Early August,
The Sun…
A very pregnant Téa Delgado Manning “waddled” into her husband’s office at the Sun. Todd was sitting behind his desk while Starr and Tyler stood off to the side. Tyler was working at the Sun over the summer. Trevor and Taylor had gotten jobs working as clerks at their mother’s law firm. Terri was spending the day with her friend, Anna Buchanan.
“Hi Todd,” grinned Téa bit out of breath.
He shot up out of his seat, “Should you be outta’ the house?!”
“Hi Téa,” said Starr, taping her pencil on her notepad.
“Hey Mom,” said Tyler crossing his arms.
“Hi guys. I’m fine Todd. I just had to go to the store – I saw the cutest receiving blanket for him that I just had to pick up,” she said holding up a package.
“Couldn’t you have waited?” fussed Todd, “I mean what if you hatched the kid in the middle of the store?!”
Téa frowned as he approached her. She let out a disapproving sigh escape her lips, “Todd – I’m going to batty in that house. I need to get out!”
Todd shot Téa a look to match hers and they did what they did best – nonverbal communication.
“Yeah – but you’re like a week past your due date…” said Todd putting his hands on her arms.
“Try 5 days,” she fired back.
“And you’ve been having those contraction like thingies…” he continued.
“So, he’s not in a rush to come…” she added.
Todd was exasperated. Téa took the blanket out of her package, “You like it?”
Todd frowned, “It’s nice.”
Starr joined them, “It’s gorgeous Téa!”
“Thanks,” said Téa.
Tyler just wrinkled his brow, not knowing what to think. He figured the kid wouldn’t really notice.
“So did you guys narrow down that list of names?” asked Starr handing the blanket back.
“Well, if we gotta’ have a “T” name, I like Trent Tomas,” said Tyler.
“I like Tomas Todd,” said Téa.
“C’Mon Téa – I dunno about naming the kid after me. I just got a feeling it’s bad luck…” said Todd.
Téa put the blanket away. She really wanted to name the boy after him.
“How about Troy?” suggested Starr.
“C’Mon!! Buchanan had a kid named Troy. I can’t do that to my kid!!” fussed Todd.
“Do we really have to have a “T” name?” asked Tyler, “I mean, there’s all kinds of cool names that don’t begin with “T” – like Andrew…”
“No!” shot out Todd.
“Ian…”
“Nah…” said Starr.
“Julian…” said Tyler.
“Now that one has potential…” said Téa.
“As a middle name maybe,” said Todd. He wanted his way on this. He wanted a “T” name!
Starr smiled, “Tomas Julian Manning.”
“I like that,” said Todd.
“Tomas or Thomas?” asked Téa. She was beginning to feel…weird. Her stomach – was it her stomach or the baby squirming around.
“I like the Spanish accent Delgado. Reminds me of you,” said Todd crossing his arms.
“I thought spicy things made you nervous,” grinned Téa.
“Spicy things remind me of you,” retorted Todd.
Téa started giggling and suddenly stopped. Todd was right at her side.
“What?”
“Mom?” asked Tyler.
Téa made her way to the couch with Todd’s help. She sat down and felt everyone’s eyes upon her. She looked up into their concerned faces.
“My water just broke,” she said.
“What does that mean?” asked Tyler.
“Your mom just went into labor,” said Starr.
“You’re gonna’ have the kid now?!” exclaimed Todd.
Téa felt a contraction and made a face.
“Breathe Delgado!!”
“I’ll call the ambulance guys…” said Starr walking over to her father’s desk to use the phone.
“Good idea…” said Todd as he held her hand. The contraction passed.
“You know Todd, I have no control over this. Your son is finally ready to make his appearance,” muttered Téa.
“Aw geez…he’s got some timing!! Get comfortable while we wait…” muttered Todd awkwardly.
Téa lay out on the couch. Tyler went out to get some water.
“Okay,” said Starr, “The ambulance guys are on their way.”
“Aw geez Delgado…” muttered Todd as he loosed the buttons on her dress.
She moaned from another contraction and Todd squeezed her hand. It passed. Tyler walked in with a rag and a glass of water. Todd held the glass for her and she sipped out of it.
“Todd…” she started.
“Yeah?”
“I don’t think this is going to be a long labor…” she started.
“What?” he said, his own face growing pale.
“I think Thomas is go…ing, uh, to come quickly…” muttered Téa.
“You’re kidding, right mom?” said Tyler, his eyes bulging out.
“Thomas? So we’re going with Thomas?!” exclaimed Todd.
“Didn’t you…uh…like that?” she grunted.
“Sure…whatever…” said Todd wiping her forehead with a rag.
“Téa how far apart are your contractions?” asked Starr.
“How does she know?! You see her timing them?” said Todd. He was becoming frazzled at the thought of them not reaching the hospital in time.
