Chapter 31 — Epilogue

"Anthony, my water just broke! Fuck! How do we do this? Martha! Where's Anthony?" I was in the kitchen talking to her. She grinned and hugged me.

"Come let's get you changed first, go to the bathroom for me. I'll go get your clothes. Don't worry Lilian, we have been preparing for this day. I'll go get Anthony also, I think he's in the study."

"Lilian, baby it's time, how are you feeling?" Anthony was by my side a couple of minutes later. He helped me changed into my dry clothes.

"I'm scared Anthony, I don't know if I can do this."

"Come we will talk on our way to the hospital, I already called in and they're expecting us. I'm here for you love, there's nothing to be scared of. We'll face this together. Let go, sweets, Martha already put your bags in the car, and Bert is already at the driveway. We should go now." He held my hand, then helped me to the car.

Hours later I was on the hospital bed, trying to push the baby out.

"Fuck! Anthony, I can't do this! This is all your fault. I should've never listened to you! Next time you're having the baby! I can't get it out." I cried in pain.

Anthony was by my side holding my hands. I had been in labor for ten hours. "You can do this love. I know you can, you're strong. Come on give us a push, listen to the doctor Lilian." He gave me his loving kisses and kept on encouraging me to push.

"Damn it, doctor, how much longer is this going to take? I'm so tired. You need to push it out of me. I can't do this anymore. I'm done Anthony, you take it from here." The doctor smiled and chuckled at me but told me to keep pushing seconds later.

"Come on…a little bit more Lilian, we can see the head already, on my count I need you to push, okay? Now, take a deep breath. And push…and push…one more time Lilian, one big push. And push!" He told me, as I gave him a big push and cursed and scream, and crushed Anthony's arm until I saw him winced.

Then we heard the baby cries, and I slumped to the bed. Anthony looked so happy. He thanked me over and over again, giving me his sweet kisses. Then he caressed the baby's cheek as one of the nurses put the tiny little guy in my arms.

He kissed the baby and I cried happy tears. "He's handsome Anthony." The nurse stays on my side and told me to try and get the baby to suckle on my nipple. She helps me positioned the baby and move my nipple to his little mouth until he latched his lips and started sucking. He held out his tiny fingers, as I touched him with the tip of my fingers.

I looked at Anthony, he looked so proud of me. "He's so small Anthony, he's perfect."

"Thank you, Lilian, you make my life complete. He's handsome, he's perfect, he's ours. I couldn't ask for more. I love you, Lilian." He kissed me deeply.

We decided to have a baby, after three years into our marriage. Then I was pregnant a year later. We had been talking to Ann, but mainly Lisa. They both convinced me that it's a special gift, and there was nothing to be scared of. We have our group, and all would support me.

Now that I have Brady, I couldn't imagine not having him. I hold him as he sucked on my nipple clasping his tiny fingers on my breast now, his eyes closed. I kissed his head, Anthony wiped my happy tears and wrapped us in his embrace.

"Thank you love for convincing me to have him." I pulled down his head and kissed him as he winced. And I looked at his bruised arm, which was starting to change color, and grinned. "I'm sorry about that."

"It will heal Lilian, it's nothing compared to your struggle." He took us back into his embrace.

"Mine. My family. I love you both."