God has given Shelagh many blessings in her life. First, He had shown her the delights of dedicating one's life to Him. Then he had blessed her with the love of a man who had given her a family of her own.
One of the blessing He had not bestowed on her was the pleasure of having a baby of her own. At first this had caused her a lot of pain. She had wanted to have a daughter or son so badly. He or she would have been a personification of the love that she and Patrick share.
But then they had welcomed a beautiful baby girl into the family. Shelagh had loved her the moment she had laid eyes on the little baby. She had been so tiny, with big innocent eyes.
The inability to carry a baby inside of her had pained her less and less as she raised her darling Angela. The hole inside her chest had filled up with memories of first steps, first words and the smiles of her darling daughter.
But now another hole has been punched in Shelagh 's chest. All the pain she has not felt for two years comes rushing back. What she was told was impossible has happened.
Shelagh is pregnant.
Patrick is holding her hand and she is squeezing it very tightly.
Being a medical man, Patrick does not question the doctor's diagnoses. He had thought it an possibility himself– having watched his wife's symptoms – but had not dared to hope. He had not told Shelagh of his suspicions, not wanting to give her false hope and had instead taken her to a fellow doctor.
And now that doctor has confirmed what Patrick had dared to hope. He and Shelagh are expecting their first child.
"Are you sure? I can't be pregnant." Shelagh still can't believe it. She doesn't dare hope again for something that is impossible.
"Yes. I'm sure. I heard the baby's heartbeat," the doctor assures Shelagh, a smile on his face. "Your husband can attest that sometimes women do get pregnant when earlier tests had indicated that they can't. You, Mrs. Turner appear to be one of them."
Shelagh eyes are filling with tears and when she turns her head to look at her husband she can see that he is in the same state as her.
Deliriously happy.
