As soon as I located my car, I floored it. The flight from Las Vegas to Pittsburgh took almost four hours and I still had almost two hours to drive. I knew I was running out of time. The miles disappeared quickly as I flew down the interstate. Halfway to Morgantown, I realized that my phone was still shut off. I powered it on as I drove and saw I had a new voice mail. My heart was in my throat as I listened to the message Amber had left over an hour ago. It seemed that things were happening quickly, and if I didn’t hurry, I wasn’t going to make it. It was late, so there were few cars to avoid as I pushed my car harder. I shouted in relief when I saw the signs for my exit.

I pulled into the hospital parking lot and ran for the doors. In her message, Amber had told me what floor they were on. I opted for the stairs instead of the elevator, knowing I could run faster than it would go. When I reached the floor, I could hear Chloe screaming my name. I ran past the nurses’ station and straight for Chloe’s room. A nurse jumped to her feet and started shouting for me to stop, but I ignored her.

I nearly lost it when I made it to the room. Amber was beside Chloe, holding her hand, as she cried out in pain. Her hair was plastered to her forehead with sweat, and she looked exhausted. A doctor at the foot of the bed was telling her to keep pushing.

I ran to Chloe’s side and grabbed her other hand. “Chloe, I’m here. I’m so sorry.”

“Oh, thank God,” Amber said.

Chloe looked up at me with tears in her eyes. “I can’t do this. It hurts too much.”

“Shh…you can do it. I’m right here with you.”

“Chloe, I need you to keep pushing. We’re almost there,” the doctor said.

Chloe grabbed my hand and squeezed as she started pushing. I bit my lip to keep from crying out at just how hard her hand was gripping mine. I couldn’t stand to see her in so much pain. Jesus, this was my worst fucking nightmare.

“That’s it, Chloe. Give one more big push on the count of three. One, two, three! Push!” the doctor yelled.

Chloe screamed as she gave one final push. I couldn’t breathe as I heard the single most beautiful thing I’d ever heard in my life—my baby crying.

“You did it, Chloe,” the doctor said as she cut the cord and handed the baby to the nurses.

It felt like hours were passing by as I held on to Chloe’s hand and waited to see my baby.

Finally, after cleaning my baby off, the nurse walked over to us with a huge smile on her face. “Are you ready to meet your son?”

“Son?” Chloe asked.

The nurse handed the baby over to her. “Yes, it’s a boy.”

I couldn’t speak as I stared down at the little screaming bundle in my wife’s arms. He was the most beautiful thing I’d ever seen. He stopped crying and snuggled into Chloe’s chest as she spoke softly to him.

“You’re so beautiful. I love you so much already, little guy.” Chloe said as she ran her finger across his cheek.

She was crying as she looked up at me. “Come meet our son, Drake.”

“Son,” I whispered.

She let me take him out of her arms. He was so small. I stared at him in awe as I realized I was a dad. This baby was mine, and I would protect him with my life. I loved him and Chloe more than anything in this world.

“He’s perfect.” I whispered as I stared down at him. And he was. I smiled when I noticed that he had Chloe’s cute little nose. With the exception of my dark hair covering his head, he was Chloe.

“Do you two have a name picked out?” the nurse asked.

Chloe smiled up at me through her tears. “We do. Meet Michael Andrew Allen.”

As I stared down at my wife and son, I knew that my life was now complete. I had everything that I could ever want. Chloe and I had finally found our happily ever after.


The End

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