Chapter 49

Annie took a bite of her salad, "I was thinking about taking Adam to the park tomorrow. Can you close the bakery and go with us?"

Michael thought for a minute then grinned. "Yeah, I think I can pull that off. I don't have any projects on my plate, and it's a weekend so there won't be no after school rush. I'm still surprised about how much those middle schoolers love bagels."

Annie nods, "I'm surprised they don’t get any coffee. The morning I worked, they were so many, but none of them got coffee."

Michael shrugged as he wiped a bit of drool from Adam's chin. "Don't worry son, You'll get your dinner tonight, okay?"

Annie looks at him, starting to fuss, "Oh no. Come here Baby." She got up and unstrapped him out of his car seat. "Shh. Baby. Its okay."

Michael smiled. "Little man tired?"

"And hungry. There should be a bottle of milk in the bag. Can you look and see? I'll give him some." Annie said as she sits back down

Michael reached under the table and pulled out a small bottle of milk. As he looked up, an old couple was standing next to Annie.

"Oh, Edgar, look at him! Isn't he just the cutest thing!" the old lady said, gazing at Adam. "Awww...those cute little cheeks!"

Edgar nodded his grey head, grinning. "Yeah, he's a big man, huh? How old is he?"

Annie looked up and smiled, "Three months."

The old lady's eyes widened. "Three months?! Amazing! If you don't mind my saying dear, your figure looks amazing."

Annie blushed, "Thank you, but my husband gave birth to him."

The old woman's smile immediately dropped from her face. "Oh. You're one of those males." She said coldly, looking at Michael.

Michael nodded, looking non plussed as he handed Annie the bottle. "Yep. I'm a bearer male and I was the one who gave birth to our son."

The man's brow furrowed. "And I suppose this child..."

Michael nodded proudly. "My son, Adam, is a bearer male, and he will make the decision as to whether or not he is going to give birth. We are raising him to be proud of who he is and what he has."

The man's brow furrowed. "Let's go, Edna. We really don't want to be seen with one of those kind. You remember what Paula said at the rally last week. We shouldn't associate."

Edna nodded crisply as she turned her back to the table and strode off with the old man out the restraunt.

Annie looked at them as they walked away as Adam started crying, "Oh Baby, I'm sorry. You got our attention now. Michael, stop staring at them. The milk is slightly warm." As she stuck the bottle in his mouth

Michael laughed as he watched Annie feed Adam. "Too funny, huh?"

Annie nods, "Yeah, but there's nothing we can do. If they only knew the truth, I doubt people would judge."

Michael shook his head. "Some people are set in their ways. Ignorance to them is bliss, I remember--" Michael’s words were cut off with the shrill sound of a ringing cell phone from under the table. "I'll grab it?"

Annie nods, as she looked down at Adam

Michael pulled out the cell phone and flipped it open. "Hello? Oh hey Amy. What? WHAT?!? Oh you're kidding me! Well, I'm not the doctor, but if that's what he wants to do, then who's to stop him? Huh? Oh hang on, she's feeding Adam." Michael set the phone down on the table. "Annie, you might wanna take that. I can feed Adam the rest of the way."

Annie took the phone as she tried to hold the bottle, "Hey Ames. He is. Well, that’s ok. How far apart are they? Water break yet? What color? Good. Just tell him to stay where he is. The most important thing is to keep him comfortable...." She said into the phone as Adam started to cry

"Well, so much for dinner and a movie." Michael said, gently scooping up Adam and patting his back. "Sorry little man."

Annie got up, "Okay. We'll be there soon. No I don’t think the baby is going to come before we get there."

Michael raised a finger in the air. "Excuse me, can we please get the check?"

The young waiter stopped by the table. "Ah. Your check was picked up by the family in the small booth over there." he gestured to a table where a familiar blond haired girl was waving happily.

Annie looked at them and smiled as she buckled a crying Adam in his carrier

"They asked that I give you this note." The waiter continued, handing Michael a small hand written note. "Have a good evening."

Annie picked up the diaper bag, "Whats it say?"

"Dear Annie, Michael and Adam: We saw what happened with that old couple. Good job. Enjoy a meal on us. Love Mark, Sarah, Amanda and Paul".

Annie smiles mouthing "Thank you." to the couple


Michael looked back at Adam in the back seat and grinned. "Sound asleep. He's such a good kid."

Annie smiles, "Until he's so hungry, he fights me with the bottle, then I have to get you."

Michael grinned. "Sometimes the breast is best. Tell you one thing; I'm glad today has finally arrived with Brad and Amy."

Annie smiles, "Me too. I feel prilvedge that they want me to deliver their baby."

"Can’t imagine anyone else," Michael said grinning. "You're the best around."

Annie smiles taking his hand, "Thank you Baby. I just hope their dog don’t lick all over Adam."

