Sorry for the cliffhanger but I didn’t want to put the whole wedding in one chapter
CRYSTAL "Crystal, is there anything you want to say to Brooks?" Tears were streaming down my face. "Um. Wow. Well, this is certainly a surprise. Brooks, If you would have asked me where I saw myself today back when we first met, I wouldn't say here. When we met, falling in love with you was the last thing I would have expected to happen. I know we had some issues in the beginning but falling in love with you gave me the drive to push through and work out our issues. You have been my safe place, my comfort, and my peace. Over the past year, I have been blessed to watch you change into the amazing man who stands before me and I couldn't be any more thankful than I already am, that I am the one you want to spend your life with. I love you more than you will ever know Brooks and I can't wait to start our forever." "Beautiful words spoken between the two of you. I can see and feel the love that the two of you have for one another and I am happy to be officiating this union. I
BROOKS It's been 3 weeks since Crystal and I got married and her doctor has given her the okay to get up and move around more with help. We decided not to have a honeymoon until after Marvin is born and is old enough for us to leave him with one of the sets of grandparents. Crystal has been having some pains in her stomach so we have an appointment in an hour with her OBGYN. Once Crystal was ready to go we headed to the doctor's office. There was a little wait but it wasn't too bad. As soon as Crystal was called back the nurse asked me to help her change into a gown so she could be examined. When the doctor came in she started the exam but it didn't take long for her to figure out what was going on. She told Crystal and I that the pains she felt were contractions. She said she was going into early labor and she was 2cm dilated but with how far along Crystal is, that Marvin wouldn't be in any danger of being delivered this early. I asked her what we needed to do and she told me that
CRYSTAL The pains are still pretty intense but they are still 4 minutes apart. I don't want to go to the hospital until they are 3 minutes apart like the doctor said. It's 7:30 a.m. and I've been up since 4:45 a.m. I'm starting to get sleepy but I've been trying to stay awake with Brooks. "Hey beautiful, why don't you try to get a nap? I can see your eyes are getting heavy." "I'm okay, Brooks." "Crystal, please try and get a nap in. I want you to get as much rest as you can." "Ok, Brooks. I will try to take a nap." I laid back and closed my eyes. When I woke up, Brooks was sitting next to me. "How was your nap?" "It wasn't long but it was good." "You've been asleep for the past 3 hours, beautiful." "It was not 3 hours." "It's 10:45 beautiful. Are the pains still bad?" "Honestly, no. I don't think I've felt any pain since I fell asleep." "I've been right here since you fell asleep and I haven't heard a peep out of you nor have I seen you hold your stomach." "Why would the
BROOKS After I got off the phone with Seth, I checked on Crystal. I told her I was going to make us salads for dinner. I headed into the kitchen and began to make them. I put 2 different kinds of dressing on the tray because I wasn't sure which one Crystal would want to use tonight. I grabbed the tray and headed back into the bedroom. I placed the tray on the bed and sat down. We began eating while watching TV. I noticed Crystal was taking her time eating and I asked if she was ok. "Oh, yeah I'm fine baby." "Crystal, I can tell something is either bothering you or you are hurting and not wanting to tell me." "I'm fine, Brooks. I'm trying to deal with the contractions, that's all." "If you are contracting more, you need to let me know." "I promise I'm fine, Brooks." "Ok, but promise me if it gets any worse you will let me know." "I promise, Brooks." After we finished eating I cleaned the dishes and called my mom to see if Jonah could cover for me at work tomorrow.
CRYSTAL I have been here for an hour now and the nurse who just came in to check me said I was only dilated to 4cm. The doctor asked if I wanted something for the pain but I told her no. I decided after our accident that I didn't want anything for the pain. I barely took my medicine when I had the broken wrist and leg and I managed through the pain then so I didn't feel like I would need it for giving birth. After another hour of laying there, the doctor came in and checked me. She told me that I had dilated to 6cm and things would probably progress pretty quickly now. I pray they do because these contractions hurt like hell! I was able to find a comfortable position to lay in for a while before the pain hit again. I looked up at the clock and saw that I had been here for almost 3 hours and still no baby boy. Another nurse came in and said she was going to check my progression and the look on her face as she took her glove off told me I must not have dilated much. She told us that
BROOKS The doctor hands me a pair of medical scissors and shows me where to cut. My hands are shaking and I am terrified. I cut the cord and as soon as I did, I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding. His cries fill the room mixed with the cries from his mother as he is placed on her chest. My whole world is right before my eyes laying on that hospital bed. A world I didn't think I'd ever have. My wife and my son. As soon as the nurses stepped away from Crystal I walked over to the edge of the bed and leaned down. I told her I was so proud of her and I thanked her for giving me this piece of the puzzle to complete my life. I broke down and cried as I stood there staring down at her with our son in her arms. My phone went off and I checked it to see my mom was texting me to see what was going on. I texted her and told her I would be out in the waiting room soon to update them. I asked Crystal if I could get a picture of her and Marvin to show everyone in the waiting room and sh
BROOKSAfter finding the test and Crystal and I talking, I fixed Crystal something to eat and she went and laid down after eating. I stood there leaning against the door frame watching her sleep and I couldn't help the thoughts that began racing through my mind. Was I going to be able to provide for her myself and provide for a baby? Was her dad going to kill me for not only asking for his daughter's hand but now he has to find out I got her pregnant? Were my mom and Ray going to kill me for getting her pregnant? I already know my mom is going to chew me a new one because we just had this talk not too long ago. I walked into the living room and sat down with my head resting in my hands. F*ck! I went from being the happiest man alive with her saying yes to marrying me, to finding out I am going to be a father and being terrified within 24 hours. I was happy about it at first but now I am scared to death. I honestly don't know how long I have been sitting here but when I looked up I saw
CRYSTALI woke up with Brooks's hand still on my stomach. I smiled and gently lifted his arm to go use the bathroom. When I finished my business, I jumped in the shower. As I stepped out of the shower Brooks was standing in the bathroom doorway. He was just standing there smiling. I asked why he was in such a good mood and he told me because he had a fiancee and a baby on the way. I shook my head and walked into the bedroom to get dressed. I pulled my wet hair up into a messy bun after getting dressed and told Brooks I was going to go to my dad's to get my insurance card. He asked if I wanted him to come with me and I told him he didn't have to. I was just going to get that and a few little things to bring back with me. He said he was thinking about taking Jonah out for lunch and I told him to go spend time with him. When I got to my dad's I saw his car was in the driveway. I went inside and yelled out that I was home. My dad came in from the back patio and asked how I was feeling. I