Chapter Forty One
Henry stayed with his Grandpas while Jamie was at work and Eddie went to see her doctors.
The nurses greeted her with smiles signing her in. She waited until her name was called
Dr. Eisenberg came in quickly and smiled at Eddie, "How you feeling Eddie?"
"I'm good," Eddie smiled.
"Good, and it's not time for your yearly, so what brings you in?" she asked.
Eddie took a breath, "Jamie and I have been discussing extending our family."
"I see..." Dr. Eisenberg smiled. "And you need to try to see if you are able? Does Jamie know you are here?"
"We talked about it, so he knows I want to and am ready for another."
Then let's see how you are doing, I'll order the exams and tests and we'll see how you're doing," Dr. Eisenberg smiled "You're 38 so pregnancy for anyone is riskier at this age, but we'll see how things look before making any moves.
"Thank you," Eddie said nervously. "It is possible though?"
"Well, you have two beautiful healthy children, and most women in your condition aren't able to achieve even one, so it's possible, I think is it safe...that's what we'll have to see."
Eddie sighed while the doctor ordered all the necessary tests. "And when will I know?"
"We'll do the testing over the next week and we'll confer with Drs. Camden and Shim and see where you are, then we'll know." She squeezed Eddie's shoulder.
"Okay I'm just really anxious to know and get started if I can" Eddie admitted
"Let's get the bone scan done today then, that's the one that takes the longest to analyze. Can you wait a little longer."?
"Yes of course," Eddie said if that meant getting closer to an answer
When Eddie went home after a three-hour bone scan, she found Annabeth and Henry playing on the floor together under Frank's supervision.
"Hey Frank, hi guys," Eddie greeted rolling inside to the living room smiling.
"Hey, Mommy...Annabeth has homework and I'm helping!" Henry bragged.
"You are such a good boy," Eddie smiled. "Thanks for watching them Frank."
"My pleasure," he replied. "Though, Abigail and I will be out of touch this weekend. Her boys are going to their grandma and we are going to spend some private time before Sunday dinner."
"Oh, that's so nice enjoy it you don't get enough time together," Eddie smiled
"She's got quite a while still before she can retire like me," Frank smiled. "But she works well with Garrett, and he learned a lot about being PC."
"I'd only met Baker a few times in my career, but I heard stories; she was some detective."
"She is that," Frank replied. "She's a true gift to me in these later years, I'm blessed." he smiled at her and the kids. "You all right on your own until Jamie comes?"
"Yeah I'm fine thanks tell Baker I said hello," Eddie settled by the couch to watch her kids
Eddie chose to keep the testing to herself, at least she didn't discuss it with Jamie. She wanted to talk about this to someone, but she had to hold it all back.
Jamie came home a little later then he was supposed to smiling but tired. "Hey."
"Hey," Eddie smiled. "Pour that milk in there, that's a good boy. Annabear, stir it up." cooking was now a family affair, the kids providing the physical labor Eddie couldn't.
Jamie walked in kissing them all, "hey what are you guys making huh?"
"Chicken Alfredo," Eddie replied. "And salad. You're late, did you finally get the goods on those parents?" Jamie's newest client was 18 and suing for custody of her three sisters claiming her parents used the girls as drug mules. The partnership with Marcus was working very well, he was a heck of PI.
"It's a real mess and I feel for those kids," Jamie sighed. "Anything I can do."
"Yes," Eddie replied. "Go stretch out, put your feet up, relax... Supper will be ready in an hour."
Smiling Jamie kissed her cheek, "You're the best," he ruffled the kids' hair going to sit down.
"Okay, where were we..." Eddie went back to directing the meal glad that Jamie was able to rest and relax.
The next time Nancy came over she noticed Eddie was a little bit edgy.
"What's wrong Eddie is everything okay," Nancy asked
"Just a rough couple of days, * she replied. "A lot on my mind
"Yeah anything you want to talk about," Nancy studied her friend.
"Yeah," Eddie replied. "I want another baby, and I saw the doctor to see about it."
"Really and what did the doctor say," Nancy asked excitedly
"To do some testing and see," Eddie replied. "So, I'm waiting now for the scans."
Nancy smiled, "does Jamie know, have you talked to him?
"We discussed the idea bit he does not know I went to the doctor," Eddie sighed.
"Ah so when are you going to tell him after the results come in?
"That's the current plan, yes," Eddie replied. "I'm just a little nervous."
"I bet, but it's Jamie. I'm sure if you talked about he wouldn't be mad."
