While standing there, the reverend moved to me and hugged me.
"Even if I didn't have Jamie anymore, you'd still be my son. You always will be Landon, you always will."
The reverend began to cry and I tried to comfort him as much as I could but just as I started to speak, the doorbell rang again.
I pulled away from him to answer the door. It was my father and his wife.
"Hey dad!"
"Hey Landon, how the hell have you been, son?" my father said, just noticing the reverend, "Oh, I'm sorry, reverend. Didn't mean to...I mean...ya know..."
"I understand, Mr. Carter," the reverend said as he walked over to my father, "How have you been, David?" The reverend finished.
"Just fine. You remember my wife Gina?" My father responded introducing his twenty-six year old wife.
"Ah, yes. Mrs. Carter, how are you?" the reverend asked.
"Okay. Wow, Landon! Your house is beautiful." Gina replied practically avoiding the reverend.
"Thanks, Jamie decorated it," I responded modestly.
Just as I finished, my mother came out of the kitchen, wiping her hands on a towel.
"Jamie says we should be almost ready..." she stopped when she saw my father with his arms wrapped around Gina, "...um...to eat, if you all want to move into the dining room."
I could sense that it bothered my mother to see him with another woman. Plus, this was the first time in three years that my dad brought Gina to anything. My mother didn't hate Gina, but she was my father's 'new' wife.
"Hi, Beth. How have you been?" my father asked.
"Just fine, David. I've been keeping busy," my mother quickly said as she left the room. Jamie came walking out of the kitchen and as soon as she saw my father, she smiled.
"David, oh my word! How are you? It's been so long," She said hugging him.
"I've been okay. Been pretty busy up at the hospital, but that's never changed. You look positively radiant tonight," My father complimented.
"Okay, everybody. It's time to eat, so lets head into the dining room." Jamie announced gracefully.
We all sat down and admired the feast Jamie had prepared. Jamie sat next to me near the head of the table. She took my hand and smiled. She tapped on her glass and nodded for me to stand up. I did and Jamie followed. Jamie squeezed my hand very tight as she started to talk.
"As you all know, Landon and I have been through quite a bit in the last couple of months. Our engagement, wedding and my remission, but soon we're going to be adding an other item on that list," she paused, "because in six months, we'll be having a baby."
My mother, of course, was the first one to congratulate us. She was really excited to become a grandma.
My father also congratulated us, but when Jamie looked over at her father, he didn't look happy at all. The reverend set his napkin on his plate and walked into the hallway. Jamie excused herself and followed her father.
"Daddy? What's the matter? Aren't you happy for us? For the baby?" Jamie asked.
"Jamie, I am happy for you. A baby is a true blessing from God, but you shouldn't put your body through this. Even though you're in remission, your body is still very weak. How many times do you think God will save you, Jamie? Congratulations on the baby. Give Landon my regards," the reverend finished and left the house. Jamie came back to the table, but on the verge of tears. She apologized for her father's absence.
As we finished dinner and my parents left, Jamie sat silently in the kitchen while I finished the dishes. She started to cry gently.
"My father doesn't want me to have this baby, Landon. I can't believe that he thinks I ask God for all these things. I just wish that he would see the good in all of this," Jamie finished, sobbing.
"Baby, he didn't mean that. Your father doesn't want to lose you Jamie. You are his whole world. Just don't let what he said get to you; he'll come around. Plus Dr. Andrews said that you are perfectly fine to have a baby."
Jamie smiled under her tears, "I love you, Landon." She hugged me.
"I love you too, baby."
Time continued on as usual, but with one new thing, Jamie kept getting bigger. There were so many things that needed to be done or even started, but first, Jamie had to have her first ultra-sound. The week before Christmas, Jamie and I went back to doctor's office, but this time, it wasn't Dr. Andrews.
"Hi there, you must be Jamie and Landon. How are you two?" the new doctor asked.
"Well, just fine. A little pregnant but doing okay," Jamie said rubbing her belly.
"That's wonderful. Oh, and by the way, my name is Dr. Julie Switzowski, but you can just call me Dr. Julie. Dr. Andrews referred me to your case because I specialize in delivering babies to former and recent cancer patients. Dr. Andrews wants me to review your case and your pregnancy because in cases like yours, there are sometimes small complications that normal OBGYN doctors don't look for or notice. That's why Dr. Andrews wanted me to meet with you," she finished.
