Memories Forever

Chapter 5 - Miracle Baby

----16 years ago------

Emma and Martin Lordswick had been married for ten years and were expecting their first child, a treasured miracle baby. Emma began to feel what felt like contractions at home by 5 am that morning but did not give it much attention because the baby was not due for another one month.

Martin, her husband had still not come back from his office at the Lordswick Towers; a Financial Analyst saddled with end of year reports of his various clients and had been putting in a near 24 hour schedule to get all jobs completed before the Christmas holiday started. She had called him when the pains started but told him not to hurry back home until she confirmed it was labor pains. He had asked to speak with Ben, the head butler, leaving strict instructions to be informed immediately it became an emergency.

Emma laughed it off and busied herself at home with house chores. In the middle of her activities, the pains became more severe and her water broke in the middle of the living room.

Alarmed, she called out quickly to Ben, ‘Put a call to Mr. Martin quickly…the baby is coming’

Ben hurried out of the room, making the call and going to pick up the packed suitcase from her bedroom. He came back to where Emma was and led her to the waiting car; Gerald their driver had already pulled out of the garage and brought the car close to the front door.

Ben helped her get into the backseat of the car ‘Mr. Martin is on his way to the hospital ma’am’ he said, placing the hospital bag in the boot and getting into the passenger seat.

‘Good…’ Emma gasped out amidst another contraction and Gerald drove the car not too slowly to the hospital.

----Hours later-----

Emma Lordswick had just given birth at the hospital and was resting on her bed as her husband sat next to her, still caught up in the euphoria of the moment. He was beside himself with joy at the arrival of their baby. They had named her Karen after his late mum and Martin was very sure there was none other as priceless a treasure as their little girl.

He beamed widely at his wife as she slept, cuddling the blanket with a sweet smile on her lips. It had been an exhausting 14 hours labor, complications had necessitated an emergency C-section to deliver their angel, who decided to be born a month early. Karen was a beautiful one, healthy and full of life even though premature, she weighed 2kg and so will only be spending a week in the incubator to be monitored closely before they would be allowed to go home.

Emma stirred and opened her eyes, trying to sit up as she saw Martin. ‘Hey honey’. Martin got up from his chair and sat on her bed helping her place the pillows behind her back. …. ‘We did it’ she said faintly.

‘Yes we did dear’… Martin replied. ‘I love you.’ He said, as he kissed her softly on the temples and held her hands offering a prayer of thanks to God for blessing them with a child after they had waited ten long years.

Martin let out a long sigh of relief as he thought to himself. The last couple of years had been an anxious time as Emma watched her friends give birth to their own kids and family relatives invited them over for their kids naming ceremonies.

Now he was so glad she is with a child of her own to also share with friends and family. They both had waited, trusting God and confident that they would be parents eventually, despite the doctor’s report of his seeming infertility and a problem with Emma’s ovaries. They had undergone medical therapies and Emma’s surgeries were delicate but apparently successful.

There were some difficult moments in the past, but they were committed members of their church and would not let this situation distract them from living a content life in their home and career. Growing up, Martin had learnt from his father how to trust God for victories in any situation and he had taught Emma to hold on to God and His word that promised them …. ”He makes everything beautiful in His own time”

And what a beauty his baby was. Karen had come into the world and would be their greatest treasure.

‘I know you are going to pamper that girl with everything’ Emma said, smiling lovingly at Martin. He laughed, nodding profusely.

Emma thought to add ‘Ah..ha, but we have to ensure she grows up to be the best of the best and so we will teach her all she needs to know so that …..’

‘……when she grows up she won’t depart from it’ Martin completed her thoughts. ‘Yes dear, we will. She will have the whole clan at the Lordswick house helping us to make her grow to become a strong, independent and successful woman’

‘Amen’ Emma replied. At this stage, all we can do is pray and do our best to give baby Karen a comfortable life she thought. And what if some bad things happen to her along the way? A dark thought flashed. Then we will do our part as parents and leave God to do the rest, she countered silently.

All she was prepared to think about was good things, Karen will be a happy growing child who would be top of her class in every school stage and who will grow to maybe someday run their Finance business or head her own company. That is all parents can do really, wish and pray for the best in their children and help them attain their goals however they can.

God gave them this child for a reason and they were not about to be absentee parents. They would do whatever it was that good parents do. They have had years of practicing this with the children of relatives and children of Ben their head butler that they had taken in and brought up in their house and so this would not be new to them.

With this lingering thought, came peace and bliss as Emma turned to Martin who had wrapped his arms around her bringing her to a close embrace, content and happy that life at the Lordswick house just got brighter.

----A couple of years after-----

‘Claire would you please bring in the stroller, it is time for Karen’s bath’ Emma instructed the nanny.

‘Yes ma’am’ Claire said, going to do just that. Karen was now 2 years old and quite a handful. Loved to play around the garden in the backyard of their country home.

The Lordswicks were spending the Christmas vacation at their country villa and it had been a week long fiesta of sorts. Cousins visiting, family dinners and business proposals from family had taken up most of their week and the last few days they had left to spend here they wanted to do so without the usual flurry of events and house visitors.

Martin was in the living room with Karen as she played with her toys. Emma came over and carried Karen for her bath.

‘Let’s go give you a bath sweetie’, Emma said kissing her on her cheeks

‘No mummy. I play wiff Da-da’ Karen replied. Oh so cute  Emma thought, smiling at her daughter.

‘See you soon darling’ Martin cooed to his daughter as she made a face when her mum attempted to take her upstairs for her bath.

‘You two’ Emma rolled her eyes at him, laughing and going upstairs with Karen in her arms

‘Don’t be jealous honey, you know you are my first bae’ Martin said with a chuckle

‘Ha ha’  Emma’s voice echoed down the hall

Martin loved his two girls with all of his heart. Hmm, he pondered over Karen’s birth and how she had grown so much in two years. He loved being a daddy. It had been a time of learning and bonding for all of them. Even his household staff and relatives had been overjoyed at the arrival of the Lordswick Princess as they fondly called her and she was loved by all.

He wondered how he would feel when she was all grown up and coming over to tell him she had a fiancé. Martin snorted, No way he thought. His baby girl won’t be getting married any time soon…. no way.

He laughed at his selfish thoughts and was about to go check on his emails in his study, when he heard some noise coming from outside the house.

‘Knock knock…’ the voice at the door, bellowed and Martin walked over quickly to the door to dismiss any unwanted visitors before Emma heard them. She won’t be too happy to know another visitor was at the door. They just wanted a little family time to themselves this evening.

As he got to the door, Ben had already reached there and opened the door. Whoever it was must be family for Ben to do that. But Martin hoped it was family they could well do without tonight

That was not to be…