Authors: Misty Provencher
“What does it say?” Sher cries, searching my face desperately for an answer. I put the results down in the scatter of letters and lay her back on the closet floor. I wipe the tears from her cheeks.
“It says,
we
are having a baby, Sher.
We
are.” I kiss her face as she cries even harder. “And I’m telling you right now, I’m going to do everything I can to make sure you don’t spend another day of your life crying, ever, ever again.”
I kiss her until her sobs dissolve and are replaced with the most tender moans of pleasure.
CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR
Dear Landon Allen Grace Junior,
Today is the day you were born. At 7 lbs, 8 oz and 21 inches long, I’ve never held anything in my hands that was priceless, until now.
By the time you read this, it won’t be such big news, but right now, you’re the biggest news story of my entire life. You came into this world at 12:31 on the sunniest afternoon I’ve ever seen. The doctors said babies never come this fast, especially when the golf course is prime for a game, but you were in a hurry, I guess.
Now that you are here, there are things I want you to know. Your mother is my hero. After what she went through to get you here, when she insisted you be a Junior, there wasn’t anything I could say to sway her. I’m sorry about that. I’m not sure what you’ll think of the name, but it’s served me pretty well, and I hope it does for you too.
We decided to ask everyone to come to the hospital the day after you were born, so we’d have time with you to ourselves first. We wanted it to be just the three of us at first. We wanted to get used to being a little family. You made it easy. You are perfect.
The rest of our families showed up early the next morning, as soon as visiting hours allowed them. Actually, your Aunt Gina (my sister) snuck up an hour before and made time with one of our attending nurses. But after Gina, everyone poured in, both of your grandmothers, your six aunts and three monkey-uncles by blood, and then your Aunt Hale and Uncle Oscar, who are kind of responsible for bringing the two things I prize most into my life…your mother and you.
And that, my incredible son—as I watch you fall asleep in your mother’s arms—is the beginning of the story of you. The rest, well, your mom and I will be waiting for you to share all the highlights of your story with us some other time.
SPECIAL THANKS
Thank you, God. It is always about you.
Thanks to Mom and Dad, who is always there. I love you.
Thank you to Annie (A.M. Hargrove) who put me onto the giggle. Boobs you lots, my Annie Banani.
I couldn’t have gone so nuts without Kyle Provencher and the husbands of Lisa-Anne Samuels Moore, Amanda Heath and Aracely Patino Moreno. Thanks again for all your ballsy answers.
Thanks to Starla Huchton, who hides the chocolate and is always ready to shake the pom poms!
I know the best blogger babes on the planet and I want to thank all of them for being so incredible and always helping to get the word out about my work.
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