A Touch of New Love
"If you don't hurry up, I am going to leave you standing on the porch!" Evva hollered impatiently tapping her foot.
"I'm coming!" Kelly bellowed down the hall. Possibly from the bathroom. Damn, habits.
Looking again at the clock on the wall, Evva cursed. "Damn. Come on."
"You do realize she's going to get here when she wants? And only when she wants, regardless of our presence or time of arrival. Stressing is pointless."
Ripping open the door, Evva threw her arms up, "Don't care. Leaving now. With or without you. Gone in sixty." She stepped across the threshold in a huff.
"Oh, boy. This is going to be a damned long 18 years." Locking the door and heading to the car. "Or longer."
♥♥♥♥♥
Twenty minutes later, the thirty-five-minute drive was over and Kelly felt relief in his hands as the white knuckling was finally over.
"Did you happen to think what would happen to our daughter if we were to die on the way, she would be without parents all together?"
Huffing indignantly, "You're right, but did you die?"
"Is that really where you want to go with this?"
"Did...you...die?"
"No, of course not. Obviously."
"Then, darling, shut up and let's go inside. She could be here already."
"Yes, dear." Kelly paused from opening the door. "Hold up, honey." Reaching out he grasped her hand. "Do you think we'll be able to do this? Raising a kid, I mean. Do you think it will work out right?"
Lovingly, "I don't know, but I know we love one another and love only multiplies. Besides, I have faith in us." Turning to face him, "You are a brilliant tattoo artist with a prosperous new shop on the rise." Patting his hand, "As for me, well hell, I'm a knockout who happens to be the owner of a money-making dynamo, new age, metaphysical shop for the last 10 years. How could we not be fabulous? Maybe not fabulous parents, but I'm sure we'll be good, attentive and loving parents."
Leaning over to place a kiss on her cheek, "You're right, love. I'm just getting cold feet. I need to get out of my head. Let's go wait for our little girl."
♥♥♥♥♥
Four and one-half hours later, still waiting.
The "Expectant Families Room" was an odd-shaped room painted a faded shade of 70s flashback orange. The plethora of donated, overstuffed, well-loved couches, chairs, tables and lamps are only surpassed by the overwhelming, invading scent of hospital cleanser.
Unable to sit still anymore, Kelly began pacing from the bookshelf to the doors, "Told you we weren't going to miss her arrival."
"Really?"
"Um,...really." Returning to his seat next to Evva.
Her icy glare was soul penetrating. "You can stop glaring at me any time you would like. You know your ice princess stare doesn't work on me."
"Princess? Hell no, I'm a queen." Her next reaction was complete juvenilism, yet still effectual. A long, soppy wet raspberry.
"Ah, really?" Grabbing a tissue from the box on the table Kelly wiped away the moisture from his hairline to collarbone.
"Um...really." She giggled lightly. "Although, I am kind of glad we got all the paperwork over and done with, I kind of wish Angela could have been here. At least if she had come down, maybe she could have extended our gratitude to the young woman giving us our baby."
"I know how you feel. The package we brought, the nurse said she'd make sure the young lady got it. Maybe she hasn't opened it, yet. She did just give birth. From what I remember from sex ed and my sister's seven births, it is not an easy process. Plus, it takes a lot out of the mother."
"Do you think she,...the mother, will change her mind? Will she want to keep the baby? If not, will want to contact with the baby? Will she think she deserves say in how we raise her?"
"I don't know, sweetheart." Putting his arm around her, "but whatever she does we will burn that bridge when we get there."
Nodding slowly. "You're---" All conversation was halted as the doors swung open.
"Doctor?" They bounced off the faded, peeling seats encroaching on his personal space.
Smiling brightly, the doctor said, "You'll be glad to know, everything went well. Your daughter is ready to meet her parents."
"We can see her now?" Waiting with bated breath.
"As soon as pediatrics is done with her checkup, she'll then be taken to the nursery to wait for your arrival."
"Will we be able to take her home today?" Evva asked.
