Michael

Michael
Chapter 104 Michael

My lawyers already have a plan to help Daniela and get her out of my life and Valeria's as soon as possible. The plan is already in motion, carried out by trusted people of my lawyers without involving me. They have devised a kind of trust where a monthly amount will be released to the account she designates, but she will have to comply with the various conditions set forth.

She must find a job, attend therapy sessions with a psychologist, do all this in another country, and it will be made clear to her that the help is temporary. During that time, she must find a job, and she will be told about a benefactor who wants to help her. This will be done today. I thank my lawyers and demand that my identity remains hidden.

"What will we do if she doesn't accept the conditions?" my lawyers ask.

"If she doesn't accept, we leave it at that. We give her an opportunity and contact her two days later. If she still refuses, we wash our hands of the situation. If she shows up again in front of me or my fiancée, you proceed legally. I'm tired of this problem."

I say goodbye to them, and my phone rings. Sofia's voice is shaky; what I understand is that Daniela called Valeria and upset her. Valeria is in a lot of pain. I ask to speak with her, and I hear that she can barely talk, so I tell her I'm on my way.

I leave as quickly as possible, and on the way, Sofia calls me again. They are heading to the clinic and will wait for me there.

I pray for my wife and my child, hoping that Daniela's call didn't upset Valeria and cause any problems, or it might be that labor has started. What worries me is that this morning she didn't mention feeling anything.

"Faster," I tell the driver. "My wife is at the clinic, I need to know what's happening."

"I'm doing what I can, Mr. Dubois."

"I know, sorry."

After what felt like a very long drive, we arrive at the clinic, and I almost run with my heart racing. I call Sofia and they tell me where they are, so I head there. When I arrive, I hurriedly ask where my wife is and enter the consulting room.

My wife is sweaty, and when she sees me, she starts crying and says some broken words, which scares me. But I see the doctor is very calm, and I feel reassured.

"I'm here, love. I'm sorry for not being with you," the doctor looks at us and smiles, adding, "Valeria, you're a first-time mother. I assure you there was time for Dubois to arrive. Well, let's get to work. Labor has started."

I listen carefully to the doctor and think the moment has arrived. My child is about to be born. I hug my wife, who keeps crying, and I want to cry too from the emotion, but right now, I must be strong for them.

A few minutes later, they take her to the room, and we wait there. Every time Valeria feels a stronger pain, her face contorts, so I ask her, "My love, why didn't you accept the epidural?"

"I want a natural birth. I don't want anything that could harm our baby."

"I don't understand that. You're suffering so much."

"The baby will be born soon, don't worry."

The doctor and the nurse supervise her constantly, but her progress is slow, and I see her in a lot of pain. She squeezes my hand tightly each time.

Rosalía is calm, checking the bags and smiling at us. Margaret brought a beautifully decorated basket with baby clothes. She seems excited but only came in quickly and left again. She's being considerate.

My sweetheart's pains continue. According to the doctor, she is still dilating, so I encourage her and support her with whatever she needs. I help her with the breathing exercises the doctor explained. Later in the evening, I feel like I can't take it anymore. I haven't wanted to have dinner, even though Margaret has been bringing us food. I only drink coffee and stay by Valeria's side. I had to sit down because I couldn't stand any longer. I try to stay calm, but I don't want to go through this again. It hurts me so much to see her suffer. She should have accepted the epidural! Come on, baby, don't make your mom suffer anymore!

During one of the doctor's visits to check on the progress, she says, "The baby is coming!"

So they prepare everything and take us to the delivery room on another floor, and I stay outside.

It was the most anxious and desperate time of my life. After a while, a nurse comes out with a small bundle in her arms, wrapped in the blanket we brought, and she asks, "Do you want to meet your son, Mr. Dubois? The mother and baby are fine. We're cleaning up your wife, and she'll be in the room soon."

I am speechless. I don't know what to do, with a lump in my throat, and I can't hold back the tears. I feel a tightness in my chest. I don't dare to take that precious bundle in my arms.

"Mr. Dubois, do you want to hold your son?"

"Son? It's a boy?"

"Yes, it's a boy. Do you want to hold him?"

"When will I see my wife?"

"Soon, Mr. Dubois. Now this little gentleman wants to meet his dad's arms."

"I don't know what to do. I don't know how to hold him."

"Come, I'll show you."

"Is he healthy?"

"Very healthy, and he's beautiful."

I can't describe what I feel. I try to hold him, but I get confused. I'm afraid of dropping him. I hold him and tell the nurse not to leave. I'm afraid I won't know how to hold him, and I know I'm crying, but I can't help it.

"My son," is all I can say. I look at him; he has a wrinkled face and closed eyes. "My son, Michael Alejandro Dubois Rivas."

"Can I have him back? We'll take you both to the room soon. Please wait there."

"Can't I take him myself?" The nurse smiles. "No, we'll bring him to you shortly so you can be with both of them. Now, please, can you give him to me?"
It's hard for me to be apart from my son. I want to capture his face, I need to hold him in my arms now, protect him, he's so tiny, he's my son. I hand him over and feel the tears again. I try to hold back, because men don't cry, what nonsense, every man should want to cry at a moment like this.

