[ - ]
Table of Contents [Report This]
Printer Chapter or Story Microsoft Word Chapter or Story
- Text Size +
Chapter Seventy - May 16 - Halifax, NS

-- Nick --

After stops in Russia, Estonia, the Ukraine, Serbia, and the United Arab Emirates, we were finally back in North America. We kicked off May with our tour of Canada. About a week into our stops, Liv and the kids went back home.

Angel was due any day. I was kind of hoping she'd keep the baby in the oven for a few more days. We were kicking off our U.S. dates in Florida in four days.

Unfortunately, that wasn't meant to be. I was fast asleep in bed when the phone rang. I slapped my hand across the table until I found my cell.

"Lo?"

I heard a loud scream in the background. It woke me up fast.

"Nick?"

"Liv?"

"We're at the hospital. Angel's in labor."

I rubbed my face and sat up. "I can hear that. How's it going?"

I heard the sound of a door opening and closing.

"Matt's here."

"What?"

"He's here. I think Angel called him. He must have been sticking close."

My eyes narrowed. I didn't know whether he had finally gotten his head out of his ass or if this was some kind of stupid game.

"Has he said anything?"

"Not really. He's just standing in the corner."

"If he started anything call security."

"I will."

I heard the door open again. A second later I heard a few crackles.

"Nick?"

Angel sounded exhausted.

"Hey mama. How are you doing?"

"I don't know how Liv did this. This sucks. I took the drugs. And this STILL sucks."

I decided laughing probably wasn't the best thing to do.

"Angel, you're going to be fine. I can't wait to meet my niece or nephew. You can do it. I love you."

I heard a sniffle. "I love you too, Nick."

We talked for a few more minutes and then Liv came on the line.

"I love you."

I smiled. "I love you too."

I hung up and rolled over on my side. There was no way I could fall back asleep. Angel's screams were ringing in my ears and all I could think about was Matt standing in the corner like this shithead he was.

It was going to be a long night.

----------------------------------

The phone rang again about ten o'clock in the morning. Brian and I were playing a game of basketball. I held up my hands in a 'T' for a time-out and grabbed the phone from my bag.

"Liv?"

"Oh, he's absolutely beautiful, Nick."

I smiled. Liv cut to the chase.

"I have a nephew?"

"He's got Angel's dark hair and...oh, he's so sweet."

"How's Angel?"

"She did so good. He didn't want to come out. His head was too big."

I had a feeling my nephew had inherited that from his father.

"What about Matt?"

Liv sighed. "He walked out during the delivery. He came back after they had everything cleaned up but he didn't stay long. Angel was pretty upset."

"HE'S AN ASSHOLE!"

I smiled.

"Hold on," Liv said. I heard the phone being passed.

"Hey, Nick."

"Hey. How's that baby?"

"Ten fingers, ten toes. His dad's big head but other than that he's Carter through and through."

I smiled. "And his name?"

"Logan Robert."

I laughed. "Oh Angel, I love you."

"I've already talked to mom. She had a shitting fit but I don't care."

"How are you feeling?"

"I'm on an adrenaline high. I can't wait for you to see him."

"Well, a picture will do for now. I'll see you in a couple days, okay?"

"Okay, love you bro."

"Love you too."

--------------------------------

May 19

From the moment I landed in Tampa, every minute of free time was filled with something to do. Liv met me at the airport and we went immediately to Dr. Tresher's office. It was baby gender day.

Liv was pregnant. And not just a little pregnant. I mean full out baby belly pregnant. I just wanted to rest my head on her tummy and not move until the baby decided to come out.

Unfortunately, that wasn't in the agenda.

"How are you feeling?" I asked. Liv smiled.

"I hate to jinx it, but besides the vomiting early on this has been the been such an easy pregnancy. I'm actually enjoying it this time around."

I smiled. "Well, I guess Brooke and Noah paved the way for a comfortable baby cave."

Liv laughed. "It's probably a condo in there by now."

Thirty minutes later we were in the exam room. I leaned down and kissed Liv's bare belly.

"Hello, wittle one. Daddy's missed you."

"He or she's a funny little kicker. Not quite as forceful as Brooke or Noah."

"You've got a little tapper?"

I turned. Dr. Tresher was standing in the doorway. Liv nodded.

"That's a good way to phrase it."

"Well let's see whether it's a prince or princess doing that to you. Nick, I'm counting on you to tell me the answer," Dr. Tresher teased.

