Jamie had called her doctor Monday morning and he had agreed to see her right away. She and Landon had come in Tuesday afternoon for their appointment. That brought them to where they were now; sitting in the waiting room at the doctor's office. So there they sat, just waiting nervously.
"Jamie Sullivan... er... Jamie Carter now is it?" the doctor had appeared in the hallway and was now calling for Jamie to come back.
"Yeah, it's Jamie Carter now," Jamie replied proudly. Both she and Landon grinned. Then they stood and followed the doctor back to room three. The doctor talked to Jamie for a little bit and then he ran a few tests. Landon kind of sat there nervously holding Jamie's hand, praying that nothing was wrong with her. (If you're in Heaven, should you be praying? I mean... I guess you should but then couldn't you just make what you're praying for be true? Or couldn't you? I guess I don't know. Well he was praying anyways.)
The doctor had concluded his testing now, and they were again waiting for the results. Since it was Heaven, they could get them up pretty fast.
"Landon are you scared?" Jamie asked him as they sat in room three, waiting.
"Well... yes," he answered. "I know I shouldn't be, I know I should have faith. After all, I am in Heaven. But you had faith before and you still had leukemia. I don't get it."
"You aren't supposed to get it, Landon," Jamie told him softly. "Don't worry about me, okay? It's not the leukemia."
Landon looked at her, surprised. "It's not?"
"No. I just figured it out. I just figured out what it is anyways. I haven't exactly figured out how or why yet," she told him.
"Jamie you're confusing me. You're purposely being evasive aren't you?" Landon asked.
"I'd tell you, but then I'd have to kill you," she replied, grinning.
"I'M ALREADY DEAD!" Landon almost-yelled. Not with anger, though. With laughter.
Just at that moment, as he and Jamie were giggling over the obvious joke, the doctor came back into the room. "Well, I think I've got some results. It's not the leukemia, that's gone. I think it must come with dying, the diseases go away. Unless of course... you go to Hell. But that's not where we are. But I've got the results. Mr. Carter, I know you're in on this as well, but could you please step out for a moment so that I can tell your wife and then let her talk to you?"
Politely, Landon nodded and left the room. He wished he could know what was going on in there but instead he just took a place in the waiting room and waited until Jamie came out. She came out only moments later, grinning like she'd died and gone to Heaven. Wait... she had. (Man, none of the earth sayings work in this story! LOL! A little while ago when I was stuck, someone suggested that I kill off the main character. Now tell me... how would I do that if they're all already dead? LOL!)
"You want to tell me what that was all about?" Landon asked Jamie.
"Not yet," she answered evasively. "Later."
"Jamie!" Landon exclaimed. "I can't believe you!"
"Don't worry, Landon. Jamie has a plan," Jamie grinned.
Landon rolled his eyes. "Oh yeah, that's right. You're the angel."
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Jamie and Landon's house
Later that day
Jamie and Landon sat on the couch in their home. Landon had his arm around Jamie and she had her head resting on his shoulder. Then she lifted her head and looked up at him. "Landon," she said softly.
"What is it, baby?" Landon answered.
"Exactly," Jamie replied.
"What?" Landon asked.
"Baby. Landon, I have something to tell you," she said quietly. "I'm pregnant."
Landon just looked at her for just a moment before both of them burst into matching grins. "Jamie, that's wonderful!" he grinned excitedly. "Oh my goodness, I'm so happy!"
"I'm so glad, Landon! I was afraid you wouldn't want it yet but I'm so glad you're happy!" Jamie exclaimed. She was like a kid on Christmas this time. "I love you."
"I love you too, Jamie," Landon told her. "And I love the baby. But I have a question."
"What's that?" Jamie asked.
"How?"
"Um... Landon... don't they teach that in sex ed?" she asked jokingly. Landon smiled his crooked smile letting her know that he appreciated the joke.
"No, seriously, Jamie. I mean... we're... well we're dead," he told her.
"Heaven is whatever you want, Landon. We wanted a baby, in fact, that was my number two, and we're getting a baby."
"I love you Jamie," Landon told her again.
"I love you too, Landon. And I love the baby too."
"Jamie... you realize we have to tell our parents, right? I mean... we can't just wait until the baby shows up and show them. They're going to notice before that," Landon told her.
"I know, Landon. I have to admit I'm a little nervous about telling my daddy but I'm sure my mom will calm him down," she told him.
"You're amazing, Jamie. I knew I loved you for a reason."
Jamie laughed. "Thank you."
"Hey I've got an idea. Why don't we have our parents over on Sunday after church for lunch and we can tell them then?" Landon suggested.
"Sounds like a good idea to me," Jamie replied. "You might want to get a bullet proof vest though. You know how my father can be."
