Chapter 15-The Carter II

"Oh my God," Holly screamed as another contraction washed over her. "Get me a fucking epidural."

"Calm down," Jeff said rubbing her stomach gently.

"CALM DOWN," she screamed. "I will not calm down. YOU did this to me."

"Holly, please calm down," Dr. Hopkins said. "Your blood pressure is rising and the baby's heartbeat is going too fast. Calm down."

Jeff swallowed the lump that was in his throat as Holly took deep breaths to calm down. "Calm down, Holly,” he whispered in her ear as she gripped his hand tighter.

“I am asshole,” she growled through gritted teeth.

Dr. Hopkins left the room to grab the nurse so they could give the shot to Holly.

Holly looked at Jeff as he sat down on the chair next to her bed and ran his hands through her hair, “I know you hate me right now because you are in pain but this is almost over, just please calm down so you don’t hurt yourself or the baby,” Jeff said as Holly nodded her head slowly before closing her eyes.

Jeff rubbed her stomach gently and watched the TV that was playing the local news. “Jeff Carter will miss tonight’s game against the Rangers while he and his girlfriend await the arrival of their baby. We wish the best of luck to the both of them.”

“How many times have you told the media that we weren’t together,” Holly asked.

“I gave up on trying since they always twist the story around anyways, you know how that is. I’m the orange douche bag who doesn’t know how to respect women and has apparently banged half of the city.”

Holly laughed before pointing to her stomach, “You are a douche bag who has banged half of the city but only got your roommate pregnant, as long as we know.”

“Fuck you,” Jeff joked as Holly laughed before gripping his hand tighter. “Breathe,” he whispered. “Just take a deep breath.”

Holly inhaled then exhaled as Jeff continued rubbing her stomach with his free hand, “I just want this kid out of me.”

“It’ll be over before you know it, just calm yourself down before something happens to the both of you,” Jeff whispered kissing her knuckles. “Everything is going to be ok.”

Dr. Hopkins entered the room with a nurse and sat Holly up on the bed. Jeff held her close to him as the doctor pressed the needle to her spine. Jeff closed his eyes out of fear he would pass out. Dr. Hopkins checked Holly over once again before he made his way out of the room. Holly closed her eyes and fell asleep for a short time before Jeff too fell asleep.

Dr. Hopkins came in a short time later and checked Holly again, “You’re about seven centimeters now,” he said as he looked up at the monitor. “Your baby is fine and your blood pressure has gone back to normal. Just keep taking deep breaths and small sips of water. It shouldn’t be long now.”

“I’m going to go let my parents know,” Jeff said standing up from the chair. “I’ll send Lauren in.”

“Ok,” Holly smiled slightly as Jeff kissed her forehead before leaving the room.

Jeff walked down the hallway to the waiting room and everyone turned to look at him.

“Any news,” Mike asked as Jeff rubbed the back of his neck.

“She’s seven centimeters now; the doctor said it won’t be long now. Have Jane and Tom came yet?”

“They’re upstairs getting something to eat,” Lauren replied. “Why don’t you go get something to eat, if anything changes, I will call you?”

“Ok,” Jeff smiled, “I’ll be back.”

Jeff headed towards the elevators and hit the 11th floor. He had become familiar with what floor the cafeteria was on because both he and Mike would bring Holly and Lauren lunch sometimes when they were working. Jeff smiled at the couple who were getting on the elevator that was going down. They were oohing and awing over their newborn. Jeff was envious of the man as he kissed his wife on the lips as they entered the elevator.

He wanted that with Holly more than anything but he didn’t know if she felt the same way. They’re relationship was messed up and they knew it but that didn’t stop them from ending it.

Jeff entered the cafeteria and made a beeline for the coffee machines. He had been up ever since Holly called him at five am letting him know that she started having contractions.

“Hey,” Tom Petersen greeted Jeff as he spotted him in the line for the cashier. “How’s she doing?”

“She’s seven centimeters now,” Jeff replied. “It shouldn’t be long now. Where’s Jane?”

“She went back downstairs,” Tom said.

Jeff told the cashier to add Tom’s food on to his and they fell into a conversation. “I’m sorry,” Tom suddenly said. “I know both Jane and I haven’t been the nicest people but Holly has always been our rebel child. We just want what’s best for her and we got off to a bad start. Jane isn’t as forgiving as I am but I am proud of you for stepping up and being there for Holly. This baby will change your life in more ways than one.”

Jeff shook his hand and they headed towards the elevators. Jeff went back to the room and Lauren wished them both luck before she left.

“Can I have a bite,” Holly asked Jeff as he unwrapped the chicken caesar wrap from the cafeteria. Jeff stood up and brought it to Holly’s mouth and she took a bite. “I’m so hungry.”

“We’ll get you something as soon as the baby comes,” Jeff replied, “I promise.” He pulled a napkin from his back pocket and wiped her face before he sat down next to her and finished his lunch. Holly was eating the ice chips that the doctor gave her since she couldn’t have fluids when Dr. Hopkins entered the room again.

“You’re ready to start pushing,” he smiled. “I’m going to go get prepped. Mr. Carter come with me.”

“I’ll be back,” Jeff said as he followed the doctor out of the room.

Jeff put scrubs on as the doctor washed his hands and they headed back into the room. Holly was now sitting up and Jeff took his place next to her whispering words of encouragement.

“On the count of ten, we are going to start pushing,” Dr. Hopkins said. “Are you ready?”

“No,” Holly screamed causing Jeff to laugh but her grip on his hand strengthened. “It’s not fucking funny, asshole.”

“Alrighty then, let’s get started, shall we? Mr. Carter, count for me.”

“1, 2, 3, 4, 5,” he started as Holly let out a scream.

“You’re doing great,” Dr. Hopkins said, “Keep pushing.”

