Caroline & Lost Love
Chapter Seven
By: Jana~
*****~*****
--Richard sat on the edge of the bed where his wife had taken up residence. She had been there almost constantly since the day they got the second test results after the second in vitro fertilization attempt. Since then she barely did anything but sleep… barely leaving for any reason beyond using the restroom…
"You can't keep doing this, Caroline." Richard informed adamantly… "You can't stop living…"
"You think I want to be this way?" she asked groggily, her words almost slurred… "I can't help it."
"You can help it, Caroline…" he replied firmly… "You've stopped trying."
"Leave me alone…" she groaned, rolling over and away from him…
He turned her back… "No! You're not going to shut me out, Caroline! It's time for tough love!" He pulled the blankets down and sat her up… she did little to fight the action… "I've given you time to grieve. I've given you time to come to terms with everything… I'm not going to let you do this!"
"I wanted a baby, Richard…"
"I know that, Caroline, but, you can't just turn away from 'us' because you couldn't get pregnant!"
"I wanted to be pregnant."
"I know that too, and I'm sorry, but it doesn't look like that is going to be happening." He pulled her clothes off and lifted her into his arms…
"Where are we going?"
"The shower."
"I don't want to take a shower…" she whined…
"I don't care. You're taking a shower. Then, we're going to the DR."
"What? Why?" she asked as he carried her into the bathroom…
He set her on her shower bench and turned on the water…
"COLD!" she shouted, trying to dodge the spray…
He took the shower hose and moved it away while he adjusted the temperature… "Because, you are depressed. You need to see the DR…"
"I don't want to see a DR for that…" She was almost crying…
It broke his heart to see her like that, but he knew it needed to be done… "You need help Caroline! There's no shame in it! And I want my wife back!"
"You can't make me go! You can't make me talk to them!"
Water sprayed him, getting him wet as he struggled to clean her… "No, you're right, I can't. But, Caroline, if you don't talk to them, then, you leave me no choice but to consider leaving you."
She gasped and ceased to fight with him… "You would… leave me?"
He never would. He knew he wouldn't. He couldn't, but he needed to use drastic measures… "Yes, Caroline, I would. When it was brought to my attention that I was neglecting your needs, I made strides to correct the problem. You have withdrawn from everyone! From friends and family and me! If you don't even try, then, I just don't know what good it will do to stay…" He wanted to cry when he saw the sad look in her eyes…
"Alright…" she agreed softly… "I'll go."
*****
--Richard had done the right thing… the DR was a huge help to Caroline. She was depressed. Not uncommon amongst couples struggling to conceive, having their hopes dashed and their money drained when drastic options don't work. The additional hormones used to produce and collect eggs in the woman causing imbalances that often assist the depression… it growing beyond mere disappointment and sadness into a clinical problem.
--She was prescribed medications, and group support sessions were recommended, which she attended weekly. Within a few months, she was much better, and her and Richard as a couple were strong and getting stronger…
--"Hey, Richard, I was thinking…" Caroline stated as she created her latest 'Caroline' panel…
"Yeah?"
"Well, since I'm better and no longer moping and depressed and stuff… why don't we talk about those other options."
"For having a baby?" he asked as he continued coloring the Sunday 'Caroline' strip…
"Yeah."
He finished the section he had been working on, then set his pen down… "Alright."
"Well, adoption is a good option… but, I was thinking maybe we oughta consider a surrogate."
"It's more expensive than adoption."
"Yeah." She agreed… "But, with a surrogate, it's our baby. Just grown in a third party uterus…"
He smiled at her choice of words… "True."
"So, would you consider that?"
"Yeah. We would have to be careful whom we choose as the surrogate though. Sometimes, they change their minds…"
"Yeah…" she agreed… "I was thinking of asking… Annie."
"Annie?" he asked in surprise… "Honey, are you sure?"
"Yeah. She's like a sister to me. I know she'd be a good surrogate… and I know she wouldn't change her mind about giving us the baby once it's born. Plus, she lives right across the way, so we can enjoy the pregnancy months. And then, she can see the baby often so she isn't missing him or her… ya'know?"
He nodded… "Alright. Ask her and see what she says…"
"I think we should ask her…" she suggested…
He smiled… "Alright."
*****
--"We had something important to ask you." Caroline informed Annie as her friend took a seat on the sofa…
"Sure…" Annie nodded… "What's going on?"
Richard sat in the nearby chair next to Caroline…
"Well, you know how much we want a child…" Caroline started… "And we've tried the in vitro procedures, and we thought about adoption, but, we have another option we're considering…"
"Ok…" Annie squinted as she tried to follow… "And that is?"
"Using a surrogate. My egg, Richard's sperm, a third party uterus."
"And we would like the surrogate to be someone we know and trust…" Richard added…
"Which is where you come in…" Caroline smiled awkwardly… "We would like to ask you-- To see if you'd consider being the surrogate."
Annie's eyes grew wide… "You want me to get pregnant with your child?"
Her reaction made Caroline a bit sad, thinking Annie's tone meant she would never consider it… "It's just, I trust you. And we're so close… physically and in friendship…"
"Wow. This is… such a… surprise." Annie's eyes darted around as her head spun with thought… "You want me to carry your child for you? For real?"
Caroline nodded… "Yeah. And I know it's a lot to ask of someone--"
"Well, it is, but you know I would do anything for you! I love you guys! I'm just… wow. I'm floored. What would I have to do?"
"Well, the DR can explain everything better than I could, but it wouldn't be a lot different from what I went through with the in vitro. They take my egg and Richard's sperm, make a baby, then insert it into the uterus."
"Well…" Annie nodded… "Give me some time to think about it. And talk to Del about it…"
"Of course." Richard replied…
"Of course…" Caroline mirrored…
Annie stood to leave… "I'm just gonna go get started on… thinking…"
Caroline smiled… "Alright." She turned to Richard once Annie was gone… "You think she'll say yes?"
He shrugged, then kissed her hand supportively… "Time will tell."
*****
--Annie had called and asked to speak with both of them… from that alone Caroline knew she was about to announce her decision, since she never asked to speak with Richard too. She nervously waited for the knock on the door, and Richard answered it when it was heard…
"Hey Annie. Come in…" Richard gestured for her to enter as he stood aside…
Pleasantries were exchanged before Annie took her seat…
"I gave it a lot of thought. And I talked with Del about it… and with my mom about it…" she took a deep breath and smiled… "Sure I'll be your surrogate!"
Caroline began to cry, gasping as her hands flew to her face, surprised and thrilled… "Oh, Annie, you have no idea how much this means to me!"
Annie hugged her… "Yes, I do. And I'm happy to do it."
Richard hugged Annie after Caroline… "Thank you for this Annie."
"You're welcome Richie."
*****
--There was lots to do… DR appointments, meetings, discussions about procedures and risks, and possible outcomes. They talked to Annie at length about how she may begin to feel attached to the baby, and would she have a problem giving the baby to the Karinskys if that happened.
So much to discuss… so much to be sure about… but when everything was said and done, the procedure was attempted. Annie got pregnant first try… with twins. A boy and a girl… the sonogram said.
Caroline couldn't have been more thrilled, and Richard was excited too. Finally, they were going to have their children… plural…
Right? ……………
TO BE CONTINUED…