The Brady Eight: Just Starting Out
A Welcome Aboard Sequel
Chapter 44
A/N1—Taking more risks here and going with very rare. WARNING! This chapter is intense. Feel free to skip the chapter and go to Chapter 45. You won't miss much by doing so. This is my last update until I return from vacation. Again, WARNING this chapter is intense.
Wednesday
It's the day of Julie's appointment to hear the baby's heartbeat. Peter and Julie leave Westdale as soon as school lets out and Peter drives them to the doctor's office. Carla, Julie's mother, meets them in the waiting room.
Julie: Holding Peter's hand. I hope the baby's okay.
Peter: I'm sure everything's going to be fine.
Carla: It's only natural to be a little nervous.
Julie: Breathes a sigh of relief. I hope so.
Peter: Kisses her cheek. I'm sure it will be.
Julie: Just think. In about six months, we'll get to meet our little girl or our little boy.
Peter grins and places his hand on her abdomen. Carla watches with a mixture of pain and admiration.
Peter: Whispering. Caryn or Matthew.
Julie: Smiling. Caryn. I know it's a girl. Caryn Faith Brady.
Julie rests her head on her beloved's shoulder. Before they realize, the nurse calls Julie into one of the exam rooms. The nurse gets her weight and vitals.
Nurse: How have you been feeling?
Julie: I had the flu a couple weeks ago, but I'm feeling better.
Nurse: That's good. Your vitals look good. Any morning sickness?
Julie: It's getting better. It was awful.
Nurse: Oh?
Julie: I don't know why they call it "morning sickness" when it strikes any time of the day.
Nurse: Chuckles. I understand. Reviews her chart. This is your first prenatal checkup?
Julie: Not counting the appointment at the women's clinic, and when the doctor came by when I had the flu, yes.
Nurse: I see. You're thirteen weeks?
Julie: Yes.
Nurse: All right. Finishes making notes in the chart. The doctor will be in soon.
Just as the nurse leaves, the doctor enters the room.
Doctor: Julie Dunham?
Julie: Yes.
Doctor: Hi, I'm Doctor Anderson.
Julie: This is my mother, Carla Dunham, and my boyfriend, Peter Brady.
Doctor Anderson: Reviews her chart. Everything seems to be in order. Are you ready to hear your baby's heartbeat?
Julie and Peter look at each other and grin.
Julie: Yes!
Doctor Anderson: Smiles. All right. Hop up on the exam table and we'll make that possible.
Peter helps her on to the table and Julie lies down. Peter holds Julie's hand while the doctor completes an examination.
Doctor Anderson: Everything looks good. Let me turn on the machine.
He sets up and turns on the machine, and places it on her abdomen. He moves it around and frowns. Carla notices, but tries to keep a neutral expression. Panic spreads across Julie's face.
Peter: Concerned. Doctor?
The doctor moves the wand around and still hears nothing.
Doctor Anderson: I'm going to go get the ultrasound machine. It'll give us a clearer picture of what's going on. I'll be right back.
The doctor leaves the room and Julie breaks down in tears.
Julie: Oh Peter! What if there's something wrong?
A couple tears stream down Peter's face as he struggles to speak.
Peter: We can't think like that. Maybe the machine is broken.
Julie: Trying to convince herself. Yes. That's it. The machine's probably broken.
Carla silently prays that the machine is broken, but fears it isn't. The doctor returns with the ultrasound machine.
Doctor Anderson: Here we are. He sets up the machine. I'm sorry the gel is cold.
Julie screeches as the doctor squirts the gel on her abdomen.
Julie: YIKES!
Doctor Anderson: I'm sorry. Everyone says it's cold.
Julie: It's freezing!
Doctor Anderson: Let's see this baby.
Peter and Julie hold their breath in fear and anticipation. The doctor frowns as he moves the wand around.
Carla: Doctor, what's wrong?
Doctor Anderson: Puzzled. I'm going to get my associate, Dr. Nichols. I need him to confirm something.
Carla: Protective. Doctor, is there something wrong?
Doctor Anderson: Sighs. Yes. I'm afraid there is.
Julie: Screams. My baby! What's wrong with my baby? Peter!
Peter: Doctor, please tell us what it is.
Doctor Anderson: Okay, I'll be up front with you. This looks like a molar pregnancy.
Peter: Confused. A what?
Doctor Anderson: A molar pregnancy.
Carla: What's that?
Doctor Anderson: Basically, that means there was something wrong with either the egg or sperm and the baby doesn't develop properly, or at all.
Julie: Our baby's gone?
Doctor Anderson: Heartbroken. Basically, yes.
Peter: When?
Doctor Anderson: From the moment of conception.
Julie: Ho... How?
