Chapter 146
The alpha of Rush pack turned his head to stare at the direction of the nurse’s gaze. She was looking straight at the man behind him, the intruder who had tactfully found his way into the life of the two women he cared the most about. A deep scowl formed on Lake’s face. If he was truly the father of the child…Content is property of NôvelDrama.Org.
“I said the father of the child can come in, there is really no time to waste.” The nurse added, verbally and visibly impatient.
Emerald failed to notice the tension between her son and a man she took as her son. She was only worried about Jojo and hoped that the girl would make it out of that room with her healthy baby. So, she pushed past her son and stepped forward, planting herself in front of the nurse, knowing fully well that the identity of the child in Jojo’s womb was still yet to be known.
“I’ll come in” She volunteered. The nurse spared her a short and curt glance, before ushering her into the room. She was allowed to wear a nylon-like gown over her body, gloves in her hands and a net-like cap on her hair.
“Stay beside her. She might need someone to hold her hands.” The doctor instructed immediately she stood by the woman’s side. Emerald turned to face Jojo.
The girl had her head throw backwards, against the feather filled pillow. She continued to turn her head left and right while screaming at the top of her voice and holding on to the sheets beside her. Jojo’s fingers had dug so deeply into the bed, the nurses feared she would tear the cotton open.
Emerald rushed to Jojo’s side and took hold of her right hand, intertwining their fingers together. Jojo turned sharply towards her. When their eyes locked, Emerald felt a part of her heart squeeze. In that moment, she felt a terribly strong connection with the girl.
Emerald did not think anything of it. She placed her hand on Jojo’s sweaty forehead and ran her hands down, patting the red locks of hair on her head gently. Tears welled up in Emerald’s eyes, she had experienced childbirth before, but watching it evoked so many emotions from her.
“We are almost there, miss Wyatt. I just need you to hang on and do two last pushes for me, just two.” The doctor called out. Emerald watched as Jojo shook her head vehemently.
“I can not, I can’t take it anymore.” The girl muttered, obviously out of breath.
The doctor’s eyes rose to meet Emerald, as if saying, “this is where you come in.” Emerald nodded, she knew what needed to be done.
“Look at me, Jojo.” Mrs Emerald Smith called out. Jojo turned to her and nodded.
“You can do this, you have always dreamt of doing this. I know you cannot wait to have your baby in your arms, to see the face of the child you have held in your womb all this time. So, my dear, you’ll do these last two pushes because it is necessary you do so. Be strong and hang in there, do you understand me?”
With tears pouring from her eyes, Jojo nodded eagerly.
Emerald turned to the doctor and nodded, a sign that signified a go ahead. The doctor nodded in agreement and spread Jojo’s legs apart again.
“Alright, miss Wyatt. We are going to push on the count of three. One.”
Jojo’s lips parted as she sucked in a deep breath, she did not take her eyes away from Mrs Smith.
“Two.”
Jojo fixed her gaze on the ceiling above her. She shook her head vehemently and inhaled a deep breath again.
“Three. Push!”
This time, Jojo channeled her energy, her strength, every joule of determination and every ounce of will she had within her. She pushed hard, and she did not stop until the cry of a newborn baby echoed in the room.
Everyone, including the nurses and Emerald took deep breaths. The doctor held the baby up for all of them to see, but Jojo closed her eyes as she lay backwards, breathless and exasperated, every bone in her body ached from fatigue.
Emerald’s eyes continued to dance between baby and mother, while the doctor worked to severe the physical connection between mother and child.
Soon, the doctor held the naked and shrill new born. The loud cries did not stop, not even when he – judging from the organ dangling between his legs – was placed in Emerald’s arms.
The baby’s eyes were closed, but immediately he opened them slowly, Emerald did not know when she gasped. Her jaw dropped, she was unable to keep her mouth from staying ajar.
The hopeful and helpless onyx colored eyes that stared back at her were to familiar for her to dismiss. She looked past the eyes and fixed her gaze on the nose, down to the shape of the baby’s lips. It was all too familiar, she was almost taken back to thirty-one years ago, when she held her son in her arms like this. The baby in her hands was a spitting image of baby Lake. If she did not know better, she would have thought the baby in her hands was… well, she did not know what she would have thought.
But this! This was too good to even think of!
“Can I… can I see him?” Jojo’s soft voice echoed from beside her. Emerald turned her eyes to the young girl and smiled. She was now sitting up, her back against the iron headboard.
Emerald lowered herself and carefully placed the baby in Jojo’s arms.
As she stared into the baby’s eyes, tears of joy streamed down her eyes, while she a short laugh escaped her throat. She could not help it, the explosion of joy, gratitude and victory was too much to express in one particular way. She laughed at how funny life could be, at the ones who had looked down on her and scorned her, she laughed at herself for ever trying to discourage her.
She cried for joy, for victory. She cried tears of gratitude.
Jet black eyes, curly black hair and a red tanned skin, naked, pure and warm, her baby lay in her arms. There were no teeth in the gum, the hair on the baby’s skin was soft and succulent. Jojo did not know what to say, she could not believe she had finally done it.
When she made the decision to keep the baby nine months ago, she could remember how scared she had been to welcome another life into hers. Now that she held the boy in her arms, she was more than grateful that she made the decision. Tears gathered in her eyes, her heart continued to jump in her chest, leaping for and with joy. Jojo had never known so much happiness, so much honour. The angel in her hands had come out from within her. She was now a mother!
Emerald smiled and tapped her right shoulder.
“You were amazing, Jojo. You have always been an amazing young woman. Do not ever forget that.” She spoke in soft tones.
Jojo sniffed in her tears and nodded eagerly.
“Congratulations, miss Wyatt. We would need you to push the placenta out now. The baby would be taken to the nursery where he would be washed up and catered for. In the meantime, we have to get you cleared up as well.” The doctor spoke up, cutting into their small moment.
Emerald stared down at Jojo while the baby was being taken away from her. Jojo seemed tense, but Emerald placed her palm on hers.
“I’ll go and make sure they take care of him. Do not worry yourself.” Emerald spoke softly. Jojo’s shoulders relaxed and she nodded in silence.
Emerald cast her one last glance, eyes filled with pride, as she turned around and walked out of the room, following the nurses behind.