185
- Congratulations
- Congratulations
David (Annie’s Dad)
After breakfast, I head over to Lucien’s house. I need to talk to him; there are some
things on my mind that are making me uneasy.
I know I have to support my daughter’s decisions, but I don’t agree with hiding from Liam that he’s going to be a father. I, better than anyone, understand that feeling. If, after knowing, he decides not to take responsibility, I would accept it, but he deserves to know about the existence of his child.
“David, my friend, come in.” My compadre welcomes me at the door as soon as knock. I see Day coming out of the kitchen, and she approaches to give me a kiss.
“David! It’s good to see you. Are you going to the office?” Lucien nods, and she
smiles.
“I’ll bring you something to drink in a moment.” She walks back to the kitchen, and I
follow Lucien.
“So, what have you decided about what we discussed?” We’ve been talking about this matter for days, and we even had a video call with Steven. He agrees to contact Liam and bring him here if necessary.
“I’ve made up my mind, and I think what we discussed is for the best. Annie might be upset with us, but in the long run, she’ll understand. We can’t deny a father his child, no matter how badly he’s behaved.”
Lucien just looks at me and nods. We understand the situation better than anyone. Although the circumstances are not the same, since I knew at that time that I loved Sam with all my soul, Lucien allowed me to be with my baby in his first moments. “Agreed. There are still a few weeks to go, so we can coordinate everything. Maybe by that time, Annie will have decided to talk to Liam herself.”
I hope that’s the case. I wouldn’t want my daughter to be upset with me, but right now, I’m looking out for a father and his little boy.
After we come to an agreement, we start chatting about other things when suddenly, my phone starts ringing. I see it’s my wife, and I answer quickly.
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“Honey, I’m at Lucien’s. Do you need anything?” I hear her start to cry, and I don’t quite understand what she’s saying. “Wait, wait. Slow down, please.”
She takes a breath and calms down. Now I can understand what she’s saying.
“David, the baby’s coming early. We’re taking Annie to the hospital now. Her water broke, which means the little angel is on his way. Get to the hospital as soon as you
can. Susan and I are already on our way.”
She hangs up the call. I’m left with the phone in my hand, and I turn to look at Lucien.
“Did you hear that?” I ask, and he nods. We get to our feet to leave when he reminds me, “Before we go, call Steven. He has to go get Liam and bring him here with Trevor.” I tell him I will and start making the call.
My friend answers immediately and tells me that he will be here as soon as possible, along with Liam, Trevor, and his family.
Lucien is ready with Day, and we head out to the hospital. The advantage of having had more children is that I no longer get as anxious as I did when Robert and Rocio were born. Now I take this calmly because I know how long labor takes. Annie is young, and I imagine she’ll want to have a natural birth.
Even so, Lucien drives at a moderately fast pace, so we’re parked at the hospital in no
time.
We get out as quickly as possible and walk to the reception desk to ask for information. When they tell us where to go, we take the elevator, which quickly takes us to the indicated floor. As the door opens, I see my wife in the distance, hugging Susan. When she sees me, she runs into my arms to take refuge in them.
“How’s everything going?” I ask, but she starts to cry.
“They’re going to have to do an emergency C–section. The baby’s tangled in the umbilical cord, and there’s fetal distress. I just signed the authorization for the
surgery.”
I feel my soul leave my body. I know that this type of operation is not that complicated, but there are still risks.
“Calm down, honey. Everything will be fine. Annie is healthy and strong.” She nods and wipes her tears.
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The elevator chimes again, and I see my daughter, Rocio, coming out, accompanied by someone I’ve never seen before. That girl doesn’t understand. I know she broke up with Alexander, and now she’s rubbing another boyfriend in my face.
“Hi! How’s Annie?” my daughter asks, but the one I care about is that boy..
“Your sister is in surgery. There’s been a complication.” I see the boy turn pale, and he
steps forward to introduce himself.