“Come on Holly,” Jeff said, “You can do it.”

“THEN YOU FUCKING HAVE THIS BABY,” she shouted as she squeezed his hand and he bent over.

“What the fuck Holly,” he said. “I fucking need my hands to play hockey.”

“Fuck you and hockey,” she shouted as she pushed again.

“Push, push, push, push,” the nurse said. “Good.”

“You’re doing great Holly, he’s almost here,” Jeff whispered as he ran his hand through her sweaty forehead. “Just keep doing what you’re doing. Are you ready?”

“1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6,” Dr. Hopkins said taking over the counting for Jeff. “We’re almost there one big one.”

Holly screamed as she pushed as hard as she could and the cries of a newborn baby filled the air. Holly threw her head back and Jeff cried as he saw his newborn baby for the first time.

“It’s a girl,” Dr. Hopkins said as he handed Jeff the scissors to cut the umbilical cord.

“Wait…,” Jeff asked. “What do you mean it’s a girl?”

“It’s a girl,” Dr. Hopkins said again.

“You better check again, you told us it was a boy.”

“I’m afraid I was wrong Mr. Carter, it’s a healthy baby girl.”

“That’s not my kid,” Jeff said somewhat serious and somewhat joking.

“It’s a girl,” Holly questioned glaring at Jeff. “Are we having twins?”

“Nope, it’s only one baby,” Dr. Hopkins replied. “I know I may have told you it was a boy but not every sonogram is accurate. I’m sorry.”

“What are we going to do with a girl,” Jeff asked as he shook his head before cutting the cord. The nurse had his cell phone and took a picture.

“She weighs seven pounds, nine ounces. She’s twenty inches long,” the nurse said as she wrote it down on the chart before wrapping the baby up in a blanket.

Jeff looked on amazed that the son they were expecting was a healthy baby girl. The nurse placed the baby in Holly’s arms and Jeff ran his finger over the baby’s cheek.

“She’s beautiful,” Holly whispered with tears in her eyes.

“She gets it from you,” Jeff replied as he wiped the tears away from his own eyes. Holly smiled as Dr. Hopkins congratulated them one last time and left the room. The nurse took the baby from Holly and placed her in the incubator.

“We’re going to take her and get her all cleaned up for you. We’ll be right back,” she smiled as she wheeled the nameless baby down the hall.

“I’m going to ask if I can get cleaned up myself,” Holly said to Jeff. “Why don’t you go tell everyone?”

“Ok,” Jeff said standing up. “I’ll be right back.”

Jeff walked down the hall towards the waiting room once again and this time everyone was sitting there, “How is she,” Jane asked.

“Holly’s fine,” Jeff replied.

“How’s the baby,” Mike asked.

“She’s fine too.”

“Wait…she,” Lauren asked.

“Yeah,” Jeff smiled.

“Oh my God,” Sue Carter said standing up to hug her son.

“It’s a girl,” her and Lauren said in unison causing Jeff to laugh.

“I have a niece,” Christine asked her brother.

“You have a very healthy niece; seven pounds, nine ounces, and twenty inches long.”

“Congratulations son,” Jim Carter said. “We’re proud of you.”

“Holly was getting cleaned up but you guys are all finally allowed back,” Jeff said as both he and Holly’s families along with Mike and Lauren followed him towards Holly’s room.

Holly was holding the baby and she smiled when everyone entered. Jeff lingered behind them as he saw them going crazy over the little bundle of joy. Jeff texted Holly’s sister who was now living in New York and told her that they had a girl. She was beyond excited and told Jeff that she would mail them some clothes first thing in the morning.

“Well, it looks like I got to take this “It’s a boy” teddy bear back down to the gift shop and exchange it for one that says ‘It’s a girl,’” Mike said as he quietly excused himself away from all the madness in the small hospital room.

After everyone had left, Holly fell asleep and Jeff stayed up holding the baby. Jeff placed his index finger into the hand of his baby girl and she squeezed as hard as she could. He had been wracking his brain to find a name for her and he came up with the perfect one, he just hoped Holly would like it.

Jeff was rocking the baby in the recliner that had been placed in Holly’s bed and he was slowly falling asleep himself.

“Jeff,” Holly whispered slowly sitting up in the bed. “Why are you still awake?”

“I was thinking of a name for her and I came up with one. I think it’s the perfect name for the perfect baby.”

“What is it?”

Jeff looked down at the baby before glancing over at Holly, “Olivia Christine,” he said. “I don’t know where the Olivia came from but the Christine is after my sister.”

“I love it,” Holly said.

“Really,” Jeff asked. “We don’t have to name her that. You won’t hurt my feelings.”

“Jeff, no,” Holly replied. “I really love it.”

Olivia Christine Carter entered the world on November 13, 2007 at 5:45pm weighing seven pounds, nine ounces. She was twenty inches long with all ten fingers and all ten toes.

“Bring her here,” Holly said as Jeff crossed the room and laid his daughter in her mother’s waiting arms.

Holly looked up and Jeff smiled as their faces were inches from each other. Holly closed the space and gently placed her lips on Jeff’s. Jeff was shocked but cupped her cheek in his hand and kissed her back. Olivia began crying in her mother’s arms breaking them out of their trance.

Jeff smiled as he kissed Holly once more before going to get a nurse so Olivia could be fed. Holly watched him leave and she smiled knowing she had caught Jeff off guard. She had never kissed him just for the hell of it but she was so overcome with emotion when she saw the love for their daughter in his eyes that she just did it.

Jeff stood outside of the door and smiled to himself before he walked down the hall. Holly was slowly coming around now it was time for him to do something about it. Everything was falling into place. He had the perfect life complete with the perfect baby, all he needed was the perfect woman and Holly was that perfect woman.