All Chapters of Decisions I made : Chapter 221 - Chapter 230

252 Chapters

She Arrived

By the time they got Lela to the hospital, there was no question that something was happening. The contractions had become stronger and closer together during the drive, and by the time the nurses got her into a room, Lela was exhausted. She was pale, sweaty, and barely had enough energy to answer the questions being thrown at her. Jack stayed beside her the entire time, holding her hand and trying desperately to keep his own fear from showing.The doctors decided that Lela was progressing quickly and that they needed to move things along. Her water was broken, and almost immediately, Lela knew something wasn't right. The pain intensified so quickly that she couldn't catch her breath between contractions."I can't do this," she cried."You can," Jack told her, even though his voice shook. "I'm right here.""I can't.""I'm here."She gripped his hand."I hurt so bad."The epidural was administered, but it seemed to come far too early in the process and did not give Lela the relief ever

The News

Lela had barely had enough time to process becoming a mother before the hospital room began filling with people. Her parents had driven all day to make it to Georgia, refusing to let distance keep them from meeting their granddaughter. They arrived exhausted, but the moment Lela's mother walked through the door and saw the tiny baby sleeping in Lela's arms, the exhaustion disappeared.Her father stood behind her, staring at Lillian with an expression Lela had never seen before."That's my granddaughter," he whispered.Lela smiled."Come meet her, Daddy."He walked over slowly, almost as though he were afraid the moment would disappear if he moved too quickly. He leaned down and kissed Lillian's forehead."Hi, sweetheart."Lela watched her father's eyes fill with tears."She's beautiful.""She looks just like me," Lela said proudly.Her father laughed."She absolutely does."For a while, the room was filled with laughter, photographs, and whispered conversations. Everyone wanted to hol

This Needs to Happen

Jack waited until Lela had calmed down enough to breathe normally before he reached for his phone. He didn't want to make the call in front of her, but there was no way around it. If there was even the slightest chance of keeping him home, he was going to fight for it.He stepped toward the window and dialed his first sergeant.The call was answered quickly."First Sergeant speaking.""First Sergeant, it's Jack."There was a brief pause."Congratulations, Sergeant. I just got word. How's Mom and baby?"Jack looked back at Lela."Both are okay.""Good. I'm actually on my way to the hospital."Jack frowned."You're coming here?""Of course. I'm coming to welcome the newest member of the family."Jack smiled despite everything."Thank you.""I'll talk to you and Lela when I get there."Jack lowered his voice."First Sergeant, sir...""I know.""You know?""I know about the deployment."Jack closed his eyes."Sir, I just had my daughter.""I know.""My wife needs me.""I know."There was

A Family Around Her

By the time Lela's parents finally arrived at the hospital, the afternoon had already begun to fade into evening. They had driven for hours without stopping for much more than gas and coffee, and the exhaustion showed on both of them. But neither had cared about being tired. Their daughter had just given birth, and then, almost immediately, they had learned that Jack might be leaving on deployment. There was no way they were going to stay home and wait for updates over the phone.Lela's mother was the first through the door.She took one look at her daughter and knew.Lela was sitting in bed with Lillian sleeping beside her, but she wasn't smiling anymore. Her eyes were red from crying, and she had that distant look her mother had known since she was a little girl—the look that meant she was trying desperately to hold herself together."Oh, sweetheart."Her mother's voice was all it took.Lela's face crumpled."Momma."Her mother hurried to the bedside and wrapped her arms around her

Two Days

The happiness of bringing Lillian home lasted only a short time before reality began creeping back into the room.For the first two days, Lela tried not to think about it. She wanted to enjoy every second of having her daughter home. She wanted to wake up in the middle of the night and hear Lillian making those tiny newborn noises. She wanted to watch Jack stumble out of bed, still half asleep, and immediately check on the baby before he even remembered what day it was. She wanted to watch him learn how to change diapers, warm bottles, fold tiny blankets, and hold his daughter against his chest while walking around the living room.But there was a clock hanging over all of it.Jack was leaving.Two days after they brought Lillian home.The first night home, Lela barely slept. She would wake every time Lillian made a sound, check that she was breathing, adjust the blanket, and then stare across the room at Jack sleeping beside her. She knew he needed the rest, but she couldn't stop loo

