It is amazing for me to go back and look at how Naomi came into the world and this series. My intention from the moment I realized Red would be pregnant, was to have her miscarry, or the baby would die shortly after birth. I really try to keep the issues my characters face as real as possible, and to put someone with the health issues Brittany faces through a pregnancy was far-fetched to say the least.
The problem, for me, came when I began to write the birth and I realized just how much of her parents Naomi had in her. I had to give her a fighting chance and I knew that Tommy and Red deserved this miracle. In order to keep somewhat realistic, I needed to make Naomi’s struggles severe. If she made it, it wouldn’t be easy, but I have learned that sometimes, with a lot of faith and love, miracles can happen.
The scene I chose to share is one of my favorites, but I have many in this volume. I have had a blast showing Mini Red’s personality and I really think it developed in the first real scene we had with her, when Tommy met her.
I would love to hear some of your favorite parts as well!
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Tommy walked to the NICU and saw Julie standing inside. Jack walked in and put his hand on her shoulder and she turned around and saw her brother. She walked out and hugged him tightly. “She has been waiting to meet her daddy.”
Tommy nodded, not able to form a word. Jack and Julie stood together. “We’ll wait right here. Take your time.” Jack said.
Tommy nodded and exhaled a big breath; he walked in slowly and approached the incubator. His heart almost stopped as he saw the most precious thing he had ever laid eyes on. The tubes and the wires disappeared and he looked at the life he and Brittany had created. She was beautiful and delicate and her face, even in its teeny form was the spitting image of his Red. She lay on her tummy, the tubes helping her breathe didn’t impede on her tiny nose and when he moved close to the incubator, she scrunched her face and made a squeak. He didn’t care that his tears were falling. He looked at the nurse who walked over and showed him how he could reach his hand in through the sterile glove and touch her. He looked at the nurse.
“Are you sure it’s okay?”
“We only allow the parents, and actually, it’s very beneficial. If your wife is up to it soon, we can try a kangaroo hold, skin on skin contact that can promote weight gain and maternal healing. She is a little fighter, just like Dr. Brittany.” The nurse said and gave him some privacy.
Tommy pulled up a chair and sat down, eye level with the incubator. He reached his hand in through the glove and his finger was almost the length of her arm. He gently touched her tiny fingers and she scrunched her face into what he could only describe as a smile. His heart swelled with love for her and he didn’t even know he had the capacity to love someone so completely. It was different from any other connection he felt. It was as if everything in the world was right because of this precious little being.
“Hi sweet girl. I’m your daddy. We haven’t officially met before, but I’m the strange voice you kept hearing. I know you’re probably confused because you were in a nice warm home where you were safe and protected and now you are here and things are scary and harsh, but you need to know something. You are loved and you are wanted more than anything in this world. Your mommy and I, we are so proud to be your parents and we love you to pieces. You are going to grow and get stronger and you are going to have the best life.” He wiped his eyes and she let out a teeny wail and he moved the little cloth she had covering her over a bit to conceal her little behind and she calmed down immediately.
Tommy let a sob escape his throat. “Just like your mom. You like your privacy and you should. Your daddy will never let anyone hurt you. My sweet baby Naomi. Daddy loves his baby girl.” He watched as she slept and he stepped back, looking at the nurse who also had tears in her eyes. “Thank you.”
She nodded and he turned and walked out to Jack and Julie. He saw John who stood with them. “There is a lot we need to talk about, but right now, protecting my daughter is all I care about,” Tommy said.
John nodded. “I will stay as long as you need.”
Tommy nodded and he walked back to see his wife with his family around him.
I just passed this part not too long ago, and I had tears, too. I was thrilled for Tommy & Brittany, so happy that their “Mini-Red” had come to join the family. I am so, so glad you kept that little firecracker alive. She is such a fighter, just like her mommy and daddy. I have, on more than one occasion found myself talking to the characters in the book as if I was there with them.
Some of my favorite scenes are with Bee and David, and any scene where Tramp is there, and the flashbacks, and the scenes where you can see how much they love each other and fight for each other, never letting the other give up, even when they feel so tired and that all their fight is gone.
What can I say? I love it all. 🙂
Thanks Sandy! I talk to them all the time… 🙂
The first kangaroo hold session between Red and Naomi. Precious.
I’m so glad you liked that. I did a lot of research on ways to help critically ill preemies and the Kangaroo touch came up as beneficial for both mom and baby. I also adored the image of Tommy sitting with his girls and all of them bonding in such a deeply personal way. 🙂