"Bette, would you like to cut the umbilical cord?"

"Can I," I asked and he nodded smiling. He handed me the sissors and I cut, and the warmth I felt went all over my body. I watched as they put him down and the nurses started clenaing him up. My heart beat with joy and the tears clouded my eyes once again.

"Ok, boy number two should be along shortly."

"I can’t, I can’t do this anymore, it hurts," Jennifer cried out and started sobbing.

"Sweetie, you’re doing great ok," Tina said.

"You’re almost done, ok? Just breathe," I said and wiped her forehead with a wet wash cloth.

"I can’t Bette, I’m tired and my body hurts so much, I just can’t," she said and she buried her head in my chest and cried. I held her tightly as she cried. I pulled her away and cupped her face.

"Sweetie, listen to me, you’re doing great ok? This is a good pain, you’re giving life and I will be forever grateful to you. You have no idea how wonderful, brave and amazing you are. You can do this. I am here for you."

"Ok," she said in a small voice, then she cried out. She gripped my hand and Tina and I coached her breathing.

"I have a head!"

Jennifer cried out again and pushed. Tina and I kept encouraging her and she kept crying out. I kept whispering my encouraging words into her ear and I wiped her forehead. Finally she gave one last push and then I heard a small wailing and my tears broke free. The doctor held him up and he cried and cried. Jennifer layed back, her breathing labored.

"Miss. Kennard, would you like to cut the umbilical cord," he asked and Tina looked to me. I nodded and she grabbed the sissors and cut. They took the baby over for his first examinations and we went back to Jennifer. I wiped her face again and Tina stood next to me.

"Do you want to see them?"

"No."

"Are you sure," I asked as the doctor and nurse started cleaning her up and prepared to move her to recovery.

"Yes, thank you. They’re not mine, they’re yours, and you two are gonna be great parents. Thank you for that."

"No honey, thank you."

We watched them wheel her out and the nurse directed us to an empty room in the women’s center where I will be staying with the babies. I sat on the bed and Joyce and Jeanne came in and I explained our new situation. They were shocked to find out that I had two babies coming and not one. Joyced pulled her laptop out to draw up new papers, as did Jeanne. They sat on the small sofa and talked. Tina sat on the bed next to me while they did that and decided I should ask her.

"Tina, um, they’re drawing up new papers. And they were wondering if, um, well, if you were wanting to be a second parent. Um, along side myself, adopt them. I know it’s a lot to ask and we’ve just reconnected yesterday. But I do believe we are meant for each other."

As I finish talking I see the nurse walk up with the babies in their bassinets. As I looked down at them, I instantly fell in love with them. I had a name for my first son, but not his brother, I’d have to think real hard. Tina cooed over them and she rubbed baby two’s arm with her finger and he latched his little hand onto it and she smiled.

"If you’re asking me to be their other mother, I’m saying yes. I love them already and we’ve just met. This is really fast and very unorthodox, but our relationship has been just that. But my heart is aching at the thought of not being with you. I want the whole package."

I smiled and I kissed her. True it was very fast but my life always worked like that. My schooling, my career, falling in love with Tina, Provocations, and this adoption. My life was in the fast lane and I was afraid to slow down. They cooed as we embraced, and finally, I was completely happy.