"Unless she takes a complete reversal of fortune, you should be able to go home in a few hours. Just remember you will have to take her to your pediatrician this week for her new baby checkup." The doctor laughed as four arms wrapped around him. "All right now. Congratulations, Mom and …?"
Pulling back the couple looked at one another. "We have talked about this in great length. Evva is going to be called Mom and..."
"And Kelly is DaMa." Pulling him close for strength and comfort.
The doctor nodded, smiling wider, "Well, then. Congratulations, Mom and DaMa. Many happy, healthy years. Your daughter is more than likely waiting for you in the nursery."
"Thank you." Turning, "Come on, DaMa, let's go see our little bundle,"
"Are we really going to call her that?" Following the excited new Mommy racing away down the hall, the questions com
♥♥♥♥♥
As they rounded the corner, the sound of the babies wrapped around their souls and pulled them closer, faster. Coming to a halt in front of the glass, they each peered through searching the cradles and labels for her.
"There! There!" Mommy jumped up and down, pointing at the pink cocoon with their last name attached to the bassinet.
Hunting down the correct baby, "Where? Tell me."
Sighing. "There." Pointing fiercely. "C...4!"
"Oh, goodness. I see her! She is adorable! I wonder if we can hold her?" Moving towards the access door.
Knocking on the door, lightly, "Do you think they'll let us in?"
Shaking the band, "We have all access passes. Besides, that's my daughter they better let me in or things will get ugly. Fast."
Chuckling, "Easy, Mommy-bear. The cublet will be in your arms momentarily." Looking through the door, "See, the nurse is coming now."
"Hmmph," grunting. "We'll see about that." Pressing the button for the intercom.
"Hi. Can I help you?" The nurse asked politely, smiling.
"Yes, please." Smiling expectantly, "We are looking for Baby Girl Coutts." Raising his arm showing the band on his wrist they had been given up on check-in.
Reading through the glass, the nurse held up one finger. "One moment. Let me check the files."
The Coutts' nodded politely. Watching as the nurse made her way to the computer, click-clacked on the keys then returned to the door, activating the intercom again. "Your names, please?"
Taking a quick glance at one another, he spoke first. "I'm Kelly Coutts and this is my wife, Evva. Is there a problem?"
"No problem. I have to verify your identity." Pressing in a code, the nurse opened the door. "Please, come in and we'll get you ready to meet your daughter."
They entered the room and followed the directions given to them by the nurse. As each step was completed the excitement was building. By the time they were scanned, washed, changed and fully instructed the couple was near vibrating with anticipation.
Facing one another, Kelly wrapped his arms around Evva in a tight hug. "Before we meet our daughter, I want you to know a few things, Mrs. Evva Greehn Conifer Coutts. First, I love you and you are my best friend." Placing a small kiss on the tip of Evva's nose. "Second, I know you will be a fabulous, beautiful and patient Mommy even if you decided to bless our daughter with your family's legacy of hippy names." Another kiss. "And, finally, no matter what anyone ever says we are a family and will be until the end of time." Kissing her lips, he pulled her closer.
"Oh, Kelly, I am so glad to have you. I love you, too, just as you are. You will be the best DaMa in the whole world." Snuggling closer. "We have been a family since before we said I do. Now we will be a bigger family."
"Lover, I may be the only DaMa in the world." Kissing Evva again, swallowing his laughter.
"Are we ready?" The nurse asked, smiling sweetly.
"Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes!" Evva squealed, bouncing away from Kelly.
"Ok. Your daughter awaits. Please, follow me." The nurse led the way to the nursery. "By the way, have you thought of a name for her? We can finish up the birth certificate when you're done your first visit."
The sound of clearing throats made Evva giggle, "That sounds great. We do have a name, but Kelly doesn't seem to be on board."
"I never said I wasn’t on board. I just asked if you were sure you wanted to name our first child such a hippy-esque name?"
"Oh, hush. Stop picking on my creativity." Evva waved him away.
"May I ask what you are thinking of naming her?" The nurse asked Evva.