Good afternoon. I’m Doctor Aaron Jordan, Annie’s friend and colleague from the
medical brigade. Do you think I could be present for the birth? I’d like to be kept
informed.”
We all fall silent at his request. My wife approaches him and looks at him before asking, “Are you Doctor Huesitos?” The young man smiles and nods.
“That’s right, that’s me. I just arrived, and I was at your house. They told me the situation there, and your daughter Rocio was kind enough to bring me here.”
It seems that the guy already has all the women won over, so no one questions him
further.
“You can ask the surgeon. I think he’s the best person to tell you if you can go in or
not.”
He nods and heads to the nurses‘ station. He’s gone for about ten minutes and
comes back to us.
“I have authorization. I’ll keep you informed of anything that happens.” Sam nods, her eyes still red from crying. The boy walks away to the operating room area, and I look at my wife questioningly.
I “Annie told me about him. He’s her good friend and protector while she was away. know he loves my daughter and his child. And if there’s a chance she can be happy with someone who loves her the way she deserves, I’ll support that person.”
I look at her intently, but I don’t say anything. What she says is true. If there’s any chance that someone will make her happy, we’ll all be happy because she deserves it. She’s never experienced a beautiful love, one that loves her, pampers her, and puts her above all else. Maybe that person has arrived, and we should be happy for her. The hours are eternal when time moves so slowly. I get up and pace back and forth.
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Suddenly, the operating room lights go out, and the door opens. A nurse comes out with the small bundle in her arms. We all begin to cry.
Annie’s doctor comes out with a smile on his face.
“Congratulations, grandparents! The little angel seems to be doing very well, but he’ll be moved to the incubator area to help his lungs finish maturing. Annie will be out in a little while. She was very restless, but as soon as her boyfriend entered the
operating room, she calmed down immediately. I’ll be on hand if anything arises.”
The doctor walks away. I turn to look for my wife and see her sitting down, hugging Susan. She’s crying uncontrollably. She knows that her son is about to lose his son. because of the stupid things he did, but no one can help him with that. Now all that’s
left is for him to agree to come and meet his little baby.
Liam
I’m at the hospital. I just finished a complicated surgery, and now I’m on my way to my office. As I’m getting there, I see my father and Uncle Steven at the door. They both look at me. I’m happy to see them, so I greet them cheerfully.
“Dad, Uncle, what a pleasant surprise. Come in.” I open the door and invite them in. They don’t say anything. Once they’re inside, my father begins to speak.
“Liam, we need you to come with us. If you still have even a shred of respect for the friendship you had with Annie for so many years, come with us to see her. She’s in your Uncle Lucien’s city.”
I don’t understand what they’re telling me. When they mention who it’s about, my heart races in a way I don’t understand.
*Annie? Is something wrong with her?” Dad nods, and anguish begins to consume me. I take off my lab coat, hang it on the rack, and grab my things. We leave in a hurry. Something tells me it’s too important for me to go. On the way, my hands won’t stop shaking. No one says anything to me, and that increases my desperation.
In record time, we arrive at the airport, where Uncle’s plane is already waiting for us. Aunt Tanya is already there with Athena. The flight isn’t long, so we’re landing in no time. A car is waiting to pick us up and takes us to a hospital. My heartbeat quickens.
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If anything happened to Annie, I won’t forgive myself.
“Can someone please tell me what’s going on?” None of them say anything. They remain silent. When we finally arrive, we get out of the car and hurry to the gynecology and obstetrics floor. Could Annie be working here?
The elevator opens, and I can see almost the whole family outside a room. No one speaks to me except my mother. She comes up to me and hugs me.
Son, what are you doing here?” I don’t know what to say to her because I don’t know either. Suddenly, I see the doctor come out of the room.
“Well, the patient is waking up. Only one person can go in at a time, as there’s already someone with her inside.”
Aunt Sam is the chosen one. I don’t understand what’s going on, and no one tells me anything. The only one who approaches me is little David, who, with a smile, says the words I never expected to hear at this moment.
“Congratulations, Liam! You’re a dad now.”
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