Chapter 10

When Landon was asked to leave the exam room, he couldn't have been any more confused. Not only did he not have any idea what was going on with his wife, but he wasn't even allowed to stay and find out. He went back to the waiting room and started looking at a magazine, nearing tears.

Jamie came out about a half-hour later, and it was obvious that she'd been crying. She swung her purse over her shoulder and walked over to Landon, who had already stood up and was anxious to hear the news.

"What'd the doctor say?" he asked, taking her hand in his.

"Nothing much. He just wanted to tell me the results of my latest blood test." She was having trouble making eye-contact with Landon.

"And?"

"It was pretty expected. I knew what they were probably going to be."

Obviously, she didn't want to share. And as much as Landon wanted to know, he wanted Jamie to tell him in her own time. "Alright, let's get home..."


As Landon got ready for bed that night, he could've honestly said he was about to explode from nervousness. Whatever it was that Jamie wanted to tell him, it had to be huge. Why else would that doctor have asked him to leave the room? He walked out of the bathroom and over to the hotel bed, where Jamie was sitting up in bed, reading her Bible. Landon pulled back the covers and climbed in, flipping over to his side to look at Jamie.

"'Night, baby..."

Jamie leaned down and placed a soft kiss against his waiting lips. "Goodnight. I love you, Landon."

"I love you, too." Just as his head hit the pillow, it also hit something that...wasn't a pillow. He sat up and looked.

There was a card sitting there. With his name on it.

He looked at Jamie questioningly. "What's this?" he asked, picking it up.

She smiled. "Oh, nothing much. Just a little something for graduation."

Now he felt really bad -- he hadn't even gotten her anything. He leaned in for a passionate kiss and after they pulled away he responded, "Thank you."

"You're welcome...now open it," Jamie giggled.

"Okay," he said. Landon lifted the envelope flap and pulled the card out. All it had on the outside was a little red heart. He opened the card and was absolutely floored by what it said.

"Landon-

Everyday I'm amazed to find myself even more in love with you than the

day before. As we start on this new chapter of our lives together, I hope

you will always be able to find joy in our new little miracle of love.

All my love,

Jamie"

It was like the wind had been knocked right out of him. Landon read and re-read the card, trying to convince himself of its contents. When he looked over at Jamie for some sort of conformation, she was quiet, but slightly smiling, just enjoying watching his reaction to her news. "Jamie..."

The minute he said her name, her eyes began filling up with tears. Just watching her, Landon could feel his heart breaking. Any concerns or doubts he had were immediately pushed aside as he focused on his wife. "Jamie, baby, please don't cry."

Her voice was quivering as she struggled for the ability to speak. "Dr. Peterson¼wanted to speak to me alone today¼because he thought I should¼have an abortion and not tell you. ¼ He doesn't think¼I'll be able to hold on long enough¼to have the baby."

'Some doctor! Oh, do I have a few words for him!' Landon gently rocked her, trying to get her to calm down. "What did you tell him?"

"I told him that¼having an abortion would be¼killing a piece of you¼a piece of me¼proof of just how much¼we love each other. ¼ He's sending me to¼see a specialist tomorrow."

Landon stroked her back, and said with a smile when her eyes met his, "A baby."

She managed to smile back through her tears. "Yeah..." Her head nuzzled in against Landon's neck, and he tightened his grasp. A tear dripped from her face, running warm on Landon's skin. "Thanks."

"For?"

"Thank you for the strength you've shown me. When I'm in your arms, I know that everything will always be okay, that nothing in this world can take me away from you." Her fingers ran up and down his chest lightly.

Landon didn't know how to reply – she was supposed to be his rock, his strength. Landon allowed his fingers to sweep over her features, swiping down the bridge of her nose and brushing up against her lips before reaching her delicate chin. "Well, I'm not letting go."

Hours passed, with Landon laying there listening to Jamie's gentle breaths, absorbing the beauty in each one. 'Lord, thank you for the strength you gave me tonight. Sometimes it seems so overwhelming – our path is changing around every turn. Please stay with us; guide us.' With that, Landon slowly drifted off to sleep.