"Okay," Jamie said. "So you'll be our new doctor?"
"Yes. I mean, if that's alright with the two of you. I would be very honored," Dr. Julie stated.
"Alright. Well, I am okay with that, if you are," Jamie said looking over at me. I nodded.
"And I am okay with whatever you want."
"Alright, then," Dr. Julie shook our hands. "You are in good hands, I promise. Now let's go take some pictures of your baby," she added.
Jamie and I followed Dr. Julie down a long hallway into a semi-lit room.
"Now, Jamie, if you wouldn't mind, hop up on the table and we'll get this party started," Dr. Julie lightheartedly said.
Jamie had me help her up on the table. She laid back and Dr. Julie lifted Jamie's shirt over her belly.
"Okay, Jamie, brace yourself. This jelly stuff is really cold," Dr. Julie warned.
Just as Dr. Julie started to squeeze the jelly onto Jamie's stomach, Jamie gave out a little sigh.
"This is cold," Jamie said.
Dr. Julie smiled and nodded. I was still holding Jamie's hand. She looked up at me, smiled and mouthed 'I love you.' I said it back to her and kissed her gently. Just as I did, the baby moved, and Jamie started to giggle.
"I think it likes that, too," she said softly.
Dr. Julie brought over her little scanner that would take pictures of our baby. When she started, a loud beating noise filled the room.
"And that, folks, is your baby's heartbeat," Dr. Julie informed us. She moved away from Jamie's belly and turned on a little TV set.
"Are you two ready to see your baby?" Dr. Julie asked. Jamie nodded. "Okay, here we go," Dr Julie said as she pressed the scanner back to her belly.
As she did that, a fuzzy white blob came on the screen. The heartbeat noise came back again. As Dr. Julie moved the scanner of Jamie's belly, she stopped every now and then, explaining what everything was.
"Here are the arms, and that's a leg." Dr. Julie would explain slowly. "Now, did the two of you want to know the sex of the baby?" Dr. Julie asked.
"You mean you can tell already?" I asked.
"Landon, do you want to know?" Jamie asked very innocently.
"I do if you do."
"I want to know. I want to know what to call it." Jamie said.
"So, that's a yes?" Dr Julie asked. Jamie looked at me and I looked at Dr. Julie.
"Yes."
Dr. Julie smiled and moved to a spot on the blob. She pointed. "Now, that right there, that's not an arm. You'll be having a little boy."
Jamie started to tear up. I kissed her forehead.
"A boy. Landon, we're going to have a little boy. I am so happy," Jamie said, now crying a lot.
"I know, baby. This is great. I love you so much."
"I love you too. I love our little boy. Thank you, Dr. Julie," Jamie said gratefully.
"No problem. This is what I live for. Congratulations. you guys." Dr. Julie said.
I helped Jamie sit up and she smiled from ear to ear, like she always did. I felt a new sense of self. I was going to be having a son. I knew, though, in my heart, that Jamie wanted a daughter so they could do all the mother-daughter things that she never got, but I think that she was happy just being able to be a mother.
When we walked out of the clinic, Jamie looked at me and asked, "What kind of complications did you think she was talking about?"
I had to think about what she had said. I was so excited that we knew what our baby was that I forgotten what Dr. Julie told us earlier.
"I guess I don't know, baby. Maybe we should go ask her."
Jamie shook her head, "If it was something really serious, she would have told us while we were still there. I'll ask more on my next visit."
Even though Jamie said that she was fine, I don't know that I believed her. I could see that there was still something that was bothering her. When we got to the car, I opened her door and I helped her into the car.
"So do you think we should stop by your father's house and tell him the news?"
"I don't really think that he'll want to know, Landon. He seemed really upset with me at dinner," Jamie exclaimed.
"Jamie that was two months ago. I think he'll be alright with it now. Especially since he's going to have a grandson soon."
"Fine. Let's go talk to him but I don't think he'll care," Jamie said in a defeated attitude.