Carla: This doesn't make sense. She's had the usual symptoms of pregnancy: morning sickness, missed periods, breast tenderness and changes in her abdomen.
Doctor Anderson: Sometimes the woman still has all the symptoms of a normal pregnancy. Pauses. Before I go on, I would like Doctor Nichols to take a look and confirm this. He's a high risk obstetrician.
The doctor opens the door and summons the nurse.
Doctor Anderson: Can you get Doctor Nichols for me, please? He should be in the break room.
Nurse: Sure.
The doctor waits while Dr. Nichols enters the exam room, and then introduces the doctor to Julie, Peter and Carla.
Dr. Nichols: The doctor asked me to take a look at your ultrasound.
Julie and Peter are silent, tears running down their cheeks.
Carla: The doctor said something about a molar pregnancy?
Dr. Nichols: Those are very rare, but I have seen a few. Let me take a look.
Dr. Nichols operates the machine and lands in one spot.
Peter: Afraid to ask. Well?
Dr. Nichols: You're right. It's a molar pregnancy. He turns the screen so Julie, Peter and Carla can see. See? There's the sac and the dots here that look like a cluster of grapes is fetal tissue.
Julie: Grasping at straws. And there's no way the baby will develop?
Dr. Nichols: Sad. I'm sorry, but no.
Julie and Peter break down in tears and embrace.
Carla: Trying not to break down herself. What do we do next?
Dr. Nichols: We'll need to do a DNC.
Julie: Crying. When?
Doctor Anderson: How about Friday morning? That way, you'll have the weekend to recover.
Carla: Okay.
Julie: Peter? Will you come with us?
Peter: Yes.
Dr. Nichols: Do you have any questions?
Julie: I had the flu a couple weeks ago. Did that hurt the baby?
Doctor Anderson: No. This happened at conception.
Julie: Will I be able to have more kids?
Dr. Nichols: Yes. I know this is hard news to take, but you can have a normal pregnancy.
Carla: What about cancer? Is it cancerous or will she get cancer?
Dr. Nichols: Most of them aren't cancerous. We'll be able to tell once it's sent to pathology. No, this doesn't increase her chances of getting cancer.
Carla nods.
Dr. Nichols: I'm sorry. I wish I had better news.
Dr. Nichols leaves, and Doctor Anderson continues with the explanation.
Doctor Anderson: We'll also monitor your hormone levels for a year after they return to normal. That'll mean we'll draw blood once a month. It also means you two need to abstain from having sex for six months to a year. Your body needs time to heal and doesn't need the stress from being pregnant so soon.
Carla: I don't think we'll have to worry about that.
Doctor Anderson: Do you have any more questions?
Julie: Crying. So, what you're saying is that there really was no baby?
Doctor Anderson: Technically, no.
Peter: Technically?
Doctor Anderson: We get half our chromosomes from our father and half from our mother. In this case, it's likely that the egg had no nucleus, and therefore, no chromosomes, which means the only chromosomes passed on were from the sperm. This makes it impossible for the embryo to develop into a baby.
Julie: So it's my fault?
Doctor Anderson: No. There's no blame here.
Carla: Tries to console her daughter. You can't blame yourself, honey.
Doctor Anderson: Do you have any more questions?
Peter and Julie shake their heads.
Carla: I don't think so.
Doctor Anderson: I wish it were better news and I'll see you Friday.
Doctor Anderson leaves the room and Peter and Julie cry in each other's embrace.
Carla: I know what the doctor said about it not being a baby, but yes, this is your baby.
Julie: Confused. What do you mean?
Carla: It may not be genetically a baby, but you love this child.
Peter: Chokes. We do.
Carla: And that's why this is your baby. No matter what the baby may have been genetically, this is your baby and you love her or him, and that's why this hurts so much.
Julie: Yeah.
Carla allows the couple to grieve for a few minutes before she guides them out of the room. She pays for the visit and they go to their cars. Peter, with Julie in his car, follows Carla back to Julie's house. They walk, arms around each other's waists, into the house and into her bedroom. They lie on her bed in a quiet embrace.
Carla: Empathetic. Peter, do you want me to call your mother?
Peter nods.
Carla: I don't normally allow boyfriends in Julie's room, but I'll make an exception today.
She kisses the top of her daughter's head and calls Carol.
Carol: Answers the phone in her bedroom. Hello?
Carla: Tries to keep her composure. Are you able to come over?
Carol: Notices something's wrong. Today was the appointment.
Carla: Yes.
Carol: Alarmed. There's something wrong with the baby.
Carla: Yes. I'll explain when you come over. Peter and Julie are having a really hard time.
Carol: Concerned. I will. I'll be right over.
Carla: Thank you.
They hang up the phone and Carol dashes to Mike's office.
