Juliana – Chapter 92 Lollipop

Time in Willow Creek: 1 year, 5 months, 1 week, 2 days

A flash of panic struck Jase’s body when he saw Juliana’s number appear on his phone. It was just about 9:30. He dashed to answer it, but the phone kept slipping through his clumsy grasp. When he got a good grip, he took a deep breath before he answered the call. They were prepared. They had everything they needed. The baby could arrive early if she wanted to, but nothing could prevent the nerves and concerns they all had.

“H-hi, Juliana…” His voice was stern and robotic in attempts to remain calm.

She told him Hillary was in labor and on her way to the hospital with Harold. It was happening! Two weeks ago he didn’t know she existed, and his life was relatively good. But, last week, when he saw her for the first time, his life changed. Yes, she added a new level of complication on top of an already difficult situation. But, he couldn’t help but love her. She was all he ever thought about in those two weeks, and in a matter of hours, she would be in his arms, and he’d probably cry more than her. He dropped everything he was doing and made his way to the hospital. He ran from the taxi to the lobby; it had been eons since he ran anywhere. In the lobby, he paused to catch his breath while his eyes scanned the waiting room. They weren’t there. He ran to the information desk to find them.

“Hi,” he said through heavy pants. “Sorry…I don’t run much.” He laughed nervously. “Uhhh…I’m looking for my…my…”

His friend? His wannabe wife? He never had to consider what kind of labels to put on her before. Who was she to him now? They were friendly but not exactly friends. They loved each other, but they weren’t lovers. She was the mother of his child, and that was the only concrete thing he could say about her at that point. However, he didn’t have time to think about their drama. Those people didn’t know anything about them or the complications of their relationship, and they weren’t going to know. For ease and simplicity, he said, “…my g-girlfriend?”

The nurse looked annoyed and said, “What’s her name?”

He could have kicked himself for going through all of that mental contortion. “Hillary. Hillary Humphries. She’s in labor, and she just came in here probably 20 minutes ago,” he said with urgency.

“Oh right. She’s down the hall in room 116.”

“Thanks!” He dashed away.

He found her laying in a bed with her father next to her. Harold’s eyebrows rose; Hillary must not have told him. Made sense. The man had barely been alive until that night.

“Hi, Mr. Humphries.”

He always felt like a little boy in his presence. A little boy who had done something wrong, to be precise. Harold glared at him with those beady aquamarine eyes. Jase wondered what he was thinking. Whatever it was, it didn’t look good. He wanted to turn around and go back home, but he was there for his daughter. And, Hillary too. Harold grunted, but he got up and took the chair by the door. Jase wasn’t sure if he should have said something, but he had been around the man most of his life and knew less was always more.

He slid into position next to her bed. “Hey…how’s it going? Uhh, that was dumb.” He chuckled nervously.

Her smile made him feel better.

“I’m ok,” she said. “Just scared. I don’t know if I did something or if something’s wrong…I mean, I know it’s only six days early, but…I just wish Dr. Garrison would get here!”

A contraction started, and she grabbed her womb. She groaned and let out deep breaths with her eyes closed. It was a little one and didn’t last long, but they were going to keep happening for the foreseeable future with increasing intensity. He was completely out of his element and totally unprepared for what was about to happen. Not getting frustrated proved to be difficult. If he would have known about her pregnancy earlier, perhaps they could have attended birthing classes together. There was no time to get petty, however. What was done was done, and forward was the only direction they needed to move.

“Uhhh…can I…what can I do?” He was so nervous.

“Just set there and wait,” Harold said.

He sounded annoyed. Jase had always been convinced he didn’t like him.

Dr. Garrison arrived within the hour and allayed everyone’s anxieties; the baby was not in distress.

“She’s just excited to meet y’all,” she said with her signature infectious smile. She turned to Harold and extended her hand to him. “You must be Mr. Humphries. I was fond of your wife. I’m very sorry.”

He nodded.

“Well, folks…get comfy. Now we wait! Hillary, if it gets too much for you, just call and we’ll hook you up, ok? The nurses will be in and out to check your progress. I’ll see you in the delivery room!”

She was so nice. No wonder Hillary liked her so much. Too bad she wouldn’t have an excuse to see her anymore. Maybe she could be her lady doctor or something.

Hillary was in labor for about three hours. In his ignorance, he tried helping her, but he annoyed her more than anything. He never heard such foul words come from her mouth before. Harold didn’t help by sitting in the corner laughing in his old man grunt. But, finally, a man in scrubs pushing a wheelchair came through the door. “It’s time,” he said. Jase and Hillary looked at each other with their mouths gaped, and he grabbed her hand. He suspended all rules of engagement concerning her for it was a special night. The rules required him to remain emotionally distant. There was no way he could pull that off. She was having his child. And, she was in so much pain. She needed him, and he chose to be there 100%.

“Oh…we’re not staying here?” he asked.

“Does this room look like a baby should be born in it, Jase?” She was so curt. It was kind of cute.

