Once again we were sitting in the pale white room waiting on Dr. Andrews and the results of Jamie's blood tests. This visit wasn't as nervous as the last, but still we had to wonder if there was something wrong.
As the door began to creak, Jamie and I gave it our full attention. Dr. Andrews walked in and greeted us as she always had. She sat down in her chair and asked us how we've been doing.
"Well, busy but not too busy. We found a house, so we've been slowly decorating. But nothing out of the ordinary." Jamie modestly said.
I nodded. Dr. Andrews smiled and congratulated us on our house. She looked back at her desk and opened Jamie's file.
"So I guess your wondering the results of your blood tests." Dr. Andrews started. Jamie and I both nodded at the same time.
"Well, all the tests came back, however we found something. Just a little something," Dr. Andrews stopped.
Jamie's body almost went into shock as she grabbed for my hand.
"What kind of something? What is it?"
"Nothing that won't go away in eight months. Congratulations. The two of you are going to have a baby," Dr. Andrews casually said.
My heart had stopped in my chest as Jamie put her hand over her mouth.
"You mean...I'm...pregnant," Jamie asked unsurely.
"Yes. Your pregnant Jamie. Due date...let's see...March 10th. A spring baby. That should be a great time to welcome a baby," Dr. Andrews responded.
Jamie began to cry, so I took her in my arms and held her close to me.
"Landon...we're going to have a family. I'm going to be a mother. I love you so much. Landon, I love you."
"I love you too, Jamie. You are going to be a great mother."
Dr. Andrews interrupted, "Jamie, Landon. Now we need to start making appointments for your monthly check-ups and ultrasound. If you need to check your schedules first, you can give me a call. Here are some things on what to expect in the up-coming month or two. By then you should come back in to see me. Any questions?"
We both shook our heads 'no.'
"Okay, then, your on your way. Congratulations to you both," she finished and left.
When we stood up, Jamie touched her stomach gently. She looked up at me.
"I can't believe there is something growing inside of me. Our baby," I walked over to Jamie and put my hand over hers. She nestled into my arms and whispered, "Now we have to tell our families."
I hadn't really thought that far. We'd only been married for three months and Jamie was supposed to be recovering and taking it easy during the first stage of remission. But still, with all the things we needed to worry about, we just kinda pushed aside. The baby was our main priority.
On the drive home, Jamie was talking about the nursery and baby names, but I couldn't hear any of it. I was more concerned with how our families would take the news. I knew that my mom would be excited, but what about my father? What about Jamie's father? Just as I was starting to imagine all the terrible things that might happen, Jamie screamed, "LANDON! Look OUT!"
I had swerved into the other lane. I quickly corrected and apologized profusely.
"Landon, it's okay. I'm nervous about this too," she said, smiling.
I thought to myself 'how did she know?' But that was the thing about Jamie. She always knew what I was thinking. Sometimes I wondered if she was psychic.
We got to our house, and as we walked in, it had a different feeling. In eight months, the house that Jamie and I shared, would be a home to Jamie, the baby and me. It seemed unreal that this morning we left unaware, and this afternoon we come home and there was a baby. It's strange how quickly your life can change.
No matter how great our baby news was, it couldn't have come at a worse time. Jamie and I were both very busy at our jobs. Mel's was wrapping up the last of the summertime visitors, which meant that stock and inventory needed to be done badly and Jamie was getting ready for the school year to begin so she could start her new church school program. Time seemed like it got away from us forever because by the time we actually started to slow down, Jamie was in her third month. It was the end of September and her first ultrasound was right around the corner, when we both realized that we hadn't even mentioned Jamie's pregnancy to anyone.
Jamie had come up with the idea that we would have them all over for supper and tell them the good news. Jamie always wanted to have a fancy dinner party in our new home so what better time than this. We had both called our parents and made sure they were all available to come over on the night we had planned. My father, the hardest one to rely on, was actually the first one to tell us he and his wife could come. I hadn't seen my father since our wedding, where he stood as the best man, but I was still glad he was coming. Even though he wasn't the best dad to me, I still wanted him to be the best grandfather to our child.
The night of our dinner approached and being that I was so nervous, Jamie made me leave the kitchen. She wanted everything to turn our perfect and my nervousness was throwing off her concentration. I walked into the hallway and sat down on the bench. I looked up at a picture of Jamie and I on our wedding day. Jamie looked incredible that day. Every picture that was sitting on the bookcase had Jamie's radiant smile in it. I loved the way she smiled. She always made it a point to smile with her whole heart, and it showed.
