"We will be waiting for you when you come home." Amy said as she held onto his hand for a long moment not wanting to let go of it.
"I will come back." Ricky said and ever so gently he let go of Amy's hand and he walked away toward his where his flight would be boarding. And just like that he was gone from their sight and from their lives.
"Why does daddy have to leave us mommy?" Anna asked.
"He has to go help uncle Bryan come home. He will be back just as soon as he can sweetie." Amy said as she smiled at her daughter who was almost a mini verison of herself.
They all walked through the busy airport until they were finally outside and by the red SUV. Amy put Lucy in her carseat and then checked Anna and John to make sure they were buckled. Then she folded down the stroller and put it away in the back. Then she got into her car and she began her thirty minute drive home. She felt sad that she would be coming home once again without her husband. She thought the days of him being gone for a long time were over. But she knew Ricky was doing what he thought was best to help bring their friend home to those who loved him and wanted him.
All of sudden Amy heard her phone go off. So she pulled over to the shoulder of the road and picked up her cell. She saw it was Toby. She answered the phone. "Toby hi." Amy said.
"Amy can you come to the hospital Ashley is in labor. It is early but there is nothing they can do to stop the delivery. She is asking for you." Toby said.
"Yeah I will be there in a moment." Amy said and then hung up the phone. She turned the SUV around and got back on the highway. Then she drove as fast as safely possible to the hospital. The same hospital where John, Anna, Lucy, Hope, Natalie, Noah, and now Ashley's son would be born at. It was also where Mercy, and Ben had passed away. But she wouldn't think of that now.
Ten minutes later she pulled into the visitor's parking lot. Then she got Lucy out of her carseat and put her in the stroller and grabbed the diaper bag. She silently thanked Ricky for putting extra wipes and diapers in there in case they got stuck in traffic on the way back. Then she held Anna's hand and made sure John was in her sight as they walked into the front doors. Then she walked up to the general admissions desk.
"Excuse me.." Amy started and then she saw her parents with Robbie by the elevators and she excused herself and walked over to them with the kids. "How is she doing?" Amy asked anxiously.
"She is doing good. The baby is a little small at thirty-four weeks but he is beautiful." Anne said with smiles.
"Whoa she already had him?" Amy said.
"Yeah she pushed twice and out he popped." Anne said.
"Well I am glad it went fast. I drove as fast as I could but I just dropped Ricky off at the airport and I just got the phone call from Toby. Well I cannot wait to see them." Amy said with a smile on her face.
"Well Hunter Matthew is three pounds six onces and has a set of lungs but he is having a little trouble breathing. They have him in a incubator in the NICU. Ashley is doing well. And Toby is over the moon with little Hunter. He looks just like him only he has Ashley's coloring and her deep blue eyes. But as soon as she is all cleaned up and ready Ashley wants to see you." George said proudly.
Amy felt faint all of a sudden and she grabbed onto her father's arm. She steadied herself and then she looked up at her parents. Both of them looked worriedly at her. Amy looked back at them and smiled. "I am good I think with all the excitement and running around I just lost my breath there for a moment. Honestly I am fine. So did anyone call Adrian about the good news?" Amy asked to change the focus of the conversation.
"Yeah your mom called her and told her about the baby. She said she would be on her way in a few minutes as soon as her mom comes over to her house to watch the kiddos. But Ames I am worried about you. I think you should get checked while you are here." Her dad said in his concerned but fatherly voice all at the same time.
"I am fine. I just got a little dizzy nothing to worry about." Amy said.
"Amy your getting checked out. I don't care what you say your going." Anne said and walked over to the desk to set Amy up with a doctor. A moment later Anne walked back and she walked over to Amy. "I will watch the kids and you can see Ashley right after they check you out. The nurse is going to take you back to see one of the doctors on call." Anne said.
Amy thought there was no use in fighting her mother. So she kissed the kids and followed the nurse back to the examining room. She did the regular checkup routine and then she took some blood and other test samples and ran them. Then twenty minutes Dr. Randell walked in and sat down in front of Amy. Then Amy sat there nervously as the doctor looked over at her chart and took a few notes.
"Mrs. Underwood you said you were feeling faint. Are you feeling alright now?" Dr. Randell asked her.
"Yes. It's just been a crazy few weeks." Amy said.
"Well I think it's more than that. Mrs. Underwood your pregnant." Dr. Randell told her.
"How far along am I?" Amy asked knowing that she might have been pregnant for a while now.
