Page 140 of Western Waves

“Oh fuck!” we said once more, in unison. We shot up from the table, and the three of us hurried off to the hospital. I carried Aaliyah’s hospital bag while Connor coached his wife through the contractions. Aaliyah was placed in a wheelchair once we arrived, and the nurse began to take her and Connor to the back when Aaliyah called out.

“Wait! I need Damian to come, too,” she said.

The nurse smiled. “I’m sorry. Right now, it’s just immediate family allowed in the room.”

“Don’t you see the family resemblance?” Aaliyah joked, gesturing toward me. She held her hand out in my direction, and I took it. “He’s my brother.”

I was there for it all. I held one of her hands as she pushed, and Connor held the other. I didn’t even realize I wasn’t taking in breaths as Aaliyah pushed. I didn’t even realize that I felt light-headed as it all happened. But when that baby came out and cried for the first time, I realized a breath I hadn’t even known I’d been holding in.

The staff cleaned up the baby after Connor cut the cord. They then laid the baby against Aaliyah’s chest. Tears were falling all around.

“He’s perfect,” Connor said. “You did so good, Red,” he told Aaliyah, kissing her forehead.

Aaliyah stared down at her baby, the creation of two worlds colliding into one, and she whispered his name. “Welcome to the world, Grant Damian Roe.”

I instantly stepped backward. “Damian?”

“Of course. Grant after my father figure, and Damian after his uncle,” Aaliyah explained. “Would you like to hold him?” she asked.

Fuck.

Don’t cry, Damian.

“Please,” I said, holding my arms out toward the baby. Connor placed him in my arms, and well, hell. Who knew the world could feel so light in one’s arms? I looked down into the newborn’s eyes, and I felt a wave of protection wrap around me. I knew that no matter what, I’d be there for that little guy for the rest of my life. “Welcome home, Grant Damian,” I whispered. “Welcome home.”

I stayedwith Connor and Aaliyah, helping them out for a few weeks. When they had their footing, I knew it was time for me to head back to California to get back to work. “Thanks again for letting me crash.”

“Thanks again for being there for us when we needed you the most, Damian.” Connor hugged me tight, and Aaliyah did the same. I kissed Grant’s forehead and promised to see him sooner than later. Then I headed to the airport with Milo and got on a plane to return to my own reality.

41

Stella

One Saturday afternoon,I was surprised by a visitor I didn’t expect at all.

“Aaliyah, what are you doing here?” I asked as she stood on my front porch. “Oh, my goodness! Your baby!” I swooned, looking into the car seat she was carrying. My heart burst into emotions as I looked down at the beautiful baby before me.

“Just over six weeks old now. Can we come in?” she asked.

“Of course, come on,” I said, gesturing for her to enter the space.

I closed the door behind me and then led the two to the living room. “Is it okay if I hold him? Can I get you some water? Oh gosh, let me wash my hands first,” I said, walking over to the kitchen. I washed my hands, grabbed a glass of water, and then went back to the living room.

“Here you go,” I said, handing her the water. I sat beside her as she placed the glass on the table, then she began unbuckling her bundle of joy from the car seat. She lifted him up from the seat and then placed him in my arms. “He’s perfect,” I said, feeling overwhelmed. I knew I cried easily before, but now with being pregnant, all the emotions hit me that much harder.

“He really is something else. Grant Damian Roe,” she said. “My sun and moon.”

I knew his first name was Grant, after a man who seemed to be a father figure to Aaliyah as she grew up. But they gave him Damian’s name, too. That was enough to get my emotions going as little Grant wrapped his hand around my thumb.

“You miss him,” Aaliyah mentioned.

Every day, I thought to myself.

I smiled at her, and she could read my answer without me saying a word out loud.

“He misses you, too,” she swore.

That made my chest ache. It had been two weeks since I’d last seen Damian, and my mind had been racing every single day. I’d wanted to reach out to him, call him, tell him how much I wanted him to come back home. To come back to me. But I couldn’t do it. I had my own child to think of now. I couldn’t have Damian in his life, and then when things got rocky, he’d run away.