Thank you all! Enjoy!
Chapter 6
Mary held Anna's hand, kissing along her knuckles as the ultrasound technician did a vaginal ultrasound. She was trying to remain calm for her wife. Anna's eyes were stuck on the screen as several tears fell down her cheek. Every so often she would turn to look to Mary who offered her a small, encouraging smile.
"All right," the technician said, withdrawing the probe. "I will send these results to the doctor."
The ultrasound tech cleaned up before stepping out of the room and leaving Mary and Anna alone.
"Mary," Anna whimpered. "I'm scared."
"I know, darling," Mary said. She inched closer to her wife, pulling the blanket back over her to keep her warm. "In the first ultrasound, we saw our baby's heartbeat and we saw him moving around. Don't give up hope, just yet."
Mary pressed Anna's hand against her cheek.
"Thank you," Anna whispered as a tear slid down her cheek. Mary reached over to wipe it away.
"For what?"
"Being here."
"Of course, I'm here, darling. You're my wife. That's our baby. I will be here every step of the way."
A knock came at the door and the doctor stepped inside. There was a tight smile on her lips, telling Mary this was not good news. Her stomach dropped.
"Hello," the doctor greeted. She grabbed a chair and pulled it closer to Anna and Mary. Then she grabbed an ultrasound picture from the file she was holding and lifted it for them both to see. Her finger ran along the middle. "Anna, it seems here that you have a shortened cervix. Because of this, your cervix is opening too soon."
"What – what does that mean for the baby?" Anna asked. She tightened her grip on Mary's hand. Mary attempted to soothe her by running her hand over Anna's.
"It means that you will lose the baby if we don't do something soon. Your body will go into labor too early."
"So what do we do," Mary asked, taking charge.
"A cervical stitch," the doctor answered. "We place a stitch around the opening of the cervix to prevent it from opening too early."
"And that will save our baby?" Anna bit down on her lower lip. Mary noticed her cheeks tighten and her body tense. Mary rubbed her shoulder, hoping to help with the pain shooting through Anna's body.
"It should, yes," the doctor said.
"Okay," Anna breathed. She settled back into the bed.
"Once you sign off, we'll prepare you for surgery. It should only take about an hour, then you'll stay here overnight to monitor you."
"And the surgery is safe?" Mary asked.
"Yes. Very safe."
Mary returned her attention to Anna. Their eyes met. Of course, she knew the answer: yes. It was their only chance at saving their baby. Mary leaned forward, placing her hand on Anna's cheek.
"It's going to be all right," she promised her. "You're going to be in the best hands."
-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-
Once Anna was taken back to surgery, Mary began to slowly unravel. Her wife was in surgery. They could lose the baby. She paced back and forth, taking several steady breaths in an attempt to keep from breaking down into tears.
As she walked away from the waiting room area, she spotted the doctor. She quickened her steps.
"Is it already over?" Mary had been waiting for nearly an hour now. The doctor looked up and shook her head.
"No, I'm just heading back now. I had an emergency I had to attend to first, but don't worry, your wife and daughter will be just fine."
"Daughter?" Mary asked, her breath hitching in her throat. "We're having a girl?"
"Oh. Sorry, I didn't mean to spoil the surprise, but yes, it's a girl."
"Oh," Mary said.
"I should head back now. The surgery won't last long. When it's over, your wife will be asleep, but we will also set you up a bed in her room."
The doctor walked back through the doors, leaving Mary alone, again.
She brought her hands together in front of her before starting her pacing. She turned, surprised to find her father standing in the waiting room. He glanced up at her and smiled.
"Papa? What are you doing here?"
"I got your message," he said, holding up his phone to show her. "Your mama was already asleep, or else she would have come too. I decided it was best not to wa –"
Mary didn't wait for him to finish. Instead, she wrapped her arms around him and began to cry on his shoulder. Slowly, her father's arms rested on her back, and he pulled her closer to him.
"Oh Mary," he said. "How's Anna? How's the baby?"
Mary continued to cry. She'd been holding it all in for hours, trying to be the strong one. She felt her father's hand rub up her back and then pat her shoulder.
"There. There," Robert comforted.
Mary finally stepped back, wiping her cheeks with the back of her hand.
"Anna is in surgery now," Mary said. "The doctor says she needs some sort of stitch to prevent her from going into labor too early. It should keep Anna from losing our little girl."