I laughed. "I think I know what a penis looks like now."

Five minutes later we had a nice 3-d shot of the inside of Liv's belly. I leaned forward. I didn't see a third leg.

"A girl?" I asked.

Dr. Tresher laughed. "You sound so unsure. Yes, it's a girl."

"Well, there goes Brooke's dream of calling the baby Mickey," Liv said. I laughed.

"She looks like she's doing great," Dr. Tresher continued. "No problems Liv?"

Liv shook her head. "I feel fantastic."

"Great. I'm looking forward to having a nice easy delivery with you again."

"I don't have to do a C-section do I?"

Dr. Tresher shook her head. "No, I think we can definitely do a vbac."

"A vbac?" I asked. All I could picture was a huge vaccum cleaner. I didn't think that was an option, but there it was in my mind, a giant Hoover."

"It stands for vaginal birth after cesarean," Dr. Tresher explained.

"Ohhhh."

Dr. Tresher gave Liv a few more instructions and then Liv got dressed.

"A little girl," she said. "I was sure it was going to be a boy."

I laughed. "You always guess wrong."

"Either way I'm happy," she said. I nodded.

"I am too. But I love my little girls."

"And they love you. How about we go home and see your nephew?"

I stood up and took her hand.

"That sounds great."

---------------------------

"Daddy! Beebee cry!"

"MAMA!"

"Let daddy through the door!"

"Meemee, no!"

Liv's mom was trying to hold Brooke back and hold Noah as I slide inside. As soon as I cleared the door Brooke ran towards me. I scooped her up. She was still carrying around the baby doll I had gotten her for her birthday. It was looking pretty sad. It had been pulled by its hair so much that it was almost bald.

"Hey sweetie. Hey meemee," I said, directing that at Liv's mom. She laughed.

"Hi, Nick."

Her attention went to Liv.

"What are you having?"

Liv laughed. "It's a girl."

"Mickey?"

Brooke pointed to Liv's belly. I leaned forward so that she tipped backwards in my arms. She giggled.

"Nope, it's a little girl baby sweetie."

"Mama, mama!"

Liv took Noah from her mom. I could hear loud, shrill cries coming from down the hall.

"That must be my nephew," I said. "I'll be right back."

Brooke clung to me as I headed down the hallway.

"Beebee cry," she repeated.

"I hear that. Let's check on the baby," I said. I knocked on the door.

"Come in!"

Angel was standing at the changing table. I saw two little pink hands waving in the air.

"Hey mama."

"Nick!"

She smiled. I set Brooke down on the floor and leaned over Angel's shoulder.

Little Logan was adorable. He had Angel's dark hair and her nose. He was just a lot bigger than I had expected.

"How much did he weigh?" I asked.

"Nine pounds," Angel said with a sigh.

I tried to picture that coming out of my little tiny sister. It wasn't a good scenario.

"And you're still alive?"

Angel laughed. "I'm stitched but still alive."

I hugged her.

"I'm proud of you."

"Thank you. Want to finish changing his diaper?"

"I don't love you that much."

But I really did. I finished changing him while Angel sat down on the bed. I reswaddled him and picked him up.

"What's up big guy? I'm your uncle Nick."

I got a huge yawn in response.

"What did you and Liv find out at the doctor's?" Angel asked. Brooke crawled up beside Angel. She stuck her thumb in her mouth. She was watching me with the baby like a hawk, but thankfully she wasn't screaming.

"We're having a girl," I said with a smile. Angel's eyes lit up.

"You are so good with girls," she said. "Actually, you've always been good with girls, right?"

I rolled my eyes. "Haha."

The next three hours I tried to spend as much time with everyone as I possibly good. We managed to sit down for dinner before I had to go.

"I feel bad keeping Liv from you," Angel said. I shook my head.

"You've always been there for us when we needed help with the babies. It's only fair."

"He can survive without me for a month," Liv said with a smile. She cupped my face and kissed me.

"I guess I can," I said.

I knelt down and kissed Brooke and Noah. Noah looked up at me sadly.

"Bye-bye."

"Bye-bye buddy. I'll see you soon."

Brooke held out her dolly. "Kiss bye-bye."

I kissed the little plastic baby.

"Be good for mom guys," I said. I grabbed my duffel.

This was the part of the job that sucked. But, like a Band-Aid, it was best just to rip it off. I headed out and took a deep breath.

I just couldn't look back.