"I want to name her Raihne. R-A-I-H-N-E."
"That's a pretty name. What's wrong with that name?" The nurse turned a puzzled look to Kelly.
Smiling broadly, "It's not the first name." Kelly answered. "It's the middle name Evva wants to put with it."
Turning her head, the nurse inquired, "Middle name, please?"
Following the nurse through the labyrinth of cradles. "Bough. Spelled B-o-u-g-h, but said like a bow on a present."
"Raihne...Bough? Raihne...Bough?" The nurse repeated the name contemplatively. "That's an interesting name."
"That's a nice way to put it." Kelly coughed.
"Hush." Evva directed learing at him. "I think it’s a beautiful name." Turning to the nurse. "I wanted to name her Raynbow Shimmers, but my cousin named her baby Winter Shimmers last month and I didn't want to copy her."
The nurse nodded her head sincerely, "I could see how that would be an issue. What do you say we get baby Raihne to her Mommy and Daddy?"
"DaMa, actually." Kelly interjected.
"DaMa? What a wonderfully creative family you are?" Leaning down to pick up the baby, "You are one lucky baby. Your Mommy and DaMa love you so much already and they haven't even seen your wonderful personality, yet." Stepping around the bassinet, "Here you go, Mommy. I am proud to introduce, Little Miss Raihne Bough." Gently passing the baby to Evva, Kelly stepped forward placing his arms around both Mother and his brand-new baby girl.
Evva and Kelly shared a loving glance before Kelly reached out, pulling back the soft, pink blanket to reveal a beautiful, peaches and cream face with fluttering ebony lashes parting to show a pair of lavender hued windows showing a pure and innocent soul.
Kelly felt his heart leap, "Oh, Evva." He felt a tear trickle from the corner of his eye.
"Oh, honey." Evva touched his face wiping away the tear as her eyes began to pour like faucets. "Now, I know what love at first sight feels like. Twice in my life."
Raihne giggled, smiling brightly as her parents turned their eyes upon her cherubic face.
"Sweetheart, this is just the beginning. Love will spring eternal. From now on." Winking playfully at Evva.
"I'm coming!" Kelly bellowed down the hall. Possibly from the bathroom. Damn, habits.
Looking again at the clock on the wall, Evva cursed. "Damn. Come on."
"You do realize she's going to get here when she wants? And only when she wants, regardless of our presence or time of arrival. Stressing is pointless."
Ripping open the door, Evva threw her arms up, "Don't care. Leaving now. With or without you. Gone in sixty." She stepped across the threshold in a huff.
"Oh, boy. This is going to be a damned long 18 years." Locking the door and heading to the car. "Or longer."
♥♥♥♥♥
Twenty minutes later, the thirty-five-minute drive was over and Kelly felt relief in his hands as the white knuckling was finally over.
"Did you happen to think what would happen to our daughter if we were to die on the way, she would be without parents all together?"
Huffing indignantly, "You're right, but did you die?"
"Is that really where you want to go with this?"
"Did...you...die?"
"No, of course not. Obviously."
"Then, darling, shut up and let's go inside. She could be here already."
"Yes, dear." Kelly paused from opening the door. "Hold up, honey." Reaching out he grasped her hand. "Do you think we'll be able to do this? Raising a kid, I mean. Do you think it will work out right?"
Lovingly, "I don't know, but I know we love one another and love only multiplies. Besides, I have faith in us." Turning to face him, "You are a brilliant tattoo artist with a prosperous new shop on the rise." Patting his hand, "As for me, well hell, I'm a knockout who happens to be the owner of a money-making dynamo, new age, metaphysical shop for the last 10 years. How could we not be fabulous? Maybe not fabulous parents, but I'm sure we'll be good, attentive and loving parents."
Leaning over to place a kiss on her cheek, "You're right, love. I'm just getting cold feet. I need to get out of my head. Let's go wait for our little girl."
♥♥♥♥♥
Four and one-half hours later, still waiting.