"Girl?" Robert's face lit up and a smile grew upon his lips. "We're having another granddaughter?"
Mary nodded, silently cursing herself for giving it away before Anna even knew.
"Yes. You look excited about that," Mary said.
"Why wouldn't I be?"
Mary sniffled. She wiped her cheek again before sitting down in one of the uncomfortable waiting room chairs. Her father sat beside her, glancing at her curiously.
"Mary, why wouldn't I be excited that you're having a girl?"
"I know you were disappointed when I was born and was a girl. You wanted a son," Mary said, creasing her brows. "And then I further disappointed you by being a lesbian who married a woman. I thought that if I had a boy, maybe that would please you."
"Oh Mary," Robert said with a shake of his head. "You are very wrong, my darling girl. You have never disappointed me."
"Mama said you cried the day I was born."
"Yes, because I'd never been so in love in my entire life. I had my baby girl."
"I've seen you with Cousin Matthew, Papa. I see how he's like the son you never had. How you light up in his presence."
"Mary," Robert began, "yes, I do like being around Matthew. He and I get along quite well, but he doesn't replace you or your sisters. I wouldn't trade the three of you for any son."
"Not even Edith?" Mary asked, raising her brow teasingly. Her father chuckled.
"Not even Edith. I love all three of you with all my heart. And I adore my granddaughters. I quite enjoy all my girls." Robert wrapped his arm around Mary's shoulder. "Even Anna," he added. "She's like my fourth daughter. You never disappointed me by marrying a woman, Mary." He began to dig around in his pocket and pulled out his phone. "Look at my background picture."
Mary took his phone from him and did as he asked. The background picture on the phone was of her and Anna on their wedding day. She smiled.
"We've been married for over a year now and this is still your picture?"
"Of course, it is. Look at that smile on your face, Mary. It is full of happiness. How could I be opposed to anything that made my daughter that happy? I couldn't. I am so happy you found Anna and so very thrilled you're having a little girl."
Mary rested her head on her father's shoulder, feeling like a weight had been taken off her shoulders. They sat there in silence as they waited for news about Anna and the baby.
Nearly an hour later, Mary was told the surgery went well. Her father kissed her goodbye, and Mary went to Anna's room to sit with her. She was told Anna would be asleep until the morning time.
-X-X-X-X-X-
When Anna woke up the next day, she found Mary sleeping awkwardly on a pull-out couch next to her. She brought her hands around her stomach, happy to feel the baby kick against her hand. There was some pain, but it was a different type of pain than she'd been in the night before.
"Mary," she whispered. Mary moaned softly, turning to her side. "Mary," Anna tried a bit louder.
Mary's eyes slowly opened. She yawned before jumping up at the realization that Anna was calling for her.
"Darling? Are you all right? Should I call a nurse?" Mary's hair was a mess, bunched up on one side.
"No, I'm fine. The baby is fine. Sorry, I shouldn't have woken you."
"Yes, you should have," Mary said. "How are you feeling?"
"All right, a little tired and in a bit of pain."
"Yes, the doctor said you might for a few days." Mary ran her finger over Anna's chin. "Would you like me to get you something?"
"No, but would you lay down with me."
Mary nodded. She climbed up into the bed, careful not to pull the IV out of Anna's arm.
"She's going to be okay," Mary said, placing her hand on Anna's belly. "Darling, we're having a girl."
Anna rose an eyebrow, looking toward her wife. "What?"
"Yes, the doctor told me last night. A little girl."
Anna shifted on the bed so she could face Mary better. She reached her hand across and touched Mary's, bringing it into her own.
"Are you disappointed? I know how much you wanted a boy."
"Absolutely not," Mary said, shaking her head. "I'm thrilled. I'm so incredibly thrilled, Anna. We're having a baby girl!" Mary leaned forward and kissed Anna. "I just hope she looks just like you."
Anna laughed. "I guess now we just need to discuss girl names. We had a boy name all picked out."
"We have time, just not Zoey," Mary said. Anna frowned.
"Why not? I like the name Zoey."
"It just sounds… trendy."
"It's not trendy," Anna argued. "It's beautiful."
"I never said trendy names couldn't be beautiful, Anna," Mary said pointedly. "But let's not discuss it right now. Right now, I'm just so grateful you and our daughter are all right."
"Me too."
To be continued...
