Total pages in book: 91
Estimated words: 105398 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 527(@200wpm)___ 422(@250wpm)___ 351(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 105398 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 527(@200wpm)___ 422(@250wpm)___ 351(@300wpm)
Lifting him out of the bassinet, I walked slowly to Ember, who was still sleeping. I placed the baby into Max’s arms cautiously, and then helped maneuver Ember to where she was resting against me instead of Max. The jostling woke her, and she started crying anew when she laid eyes on our baby for the first time.
Max transferred him to Ember’s arms carefully, and backed away to give us some privacy.
Everyone started to stand, but Ember stopped them with a staying hand. “Don’t go. Please stay.”
They all resumed their seats, and watched us rapturously.
“He’s okay, baby. Stop crying, you’re breaking my heart.” I whispered to her hair.
“He looks just like you. Look at his little chubby cheeks!” She laughed.
I smiled. “He was nine pounds two ounces, and twenty two inches long. He’s a big boy.”
“What’s his name?” Max finally asked impatiently.
“Gabriel Luca Maldonado the third.” Ember announced proudly.
My body froze, and pride burst through me. We never discussed naming him after me, and I never wanted to ask since my name wasn’t a traditional American name. So hearing her say that just now was something I never hoped to have. We’d discussed that we wouldn’t think about names until we saw him with our own eyes, but I had a feeling that she probably planned it like this all along.
Everyone stayed for a while longer, but left within the hour to give us time alone with Luca. Max took Cora home, who instantly loved her new baby brother. Unfortunately, she couldn’t hold him yet since he was hurt, but she gave some great kisses.
After three days in the hospital, Luca and Ember were released pending follow up appointments within the next week. Luca’s collarbone healed fully within three weeks. The same couldn’t be said for our hearts.
Ember suffered from nightmares about the delivery. I’d be dead asleep and her screaming would jar me awake. Her screams of pain would echo through me, reminding me of the delivery, of the terror I’d experienced seeing our son stuck, dying slowly. We spoke about the birth often. She told me that next time she was having an elective C-section, because there was no way she was going to experience that again, even though the odds were highly unlikely.
Each and every day I thank God for sparing my family. I’d nearly lost Ember, my daughter, and then my son within a year’s time. All of those times left marks on my soul. Something that I would never forget if I lived to be a hundred. I was one lucky son of a bitch.
EPILOGUE
Ember
“Thirty seconds.” An electronic voice announced from my iPhone app.
Closing my eyes, I started thinking about all the crap I had left to do today. Since today is Cora’s second birthday, we decided to hold a party for her at Air U. Air U is a large indoor area that had trampolines covering every available surface. However, this was not my idea. Gabe was big on trying to make up for his missing year in Cora’s life.
He went over the top for everything, including the party. I had a little over three hours until we were to be there, and what was I doing? Nothing. I was working out instead of doing what I really needed to be doing.
I’ve slowed down a lot since Luca’s birth. Savoring things that I wouldn’t normally savor. Stopping to smell a flower on the side of the road instead of barreling past it at ninety. Taking the time out of my day to call Max and tell him I love him. Coming home at lunch to check on my babies, just because I missed them, and yes, that included Gabe. Eating that second piece of chocolate cake, even though I know it will go straight to my love handles. I reveled in my perfect life.
It’d been nearly six months since I’d given birth to Luca. Our lives have settled down a bit since the birth. I’d started my job with the college back a little over two months ago. I didn’t however do full time. I’m more of an administrator now instead of a full time athletic trainer.
I’d tried to do go back to work, doing what I’d been doing before I had Luca. Unfortunately, it didn’t agree with me. I was working long hours, and I never got to see my kids. I’d drop them off at daycare on my way to work at seven in the morning, and wouldn’t be able to pick them up until late in the afternoon.
Once football season started, my hours got even worse. The first away game for the football team I’d cried for nearly the entire bus ride. Four complete hours there. When I got home from the game at eleven that night, I was a complete mess. I knew from then on that I wouldn’t be doing anything that took me so far away from my family anymore.
Kale and June’s story wasn’t a good one. Kale went to prison for his activities in the gang. His sentence was for five years, and he would have to serve two and a half before being considered for probation. Although, his sentence was significantly lessened when he gave up all that he knew if they got his little brother into a good foster home.
June is still an assistant athletic trainer, but she lost her baby in the aftermath of Kale going to jail. She’s a lot more quiet these days, and I let her be, because what can I really say other than it’s going to be okay? I worried about her like crazy, but she was still loyal to Kale, and stuck by him even when he didn’t want her to.
A droplet of sweat rolled into my eyes, distracting from my inner musings. Glancing down at the clock, I noticed I still had a minute left of this torture. Gritting my teeth, I moved faster.
“What, in the mother-fuck, are you doing?” Max asked, the door slipping from his grip and banging against the wall.