The "Expectant Families Room" was an odd-shaped room painted a faded shade of 70s flashback orange. The plethora of donated, overstuffed, well-loved couches, chairs, tables and lamps are only surpassed by the overwhelming, invading scent of hospital cleanser.
Unable to sit still anymore, Kelly began pacing from the bookshelf to the doors, "Told you we weren't going to miss her arrival."
"Really?"
"Um,...really." Returning to his seat next to Evva.
Her icy glare was soul penetrating. "You can stop glaring at me any time you would like. You know your ice princess stare doesn't work on me."
"Princess? Hell no, I'm a queen." Her next reaction was complete juvenilism, yet still effectual. A long, soppy wet raspberry.
"Ah, really?" Grabbing a tissue from the box on the table Kelly wiped away the moisture from his hairline to collarbone.
"Um...really." She giggled lightly. "Although, I am kind of glad we got all the paperwork over and done with, I kind of wish Angela could have been here. At least if she had come down, maybe she could have extended our gratitude to the young woman giving us our baby."
"I know how you feel. The package we brought, the nurse said she'd make sure the young lady got it. Maybe she hasn't opened it, yet. She did just give birth. From what I remember from sex ed and my sister's seven births, it is not an easy process. Plus, it takes a lot out of the mother."
"Do you think she,...the mother, will change her mind? Will she want to keep the baby? If not, will want to contact with the baby? Will she think she deserves say in how we raise her?"
"I don't know, sweetheart." Putting his arm around her, "but whatever she does we will burn that bridge when we get there."
Nodding slowly. "You're---" All conversation was halted as the doors swung open.
"Doctor?" They bounced off the faded, peeling seats encroaching on his personal space.
Smiling brightly, the doctor said, "You'll be glad to know, everything went well. Your daughter is ready to meet her parents."
"We can see her now?" Waiting with bated breath.
"As soon as pediatrics is done with her checkup, she'll then be taken to the nursery to wait for your arrival."
"Will we be able to take her home today?" Evva asked.
"Unless she takes a complete reversal of fortune, you should be able to go home in a few hours. Just remember you will have to take her to your pediatrician this week for her new baby checkup." The doctor laughed as four arms wrapped around him. "All right now. Congratulations, Mom and …?"
Pulling back the couple looked at one another. "We have talked about this in great length. Evva is going to be called Mom and..."
"And Kelly is DaMa." Pulling him close for strength and comfort.
The doctor nodded, smiling wider, "Well, then. Congratulations, Mom and DaMa. Many happy, healthy years. Your daughter is more than likely waiting for you in the nursery."
"Thank you." Turning, "Come on, DaMa, let's go see our little bundle,"
"Are we really going to call her that?" Following the excited new Mommy racing away down the hall, the questions com
♥♥♥♥♥
As they rounded the corner, the sound of the babies wrapped around their souls and pulled them closer, faster. Coming to a halt in front of the glass, they each peered through searching the cradles and labels for her.
"There! There!" Mommy jumped up and down, pointing at the pink cocoon with their last name attached to the bassinet.
Hunting down the correct baby, "Where? Tell me."
Sighing. "There." Pointing fiercely. "C...4!"
"Oh, goodness. I see her! She is adorable! I wonder if we can hold her?" Moving towards the access door.
Knocking on the door, lightly, "Do you think they'll let us in?"
Shaking the band, "We have all access passes. Besides, that's my daughter they better let me in or things will get ugly. Fast."
Chuckling, "Easy, Mommy-bear. The cublet will be in your arms momentarily." Looking through the door, "See, the nurse is coming now."
"Hmmph," grunting. "We'll see about that." Pressing the button for the intercom.
"Hi. Can I help you?" The nurse asked politely, smiling.
"Yes, please." Smiling expectantly, "We are looking for Baby Girl Coutts." Raising his arm showing the band on his wrist they had been given up on check-in.
Reading through the glass, the nurse held up one finger. "One moment. Let me check the files."
The Coutts' nodded politely. Watching as the nurse made her way to the computer, click-clacked on the keys then returned to the door, activating the intercom again. "Your names, please?"
