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- 06/29/2016
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My Brother Daniel - 17. Epilogue
Andy made good on his promise. He pleaded guilty and got away with a suspended sentence and probation. I haven’t heard anything from him since. Jamie’s mother called to ask if I’d been the one who send the flowers. I told her I had no idea who it was and she must have a secret admirer which lit her up like a candle. We had a long chat and I promised to visit. I haven’t yet, but maybe I will one day.
Daniel and I were married at Castell Henllys. It was Daniel’s idea. It wasn’t a legal marriage, we had that quietly in a civil service in town the next day, but it was our true wedding nevertheless. Daniel managed to get in touch with the re-enactment group and they conducted the ceremony. All our friends were there and, presenting me with one of those typically and uniquely Daniel surprises, my mother and sister were there. My father wasn’t quite able to manage attending a gay wedding but even he warmed to Daniel in the end. Everyone warms to Daniel in the end.
I’m looking at a photograph of the wedding right now. It’s been blown up and mounted over the fireplace in our new house. I know it’s not the usual kind of thing people have over their fireplace – a group of people, some in iron age clothing, some dressed for a wedding, with me and Daniel in the middle, dressed as Celtic warriors. Daniel’s brandishing a sword and looks so happy and so beautiful. Just looking at him makes me smile, no matter how I might be feeling, and at the moment I’m feeling about as nervous as I have ever been.
A pair of arms snake around my waist and warm breath tickles my neck. “Are you ready?”
“As ready as I’ll ever be.”
Daniel turns me round. He looks anxious and agitated. “You’re not having second thoughts? It’s a bit late now, really.”
“No, I’m not having second thoughts, how could I? To be perfectly honest with you, I’m scared to death. I’m not good with things like this, and I hate hospitals.”
“But this time it’s different. We’re not going there because someone is sick.”
“I know. It’s just…. Do I really have to go in there? Do I have to watch?”
“Yes, you do,” Daniel says firmly. You have to be there when our son is born. How else will he know you’re his father? I know it’s scary and very icky. I’ve watched videos and you should have too.”
“Eew. The less time I have to spend looking at a woman’s…bits, the better I like it.”
Daniel laughs. “You’re so gay,” he says and drags me out of the room.
All the way to the hospital, my hands grip the wheel until the knuckles are white and Daniel chatters on about what to expect when we get there. He’s actually excited about watching our son being born. He isn’t helping that queasy feeling in the pit of my stomach.
When we get to the hospital we check in and are rushed to the delivery room, with the news that things are well underway. I’m surprised my legs carry me. There’s not much I can do but follow Daniel, who’s towing me through the corridors.
A nurse meets us just outside and ushers us into the room, where Julia, our surrogate is screaming fit to burst. Before I know it I’m positioned with a clear view between her legs and there’s nothing I can do but look.
Wow, that’s messy. Wait. It hits me like a brick between the eyes. That slimy, bloody mass is a head, my son’s head. Suddenly my heart is beating fit to burst. Daniel is on the other side, holding tight to Julia’s hand and saying all the right things. I can’t think of a single word and I don’t think I could speak it even if I could. A hand slips into mine and I look down into Julia’s pale face. It appears we’re on a break and she manages to smile.
“I’m so glad you’re here, Rayn.”
I nod, still unable to speak.
“I thought I was going to go through it alone. I was so scared. I feel better now, safe with you and Daniel.”
We’ve become good friends over the last nine months. Everyone who gets involved with Daniel winds up as friends. He seems to attract only nice people. I guess only nice people take the time to get involved with him.
I nod again while Daniel continues chatting about how of course she’s safe with us and we’ll keep on taking care of her and we’ll be her friends forever and she can come see Ashley – my choice of name. Daniel wanted Rainbow for a girl or Raven for a boy – any time she wants. He hardly stammers at all these days and, in fact, we can’t shut him up a lot of the time. That’s fine because I love to hear his voice.
Julia smiles but it doesn’t last long because a spasm of pain overcomes her and she crushes my fingers to the point I yelp. Steeling myself I look down and see something wonderful. I see my son’s face.
After another break the rest of Ashley slides into the world and suddenly there he is, lying on Julia’s chest…um…bare chest. I have to look away.
The nurse is saying something to me. I missed it because Ashley chooses this moment to start crying. Wailing actually. “Sorry?”
“Would you like to cut the cord?”
I look down at the pulsing purple…thing, that connects Ashley to his mother. “Um…no thanks.”
“I will. I will,” Daniel pipes up and I watch as he takes the scissors and slowly and carefully snips through the cord. He hands the scissors back to the nurse, beaming. “I did it, Rayn. I cut the cord and made him separate. He’s here. Right here. Look, I can touch him.” He very gently strokes Ashley’s head. Julia looks up at him and they share a beautiful look. It warms my heart.
After a few moments the nurse whisks Ashley away to weigh and measure him and when she brings him back, wrapped in a soft, fluffy blanket, she lays him in my arms. Shocked, I look down and a pair of sleepy blue eyes stare back. Jesus, I’m a father. I have a son. Daniel appears at my shoulder and I look up, stunned again by the expression on his face.
“Hey little baby,” he says. “I’m your Daddy Daniel and this is your Daddy Rayn. I’m going to be the fun one and Rayn will take care of us both. It can seem like he’s a bit preachy and cross sometimes but it’s only because he loves us and wants to teach us to take care of ourselves. Not that we’ll need to because he’ll always look after us and protect us and love us. You’ll love him too. He’s the best husband in the world and he’s going to be the best daddy in the world.
“Oh, and you have a great mother too. Her name is Julia and she’s going to be around for you…to do the mother kind of things. You’re such a lucky little boy.”
I stare in wonder at Daniel’s face and realise that yes, Ashley is a lucky little boy, and I’m a lucky man.
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Note: While authors are asked to place warnings on their stories for some moderated content, everyone has different thresholds, and it is your responsibility as a reader to avoid stories or stop reading if something bothers you.
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