Chapter 74: And Then There Were Three

Christmas came and went in a blur. Jeremy’s mother had gone all out once again and called in professional decorators. Melissa was getting used to it and frankly too tired to care. She was so ready to have this baby. Being on bed rest was really getting to her but she would do everything she required to keep her baby safe.

Jeremy had been around the past two weeks as it was between semesters and he had no classes to teach and was able to do most of his work at home. He would work in his study at his big desk and Melissa would sit and read. They would chat about anything that popped into their minds but most times it was just a peaceful silence, and it was nice. Melissa was feeling like she had made the best choice ever in saying yes to his proposal. She looked at her finger, where his grandmother’s ring had been but now her fingers were too swollen to wear it. She couldn’t wait to put the ring on for real this time. It symbolized so much more now, it was real.

It was New Year’s Eve and for the first time for as long as Jeremy could remember, he wouldn’t see the ball drop in Times Square and he couldn’t care less. This was where he wanted to be. It was different being in California for Christmas. When he was a child he would pray from snow during Christmas break, he would usually get to see it fall once before the break was over. No chance of Christmas snow here, but he would give up anything to be here with Melissa.

While it was a rocky road to get to the point they were at, it was well worth it. They were at peace now but not an old couple peace, oh no, the passion was still there. Jeremy still couldn’t be near Melissa without reaching out to touch her, just looking at her made his heart constrict. He never knew this was how it was supposed to be. When he thinks about the fact that he was actually engaged to Vanessa, a shutter tears through him. After just several months with Melissa, he realizes that he would have been miserable with Vanessa, or anyone else.

Jeremy looks at the time, ten minutes to midnight. They had been watching classic Christmas movies waiting for midnight to come so that they could ring in the new year together. Of course, Melissa had fallen asleep shortly after the movie had started, and to be honest, Jeremy wasn’t paying much attention himself. Between watching Melissa sleep in his arms and watching the fire burn he was content. But Melissa had insisted that she wouldn’t keep him from seeing the ball drop in Times Square, so they were going to watch on T.V.

Jeremy reaches down and brushes the hair out of Melissa’s face and kisses her on the nose.

“Hey beautiful, wake up.” He tilts her head up so that he can kiss her lips. “Time to ring in the new year.”

Sleepy brown eyes looked back at him with a look that stopped his heart. He was overjoyed that she had finally admitted that she loved him and would marry him. No more lingering doubts but he couldn’t wait to get that ring back on her finger for real.

Jeremy turns on the TV and they watch as Ryan Seacrest wishes everyone a Happy New Year.

He turns to Melissa, “I love you more than you will ever know. This will be our year.” He reaches over and kisses her stomach before pulling her into him for a deep kiss. When he lets her go, she is flushed and breathing hard.

“I love you too Jeremy. I hope you know that. I’m still a work in progress but I’m getting there.” Melissa responds.

“You are perfect. Perfect for me. That’s all that matters.” He pulls her tight for another kiss. This time when he pulls back he says, “April 17th is a good date.”

Melissa looks up confused, “A good date for what?”

“A wedding,” Jeremy responds. “And the backyard, I bet that is beautiful in the spring of the year.”

Realization dawns on her face. “That’s the date we met!” She couldn’t believe he remembered the date.

“Yes, it is. And what better way to celebrate one year than to get married?” Jeremy makes sure he is looking her right in the eyes. “What do you say? Just a small wedding outback?”

Melissa hugs him tight. “I say that sounds perfect. Now, let's go to bed and dream about it.”

Melissa is only asleep for two hours when she wakes up with a sudden pain in her lower back. She breathes through it, only for another to occur twenty minutes later as she is drifting off. She looks over at Jeremy, asleep on his back with one arm over his head. She doesn’t know how long she had been there just taking him in when the pain hits again. Okay, time to wake him up.

“Jeremy, wake up,” Melissa whispers. Then she can’t help but laugh at how fast he shoots up in the bed.

“What’s wrong? Are you okay? Is it the baby?” The questions come flying out of his mouth.

Melissa takes a deep breath calming herself down. “Yeah, I think it is. I think we need to go to the hospital.” Melissa gets out of bed and as soon as she does, she feels fluid run down her legs. “Jeremy,” is all she can say, afraid to look.

Jeremy rushes around the bed. “What is it?” He looks down when his feet get just in front of her.

“Melissa, you’re water broke! We are having this baby now!”

Relief floods Melissa. OMG, thank God it was not blood she thinks. As Jeremy takes great care to get her dressed, he calls her OB-GYN and the hospital to let them know she is coming in. He is as calm as can be, while Melissa is freaking out inside.

Twenty minutes later they are at the hospital, Jeremy didn’t have much traffic to deal with at this time of night. Melissa is examined and told she is dilated and her doctor is being called in but not to worry, all is going according to plan. She has a new love for Jeremy as they wait for the birth of their child. He is there to care for every need she has, whether it be getting her ice, helping her breathe through the contractions, rubbing her back, or just telling her how proud he is of her and how much he loves her and their child.

At 8:05 A.M. Ruby Christine Janes takes her first breath. As the doctors hand her over to Jeremy he cannot believe the peace that flows through his body. She is perfect. A tear slides down his face as feelings of joy over the healthy baby girl he holds in his arms and sadness that her namesake cannot be here to meet her. As he passes his baby girl over to her mother, those feelings are replaced with love and hope.