"Jamie, we're dead. I don't get that. How could anything go wrong when we're dead?"
"Because what most people want most is to continue living life, and in life there are problems. Without them it would be boring. That's why there are still minor problems up here. I mean... there are never Heaven Wars or anything but there are still tears in Heaven," Jamie explained.
"How on earth did you get so smart?" Landon asked.
"Not how on earth, how in Heaven," Jamie giggled.
Landon laughed. "You are deranged, Mrs. Carter."
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Sunday afternoon
Landon and Jamie's house
Now everyone was at their house. But both Jamie and Landon were very nervous. They had decided not to make their announcement until everyone was pretty much finished eating. (They were afraid that Reverend Sullivan would start yelling and leave without eating anything. Sounded like the sort of thing he'd do.) Lunch was almost finished. Jamie and Landon were out back working on it together while their parents chatted and talked outside in their back yard.
The timer beeped. "That's the Hamburgers," Jamie said quickly. She took them off the grill and headed over to the picnic table with them. A few seconds later, Landon came over with the salads and stuff. Then they all sat down and started eating. Everyone ate pretty quickly. Then they sort of all looked around at each other for a while. Their parents did not know that they even had an announcement to make. Jamie and Landon looked at each other for a moment and then they both said the same thing at the same time.
"We have an announcement to make." Then they both turned to each other and laughed. They quickly sobered and turned to their parents who had expectant looks on their faces. Jamie was the one who spoke.
"We're going to have a baby."
No one spoke for a moment. Then Jamie's father spoke. "Oh," he said simply. "That's good I guess."
Then he left. Just simply disappeared on them. Just went away just as simple as that. Jamie looked at Landon, tears in her eyes. He had known it'd be hard on her when her father reacted. He embraced her tightly.
"It's okay, baby," Landon told Jamie. "He'll be okay. Don't worry about it." But Landon was worried about it, he couldn't help it. He was sorry for Jamie that her father had reacted that way.
Landon and Jamie were standing now, in each others' arms, a mere foot from the table where Jamie's mother and Landon's parents still sat in shock. Then Jamie's mother came up next to them. "I'm so sorry about that," she told them. "I know he's just surprised, I'll calm him down and then he'll be happy. Most fathers have a hard time believing that their little girl is pregnant at first. I promise he'll be okay with it as soon as he gets used to the idea."
Jamie sniffed and then left Landon's arms and gave her mother a hug. "Thanks, mom," she said quietly. Then Landon's parents came up behind Landon.
"Landon we're proud of you two," his mother told him. "Don't worry about Reverend Sullivan. He'll be okay. Just be happy that the Lord has blessed you in this way."
"I am, momma. I'm just a little worried about Jamie. Her father's approval means the world to her," Landon told her.
"Son, that's very kind of you. But really don't worry. Just be there for her and I promise it'll turn out alright," Landon's father told him.
Just then Jamie and her mother came over. "Landon I'm terribly sorry," Jamie's mother said.
"No, it's okay. It's not your fault, it's not anyone's fault, okay? It's going to be fine." Saying the words, Landon tried to believe them himself, but he didn't know if he could yet.
A few minutes later, their guests had politely decided to leave, and then they'd disappeared back to their own homes. This left only Jamie and Landon. They cleaned wordlessly and then went inside. They were just standing in the kitchen looking at each other, and then, still wordlessly, they went into each others' arms.
"It's okay, it's okay," Landon whispered to Jamie who was now crying on his shoulder. "It's okay."
"Landon," she sobbed. "I knew he was going to have a little trouble with it but I can't deal with it. He just left! How can this be like this? It's Heaven for goodness sake, why can't it be okay?"
"You said it yourself earlier Jamie. Without a few tears, it'd be boring. Don't worry, he'll be okay with it as soon as he gets used to the idea, and then he'll go into Grandpa mode. I promise," Landon told her, wiping the tears from her eyes and cradling her head in his hands. "Okay? Now I want you to go and rest, maybe read another of your books, or pray. You let me take care of the rest of the dishes."
Jamie nodded and then went upstairs, sniffling a little on the way.
Landon finished the dishes quickly and went upstairs to find Jamie. He found her upstairs on their bed, crying softly. "Hey, baby, are you okay?" he asked her.
"Yeah," she sobbed, trying to rid herself of the tears. "I'm sorry."
"No... no... Jamie it's okay, I completely understand," Landon assured her. "Honey please don't worry too much, it's not good for you. Come on, why don't you take a hot bath or something and relax?"
"Okay," Jamie sniffed. "Will you come... and help me?"
Landon knew what she meant. She didn't want to be left alone. She just didn't want to say that. "Yeah, I'll come," he answered. They proceeded to their bathroom, he kept his arm around her the whole way.
