Summer of Regrets 6 of 6
~Labor and Delivery~
Jensen sat in the bed as a contraction hit him hard, and the nurses watched his heart rate and the baby’s.
“Are you sure you want to do this right now?” His mother asked him.
He looked at his mother and then at the adoption lady. “Yes, but I have one request. I want to be able to hold them. If Jared wants to hold them, I want him to have a chance too before he signs.” He signed the paper. The lady took the paper and left the room with his mother so he could have some alone time with the baby as he waited to deliver. “I love you. You know that; But this is what’s best for you. We are just too young. I hope one day I get to meet you when you’re older.” That was when an alarm went off, and the doctors rushed in, having him rolled onto his side.
“Jensen, the baby’s heart rate dropped -- we need to get them out.” Jensen just nodded as they wheeled him out of the room.
~An Hour Later~
Jared rushed into the waiting room to see Jensen’s mother standing there. “How is he?”
“The baby’s heart rate dropped, and they had to rush him into surgery to deliver the baby.”
That was when a woman walked up to him. “Jared?” Jared nodded. “When you have time, I have the papers you need to sign.”
“I have a few questions.”
“Oh, sure.” He walked her away from Jensen’s mother and started talking to the lady, not realizing the doctor had come out.
“Jared,” Jensen’s mother called him over. Jared rushed over to her. “How is he?”
“Jensen is resting. The little girl is fine, too.”
“Can we see him?”
“Yes, I don’t know how much longer he’ll be awake, but you can go see him.” That was when a nurse showed them to Jensen’s room.
“Can I go in first for a bit?”
“Of course.”
Jared walked in to see Jensen laying in bed as he held their daughter. “Hi.”
Jensen looked up at Jared. “I asked that I could spend a few minutes with her before they take her. I’ve already signed the papers, it just needs yours.”
“I was thinking last night about you and realized something that I always knew but not that this was the time; So I had to stop somewhere before I got here. Jensen, I love you. I want to be with you.”
“I love you, too. I asked them to let you hold her.”
“You just keep holding her.”
“Jared, I really think you should hold her.” He looked at her, who looked just like Jared as she slept in his arms.
“I don’t need to cause I will have a lifetime to hold her.”
Jensen looked up at him at that statement. “What?”
“I want to marry you. I want to be with you for the rest of my life.”
“Really, Jared?”
Jared pulled out a ring. “Will you marry me and make me the happiest man on the earth?”
Jensen nodded and kissed him. “I would love to.”
“I know we will be a happy family.”
“What changed?”
Jared laughed. “I realized that she was a gift. That month was so perfect, and I couldn’t give up her.”
“What about the adoption lady?”
“I told her I wouldn’t sign, and she can’t do anything if I won’t sign. She’s coming home.
“We need to name her?”
“I was thinking Emma.”
“I like that.”
“Emma Rose.”
“We can call her Emily.” Jared nodded and kissed Jensen. He took his daughter as Jensen’s mother walked in.
“Jared, I’m very proud of you. I will be happy to help in any way I can.”
Jensen couldn’t help but smile at their little perfect family. Even though it might not have been the way they would have planned it, he would never change anything.
Over the next month, Jared helped Jensen keep his goal and graduate in May as Jared and Emily watched her father walk across the stage. He had never been so proud in his life. He couldn’t wait to get started on number two but not until he was out of school; they both had agreed on that.