The Surrogate

Cole's parents stayed for a week before heading home, they wanted to get back and put their home up for sale. They were excited to find a new home close to Cole and Christy and their grandbaby.

As the weeks flew by Gloria and Steven found a home just ten miles from where Cole and Christy lived. It was getting close to the wedding day and his parents came to stay with them until they were able to move into their new home. They were going to stay in a hotel but Christy insisted they stay with them.

Being a doctor he understood the changes in a woman's body and was prepared for the mood swings. But to his delight it wasn't at all what he expected, she was calm and very happy. But she did crave her sweets and God help him if he forgot to pick up the things she asked for. It helped to have his mother there who kept her company when he was busy with work.

Gloria, knowing that the couple couldn't go on a honeymoon wanted to throw a small party for them after the wedding. So she organized a small get-together with some of Cole's co-workers, and of course, Gina and Abe. She took care of everything, the catering and a cake, it wasn't going to be anything fancy, just simple.

On the day of the wedding, the others headed to the courthouse ahead of Christy and Cole.

He came into the bedroom to see if she needed help getting dressed. When he saw her sitting on the bed in her white dress his heart skipped a beat. She looked like an angel, so beautiful but she sat there with a sad look on her face, holding her shoes in her hands.

"Christy, you look so beautiful, I love the dress but why do you look so sad?"

She lifted her head up and looked at him with tears in her eyes. "I can't put my own shoes on because I'm so big."

He couldn't help but chuckle as he went over, took her shoes and kneeled down. "Baby, this happens to every pregnant woman. For your information you are not big, you're pregnant and beautiful."

"Maybe this was a mistake and we should have waited until after the baby was born."

He took her hands and helped her up. "This is not a mistake, it is what we both wanted and I don't want to wait to marry you. Sweetheart, we should get going, everyone is waiting for us. So my love, will you marry me today?"

Seeing the love in his eyes for her she felt her heart melting and knew that she also didn't want to wait. "Okay, let's get married."

He put his arms around her and gave her a big kiss, touching her belly.

After getting her in the car and making sure she was comfortable he went around to the driver's side and got in. The traffic that day was heavy and moving slowly.

"Come on, move it already," he said out loud.

"Cole, just relax."

"We're due to get married in thirty minutes, but the way the traffic is moving so slowly we might not make it. We should have left home sooner."

She looked at him crossly. "So are you blaming me for taking so long getting ready?"

"That's not what I'm saying."

"Sure sounds like it to me," she said crossing her arms over her chest and turned her head to look out the window.

He reached out and touched her. "Christy, if that's the way I came across I didn't mean it. This is not your fault, it's the bloody traffic. It's not usually this bad this time of day but there must be some construction or maybe an accident ahead. I'll get us there one way or another."

As it turned out there was a fender bender ahead which was slowing down the traffic. Unfortunately one lane was closed and the cars had to go around one at a time.

She was sitting in the passenger seat and all of a sudden she felt a cramp in her stomach.

He noticed when she let out a gasp and clutched her stomach. "Are you okay?" he asked with a worried look on his face.

Her face turned white as a ghost when she felt a pain in her stomach and could feel some wetness on the seat. "Oh my God, I think my water just broke and I'm going into labor."

"What?"

"Are you fucking deft? I said I'm going into labour. I thought you said I had another week to go and that there wasn't much of a chance to me going into labor early?"

He had never heard her swear before and it was a bit of a shock. "No one can predict something like that for sure. It's okay, I'm going to try and turn around and get you to the hospital."

"But we're supposed to get married."

"Sweetheart, I'm afraid we're just going to have to wait. Now just breathe the way we practiced in Lamar's class."

She was finding it hard to do her breathing exercises when she realized that the traffic was so backed up that he didn't have room or anywhere to turn around.

"Cole, I don't want to have our baby here on the road."

"Trust me," he said as he kept maneuvering his car in and out and finally found a side road that he was able to go down. "We're almost there."

"I didn't realize how much this was going to hurt. I changed my mind. I don't want to do this, turn around and take me home."

He chuckled. "I'm afraid it's too late, our son is coming."

When they got to the hospital he parked the car and helped her inside and called somebody over for assistance.

"They're going to take you in and get you ready."

She was sitting in the wheelchair and grabbed his hand. "Wait, aren't you coming with me?"

He squatted down in front of her. "I'll be with you in a few minutes. They're going to want to get you into a gown and while they're doing that I will call the others at the courthouse and let them know what's going on. I'm so sorry that we couldn't get married before the baby came."

"It's not your fault, our son just wants to be born now. Don't be too long," she said as they wheeled her away.

Right after he made the phone call he rushed into her room. "How much longer?" he asked the nurse who was attending to her.

"She's got a little time yet, I would guess maybe half an hour to 45 minutes."

He held Christy's hand. "Well, that gives us time to come up with a name since we haven't been able to agree on one yet."

"I'm not really in the mood to talk right now. Why does this have to hurt so much? Why can't he just come out right now? Why do I have to wait?"

"I know it's painful, but it will be worth it when we hold our baby in our arms. I called the others and they'll be here soon."