The nurse laughed. “Don’t worry, man. They’re all like this.”

Jase got up so the nurse could do his job and get Hillary into the chair. He and Harold followed the man to the delivery room where Dr. Garrison was waiting for her.

“Ooooh, mama! You look mad!” She winked at Jase. “I hope you haven’t been cussing out poor Mr. Handsome.”

The contractions had been coming on so fast, it was hard to tell when one stopped and the next one began. She was such a trooper through it all. He knew she was in excruciating pain, but she took it better than he expected. He would have opted for all pain killing drugs the moment he stepped foot on hospital property if it were him. But, she denied. She was a much stronger person than he was.

They got her up on the bed and hooked up to the monitors and an IV. Harold stood off in the corner as if he only wanted to be a specter hovering silently over everyone. Hillary craned her head to see him, but he wasn’t in her field of view.

“Daddy,” she whined in a pain filled voice through another round of contractions.

Something happened. It’s almost like he woke up from a dream and realized where he was and what he was supposed to be doing. He dashed to her side–as quick as an old man could dash in a small space–and held her hand. It was the second most beautiful sight in the room. Jase never understood why Harold abused her so much, but he never believed he hated her as she always claimed. It was nice to see he was right. The most beautiful sight in the room was Hillary. She would deny it seven times, but even in that state when she probably felt like she was at her worst, he still found much to be desired. Her face was beautiful, but it had nothing to do with how she looked. It was her spirit. Her attitude. Her willingness to make things right. It was her. 

Dr. Garrison coached her while Harold still had her hand and supported her back with the other. Jase should have been doing that, but it was so nice to see them together in such an intimate manner. Every now and then he would look at the other end of the bed as if he could see something through the blanket covering her. Seeing her in such a vulnerable position reminded him of their epic night together, and he wondered which time led to the miracle of life they were experiencing. The first time began awkwardly as they were both nervous about the step they were taking. As much as he loved her, it was still weird. Was their baby conceived from the awkwardness or the more enthusiastic second round? Watching her go through so much pain to have his baby caused him to realize he couldn’t place all the blame on her anymore. She blamed herself, but he was equally guilty. Just as she didn’t have to involve him or even have the baby, he didn’t have to say yes to her. He pushed too hard and should have recognized how damaged she was. He always only saw the good in her while she constantly pointed out the bad. Perhaps they should have listened to each other. He shouldn’t have kissed her, but he thought she was finally ready for real love. One lapse in judgment ruined their friendship yet gave them a precious gift.

“You’re doing great,” Dr. Garrison said. “Take a minute to rest before the next one.”

Hillary fell back onto the bed, sweating and panting like a dog in July. She reached for his hand. He grabbed it and stroked her hair with the other.

“You are doing great, Hill.”

She tried to smile.

“Get ready, pretty girl,” Dr. Garrison said.

Hillary groaned. “Why does it have to be so fast!”

She probably knew why and said it out of frustration, but Dr. Garrison explained anyway.

“Well, when your water broke, Miss Lollipop got evicted. She can’t stay in there like that forever. She’s got to go go go!”

“Come on,” Harold said.

He and Jase helped her back up. The contraction came just as the doctor said it would. She told her to push, and Hillary pushed. She looked like she pushed with all her might, but they still had a ways to go. The baby hadn’t crowned yet. The cycle continued. Contractions came, she pushed, and then she rested for a minute or less. This went on for about 45 minutes, and Hillary grew tired. Both Harold and Jase joined Dr. Garrison in encouraging her, but they were all failing. The last time she fell back onto the bed, she burst into tears.

“It’s ok, Hill. It’ll be over soon. You just have to keep pushing!”

She kept crying.

“The sooner you stop carrying on, the sooner it’ll be,” Harold said.

Still, she cried. “I want my mama!”

Everyone stopped at looked at her not knowing what to do. Jase felt so bad for her. He wanted to cry too.

“I want my mama!”

A contraction was happening, and she writhed in pain, but Dr. Garrison didn’t say anything. She probably knew she needed a moment.

“I WANT MAMA!”

Tears streamed from Harold’s eyes. He wanted Harriett too. What he did next was surprising. He bent next to Hillary, kissed her hand, and spoke to her.

“You are strong like your mama.”

Hillary’s tears slowed a bit, but she was still in anguish. “Daddy…I can’t do this. I need her!”

“We all need her!” His voice escalated, but he tried to stay in control. “She ain’t here no more. But, you…you’re like her. Now, I know you miss her, but now ain’t the time to be carrying on like this. You can do that when you get home. Go on and get this baby out.”

Jase was touched. He couldn’t recall Harold ever being so encouraging to anyone. He squeezed her hand and looked at Dr. Garrison who was teary-eyed. She nodded. It was time to go again.

“Come on, Hill. You got this.”

“We’re almost there, pretty girl! Give me one good push, and she’ll crown. I know she will.”

Jase hoped she was right and wasn’t just saying that. Harold helped her sit up and gave her an encouraging nod.