This had been the first time in almost a year that I had seen Jamie this upset about anything. The only other time was when Belinda and Dean made a flyer about Jamie at school. Jamie seemed really upset when we drove up to the reverend's house. I stopped and helped Jamie out of the car.
Jamie and I walked up to the door. As I rang the doorbell, Jamie put a big smile on his face. Reverend Sullivan's secretary came to the door, very pleased to see Jamie.
"Jamie, it's great to see you again. Congratulations on the baby. That's wonderful news. You know, it's all your father talks about. His little grandchild," Mrs. Radine said.
"Really?" Jamie asked confused.
"Oh, yes. Your father couldn't be happier for the two of you," Mrs. Radine finished and directed us to his office. Jamie's smile went from being completely fake to a radiant, beaming, true smile.
Reverend Sullivan was on the phone when we walked into the room. He looked up to excuse Mrs. Radine and looked very shocked when he saw Jamie and I standing there.
"Yes, but I will have to call you back. No, my daughter and son-in-law are here. Okay, Bill, you take care and God bless," the reverend finished and hung up the phone. He walked over to Jamie, hugged her and started to apologize.
"Jamie, honey, I'm so sorry for the way I acted. That was unbelievably childish of me and I feel horrible. Can you ever forgive this bitter old man?" the reverend asked in a pitiful tone of voice.
"Of course, daddy!" Jamie said, "Plus, Landon and I have something we need to tell you," Jamie began. Hegbert went back to his desk and sat down.
"Well, I met my new doctor today. Her name is Dr. Julie and she specializes in delivering babies to recent and former cancer patients. We also had our first ultrasound and got to see and hear our baby," Jamie looked at me, " and our son is progressing along fine," she finished, now looking at Hegbert.
Hegbert practically had tears in his eyes, "A son. That is really wonderful, Jamie. I am so happy for the two of you."
Jamie took my hand and smiled again. She knew that the baby was a blessing and, just as she stood up to hug her father, the baby started kicking harder than she had ever felt. She grabbed my hand and put in on her belly and motioned for her father to come over and feel the baby.
Hegbert started laughing and said, "I think he's going to be a wild one. He'll definitely keep you two on your toes!"
"Even if I didn't have Jamie anymore, you'd still be my son. You always will be Landon, you always will."
The reverend began to cry and I tried to comfort him as much as I could but just as I started to speak, the doorbell rang again.
I pulled away from him to answer the door. It was my father and his wife.
"Hey dad!"
"Hey Landon, how the hell have you been, son?" my father said, just noticing the reverend, "Oh, I'm sorry, reverend. Didn't mean to...I mean...ya know..."
"I understand, Mr. Carter," the reverend said as he walked over to my father, "How have you been, David?" The reverend finished.
"Just fine. You remember my wife Gina?" My father responded introducing his twenty-six year old wife.
"Ah, yes. Mrs. Carter, how are you?" the reverend asked.
"Okay. Wow, Landon! Your house is beautiful." Gina replied practically avoiding the reverend.
"Thanks, Jamie decorated it," I responded modestly.
Just as I finished, my mother came out of the kitchen, wiping her hands on a towel.
"Jamie says we should be almost ready..." she stopped when she saw my father with his arms wrapped around Gina, "...um...to eat, if you all want to move into the dining room."
I could sense that it bothered my mother to see him with another woman. Plus, this was the first time in three years that my dad brought Gina to anything. My mother didn't hate Gina, but she was my father's 'new' wife.
"Hi, Beth. How have you been?" my father asked.
"Just fine, David. I've been keeping busy," my mother quickly said as she left the room. Jamie came walking out of the kitchen and as soon as she saw my father, she smiled.
"David, oh my word! How are you? It's been so long," She said hugging him.
"I've been okay. Been pretty busy up at the hospital, but that's never changed. You look positively radiant tonight," My father complimented.
"Okay, everybody. It's time to eat, so lets head into the dining room." Jamie announced gracefully.
We all sat down and admired the feast Jamie had prepared. Jamie sat next to me near the head of the table. She took my hand and smiled. She tapped on her glass and nodded for me to stand up. I did and Jamie followed. Jamie squeezed my hand very tight as she started to talk.
