The ambulance is on its way.
Evelyn arrived at the hospital. The doctor said it would be another six to eight hours before delivery.
Alexander’s face was whiter than the hospital sheets. You’d think he was the one giving birth.
Evelyn had prepared herself mentally. She had read all the materials. Her mother had told her a full day of labor was normal.
She chose natural birth. She was ready for it.
“Alexander, don’t worry. This is normal,” Evelyn comforted him instead.
Alexander nodded. He held her hand. “Do you want to eat something?”
Evelyn shook her head. She felt too sick to eat.
She didn’t dare cry out from the pain. She was afraid of wasting her strength before the real push came.
Even though it was hard, she still managed to joke with Alexander.
Alexander held her hand. His eyes turned red.
Evelyn smiled. She had never seen him cry before.
“You look more pained than I do,” she teased.
Alexander forced a smile. “We’ll have this one, and then no more.”
“Let me get through this one first,” Evelyn replied with a weak laugh.
Another wave of pain hit. Evelyn couldn’t help but frown. Alexander’s heart clenched again.
The labor continued like this. At dawn, the doctor finally said it was time for the delivery room.
Alexander went in with her.
Evelyn didn’t want him there. But Alexander insisted.
From the moment she entered the hospital, Alexander never left her side. Except for the bathroom. He was afraid something bad would happen the second he walked away.
Evelyn was almost unconscious from the pain by then. She just followed the midwife’s rhythm. Breathe. Push.
Alexander kept cheering her on. He fed her chocolate.
Evelyn held his hand so tightly that she didn’t notice she had bruised it.
Only one thought filled her mind. This was killing her.
When the baby was finally born, Evelyn felt the pain release. Relief washed over her.
Alexander hugged her and kissed her. Evelyn felt moisture on her face. She couldn’t tell if it was her sweat or his tears.
“Alexander, I’m amazing,” Evelyn couldn’t help saying.
“You are amazing. You’re my pride,” Alexander replied.
Evelyn laughed weakly. She was completely drained.
After everything was done, she was sent back to the ward to rest. Alexander didn’t follow.
Later, Evelyn found out why. He had collapsed right outside the delivery room. Excessive tension. Physical exhaustion.
Evelyn teased him about it later. She was the one who gave birth. But he was more nervous than her. And he was the one who fainted.
Alexander just looked at her with soft eyes and smiled. He didn’t argue.
To him, she had walked through the gates of death. He never knew how hard childbirth was. He had never experienced it. The shock was overwhelming.
After Evelyn gave birth to their second child, Alexander became even more clingy. As soon as he got home, he stuck to her.
Evelyn went to the nursery. Alexander followed.
Evelyn went to the kitchen. Alexander followed.
Evelyn went upstairs. Alexander followed.
Sometimes Evelyn turned around and complained. “Why are you following me everywhere?”
“Because I like it,” Alexander replied with a smile. Simple. Crude.
Evelyn rolled her eyes. She handed their little son to Alexander. “If you have nothing to do, take care of the baby.”
She went upstairs to rest.
Alexander took his son and followed her upstairs. But he didn’t go into the bedroom. She needed rest. Bringing the child in would only disturb her.
Alexander sat on the sofa in the second-floor living room, holding his son.
Their eldest son came back from playing with his grandmother. He went upstairs to find his mother.
“Mom is sleeping, Evan. Come play with your brother,” Alexander waved.
Evan walked over and took his brother’s hand. “Dad, she’s a sister!”
“It’s a brother,” Alexander corrected.
“Sister!” Evan insisted.
“Well, I’ll get you a sister later. Oh, forget it. Your mother has suffered enough,” Alexander finally changed his words.
Evan didn’t understand his father’s words. But if his father said it was okay, then it was okay.
So he started playing with his brother.
Oliver was just over five months old. He saw his brother and giggled, waving his hands.
Alexander said to his eldest son, “Evan, come here.”
Evan sat down obediently beside his father.
Alexander handed his youngest son to his eldest son. “Here, hold him.”
Evan looked at his father, confused. But he obeyed. He carefully held his “sister.”
Alexander watched protectively from the side. He teased both sons.
Later, he couldn’t help sighing. “I actually like daughters too. I want a daughter as lovely as your mother.”
Evan glanced at his father. He didn’t understand. So he pretended not to hear and continued playing with his “sister.”
After resting for a while, Evelyn came out of the bedroom. She saw the father and sons sleeping on the sofa.
Alexander held his youngest son in one arm. His other arm wrapped around his eldest son. He leaned against the armrest, fast asleep. He wasn’t even afraid the eldest son would fall off the edge.
Evelyn shook her head helplessly. She went back inside, grabbed a blanket, and covered them. Then she picked up the youngest son.
Alexander woke up suddenly. When he saw Evelyn, he relaxed.
“Go back to sleep,” Evelyn said softly, holding their son.
“No, I’ll just rest my eyes for a bit,” Alexander replied. Then he carried his eldest son inside.
Evelyn didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. But she didn’t insist. If they wanted to be happy, let them.
Just then, the youngest son woke up. He blinked at Evelyn.
Evelyn smiled. She bent down and kissed him. Then she carried him downstairs to feed him and change his diaper.
Alexander couldn’t sleep. He followed Evelyn downstairs.
He picked up his eldest son and went downstairs too. Then he handed the boy to the babysitter and followed his wife.
Evelyn was used to it by now. She didn’t laugh or cry anymore. She just directed Alexander to help.
Diapers. Bottles. Water.
Alexander was getting more and more comfortable.
He even joked that if he lost his job, he could consider being a stay-at-home husband.
Evelyn laughed and said he wasn’t afraid of crying. It was good for the baby. He was already a good nanny.
But Alexander had improved a lot since their first son was born. He could change diapers now. He could hold the baby more correctly than before.