"No, but he could be disappointed and I could not stand that."
Nancy nodded understanding that. "I get it I do."
"I feel better just saying it out loud," Eddie replied. "Help me with my hair it's all on the back of my neck."
Nancy moved behind her, helping put Eddie's hair up off her neck.
"I was wondering if you want to work at all?" Nancy asked. "It's been a long time since we did."
"I've been so busy with the kids it kind of fell by the way side, but we should start."
"Sooner the better just let me know when the best times are for you."
"We can a little bit now of you like," Eddie replied.
"Sure, let me get my pad and pen. I'm really excited about this."
Eddie smiled and called Ray to slide her out of her chair to relax.
Ray did obediently lying beside her when Nancy returned.
They lost themselves in their work, two friends sharing a good time and a lot of memories.
Nancy made a nice pot of sauce then picked Annabeth up at school with Eddie. The little girl was waiting by herself in the corner of the playground.
"Hey Annabeth, what's going on honey? How was school today?"
"Okay," she replied as she got into the car. "I made a picture for you."
"For me that was so sweet thank you," Nancy smiled.
"Yes, cause your Mommy's friend and it's nice to have friends," she replied. She didn't want to say to her mother and honorary aunt she didn't
"Yes, it is and I'm sure you'll be making so many nice new friends. It's hard I know."
Annabeth shrugged and went back to her bag pulling out her folder to see her homework.
Nancy looked at her in the mirror sighing quietly.
"Does it concern you?" she asked Eddie later. "That Annabeth doesn't seem to have friends?"
"Of course, it does Nancy she's my baby but what can I do to help her?"
"Maybe she's a little too serious," Nancy suggested. "Maybe have a little party or get together to help her out of her shell."
"Yeah that's a great idea I'll talk to Jamie about it," Eddie smiled
Nancy smiled, "okay, I'm going to go and hang my beautiful picture on the fridge."
Eddie smiled, "thanks again for everything Nancy"
"Any time honey," she replied. "I'll see you in a couple days. Call me if you need anything."
"I will thanks," Eddie smiled grateful to have Nancy.
Finally, the call came in. The bone scan and spinal scans were in and Eddie had to go and see Dr. Eisenberg for her results. She was excited to tell Jamie she was ready and that they could begin trying for one more child.
"Eddie, we have all the test results in and the team and I did careful analysis."
"Okay," Eddie replied. 'So, what's the verdict?" Dr. Eisenberg shook her head. "As you know, you've been injured for almost 10 years and in that time, you have lost a good deal of bone support in your back and hips. The osteoarthritis in those areas is advanced and we all feel that the risk is just too much this time around. Eddie, you know I'm your biggest advocate, you are my miracle, having two successful deliveries in your condition...but this time."
Eddie felt choked up guessing what her next words were. "Oh, there's no chance at all?"
"You can get pregnant, there's nothing to indicate you can't conceive a child," the doctor replied. "But your body and bone structure ten years post injury are just not strong enough. The weight of the baby could shatter the pelvic girdle and compress the vertebrae, it's very risky."
"How risky percent wise," Eddie asked needing to know specifically
"Your chances of the pregnancy going along as well as Annabeth and Henry, less than 2%. The likelihood of a major complication this time around, greater than 70%."
Eddie took a sharp breath tears swelling in her eyes, her dream shattered
"I can't risk leaving my babies," she sighed. "Or Jamie..." She swallowed hard, the lump ached. For a moment she wished she had told Jamie so he could be here to soften this blow, but she didn't want this to be a group loss.
"Eddie I am so sorry," Dr Einsberg spoke softly. "The team and I looked into every possibility
"I know, I know..." she replied. "It's not just the baby though, it's knowing that my body has deteriorated to that degree, it's...Ten years though, most others don't survive this long, right?"
"Sadly, yes, or at least certainly not living the way you are. By far, Eddie you and your family are truly a miracle."
She nodded again, "Thanks. I'll go now, and I'll make an appointment with Dr. Camden to figure out how to fix some of the bone stuff, so they don't' start breaking. Thanks for looking into this for me."
"Of course, and if you need anything please don't hesitate to contact us again."
Eddie left the office and headed home. She was crushed by the news. She knew she had so much, but she did want one more child if it was possible.
She tried to keep up a good front but was just too upset and disappointed. Over this past 10 years, more than anything, she had always wanted to feel normal. She asked Frank to take her kids once more and laid on the couch. She wouldn't tell Jamie about this. Ever.