"As you all know, Landon and I have been through quite a bit in the last couple of months. Our engagement, wedding and my remission, but soon we're going to be adding an other item on that list," she paused, "because in six months, we'll be having a baby."
My mother, of course, was the first one to congratulate us. She was really excited to become a grandma.
My father also congratulated us, but when Jamie looked over at her father, he didn't look happy at all. The reverend set his napkin on his plate and walked into the hallway. Jamie excused herself and followed her father.
"Daddy? What's the matter? Aren't you happy for us? For the baby?" Jamie asked.
"Jamie, I am happy for you. A baby is a true blessing from God, but you shouldn't put your body through this. Even though you're in remission, your body is still very weak. How many times do you think God will save you, Jamie? Congratulations on the baby. Give Landon my regards," the reverend finished and left the house. Jamie came back to the table, but on the verge of tears. She apologized for her father's absence.
As we finished dinner and my parents left, Jamie sat silently in the kitchen while I finished the dishes. She started to cry gently.
"My father doesn't want me to have this baby, Landon. I can't believe that he thinks I ask God for all these things. I just wish that he would see the good in all of this," Jamie finished, sobbing.
"Baby, he didn't mean that. Your father doesn't want to lose you Jamie. You are his whole world. Just don't let what he said get to you; he'll come around. Plus Dr. Andrews said that you are perfectly fine to have a baby."
Jamie smiled under her tears, "I love you, Landon." She hugged me.
"I love you too, baby."
Time continued on as usual, but with one new thing, Jamie kept getting bigger. There were so many things that needed to be done or even started, but first, Jamie had to have her first ultra-sound. The week before Christmas, Jamie and I went back to doctor's office, but this time, it wasn't Dr. Andrews.
"Hi there, you must be Jamie and Landon. How are you two?" the new doctor asked.
"Well, just fine. A little pregnant but doing okay," Jamie said rubbing her belly.
"That's wonderful. Oh, and by the way, my name is Dr. Julie Switzowski, but you can just call me Dr. Julie. Dr. Andrews referred me to your case because I specialize in delivering babies to former and recent cancer patients. Dr. Andrews wants me to review your case and your pregnancy because in cases like yours, there are sometimes small complications that normal OBGYN doctors don't look for or notice. That's why Dr. Andrews wanted me to meet with you," she finished.
"Okay," Jamie said. "So you'll be our new doctor?"
"Yes. I mean, if that's alright with the two of you. I would be very honored," Dr. Julie stated.
"Alright. Well, I am okay with that, if you are," Jamie said looking over at me. I nodded.
"And I am okay with whatever you want."
"Alright, then," Dr. Julie shook our hands. "You are in good hands, I promise. Now let's go take some pictures of your baby," she added.
Jamie and I followed Dr. Julie down a long hallway into a semi-lit room.
"Now, Jamie, if you wouldn't mind, hop up on the table and we'll get this party started," Dr. Julie lightheartedly said.
Jamie had me help her up on the table. She laid back and Dr. Julie lifted Jamie's shirt over her belly.
"Okay, Jamie, brace yourself. This jelly stuff is really cold," Dr. Julie warned.
Just as Dr. Julie started to squeeze the jelly onto Jamie's stomach, Jamie gave out a little sigh.
"This is cold," Jamie said.
Dr. Julie smiled and nodded. I was still holding Jamie's hand. She looked up at me, smiled and mouthed 'I love you.' I said it back to her and kissed her gently. Just as I did, the baby moved, and Jamie started to giggle.
"I think it likes that, too," she said softly.
Dr. Julie brought over her little scanner that would take pictures of our baby. When she started, a loud beating noise filled the room.
"And that, folks, is your baby's heartbeat," Dr. Julie informed us. She moved away from Jamie's belly and turned on a little TV set.
"Are you two ready to see your baby?" Dr. Julie asked. Jamie nodded. "Okay, here we go," Dr Julie said as she pressed the scanner back to her belly.
As she did that, a fuzzy white blob came on the screen. The heartbeat noise came back again. As Dr. Julie moved the scanner of Jamie's belly, she stopped every now and then, explaining what everything was.
"Here are the arms, and that's a leg." Dr. Julie would explain slowly. "Now, did the two of you want to know the sex of the baby?" Dr. Julie asked.
