A Short Story Cut Short

Continued from here

"Have you lost someone?" was all he could think to ask. The man began to sob quietly. A long, painful moment passed before he answered.

"I told her I loved her every day, but I wish I could have told her one more time. I wish I could have said good bye."

"I'm so sorry," Andrew said softly. It felt like no time had passed since his mother's death. She had told him every day as he left for school that she loved him, and he had always answered that he loved her too. Then one day she was just gone and he never had the chance to say good bye. Even though years had passed, his loss still hurt deeply.

He sat with the man for a few more minutes. Then he told him, "My wife had a baby girl last night."

For the first time, the man looked at him. With sincerity in his eyes he said, "Congratulations."

A small group of people hurried up the hallway. Andrew could tell this was the man's family, so he wished him well and got up to leave. The man stood, shook Andrew's hand and said, his voice cracking, "Cherish every day."

"I will," Andrew answered. The children and grandchildren began to hug the man and in spite of the sadness Andrew felt, he also felt an overwhelming love that made him smile for a moment as he walked back to his wife's room.

"Good morning, Sunshine," Andrew sang to his wife. "How are you feeling?" Her tired eyes twinkled as she let a crooked smile overcome her face. That was all the answer Andrew needed. "We get to take the baby home in a few hours. I got your clean clothes from the car."

"Thanks," was all she managed, but Andrew knew she was sincere. Andrew and Marie had been married for five years before they discovered they would be adding to their family. Excitement filled the months as they prepared the spare bedroom of their new home for their long-awaited child. Andrew was fascinated with the miracle growing inside the woman who was the center of his whole life. Sometimes he would wake at night with a smile after he felt the gentle kick of his child from Marie's warm abdomen. She took care of him as well as she ever had, though it took more effort than it had before. When Andrew came home from work to find his wife, eight months pregnant, scrubbing the floor on hands and knees, he was filled with a deep appreciation and admiration for her love and determination.

"Here's the little sweetie!" The nurse's loud, cheerful voice startled Andrew. The robust woman wheeled in the tiny glass-protected parcel and gently lifted the infant to her mother's arms. Marie's eyes again filled with tears as she traced the delicate lines of her daughter's tiny face. Andrew watched Marie and the baby. In his mind, he could picture the child growing over the years, sitting across from him at the dinner table.

After the nurse left, Marie looked up at him and said, "Here, hold her." He carefully took the baby from his wife's arms. In wonder, he looked at her peaceful face. They had decided on a name for her, and as he thought of this name, Marie said to him as if reading his mind, "I think we should name her Sarah."

Confused, he looked at Marie. "Are you sure?"

She nodded and said with a grin, "It fits her."

He looked at his daughter and said, "After Mother." The baby sighed, which made Andrew smile. "Thank you, Marie." He sat on the edge of the bed and took her hand in his. "I love you," he said.

As they left the hospital, Andrew walked proudly as he carried his lightweight daughter in her infant carrier. A nurse wheeled Marie in a wheelchair. Andrew felt liberated as he left the hospital. He had always felt that that place had taken his mother away. Today he left the building with a new person to treasure always.

The afternoon sun reflected from Marie's face as they made their way outside. Andrew couldn't help looking at her. As they walked down the sidewalk, he didn't notice the crocus buds reaching up through the thin layer of snow.