"I'm so disappointed that we weren't able to get married first."

He ran his hand over her hair and looked lovingly into her eyes. "I know you are and I'm so sorry I couldn't make it happen for you."

Just then the others showed up and entered the room. They all wanted to see her before she went into the delivery room.

Gloria and Gina went over to her and the men went and stood by the window.

"She's so disappointed that we didn't make it to the courthouse in time. I wanted it to happen for her since it meant so much."

Steven ran his finger over his chin and was deep and thought, he then pointed his finger up into the air. "Wait, doesn't this hospital have a small chapel?"

Cole nodded his head. "Yes, it does."

Steven smiled and placed his hand on Cole's shoulder. "Well my boy, then there must be a minister somewhere nearby."

"There is, he comes in all the time to visit patients. I'm sure he's here and if we can find him in time he could marry you and Christy," Abe spoke up.

A big smile crossed Cole's face. "That's a wonderful idea. I do have the marriage license and the rings in my pocket and all we have to do is find him." He went over to Christy and the others.

"It's getting closer," she said when he walked over to her.

"I, well Steven had a great idea so I have to leave you for a few minutes but I will be right back."

She grabbed his collar and pulled him closer to her so that they were almost touching faces. "You're not going anywhere mister."

"Sweetheart, there is a minister somewhere here in the hospital and if I can find him in time he can marry us before the baby's born."

She released him, giving him a light shove. "Then what are you waiting for? Go find him and bring him back now and don't take too long because this baby is coming very soon."

"I'll be back in a few minutes, I love you so much," he said, giving her a quick kiss before he and Abe took off.

Gloria and Gina looked at each other, they thought the whole idea was crazy. Even if they find the minister he may be busy and unable to perform a ceremony in time.

Christy chewed on some ice chips, she hoped that Cole would get back in time with the minister so that they could be married. But when another contraction hit she was beginning to worry.

"I'm sure that Cole and Abe will find him," Gina said as she glanced over at Gloria.

"What if he doesn't?"

Gloria place a cool cloth over Christy's forehead and tried to reassure her. "They are both doctors here in this hospital and I'm sure that all they have to do is page him over the intercom."

She let out a groan when another contraction hit and knew that time was running out. "There's no time, one of you better go get Cole to come back."

Meanwhile Cole and Abe asked the nurse at the nurse's station if they knew where the minister was and was told that he was visiting a patient in the West Wing.

They both hurried down the long hallway and went to the room that the nurse told them he would be in and walked inside the room.

The minister and the patient looked up when the two men barged in.

"Father, I really need your help and I need it now. I need you to come with me," Cole said, his words were shaky.

"What is the problem my son?"

"I need you to marry me. What I mean is I need you to marry me and my girlfriend who is just about to give birth to my son."

"Perhaps you should wait until after the baby's born to have a proper wedding."

"No no no, you don't understand. It's very important to my girl to be married before the baby is born which should be any minute now."

Father Murphy stood up. "I'm afraid there won't be enough time."

Cole went over and placed his hand on the ministers shoulder. "Please, I'm begging you. Come with me now."

Father Murphy looked over at the patient he was visiting. "Would you mind if I left for a little while?"

When the man in the hospital bed smiled and said to go right ahead and he wished Cole good luck.

The nurse was checking out Christy and informed her that the baby was coming now and that they had to get her into the delivery room.

"No, I'm sure Cole will get here soon."

"Sweetheart, I'm afraid it's time so let them take you to the delivery room and I will go find him and bring him back," Gloria said as she gave her a kiss on the cheek.

"Okay, but you better tell him to hurry up because if he's not here when this baby is born I'll kill him."

As she was being wheeled into the delivery room she couldn't stop the tears from falling down her cheek at the thought that Cole was not there with her. As the minutes ticked by she wasn't sure what was worse, the pain she was experiencing or the fact that the father of her baby was not at her side when she needed him the most.

"Okay Miss Grant, it won't be much longer," the doctor told her as he prepared to do the delivery.

Christy looked towards the door hoping that he would come flying in at any second. She was just about to give up hope when it did open and there he was with the minister following right behind him.

"What took you so long?" she snapped angrily at him.

A doctor who was doing the delivery shook his head. "I'm sorry but only the father is allowed in here."

"Doctor, the father is here to marry me and Christy, how much time do we have?"

"In just a few minutes so if you're going to do this then make it snappy, the baby is on its way."

Cole gave her a kiss on the lips and held her hand when the minister started performing the ceremony but was stopped midway.

"All due respect father, but we don't have time for the whole shebang. Can you just get right down to the most important part?"

The minister asked Cole if he took this woman to be his wife and then asked Christy if she took this man to be her husband. He had them place the wedding band on each other's fingers.

"I now pronounce you husband and wife, you may kiss the bride."

"We did it, we're married sweetheart. I love you so much," he said after giving her a sweet and tender kiss.

He had made the impossible happen and just in the nick of time as she squeezed his hand and let out a scream just as their son entered the world.

When the baby was placed in her arms they both stared at the infant with tears in their eyes.

"He's so beautiful, you did real good Mama," Cole said as he leaned over and kissed her on the lips.