"Heh. He doesn't mean any harm. Sammy is as nice as they come."

"I know," Annie pulled into the driveway, "Okay. I'm going upstairs and get some things I'll need. Then I'll get some stuff for Adam, like the travel crib, some more toys and diapers. And his PJ's. Do you need anything?"

"Yes--a U-Haul truck to carry all that stuff." Michael said laughing. "Annie, a lot of that stuff I don't think we need. Brad could be crowning, you know..."

"We have ten diapers, a change of clothes, everything in the bag."

"And we don’t know how he is. We might have to stay the night. What if you need to pump milk out and fix a bottle?" She looks at him giving her a look. "I'm being insane I know."

Michael laughed. "Annie...trust me, well be fine."

Annie nods kissing him and then getting out of the car, shutting the car door gently.


"I really should look to getting my license again." Michael said as they pulled off.

"I think that’s a good idea."

I mean, we have that bread truck around back, but only you and Brad can drive it..." Michael lamented.

"I feel so short in that thing too. And after Brad drives, I have to adjust the seat. I think you should get your license again."

Michael nodded. "I've just been so busy with a lot of things..."

Annie nods, "It’s okay. When you feel ready to go, just go and take it." Annie pulls into the driveway, "I'll help you anyway I can Baby."

Michael smiled as he picked up Andy's car seat and followed Annie towards the door where a muffled yell could be heard. "Ten bucks says he's crowning."

"You're on." Annie said as she knocked on the door and walked in the house, "Brad, Amy it’s us."

Brad gave another loud scream from the back bedroom, his wails echoing down the hall.

"I'll go. You stay here with Adam so he don’t wake up." Annie said as she quickly snapped on gloves.

Michael nodded as he gently set down the carrier on the couch. "Remember, no pushing the head back in to cheat!" he whispered behind her.

Annie laughs as she walked into the bedroom, seeing Brad lying on his side in bed naked, "Hey Guys."

Brad panted, his body shiny with sweat, his belly distended. "Oh...thank Gosh you're here...I was about to...Ungh...start without ya..."

Annie looked in between his legs as the black hair head crowning, "Well, I just lost ten bucks. Okay, Brad push."

Brad rolled over on his back and strained down, groaning as he felt his perineum stretch around the head.

Amy held her husband's knee back, "You doing great, Sweetheart."

"Come on, Brad. You can do it." Annie said as she grabbed a towel

Brad confined straining down as his perineum continued to part. "I can't do it!" He groaned, falling back on the bed. "It burns!"

"Oh Baby, yes you can. We have been waiting for this moment for so long. You can do this. I'm right here to help you." Said Amy encouragely

Brad groaned as he lifted himself back up and strained again, bearing sown with everything inside him, finally giving a loud yell as the Childs head emerged.

Annie smiles, "Good. You got the head out. Rest until you feel another contraction and then give me a big push."

Brad sobbed and panted as he felt the warm, sticky scalp of his child. "So...warm..." he sobbed.

Amy smiles as she felt the baby's head, "I love you so much."

Brad continued sobbing as he continued touching the top of the head. "Come on...let's finish it up..."
Amy grabbed his hand, "Come on Baby, give a huge push now."

Brad bore down, stifling a loud scream as he felt the shoulders slowly stretch his perineum wide.

Annie grabbed another towel, "One more big push, Brad. You can do it."

Brad continued pushing, arching his back a he felt more of the child enter the world. With one final, rattling scream, he flopped back against the bed as the last of the newborn gushed into the world, the remaining birth fluids gushing out of his weary body.

Annie held up the baby, "Its a girl." She then put the newborn baby on his chest

Brad looked down at the wailing baby girl in his arms. "Hello, beautiful. Hello my beautiful angel...you are just so cute...look at you...making daddy scream like that...I love you so much..."

Amy looked on with tears flowing down her eyes, "Oh my God, she is so beautiful."

Brad sniffled. "Yeah...just like her mom.."

Annie smiles as she massaged his belly and pulled gently on the cord, "Push and you can rest."
Brad moaned as he put his chin to his chest and bared down.

"Good. Keep it up." Annie said as she tugged on the cord and pressed on his belly.

Brad pushed and moaned as he felt the placenta exit his body.

"Great. It looks healthy. I'm going to let you rest and I'm going to tell the big news to Michael." Annie said as she wrapped the expelled placenta into a towel and laying it aside before taking off her latex gloves.

Annie walked into the living room seeing her son laughing and kicking his feet at something funny, "Its a girl." she said proudly as she joined them on the couch.

"Thats great. Hey, whats wrong?" asked Michael noticing the tears in his wife's eyes.

"Nothing. Just its unbelieveible that we both the have families we dreamed of." Annie said as she wipped her eyes.

"Forever." said Michael gently taking her hand in his.

"And always." Annie said smiling as her lips met his and they kissed.

The End