“I love you, daddy.”

“PUSH!”

“Keep pushing!” Dr. Garrison was a great cheerleader.

Jase got excited. His daughter would be born any moment. “You’re doing great, Hill!”

“Come on now, baby girl,” Harold said.

“I see the head!”

Jase gasped. “You see her?!”

“Give me the biggest, longest push you’ve given me all night! Give me everything you got!”

That push had to be the most painful thing she felt all night. She screamed louder, squeezed their hands tighter and looked so determined to be done with the whole thing. Then, the most magnificent sound broke through the screams and buzzes and beeps in the room. Their angel arrived!

Dr. Garrison cradled her while she screamed. “Hello there, lollipop!”

“My,” Harold said. “Ain’t she something.”

Jase was overcome and couldn’t say anything. Hillary simply wanted to hold her.

Dr. Garrison brought the little treasure to the new mother and placed her in her arms. They both cried.

“Hi!” That’s all Jase could muster. He had only just met her, but he felt himself being mesmerized by her charms; he knew he was doomed. It was such an incredible feeling.

Hillary cried again, but they were different tears. “She looks like you! She looks like you!”

He wondered why she was so excited about it. She felt confident he was the father, and the paternity test confirmed it.

“You think so?” Jase asked.

“That’s your nose! And your thin lips.”

“And my eye color,” he said excitedly.

“Ok folks,” Dr. Garrison said. “I hate to break up the party, but we need to borrow little miss lady for a minute.”

“Sure,” Hillary said, wiping her tears.

The nurses took the baby away to get her cleaned, weighed and checked out. The same guy from before came to transport her to a room.

“Don’t worry,” he said. “The whole bed is going.”

He raised the railings, unlocked the wheels and rolled Hillary to her room for the night with Jase and Harold in tow. When they got to the room, Hillary looked around.

“Where’s daddy?”

“Oh…he said he was going to sit outside.”

She nodded.

He was afraid to ask, but it beat sitting in silence while they waited for the baby. “How are you feeling?”

She shifted on the bed, trying to get comfortable. The way she winced and moaned every time she moved gave him the answer.

He shifted nervously. “I-I don’t know how you did it with no drugs.”

She smirked with tiredness written all over her face. “Next time I’ll be all over them.”

He wondered if there would be a next time for them.

“What time is it?” she asked. Her voice was hoarse.

“Like…two something?” He grabbed the phone from his back pocket. “Yeah, 2:19.”

She sighed. “Daddy has my stuff.”

“Do you want it?”

“Nah, I’m good. You’ll have to take a picture and send it to Becca for me. She’s gonna kill me for not calling her.”

The door opened, and a nurse wheeled in their cute little bundle of joy. “Congratulations.” She picked up the sleeping infant and placed her in her mother’s arms.

He wanted to be close to his baby and put as much of his body on the bed as he could and put his arm around Hillary to anchor himself. “Look at her.” He sneered. “Sleep already. Life is rough, huh? Is it hard work being born?”

She laughed and elbowed him in the chest. “Don’t start making fun of her already.”

The two new parents were perfectly content to sit there in silence and gaze upon their little creation.

“Abigail,” she whispered.

“What’s that?”

She looked at him with a sleepy grin. “Abigail!”

“Oh, that’s sweet.”

“Do you really like it?”

“I do.”

“Abigail Templeton,” she said and smiled at him again.

He was speechless. It was the traditional thing to do, but he was honored Hillary would give her his name. She didn’t have to do that either. If they were in a movie, that would have been an appropriate time for him to lean over and kiss her, but he behaved. She rested her head on his shoulder, and he brushed the hair out of her face and leaned his head on hers. There were so many things he wanted to tell her. Things like how much he loved her, how he thought she would be an excellent mother, and how he wanted their daughter to grow up to look just like her. In the past, he would have told her, but in light of his epiphany in the delivery room, he decided to keep it to himself. It wasn’t the right time, and he would have been taking advantage of yet another emotional moment. Instead, he sat there with her and the baby. He was certain his mere presence spoke volumes for him.

When he looked over at her, he noticed her eyes were closed. “Are you asleep?”

“Uh uh,” she whispered in her sleepy voice.

He chuckled. “Do you want me to put her down?”

“Uh uh.”

“Ok.”

He let her sleep; she needed it. He gazed upon her tired but angelic face and stroked her long, blonde locks. He wanted so badly to forget the devil on his shoulder and give in wholly to his feelings, but that’s what got them into this predicament in the first place. They were in a bubble, however, and everything and everyone inside the bubble were perfect. It was euphoric and not real life. Once the bubble popped, and they went home to their real lives, he would see just how smart abstaining from his feelings really was. That’s when the real work began, and he would finally have a chance to think and decide what the future of their family would be. However, he was still inside the bubble for the time being, and he was perfectly content to sit with his two ladies in that euphoric state. Hillary was perfect, Abigail was perfect, and in that moment, they were all he needed to see.