I continued to sit there, waiting for Jamie to ask me for help, but she never said a word. So I continued to look at the pictures and twist my wedding band, which I had begun to do a lot more since we found out about the baby. Just as I started to clench my hands together, Jamie screamed my name. I ran into the kitchen immediately.
"Jamie, what's the matter? What happened?"
"Landon, I felt the baby. It moved. Here, put your hand here." I touched her belly but I didn't feel anything. She was smiling from ear to ear, "Did you feel anything?"
I couldn't stand to say no to her, so I told her I felt a little something but not much. She seemed satisfied and just as I turned from her, the doorbell rang. It was my mother and Reverend Sullivan.
"Hi, baby," my mother said as she hugged me and walked in the door.
"Hello, Landon. How's Mel treating you?" the reverend asked.
"Oh, just great. He told me I have great potential to be manager."
"Well, congratulations Landon, that's great news," the reverend stated.
Just as I closed the door, Jamie came out of the kitchen with her apron still on.
"Hi daddy! How are you?" Jamie exclaimed as she hugged her father.
"Just fine, Jamie. Just fine. How has my little girl been doing?" the reverend asked.
"Busy. The kids miss you during the day. But other than that, nothing has changed much," Jamie modestly said. Reverend Sullivan had been working down at the Children's Hospital in Albert County, so most of his days were spent away from the church.
"We're just waiting on Landon's father and we should be ready for dinner," Jamie said, walking back into the kitchen.
"Let me give you a hand, honey," my mother said, following Jamie.
The Reverend and I were still standing in the hallway. He walked over to the bookcase and admired the pictures that were on it. His eyes slowly moved over all the pictures and ended on the large picture that hung on the wall.
"Jamie couldn't have been happier that day, Landon. You were always her miracle. She told me everyday. And honestly, I didn't want to believe her, but she proved me wrong. I really hope that someday you can find it in your heart to forgive me," the reverend said while looking at the floor. I could tell that took a lot to say that, even though he was a man of the Lord, he wasn't invincible.
"I never thought wrong of you at all. I'm sure that more people in this town thought I was nothing more than a trouble-maker. You had all the right to think that way. You were trying to protect Jamie. I understand that," I reassuringly said.
As the door began to creak, Jamie and I gave it our full attention. Dr. Andrews walked in and greeted us as she always had. She sat down in her chair and asked us how we've been doing.
"Well, busy but not too busy. We found a house, so we've been slowly decorating. But nothing out of the ordinary." Jamie modestly said.
I nodded. Dr. Andrews smiled and congratulated us on our house. She looked back at her desk and opened Jamie's file.
"So I guess your wondering the results of your blood tests." Dr. Andrews started. Jamie and I both nodded at the same time.
"Well, all the tests came back, however we found something. Just a little something," Dr. Andrews stopped.
Jamie's body almost went into shock as she grabbed for my hand.
"What kind of something? What is it?"
"Nothing that won't go away in eight months. Congratulations. The two of you are going to have a baby," Dr. Andrews casually said.
My heart had stopped in my chest as Jamie put her hand over her mouth.
"You mean...I'm...pregnant," Jamie asked unsurely.
"Yes. Your pregnant Jamie. Due date...let's see...March 10th. A spring baby. That should be a great time to welcome a baby," Dr. Andrews responded.
Jamie began to cry, so I took her in my arms and held her close to me.
"Landon...we're going to have a family. I'm going to be a mother. I love you so much. Landon, I love you."
"I love you too, Jamie. You are going to be a great mother."
Dr. Andrews interrupted, "Jamie, Landon. Now we need to start making appointments for your monthly check-ups and ultrasound. If you need to check your schedules first, you can give me a call. Here are some things on what to expect in the up-coming month or two. By then you should come back in to see me. Any questions?"
We both shook our heads 'no.'
"Okay, then, your on your way. Congratulations to you both," she finished and left.
When we stood up, Jamie touched her stomach gently. She looked up at me.
"I can't believe there is something growing inside of me. Our baby," I walked over to Jamie and put my hand over hers. She nestled into my arms and whispered, "Now we have to tell our families."
I hadn't really thought that far. We'd only been married for three months and Jamie was supposed to be recovering and taking it easy during the first stage of remission. But still, with all the things we needed to worry about, we just kinda pushed aside. The baby was our main priority.
