"Thanks, doctor," I replied shyly.
"Have you noticed your baby having any allergies or throwing up?" he asked.
"No, he was sick some time ago, almost three weeks ago, but he's fine now," I replied.
The doctor jotted something down on his notepad, and I waited for any more questions. As my mind drifted off to thoughts of Tanner as Jaimie's father, I shook my head at the notion, no matter how good the image that formed on my head was.
"I recommend your baby gets at least 10 hours of sleep daily with minimum sunlight. Other than that, your baby is in perfect health," he concluded, and I thanked him.
Jaimie stirred awake, cooing in my arms, and I smiled, using my aching arm to hold him and my other hand to hold Tanner's.
"Thank you," Tanner spoke up for the first time after we were dismissed. As we headed towards the door, he spoke to the doctor, taking care of the expenses before catching up with me.
"Are you okay?" he asked, gently brushing his hand against my shoulder.
I nodded my head. "Thank you so much for this. I feel relieved and elated."
He smiled back at me. "Come on, let's go home."
Home. As we walked, I pondered on it. It's really home.
But only for Jaime and I, apparently. Time is already ticking, and I couldn't help feeling a sense of sadness.
TANNER
Jasamina let out a sigh of relief as we exited the hospital. I could tell that the weight of the world had been lifted off her shoulders. She had been so worried about Jaimie, her baby, and the possibility that something might be wrong with him. However, the doctor had quickly eased her fears, giving her the reassurance she needed.
As for me, I was surprised by how quickly I had become attached to the little bundle of joy. Despite only meeting him just months ago, I had already developed a deep affection for him. Watching Jasamina hold him close to her chest, I couldn't help but feel a sense of warmth spreading throughout my body. It was a feeling I hadn't experienced in a long time, and one that I knew I needed to suppress immediately.
As we walked towards the park where we planned to catch a taxi, I couldn't help but think about Jasamina's situation. She was a married woman, and not just to anyone, but to a powerful and cruel man who had hurt her deeply. It was a situation that made me feel helpless and frustrated.
I knew that Jasamina was still legally married according to both church and state, and that she had suffered tremendous trauma at the hands of her husband. It would be difficult for her to trust men again, and the thought of us becoming a family was unrealistic and foolish. I had to quash these feelings immediately.
But then again, it was easier said than done.
As we approached the road, I looked both ways to ensure that it was safe to cross as there were no traffic lights around. Seeing that it was clear, I started to make my way across. However, as Jasamina and the baby began to follow, a truck suddenly appeared from a hidden side of the road, hurtling towards them at lightning speed.
Time seemed to slow down as I watched in horror. I could see the fear etched on Jasamina's face as she stood frozen in the middle of the road, clutching Jaimie tightly to her chest. My heart felt like it was about to burst out of my chest as I shouted her name in bone-deep fear.
"Jasamina!" I called again. This time around, My voice sounded weak, barely audible over the sound of the oncoming vehicle. I could see the terror in her eyes as the truck grew closer and closer. It was as if everything was happening in slow motion, each passing second feeling like an eternity.
I felt powerless, unable to move as I watched the truck veer off at the last moment and speed away. She was safe.
It was a close call, and the shock of the situation was etched on the faces of the few people around us. Jasamina finally made it to the other side of the road, her body trembling with adrenaline as she held Jaimie close to her chest.
"Oh, God! Oh, God! I was so scared...!" she cried, moving away from me as she held Jaimie like a lifeline.
I was still reeling from the shock of what had just happened. My mind was consumed with the thought of what could have happened if the truck hadn't swerved at the last moment. My heart was racing, and I could feel the adrenaline pumping through my veins.
It was in that moment that I knew what I had to do. I couldn't suppress my feelings any longer. I couldn't pretend that what I was feeling wasn't real. Without thinking, my arms shot out, pulling Jasamina close to me. In that moment, everything else faded away as I fused my lips to hers in a kiss that was both impulsive and inevitable.