"You mean you can tell already?" I asked.
"Landon, do you want to know?" Jamie asked very innocently.
"I do if you do."
"I want to know. I want to know what to call it." Jamie said.
"So, that's a yes?" Dr Julie asked. Jamie looked at me and I looked at Dr. Julie.
"Yes."
Dr. Julie smiled and moved to a spot on the blob. She pointed. "Now, that right there, that's not an arm. You'll be having a little boy."
Jamie started to tear up. I kissed her forehead.
"A boy. Landon, we're going to have a little boy. I am so happy," Jamie said, now crying a lot.
"I know, baby. This is great. I love you so much."
"I love you too. I love our little boy. Thank you, Dr. Julie," Jamie said gratefully.
"No problem. This is what I live for. Congratulations. you guys." Dr. Julie said.
I helped Jamie sit up and she smiled from ear to ear, like she always did. I felt a new sense of self. I was going to be having a son. I knew, though, in my heart, that Jamie wanted a daughter so they could do all the mother-daughter things that she never got, but I think that she was happy just being able to be a mother.
When we walked out of the clinic, Jamie looked at me and asked, "What kind of complications did you think she was talking about?"
I had to think about what she had said. I was so excited that we knew what our baby was that I forgotten what Dr. Julie told us earlier.
"I guess I don't know, baby. Maybe we should go ask her."
Jamie shook her head, "If it was something really serious, she would have told us while we were still there. I'll ask more on my next visit."
Even though Jamie said that she was fine, I don't know that I believed her. I could see that there was still something that was bothering her. When we got to the car, I opened her door and I helped her into the car.
"So do you think we should stop by your father's house and tell him the news?"
"I don't really think that he'll want to know, Landon. He seemed really upset with me at dinner," Jamie exclaimed.
"Jamie that was two months ago. I think he'll be alright with it now. Especially since he's going to have a grandson soon."
"Fine. Let's go talk to him but I don't think he'll care," Jamie said in a defeated attitude.
This had been the first time in almost a year that I had seen Jamie this upset about anything. The only other time was when Belinda and Dean made a flyer about Jamie at school. Jamie seemed really upset when we drove up to the reverend's house. I stopped and helped Jamie out of the car.
Jamie and I walked up to the door. As I rang the doorbell, Jamie put a big smile on his face. Reverend Sullivan's secretary came to the door, very pleased to see Jamie.
"Jamie, it's great to see you again. Congratulations on the baby. That's wonderful news. You know, it's all your father talks about. His little grandchild," Mrs. Radine said.
"Really?" Jamie asked confused.
"Oh, yes. Your father couldn't be happier for the two of you," Mrs. Radine finished and directed us to his office. Jamie's smile went from being completely fake to a radiant, beaming, true smile.
Reverend Sullivan was on the phone when we walked into the room. He looked up to excuse Mrs. Radine and looked very shocked when he saw Jamie and I standing there.
"Yes, but I will have to call you back. No, my daughter and son-in-law are here. Okay, Bill, you take care and God bless," the reverend finished and hung up the phone. He walked over to Jamie, hugged her and started to apologize.
"Jamie, honey, I'm so sorry for the way I acted. That was unbelievably childish of me and I feel horrible. Can you ever forgive this bitter old man?" the reverend asked in a pitiful tone of voice.
"Of course, daddy!" Jamie said, "Plus, Landon and I have something we need to tell you," Jamie began. Hegbert went back to his desk and sat down.
"Well, I met my new doctor today. Her name is Dr. Julie and she specializes in delivering babies to recent and former cancer patients. We also had our first ultrasound and got to see and hear our baby," Jamie looked at me, " and our son is progressing along fine," she finished, now looking at Hegbert.
Hegbert practically had tears in his eyes, "A son. That is really wonderful, Jamie. I am so happy for the two of you."
Jamie took my hand and smiled again. She knew that the baby was a blessing and, just as she stood up to hug her father, the baby started kicking harder than she had ever felt. She grabbed my hand and put in on her belly and motioned for her father to come over and feel the baby.
Hegbert started laughing and said, "I think he's going to be a wild one. He'll definitely keep you two on your toes!"