Almost five years later, Chris and Sarah were happily living together, now a married couple, in a rented apartment not too far from the Potter house. Chris's current job was assistant manager in the local supermarket, after having had several different jobs in offices since he'd graduated from school. Sarah was a stay-at-home mom, happily looking after their home and taking care of their young son, Adam.
One morning, Chris sat at the head of the kitchen table eating toast, while Sarah and Adam sat at one side of the table eating cereals. Adam ate Cheerios while Sarah ate Muesli, preferring to eat healthily.
"Are you going to find out today?" asked Chris when he'd finished eating his toast. He was anxious for Sarah to get her test done so they'd soon find out the result.
"I don't think I need to," answered Sarah enigmatically.
"You think the answer would be positive then?" Chris smiled at his wife, guessing what she meant.
"No, negative. There haven't been any real signs."
"I think you should take the test though, just in case," said Chris, trying not to make it sound like an order.
"If it will make you happy, I will," said Sarah, reluctant to get Chris's hopes up when she was sure the result wouldn't be what he was hoping.
Adam continued to eat his cereal, completely unaware of the importance of his parents' conversation.
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Sarah took Adam to stay with her mother that morning, after phoning her first to check she could baby-sit for her. Sarah wanted to buy the test and take it almost immediately, eager to find out what the result would be. Since she and Chris had spoken about it that morning, she'd started getting her hopes up that she was pregnant. She wouldn't be able to take the test with her young son around, so had needed to get a baby-sitter at short notice; she was fortunate that her mother could take him that day.
Sarah bought the pregnancy testing kit, and then went into a nearby department store's public rest-room with it. She took the test, and then waited for the result.
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Chris Larabee sat behind his desk at work with thoughts of a new baby constantly in his mind. He was hopeful that after they'd been trying for a baby for several months, Sarah might at last be pregnant with their second child. The radio was playing songs from the sixties while Chris day-dreamed about having a second child.
Chris was suddenly startled when a news report caught his attention.
"A woman and young boy were found dead an hour ago in their home; police say there were no signs of forced entry..."
"CHRIS! There's an urgent call for you on the line," called his assistant from across the office.
Chris picked up the phone, worried about the news report mentioning a woman and boy - he always worried about his wife and son when he left them for the day.
"Chris Larabee," he answered, then listened to Josiah's rushed reply on the other end. Chris's face fell as he listened to the bad news he'd thought some other husband would receive that day.
To be continued...