Chapter 34: Awake.
"You know I had some studio time booked, but I couldn't write a killer hook, now you wanna raise the bar right up. Nothing I write is ever good enough." I sing along to Natasha Bedingfield's "These Words.", as I breastfeed Blue.
My baby's name isn't actually Blue, I'm just calling her that until Zachary wakes up and then we pick a name for her.
It's been two weeks since I had Blue and my life has taken a complete turn. I had to leave the hospital and come home because Zachary's hospital room started getting crowded when I practically flooded the place with toys and a baby crib.
I'm currently at home and I just had breakfast. I'm heading to the hospital later today. It's been six weeks now, since Zachary has been stuck in that bed. I just want him to wake up and see his beautiful daughter. He'll be shocked that's for sure, because he thought he was gonna have a son.
I take my nipple out of Blue's mouth and wipe it with a wet wipe before I put it back in my maternity bra.
Yeah, I'm wearing a maternity bra now. This is where I'm at in life.
Turning Blue over, I burp her and she farts. I laugh at her little antics. That's right people, I made my own farting machine.
I wipe her mouth before I stand up with her in my arms. I head to the kitchen and throw the used wet wipes in the trash can. I walk back to the living room and I place blue in her car seat. Grabbing my car keys off the coffee table, I walk to the front door. My phone rings in the back pocket of my ripped jeans as I lock the door, I take the phone out and it's Bella, Zachary's nurse.
My heart skips a beat before I answer the call.
Oh God, I hope it's not bad news.
"Hey Val, it's Zachary." I hear as I bring the phone to my ears.
I immediately start crying as I hear his voice.
He's awake.
"Hello?" He says and I realize that I haven't said anything since the call started.
"I love you. And I am on my way." I tell him.
"Hurry up." He says before he hangs up.
I place Blue's car seat in the passenger seat and I lock the seatbelt.
"Let's go meet Daddy." I say as I start the car.
***
As I walk to Zachary's hospital room, I am very nervous. I don't think he knows that I'm not pregnant anymore and I can't wait to see the reaction on his face when he sees Blue. I see him watching TV through the little glass in the door before I open the door. His head snaps to the door and he stares at me. I'm wearing a baby carrier and Blue is laying in it with her head on my chest and a white blanket is over her head.
"Hey." He says, smiling at me.
"Hey." I say, copying him.
I don't know what to do or say, or where to keep my hands. He stares at me and his eyes widen when he stares at my chest area.
"Is that?-" He asks, cutting himself off.
I nod in response already knowing what he's asking. I sit on the chair beside the bed and I take the blanket off Blue's head and she makes this cute noise that makes my heart melt
"Holy shit, Vee. That's a whole human being on your chest. We made that." He says in shock.
I hand Zachary the blanket before I unclip the baby carrier and hand Blue to him.
"It's a girl?" He says in a high pitched voice.
"Yup." I tell him.
"She's so cute." Zachary says as he holds her. Blue holds on to his thumb and the sight gives me butterflies. I take out my phone and I take pictures of the two of them.
"Thank you." Zachary says and I stare at him in confusion.
"For what?" I ask him.
"For her. You've given everything I've ever dreamed of. Now, I have my little family." He says, rubbing Blue's cheeks.
"Thank you for waking up, Zach. I would have been so mad at you if you died." I tell him and he laughs.
"I would never die on you. You'd come to the afterlife and take me home." He jokes.
"Thank God you know." I say, rolling my eyes as I stare at him.
"What did you name her?" He asks, staring at me.
"I didn't. I've just been calling her Blue. I wanted to wait till you woke up. And now you're awake." I tell him.
"So, you didn't fill out her birth certificate?" He asks.
"No, I didn't." I tell him.
"When did you have her?" He asks me.
"October seventh." I tell him.
"October seventh? It's October?" He asks as I laugh at his reaction.
Didn't Bella tell him?
"Yeah. Your dumb ass was asleep for six weeks." I say, folding my arms.
"Damn. But I needed it though, I feel awesome." He says and I roll my eyes at him.
"Try that shit again and you're gonna lose your wife. And I'll beat the shit outta you too." I tell him with a smile on my face.
"Wife? Valarie, you wanna be my wife?" He asks and I look away. "Don't act all shy now. You're the one that said it." He says, smiling at me.
"Shut up." I tell him, pretending to be annoyed.
"I'm flattered that you think I'm husband material." He says and I stare at him.
"I never said that." I tell him, chuckling.
"Didn't have to." He says before he puckers up his lips indirectly asking me to kiss him.
I roll my eyes again before I lean in and kiss him.
"I love you." He whispers and I lean my forehead against his.
"I love you." I tell him.
***
"Anastasia?!!" Adam says through the phone as he watches me make pasta.
"What? It's a cute name. Don't be a hater now." I tell him.
"What is she? British?" Adam says laughing to himself.
"Shut up. Her name is cute." I say, defending my child.
"Anastasia Blue Henderson. That sounds like a spell. Hocus pocus bitch." Adam says, trolling me.
"I will end this FaceTime. You're so mean." I say, laughing.
"You know that her name low-key slaps. You can call her Anna or Stassie or even Asia. The options are endless." I tell him as I stir the Alfredo sauce in the pan.
"Where's the boyfriend?" Adam asks, changing the subject.
"At practice. The football season has started." I tell him.
"Look at you guys, being responsible and shit, while I'm here on the other side of the world having a mental breakdown." He says and I laugh.
"Shut up. You're literally on a book tour, what are you even talking about?" I tell him, draining the pasta.
"That doesn't mean I don't have problems. My life is all shades of crazy and I'm tired." He rants.
"Spoiler alert, we all are." I tell him.
"At least you're tired and still hitting milestones. I feel like I'm stagnant." He tells me.
"You literally just won a Nobel prize. What are you saying?" I ask him.
"Yeah, my career is going great. But my love life is at a standstill." He complains.
"What about Courtney?" I ask him.
"Jesus, Valarie. That whole fling happened in the beginning of the year, it's almost December. Where have you been?" He says, sounding irritated.
"Don't be so aggressive. I forgot. And besides you haven't really been telling me much when it comes to your love life, so I'm pretty much in the dark here." I say as I mix the pasta with the sauce.
"Because it's inexistent." He says, raising his voice.
"You better watch that tone, young man. My child is asleep. If you wake her up you will put her back to sleep." I tell him.
"I didn't mean to go off like that, but I am really frustrated right now. You and Zachary are literally couple goals." He says and I laugh.
"We are not...couple goals. And you know that." I say, amused.
"But you guys are endgame though. No one would have thought that you'd work things out, but you did and shocked the world." He says and I brush him off.
"You're just saying anything now. Look, you'll find the one soon enough. And remember love happens when you're not looking for it." I remind him.
"You're right. I love you Spaghetti Stacy." He says.
"You'd be nothing without me, Marshmallow Greg." I reply.