Forty-Eight Hours

The next morning arrived far too quickly.Lela knew it would, but that didn't make it any easier. She woke before the sun came up, as she had been doing since Lillian was born, and for a few seconds she forgot everything. She heard the faint sounds of the baby stirring in the bassinet and felt Jack's arm resting across her waist.Then she remembered.Two days.She turned her head and looked at him.Jack was still asleep.Lela carefully slipped out of bed and walked over to the bassinet. Lillian was awake, her tiny eyes blinking as she looked around the room."Good morning, baby girl."Lela picked her up and held her against her chest."You know Daddy is leaving soon, right?"Lillian made a tiny sound."I don't think you understand."Lela smiled sadly."That's probably a good thing."She carried her into the nursery and sat in the rocking chair.For several minutes, she simply held her.Then she started crying."I don't want him to go."A voice came from the doorway."I don't want to g

The Morning He Left

Morning came before either of them were ready.Lela woke to Jack's alarm and immediately knew what day it was. For a moment she kept her eyes closed, pretending she hadn't heard it. She wanted to freeze time. She wanted the clock to stop. She wanted to stay underneath the blankets with Jack's arm around her and pretend that the outside world didn't exist.But the alarm continued.Jack reached over and turned it off.Neither of them spoke.Lela finally opened her eyes.Jack was staring at the ceiling."Morning," he whispered.Lela swallowed."Morning."He turned toward her.Neither of them smiled.Today was the day.Jack sat up slowly and rubbed his face."I don't want to get up.""Me neither."He looked at the clock."We don't have much time."Lela immediately felt the tears coming."I know."Jack leaned over and kissed her."I love you.""I love you too."He got dressed quietly.Lela watched him put on his uniform.She had seen him do it countless times before, but that morning every

Let Them Help

The first few days without Jack were harder than Lela wanted anyone to know.She tried to keep herself busy. She tried to follow the routine everyone had created around her. Feed Lillian. Change her. Sleep when she could. Eat something. Take care of herself. Repeat.But every time she looked toward the front door, some part of her expected Jack to walk through it.Her parents noticed.They noticed everything.Her mother especially seemed to have developed a sixth sense for the exact moment Lela was about to push herself too far."Lela, sit down.""I'm fine.""Sit.""I'm just going to—""Sit."Lela sighed and lowered herself onto the couch.Her mother smiled."Good.""I'm not helpless.""I never said you were.""You act like I am.""No. I act like you just had a baby and your body needs time to recover."Lela looked down at herself."I feel fine."Her mother raised an eyebrow."You cried because the refrigerator was empty.""That was because there wasn't anything to eat.""You cried be

The Can of Worms

The next afternoon was supposed to be simple.At least, that was what Lela thought when her father announced that everyone was going shopping.She was sitting in the living room with Lily sleeping against her chest when Paul walked in with his car keys."We're going to Gymboree."Lela looked up."Why?""Because Lily needs clothes."Lela glanced down at the baby."She has clothes."Paul shook his head."She needs more.""Dad, she's barely been home a week.""Exactly."Victoria laughed from the other side of the room."Don't argue with him. You won't win."Lela sighed."I know."Gymboree was a disaster almost immediately.Paul walked into the store like a man on a mission.Lela followed behind him, already nervous."Dad.""What?""Please don't buy everything.""I'm not."She smiled."Thank you.""I'm buying what she needs."Lela should have known better.Ten minutes later, Paul had an armful of tiny dresses, shirts, sweaters, pants, pajamas, socks, shoes, and outfits so small that Lela

He's Coming Home

Lela woke the next morning to her phone ringing.For a few seconds, she stared at the screen without answering. It was still early, and the house was quiet. Lily was asleep in her bassinet, her mother was sleeping in the guest room, and Victoria had fallen asleep on the couch after insisting she was "just resting her eyes."The name on the screen made Lela's heart stop.Jack.She answered immediately."Jack?""Hey, baby."Something about his voice was different.Lela sat up."What's wrong?""Nothing's wrong.""Then why do you sound like that?"There was a pause.Then Jack laughed."I'm coming home."Lela froze."What?""I'm coming home."She couldn't speak.Jack laughed again."Lela?""You're coming home?""Yes."She covered her mouth."When?""Today."Tears immediately streamed down her face."Today?""Today."Lela looked toward the bassinet.Lily was still asleep.She whispered,"Oh my God."Jack chuckled."That's what I said.""What happened?""I don't know everything yet.""Jack."

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