Taking a quick glance at one another, he spoke first. "I'm Kelly Coutts and this is my wife, Evva. Is there a problem?"
"No problem. I have to verify your identity." Pressing in a code, the nurse opened the door. "Please, come in and we'll get you ready to meet your daughter."
They entered the room and followed the directions given to them by the nurse. As each step was completed the excitement was building. By the time they were scanned, washed, changed and fully instructed the couple was near vibrating with anticipation.
Facing one another, Kelly wrapped his arms around Evva in a tight hug. "Before we meet our daughter, I want you to know a few things, Mrs. Evva Greehn Conifer Coutts. First, I love you and you are my best friend." Placing a small kiss on the tip of Evva's nose. "Second, I know you will be a fabulous, beautiful and patient Mommy even if you decided to bless our daughter with your family's legacy of hippy names." Another kiss. "And, finally, no matter what anyone ever says we are a family and will be until the end of time." Kissing her lips, he pulled her closer.
"Oh, Kelly, I am so glad to have you. I love you, too, just as you are. You will be the best DaMa in the whole world." Snuggling closer. "We have been a family since before we said I do. Now we will be a bigger family."
"Lover, I may be the only DaMa in the world." Kissing Evva again, swallowing his laughter.
"Are we ready?" The nurse asked, smiling sweetly.
"Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes!" Evva squealed, bouncing away from Kelly.
"Ok. Your daughter awaits. Please, follow me." The nurse led the way to the nursery. "By the way, have you thought of a name for her? We can finish up the birth certificate when you're done your first visit."
The sound of clearing throats made Evva giggle, "That sounds great. We do have a name, but Kelly doesn't seem to be on board."
"I never said I wasn’t on board. I just asked if you were sure you wanted to name our first child such a hippy-esque name?"
"Oh, hush. Stop picking on my creativity." Evva waved him away.
"May I ask what you are thinking of naming her?" The nurse asked Evva.
"I want to name her Raihne. R-A-I-H-N-E."
"That's a pretty name. What's wrong with that name?" The nurse turned a puzzled look to Kelly.
Smiling broadly, "It's not the first name." Kelly answered. "It's the middle name Evva wants to put with it."
Turning her head, the nurse inquired, "Middle name, please?"
Following the nurse through the labyrinth of cradles. "Bough. Spelled B-o-u-g-h, but said like a bow on a present."
"Raihne...Bough? Raihne...Bough?" The nurse repeated the name contemplatively. "That's an interesting name."
"That's a nice way to put it." Kelly coughed.
"Hush." Evva directed learing at him. "I think it’s a beautiful name." Turning to the nurse. "I wanted to name her Raynbow Shimmers, but my cousin named her baby Winter Shimmers last month and I didn't want to copy her."
The nurse nodded her head sincerely, "I could see how that would be an issue. What do you say we get baby Raihne to her Mommy and Daddy?"
"DaMa, actually." Kelly interjected.
"DaMa? What a wonderfully creative family you are?" Leaning down to pick up the baby, "You are one lucky baby. Your Mommy and DaMa love you so much already and they haven't even seen your wonderful personality, yet." Stepping around the bassinet, "Here you go, Mommy. I am proud to introduce, Little Miss Raihne Bough." Gently passing the baby to Evva, Kelly stepped forward placing his arms around both Mother and his brand-new baby girl.
Evva and Kelly shared a loving glance before Kelly reached out, pulling back the soft, pink blanket to reveal a beautiful, peaches and cream face with fluttering ebony lashes parting to show a pair of lavender hued windows showing a pure and innocent soul.
Kelly felt his heart leap, "Oh, Evva." He felt a tear trickle from the corner of his eye.
"Oh, honey." Evva touched his face wiping away the tear as her eyes began to pour like faucets. "Now, I know what love at first sight feels like. Twice in my life."
Raihne giggled, smiling brightly as her parents turned their eyes upon her cherubic face.
"Sweetheart, this is just the beginning. Love will spring eternal. From now on." Winking playfully at Evva.