Starr crossed her arms, “You don’t have to shitty about it Dad.”
“Well, you aren’t the one hatching a kid in the middle of my office!” exclaimed Todd.
Starr couldn’t believe how snippy he was. Still, she started timing Téa’s contractions.
“Dad – you gotta’ keep it together!” said Tyler.
Téa moaned from another contraction.
“I’ll tell you what – I’ll go downstairs and wait for the ambulance guys so when they get here, I’ll bring ‘em here…” said Tyler. He was really beginning to feel uncomfortable as his mother continued having contractions.
“Okay. Good thinking Ty,” muttered Todd.
Tyler left.
“Thomas, huh? Thomas Julian?” asked Todd.
“Sure Todd…” said Téa focusing on her breathing. Todd did everything he could to try and keep her relaxed.
Fifteen minutes later, the EMT’s showed up and Tyler took him to his father’s office. Todd was relieved to see them. He stayed at Téa’s side while Starr and Tyler, stepped back but looked on.
“How long has she been in labor?” asked one EMT.
“About twenty minutes,” said Starr, “The contractions are about 2 minutes apart now…”
“Well, C’Mon…let’s get her to the hospital!” fussed Todd rubbing her sweaty forehead.
Téa groaned from another contraction.
“She’s not gonna’ make it to the hospital,” said one EMT.
“What?!” freaked Todd, “You mean my wife is gonna’ hatch right here?!”
“Yeah, that’s what I mean,” said the other EMT.
“Oh wow…” muttered Tyler. He raised his hand to cover his face but peaked out his fingers.
Téa groaned.
The EMT’s began to prep their equipment.
Todd couldn’t believe this was happening to him. The EMT’s positioned themselves so as to help Téa deliver the baby.
“Okay…she’s fully dilated…” said one EMT.
Todd made a face.
“I gotta’ push…” said Téa.
“Push? Already?” questioned Todd.
“By all means, push!” exclaimed an EMT.
Starr wrinkled her face. She went to the door and decided to guard it, making sure no one else came in.
“Cool. I got a front row seat…” said Tyler as his hand still covered his face. He was a bit embarrassed for his mother as the EMT’s were assisting her.
Téa stopped and gasped for breath. Todd clung to her head.
“C’Mon Delgado…” he really didn’t know what else to say.
“By the way, I’m John and this is Jay,” said the EMT, “You are?”
She couldn’t believe how fast this was happening herself and suddenly another urge to push overcame her.
“Téa…” she muttered.
“Push Téa!! That’s it!! Your baby’s crowning!!” said John.
Tyler swallowed.
Todd nervously watched.
“Push!!”
“I am pushing!!” she yelled back.
“That’s it!” said Jay. The baby wiggled out and began crying.
Téa was wiped out. Todd wiped her face with a damp cloth. The EMT’s attended the baby to clean him up.
“I love you Téa…” said Todd as one EMT cleaned up Thomas. The other EMT stayed with Téa and continued to help her.
“Right now I’m not too fond of you Todd…” she spat.
“It’ll pass,” said Todd, “I give it two minutes and you’ll love me again.”
“Argh!!” exclaimed Téa.
The EMT handed Thomas to Todd and Téa. Todd placed him in Téa’s hands and they delighted in him.
“As soon as you get cleaned up, we’ll take you and the baby to the hospital just make sure you’re both okay,” said Jay.
“Sure, whatever,” said Todd.
Starr looked at Tyler and laughed as she walked up to him. His hand was STILL covering his face but he had witnessed the whole scene from between his fingers.
“It’s okay to look now,” laughed Starr.
Tyler lowered his hand and looked at his parents. They looked at him and smiled.
“Come meet your new brother Tyler,” said Téa a bit relieved.
Tyler inched towards his parents.
“So are we going with Thomas or Tomas?” asked Todd.
“Well, personally I think Thomas Julian Manning sounds better than Tomas Julian,” said Téa as she smiled at her baby. He just fussed in her arms.
“All right fine but we’re gonna’ throw a ‘Delgado’ in there for good measure. Thomas Julian Delgado Manning,” finished Todd.
Tyler hesitantly bent down and looked at the baby, “He’s so tiny,” he said.
“You were tinier,” said Todd.
“Are you going to call him T.J. for short?” asked Tyler.
Starr went to get Téa a fresh set of clothes.
“I like that,” said Todd. Téa gave the new baby to Todd as the EMT’s helped her to stand up. Starr returned with a fresh set of clothes she had taken from her locker.
“Trevor and Taylor are gonna’ flip when they hear this…” beamed Tyler.
Todd just smiled as he held his new son in his arms – delighted he was fine and healthy. He couldn’t be prouder of his family – especially his wife. The Mannings left for the hospital to have mother and son checked out.
THE END
