Life's Miracle
by Linda Schwartz

Caine watched as Laura laid their infant son into the crib. His little body squirmed; he yawned as sleep claimed him.

"Oh, Kwai, isn't he beautiful," she whispered. Caine walked up behind his wife and put his arms around her.

"Yes, very beautiful." He kissed Laura on the forehead. "You must rest, my wife." He guided her back to their bedroom and made sure she was comfortable, then laid down next to her. He drifted to sleep.

He dreamed about the moments that had culminated in the joyous occasion of only a few days ago. He marveled at how he could sense the chi of the new life growing inside Laura. He knew even before she told him that she was pregnant.

He remembered he was in the garden when....."Kwai, ah, our baby is coming. MMMM" Caine had gently guided Laura back inside the house and laid her on the bed. He had placed an extra pillow behind her head.

"No, Caine, don't leave," Laura screamed as he began to walk from their room.

"I am not leaving, my love. I want to get Melissa."

At the beginning of her pregnancy, Laura and Kwai had decided to use a midwife. Ping Hai, from the temple recommended a midwife, Melissa Cooper. She had come to the temple many times. She had the healing art and wanted to learn about the different herbs. Sometimes she would come to help the wives of the married monks, to deliver their babies. Laura liked Melissa from the moment they met. She was warm, understanding and she cared deeply for her patients and the babies she helped bring into the world.

Caine spotted a neighbor outside the house. "Nancy, please get Melissa, the baby is coming."

Nancy was the Caine's next door neighbor and had become Laura's friend. She waved to Caine, then ran the two blocks to Melissa's home.

Caine returned to his wife's side. "Laura, Nancy has gone to fetch Melissa. How are the pains?"

"Uhhh, mmmm, they are coming steady now." Caine took Laura's hand and placed his other hand on her belly. Concentrating on easing her pain.

"Laura had lifted her legs, she felt she needed to push. Kwai had moved between her legs, ready to deliver his son himself.

"Hi guys, I see you're ready to start without me." Melissa quickly washed her hands and took Caine's place.

"Caine, I want you to wash up, you've got your child to help bring into this world." Melissa took some towels and placed them beneath Laura and positioned the dress Laura wore so it was out of the way.

"Melissa, your going to let Caine deliver the baby?" Nancy asked, standing at Laura's side. She wanted to be with her friend now.

"Yes, this baby and his father have been bonded since his heart took it's first beat. I think it is only fitting that his father is the first face he sees."

"Caine!," Laura cried out.

"Right here, Laura." he took her hand.

"Go help our son," she squeezed his hand.

Caine knelt beside Melissa; they could see the baby's head start to crown. Melissa had her hand on top of Laura's abdomen; she brought Caine's hand just under the baby's head.

"Okay, Laura, another push. The head's almost out." The baby's shoulders were finally coming out and Caine had positioned his hands to cradle the child's neck, he guided the baby out.

Finally he slid into his father's arms. He carefully held his son in his arms. Both he and Laura held their breaths for a fraction of a second until. "WAHHHHHHHHHHHHH" they heard the sweetest sound they'd ever heard, their baby's first cry. Melissa cut the umbilical cord took the baby from Caine so she could clean him up.

"Here he is, here is your new son." He gave the baby back to Caine. He carefully walked back to Laura's side and gently placed him in her arms.

"Oh Kwai, just look at him." she gazed at his face, felt his soft skin. and counted his fingers and toes. Caine had come to sit on the bed with his wife and child. He kissed Laura on the top of her head and then caressed his son's cheek with his fingers.

"He is so beautiful, I am happy beyond words." he gently held his wife against him.

"So did you two decide on a name?" Nancy asked as she came for a closer look at this new addition to the family.

"Yes, his name is Peter Matthew Caine." Laura proudly said.

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Caine was roused from his slumper, a noise at first unfamiliar, then a smile came to his lips as he recognized the new sound. Peter had awakened.

"Caine?" Laura asked, she was still groggy from sleep.

"It is all right Laura, I will check on Peter. Go back to sleep my love." He kissed her on the cheek and went to check on Peter.

He had begun to cry. Caine gently picked him up and nestled him in his arms. He changed him, then took a bottle of breast milk Laura had placed in the fridge and warmed it. All the while he crooned softly to his son, quieting his cries. He sat in the rocker which was in a corner of the room.

He fed his infant son, watching him intently as he ate. Caine placed his finger into Peter's little palm, and his son instinctively clutched it; his bright, alert eyes studying him. He ran his finger around his son's face, feeling each soft feature, memorizing every detail. He kissed his son and rocked him. Peter fell asleep once again in his father's arms.