"Well we are going to do an ultrasound and we will tell you." Dr. Randell said and he got the machine set and started with the ultrasound.
All of sudden a strong heart filled the room. Then Amy could see the tiny baby inside her womb. Hers and Ricky's baby and he wasn't here for it. She put her hand up to the screen and gently touched where the baby was safe and warm inside her. Then she sent a silent prayer that their baby would survive and be okay this time around. She knew she couldn't take that kind of loss ever again or it would break her apart.
"Alright Mrs. Underwood. The fetus appears to be almost ten weeks of gestation. The heartbeat is strong and everything looks to be progessing normally." Dr. Randell said as he put the machine away and helped Amy sit up.
"Dr. Randell this is my fifth pregnancy. My first two were good and went well. With my third one I fell at five months and I had my baby at 28 weeks. She is healthy now and she is one. But six months ago I got pregnant again. I miscarried at seven weeks but I didn't know that I was. I mean there was so much going on. I suspected as much this time. I am just scared that I will lose this baby too." Amy said with fear.
"Amy you appear to have completely healed from your miscarriage. And your past that point. Miscarriage risk will greatly drop in two weeks time. Just stay relaxed, calm, take your vitamins, and just enjoy your life. And follow up with your regular ob-gyn next week. Otherwise here are your ultrasound pictures and the nurse will get you the prenatal vitamins and we will discharge you. Good luck Mrs. Underwood." Dr. Randell said and then left the room quietly.
Amy sat there and put her hand to her stomach as she studied the ultrasound picture. She wanted this baby and so had Ricky. It just hurt a little that he wasn't here to enjoy the news. But she knew he would be thrilled and would come home just as soon as he could. Amy heard a knock on the door. And then she heard the door open and Adrian stood in the doorway.
"Are you alright Amy?" Adrian asked worried.
"Yeah I just found out I am pregnant for sure." Amy said in excitement and in fear all at the same time.
Adrian walked over to her and she hugged her tightly. She held onto her as Amy cried for the loss of her baby, and for the second chance at another child to come into their lives. But she also cried for the loss of Mercy, and Ben. She cried for Grace, Jack and everything they were going through. And lastly for Bryan, Ricky, and for Adrian and all they would be going through and missing all at the same time.
"I am glad you came Adrian. You have been a great friend. And I know that Ashley will be real glad to see you too. I just hope that Bryan and Ricky come home safely to us both and our families. We need those men more than they will ever know." Amy said between her tears.
"I was happy to come and you know my mom anytime she can spend with the kids she takes. She loves those kids like her own. I trust her with them totally. Amy that is so wonderful that your going to have another baby. I am happy for you." Adrian said with happiness.
"I thought it was going to be you next not me and Ricky." Amy said as she pulled back from the hug and grabbed tissues and wiped away her tears.
"No I thought I might be for like five seconds but it was just all the stress. Which is good. I am not ready for anymore kids at this point in my life. I am glad for you though very glad." Adrian said as she smiled.
"Thank you. I know your also afraid for Bryan. You have to hold on Adrian and keep your faith that he will survive this and come back to you. I have seen how Bryan loves you. He would give his right arm to get back to you and your kids. You are his life Adrian. You have to feel that and know that deep inside your heart." Amy said.
"I do. I know that too. It's just hard the waiting. I just want him here with us now and all of this to be a bad dream. But I will keep trying and fighting to bring him home safe. Thank you for standing beside me during this hard time. If only we could be there for Grace now. She is in a real bad place with Jack hardly talking to her and her pregnancy. She is thinking of ending the pregnancy. I begged her not to make any rash decisions. But she seems to think it is the only way to make things right. But it isn't. What if they are Jacks. She will hate herself for doing this no matter who their father is." Adrian said with tears.
"All you can do is tell her how you feel and give her advice. It is her decision. I also hope she doesn't go through with it but only Grace can make that decison." Amy said and she and Adrian looked at one another with dread in their eyes.
Meanwhile in New York Grace was at her medical clinic downtown. She had checked herself in and she was now sitting in the waiting room until the nurse called her back. Her heart was going ninety miles an hour and her stomach was doing flips too. "Grace." The nurse called and Grace picked up her purse and walked in back. She was brought into a back room. Then she was instructed to change.
A doctor walked in a few minutes later. "Are you sure you want to do this Grace?" the doctor asked her.
"It is the only way to make things right. Just get it over with." Grace said as her tears burst out and she began to cry hysterically at her own words. What had she become? What was she doing with her life? She just knew she had to make it right somehow, someway.
