Aliza's pregnancy was completely nine months old. The doctor had told Rodriguez that they could expect the baby any moment but as the hospital was closed Aliza opted to stay at home so that she could look after Asher. She has been getting contractions since the last couple of days but the doctor had told them they were only fake until they were long and more severe.
It was two in the midnight and Aliza couldn't hold the pain anymore. She squatted on the bed and searched under the covers for Charles's hand. "Charles" she choked on her speech shaking his upper arm. Going disoriented he wakes up abruptly and looks at Aliza blankly. And then his eyes turn wider assimilating the situation. "Should we get going Liza?" He asks her concern. Holding inside her lips and stopping herself to scream, Aliza closes her eyes and only manages to nod but Charles understands it all.
Going alert right away Charles lays his hand around Aliza's waist and supports her to stand. No sooner had she got to her legs the water broke. Though Charles panicked with the sight he did not let his consternation power on his features. He encouraged Aliza with his words. "Do not panic Liza. Everything will be fine."
Charles helps her to take a bath to clean the liquid of the membranous sac. It has been long since Aliza could bend and reach her legs. He helped her put on her socks and threw an oversized nightgown upon her. They had already shopped for the baby. Charles was over enthusiastic and brought everything available in the store starting from baby wipes, diapers, clothes and socks.
After Aliza was completely ready Charles got dressed and tapped the door of his parents. Since last week Allen, Arianna had been staying at Charles place to look after Asher because the delivery was expected any time. "Dad, I think it is time. When the baby is delivered I will inform you." Charles tells his father who opens the door of their bedroom and assists Aliza to climb down the stairs. "All the best to you and Aliza son..." Allen tells Charles before he walks to his wife and helps her climb down the staircase.
It felt like a decade for Aliza to get down those fifteen steps. Soon after she got to the hospital the doctor checked upon her. "You're 4 mm dilated and you require 10. I suggest you walk so that you have an easy delivery." Mrs Johnson the gynecologist who regularly checks her information. Charles helps Aliza to stand and assists her to walk the corridor.
Two hours later.....
"It is the time." The doctor informed me after checking Aliza. "By the time, I count three you need to push." She informs her dunking her head between her legs. "I can feel the curvature of the baby head. Push." She tells once more. Squeezing the hand of Charles so tight that makes him go numb Aliza makes the biggest squeal on the earth which preceded the cry of the baby and it was the most beautiful sound the couple had ever heard since a while.
The doctor smiles and holds out the tiniest human to them. "Congratulations Mr and Mrs Rodriguez. It is a baby girl." Aliza saw the smile of Charles spread all over his face. He was smiling so much that she could see lines at the corner of his eyes. "Would you like to cut the cord Mr Rodriguez?" The doctor asked Charles. With the intense happiness he experiences, Charles hands shook while cutting the umbilical cord.
After running a bath to the baby, she was wrapped in a pink towel and handed over to Charles. A tear dropped out from the corner of his eyes as he held his daughter for the first time. On one arm he holds her and with the other he strokes her soft cheek with the tip of his fingers. She opens her eyes and looks at her father for a few moments, flapping her little eyelids. She then yawns followed by a body stretch which makes her teensy face go red with the huge exertion.
"Oops! Even a tiny stretch can cause your delicate body to go scarlet with strain. How am I going to protect your complete life?" Charles asks worriedly and wonders at the beautiful, small creation of God in his arms. He thanked him wholeheartedly, sending a silent prayer and putting their baby in Aliza's stretched arms.
"What would we name her?" Charles asks Aliza after she was shifted to the maternity ward and when they were alone with their baby. "I thought I would name her Avery if I had a girl." Aliza says, running her hands on the soft hairs of the baby. "And I thought I would name her Isla. So she is Avery Isla Rodriguez." Charles announced.
Within an hour the room was filled with laughter and cheer. Allen and Arianna welcome their granddaughter to the family excitedly. Edith flew along with her husband Sandro from New York to see her new born niece. She had recently delivered her own baby too. Augustine, who was named after his grandfather, was born just six months ago and is now the older cousin of Avery. Henry came from Boston canceling all his meetings and projects. "I just can't wait to see all my children complete with their families for this Thanksgiving.
When the complete family was immersed in the midst of giggles and laughter little Asher looked troubled, immersed by his own concerns. "Daddy, when can I hold my ?" He asks stretching his mini arms upwards to his father in expectation. "Of course, son." Charles chuckles, lifts Asher and places him beside Aliza.
Aliza kisses the cheek of Asher and carefully places baby Avery into the lap of her brother. Asher gingerly holds his sister and plays with her midget fingers that were closed in a fist. "Mummy she is so small. When will I start playing with her?" Asher asked, distressed and everybody in the room started laughing.
******
The End