a heartbeat. I’m sure of you, and I’m sure of us. We’re a family now.” He cupped her cheeks and kissed her lips. He had missed her taste. He started nibbling on her bottom lip. This is where he wanted to be, with the love of his life. They stopped kissing. “Let’s go home to our baby.”

He
got up and helped her up and
started walking to the car, she said, “I’m scared.”

He turned to her and asked, “Of what?”

“Of Angel,” she answered, looking away from him. He started laughing. “Stop laughing at me.”

“Why are you scared of Angel?” he asked with laughter in his voice.

“She doesn’t like me; it’s all about daddy,” she said smiling.

“Stop being so jealous,” he teased. “Look, she will be all about you as soon as we get home and you start breast feeding her. She loves to eats.”

She smiled. “What if s
he doesn’t latch on?”

“She will. Mom hasn’t fed her yet. She’s waiting for you, and by now, she has to be hungry.” They got in the car and headed home.

*
**

They finally pulled up to their home. She was still nervous but excited to see her baby. Jason opened the door, and his parents greeted them and welcomed her home with kisses and hugs.

Jason asked.
“Where’s the baby?”

“She is in her room sleeping.” His d
ad answered.

Kay started walking to the nursery. She stopped for a moment
paused
and
entered. Jason’s mom hugged hi
m. “Is everything ok?”

“Yes, she just needed some time.” His parents said their goodbyes and told him that they would be by later in the week. Jason entered the nursery, looked into Kay’s eyes and
smiled. Baby Angel had latched on to her mom. The sight of his wife feeding their daughter choked him.
I almost lost this, my family
he thought.

Kay smiled at him. “You were right. She doesn’t hate me.”

He bent down and kissed her forehead. “I love you, doll eyes. I never thought I could feel this happy. I have everything I’ve ever wanted right here in this room.”