On the drive home, Jamie was talking about the nursery and baby names, but I couldn't hear any of it. I was more concerned with how our families would take the news. I knew that my mom would be excited, but what about my father? What about Jamie's father? Just as I was starting to imagine all the terrible things that might happen, Jamie screamed, "LANDON! Look OUT!"
I had swerved into the other lane. I quickly corrected and apologized profusely.
"Landon, it's okay. I'm nervous about this too," she said, smiling.
I thought to myself 'how did she know?' But that was the thing about Jamie. She always knew what I was thinking. Sometimes I wondered if she was psychic.
We got to our house, and as we walked in, it had a different feeling. In eight months, the house that Jamie and I shared, would be a home to Jamie, the baby and me. It seemed unreal that this morning we left unaware, and this afternoon we come home and there was a baby. It's strange how quickly your life can change.
No matter how great our baby news was, it couldn't have come at a worse time. Jamie and I were both very busy at our jobs. Mel's was wrapping up the last of the summertime visitors, which meant that stock and inventory needed to be done badly and Jamie was getting ready for the school year to begin so she could start her new church school program. Time seemed like it got away from us forever because by the time we actually started to slow down, Jamie was in her third month. It was the end of September and her first ultrasound was right around the corner, when we both realized that we hadn't even mentioned Jamie's pregnancy to anyone.
Jamie had come up with the idea that we would have them all over for supper and tell them the good news. Jamie always wanted to have a fancy dinner party in our new home so what better time than this. We had both called our parents and made sure they were all available to come over on the night we had planned. My father, the hardest one to rely on, was actually the first one to tell us he and his wife could come. I hadn't seen my father since our wedding, where he stood as the best man, but I was still glad he was coming. Even though he wasn't the best dad to me, I still wanted him to be the best grandfather to our child.
The night of our dinner approached and being that I was so nervous, Jamie made me leave the kitchen. She wanted everything to turn our perfect and my nervousness was throwing off her concentration. I walked into the hallway and sat down on the bench. I looked up at a picture of Jamie and I on our wedding day. Jamie looked incredible that day. Every picture that was sitting on the bookcase had Jamie's radiant smile in it. I loved the way she smiled. She always made it a point to smile with her whole heart, and it showed.
I continued to sit there, waiting for Jamie to ask me for help, but she never said a word. So I continued to look at the pictures and twist my wedding band, which I had begun to do a lot more since we found out about the baby. Just as I started to clench my hands together, Jamie screamed my name. I ran into the kitchen immediately.
"Jamie, what's the matter? What happened?"
"Landon, I felt the baby. It moved. Here, put your hand here." I touched her belly but I didn't feel anything. She was smiling from ear to ear, "Did you feel anything?"
I couldn't stand to say no to her, so I told her I felt a little something but not much. She seemed satisfied and just as I turned from her, the doorbell rang. It was my mother and Reverend Sullivan.
"Hi, baby," my mother said as she hugged me and walked in the door.
"Hello, Landon. How's Mel treating you?" the reverend asked.
"Oh, just great. He told me I have great potential to be manager."
"Well, congratulations Landon, that's great news," the reverend stated.
Just as I closed the door, Jamie came out of the kitchen with her apron still on.
"Hi daddy! How are you?" Jamie exclaimed as she hugged her father.
"Just fine, Jamie. Just fine. How has my little girl been doing?" the reverend asked.
"Busy. The kids miss you during the day. But other than that, nothing has changed much," Jamie modestly said. Reverend Sullivan had been working down at the Children's Hospital in Albert County, so most of his days were spent away from the church.
"We're just waiting on Landon's father and we should be ready for dinner," Jamie said, walking back into the kitchen.
"Let me give you a hand, honey," my mother said, following Jamie.
The Reverend and I were still standing in the hallway. He walked over to the bookcase and admired the pictures that were on it. His eyes slowly moved over all the pictures and ended on the large picture that hung on the wall.
"Jamie couldn't have been happier that day, Landon. You were always her miracle. She told me everyday. And honestly, I didn't want to believe her, but she proved me wrong. I really hope that someday you can find it in your heart to forgive me," the reverend said while looking at the floor. I could tell that took a lot to say that, even though he was a man of the Lord, he wasn't invincible.
"I never thought wrong of you at all. I'm sure that more people in this town thought I was nothing more than a trouble-maker. You had all the right to think that way. You were trying to protect Jamie. I understand that," I reassuringly said.