When they got inside, she slipped her skirt and shirt off rather quickly as the water ran into the bathtub. Landon sat on a stool next to the tub, monitoring the water temperature. He watched her tear-streaked face as she slid into the water, beneath the foam bubbles. "Thank you for staying with me, Landon," she told him.
"Hey, it's no problem," he told her, taking her soapy hand. "I love you, you know that."
"I do," Jamie answered. "I'm sure you're right, my father will be okay. It's just that... I've never made him upset before now... he's never disapproved of anything I did... well... besides dating you at first... before..."
Landon laughed a little. "I know he disapproved of us dating... Jamie he's not mad at you sweetie, okay? If anything he's mad at me."
"Oh and that's so much better," Jamie said sarcastically. Then she smiled. "Sorry."
"Stop being sorry. The only thing you're guilty of is being a wonderful human being or angel or whatever you are right now, and of having dreams."
Jamie gave Landon a hug, which got him wet, but he didn't care. He hugged her back. He loved her.
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Two hours later
Jamie and Landon were sitting together on their couch, reading "Oliver Twist". It was another of Mr. Rothman's books. Jamie hadn't quite finished them yet. This one was, however, one of the last ones left. Then the doorbell rang. Landon stood and went to answer the door. There he saw Reverend Sullivan, standing all by himself with a sort of apprehensive look on his face.
"Hello Sir, come in," Landon said, not knowing what to say. Was he here to apologize or to disown one or both of them?
Jamie looked up from her place on their living room couch. "Daddy," she said quietly.
"Jamie," he responded, just as quiet. Neither one of them said a word after that, they both just burst out crying and went into each others' arms. "I'm so sorry for leaving, Jamie," he said to her. "I guess I was just shocked. I really should've been happy for you. I just... I... well I still see you as my little girl."
"I know daddy. I know," was all Jamie said.
"And I'm sorry to you too Landon. I meant no disrespect and I want you to know that I'm happy for you two and I'm sure that wonderful things are to come," Reverend Sullivan added, turning to Landon.
"Apology accepted, Sir. It's okay," Landon answered him. Then, they all sat down on the couch together and talked of due dates and doctors' appointments and baby showers and decorations... all the happy things that come with having a baby.
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Landon rubbed the sleep from his eyes. He had heard a sound. He hadn't known what it was but he knew he heard it. He put his hand to the side to check if Jamie was still in bed beside him. He felt only the empty covers. Landon sat up and looked around. Nothing was out of the ordinary, but the balcony door was open and the curtains blowing with the breeze. He slipped out of the bed and out the door, to where Jamie was standing on the balcony, looking over the sleeping town. She had not seen him. Landon just stood and watched her for a minute, then he put his hand on her shoulder. She turned silently. Then she saw his face and gave a small smile. "Hey," she said quietly.
"Hey yourself," Landon replied. "What're you doing out here in the middle of the night?"
"I couldn't sleep. I was just thinking about that night we had, in the cemetery. The night you named a star after me. It's that one up there, see?"
"I've watched it for years, Jamie. I can find it anymore without a telescope or binoculars or anything. I swear, once, it winked at me," Landon smiled.
"That was a wonderful evening, and a wonderful thing to do, Landon," Jamie told him.
"All for the best girl in the world," he answered. "I've always remembered that night you know. You were so adorable. It was the night I knew I'd marry you. It was the night I knew we'd be together forever."
"It was the night I told you my number one," she finished. "You know you were quite wonderful as well. Your act with the blankets was quite entertaining." Jamie giggled.
"Turns out I was the one who was so darned seducible," Landon laughed. "As you're proved to me sufficiently."
Jamie grinned at him. "I was seducible, I just wasn't telling you," she admitted.
"I know," he answered. "Hey hold on a minute, I'll be right back."
Author's note: Sorry it's taken so long between parts... I typed this as a whole and I have to save every single part as HTML, and it takes a little while to reformat... I finished writing the whole thing now though, so I'll try and pick up on the parts a little. I've got another story coming as well, one is "In Your Dreams" and another is "Just One Night" so you can look forward to that if you liked this one... enjoy!
"Okay," Jamie agreed. Then Landon disappeared into the house. She saw that he was digging in the closet but she couldn't tell what he was searching for. Finally, he emerged from the house back onto the balcony with a blanket. A green one. But just one.
"I brought us a blanket," Landon told her.
Jamie laughed. "Just one this time?"
"Well, you are seducible this time, right?" he grinned.
"Only if you are."
I'll leave the rest up to the reader's imagination... I mean... they can if you want them to. Okay? I mean... I'm not smart enough to figure out what pregnancies forbid and if it includes 'that'. So you decide. And keep in mind, this is Heaven. But on the other hand, THIS IS THE BALCONY! LOLOLOL!
To be continued