"Thank you, take care of them both."

"We will, Mr. Dubois, don't worry, you'll be together soon."

I run to the room to wait for my family. I don't see my friends outside the building, I just feel that if I get to the room, they'll be there faster. When I enter, I see Rosalía praying. She feels me arrive and looks at me, her eyes questioning. I look at her and say, "He's born, it's a boy."

She runs to me, and we hug. I'm crying again. Margaret, Cristina, and Sofía peek in, looking scared. I turn to them and wipe my eyes with my hand. "It's a boy, he's born, they're both perfect."

"My God, what happiness," we all cry and laugh with emotion. At the same time, Sebastián arrives. "What's going on?"

"Friend, my son is born, it's a boy."

"Congratulations, my friend. Where's Valeria?" We hug with joy. "She's coming, they told me to wait while they prepare her."

It takes a while, and we're all impatient, especially me, until she finally arrives with our son on her chest. They send everyone out except me, and I go to her. She's crying with emotion. "Michael, look at him, he's beautiful!"

"Of course, my love, thank you for giving me a son."

"I told you, I said I would have your children if you wanted me by your side."

"Do I love you? I adore you, my love. I don't know how to express what I feel." I kiss her on the forehead, on the lips, on the cheek. I love this woman, I love her so much.

"I love you, my love. You can't even imagine how much."

"I love you too, my love. Show the baby to mom, and our friends must be anxious."

"Yes, although it's been hard to carry him, the nurse helped me. I'll call Rosalía to help me."

"Call her." I open the door and call Rosalía. She enters and also kisses Valeria.

"Meet your grandson, dear grandma." She starts crying again, and I understand.

"He's beautiful, Valeria, my daughter. Are you okay?"

"Yes, mom, now I'm fine. It was hard, but it was worth it. Mom, help Dubois hold him and let our friends in to see him."

Mom Rosalía places him in my arms. "I'm sorry, son, dad has to learn to hold you." Our friends come in and congratulate us. I think we've made a good group of friends; we're all family.

"Congratulations to both of you, he's beautiful," says Margaret.

"Congratulations," says Sebastián, and Alfred, who just arrived, and Cristina.

Sofí can't stop looking at the baby. "I'm an aunt! We have a baby!"

"Yes, we have a new family member," I say with my precious bundle in my arms. "He's beautiful, my son!" I still can't hold back the tears; I'm such a crybaby.

"Yes, Michael, he's a beauty," says Margaret. "I already imagined he was a boy, that belly was very round. How are you, Valeria?"

"I feel good, but sore. It feels like a truck ran over me, but I'm very happy."

"A truck named Alejandro Dubois," says Sebastián, and the nurse comes in.

"Let's let mom and her baby rest," she says. "We'll put the baby in the crib. Call us if you need anything, and we'll come later to feed him." She takes my baby from my arms and places him in the crib next to Valeria.

"Mom, go with Margaret and rest."

"Don't you want me to stay?"

"No, mom, go rest. You've been standing here for a long time, and I don't know if you've eaten."

"I'm fine, daughter."

"Don't worry, mom Rosalía, I'll keep an eye on things and call you."

"But you haven't eaten either, son. Take the chance to have something before we leave."

"We'll stay while you go with Sebastián and Alfred and eat something. Go on, please."

"Alright, can I go, my love?"

"You need to eat, go ahead, I'll be waiting." I kiss her and feel my heart full of love. I don't want to leave, but I don't want to leave her alone when everyone else leaves in case she gets hungry.

It's night, and we're alone. Nurses have come and gone, but I'm watching my son and my wife sleep. They tried to breastfeed the baby, and luckily he latched on and sucked, according to the nurse. She also took a few steps.

The doctor came by, checked Valeria, and I asked how long they would stay. She said they could go home tomorrow. I asked if they could stay one more day. We're inexperienced parents, I added.

"And do you think, Mr. Dubois, that you'll learn everything you need to know in one day? Good luck with that. Alright, you'll stay today, and we'll see how it goes tomorrow. If you change your mind, you can leave then." See you tomorrow, mom and dad.

Hearing that word, I can't help but smile. I always thought I knew what responsibility was, being the head of a big company and corporate group. Not even close. Now I know what responsibility is. I have to take care of this little one entrusted to me. I look at him and can't believe he's my son.

"He's beautiful, right? And it feels overwhelming," I ask her.

"Is it really that scary, so much responsibility?" Valeria asks me.

I sit on a sofa bed in the spacious clinic room and let her rest. My darling has had it very tough; it wasn't easy.

Suddenly, I remember to talk to the security staff. I peek out, and there they are, guarding my darling and my prince.

So I go back in and sit to rest. I don't want to sleep, just watch them. It's been a wonderful day. They are all that matters to me, nothing else.

All my suffering is in the past. This moment erases everything, my loneliness, my disappointment with my parents, everything. My son is the future, and it looks promising. I love them!