Mike: Sees his wife in a panic. Honey, what's wrong?
Carol: Carla called and asked me to come over. There's something wrong with the baby.
Mike: Stunned. Oh. Do you want me to come with you?
Carol: Please? We can have Jan, Bobby and Cindy watch the twins.
Mike: All right. Let's go.
They stop by the family room, where the three older kids are watching the twins, and explain where they're going.
At the Dunham's.
Mike and Carol pull up in the driveway and walk to the front door. Mike rings the bell. Carla, who is crying, answers the door.
Carla: Mike, Carol. Glad you came. The kids are really going to need us.
Mike: Carol said there's something wrong with the baby?
Carla: Let's talk in the living room. Mark's already there.
She leads them into the living room. Mike and Mark greet each other and shake hands.
Mark: Let's sit down and we'll talk about it.
Mike: Where are the kids?
Carla: They're asleep in her bedroom.
Carol raises an eyebrow.
Carla: I told the kids I'd make the exception for today only. I just checked on them and they're sound asleep.
Carol: So, what did you find out at the appointment?
Carla explains what the doctors told them and what they ultrasound showed. Tears stream down Carol's face and Mike appears as if he got punched in the gut.
Carol: Heartbroken. Oh, no.
Carla: It's been quite a shock.
Mark: I'm trying to wrap my head around this too.
Mike: Sighs. Thank you for inviting us over to tell us.
Katie comes running into the living room.
Katie: Mommy! Julie and Peter won't play with me.
Carla: Not now, honey. Go play in your room.
Katie: But I want Julie to play with me.
Mark: Firm. Katie.
Katie: Pouts. Yes, Daddy.
She walks back to her room, sulking.
Mike: I guess we'll need to go ahead and wake the kids up, so we can take Peter home.
Carla and Carol go into Julie's room and wake the couple up. Peter sees his mother and wraps his arms around her and cries into her shoulder.
Carol: I am so sorry about the baby.
Peter: Our baby's gone!
Carol: Strokes the back of her son's head. I know.
Peter: We won't get to hold our baby.
Carla and Julie cry in silence.
Carol: No, you won't.
Peter: We won't get to bury our baby like you and dad did with Paige.
Carol looks at Carla for clarification.
Carla: I'm sorry, no.
Peter: And we won't be able to use the names we picked out.
Carol: You can still name the baby if you want.
Peter: Surprised. Really?
Carla: Yes. It might help the two of you to get through this.
Peter: We were going to use Caryn Faith or Matthew Thomas.
Julie: Caryn Faith. I know the baby was supposed to be a girl.
Carol: Both of those are lovely names.
Julie: Wiping her tears. And I think we'll need a lot of faith to get us through this.
Carol: I know your folks and Mike and I will be here for both of you.
Julie: Thanks, Mrs. Brady.
Peter releases his mother. Carol brushes stray hair from his face.
Carol: I think we need to go. Your dad can drive your car for you.
Peter: I can drive.
Carol: I'd feel better if your dad does the driving.
Julie: Please? Let your dad drive.
Peter: I will.
Carol and Carla leave the room so Peter and Julie can say goodbye. Peter gives Julie a gentle kiss on the lips.
Peter: I love you.
Julie: I love you too. Cries and places his hand on her abdomen. We barely got to say "hello" and now we're having to say "goodbye."
Peter: Addresses the baby. I'm going to miss you, Caryn. Daddy loves you so much!
Julie: I'm going to stay home from school tomorrow and Friday.
Peter: I'll meet you at the doctor's office Friday morning. I hope mom and dad will let me stay home tomorrow too.
Julie: Sighs. I think your mom and dad are ready to go.
Peter: Okay. Gives her a quick peck. I'll call you tomorrow.
Julie: I love you.
Peter joins his parents in the living room. They say their goodbyes and leave, Mike driving in Peter's car, Peter riding with his dad, and Carol driving Mike's car.
At the Brady house
Mike, Carol and Peter walk to the house together.
Mike: How do you want us to tell everyone?
Peter: Maybe it would be best just to say we lost the baby.
Carol: Are you sure? We could explain it for you.
Peter: No, I don't want to get into it. Pauses. I can't wrap my head around it.
Carol: Okay.
They walk inside and see Jan, Bobby and Cindy in the living room. Jan notices their somber expressions.
Jan: Is everything okay?
Peter shakes his head.
Carol: First, are the twins in bed?
Cindy: Yes. Jan and I put them down about half an hour ago.
Carol: Thanks.
Mike: Now, there's something we need to discuss with you three.
Bobby: Concerned. Oh? What's wrong?
Mike, Carol and Peter sit on the couches while Jan sits in the recliner, and Cindy and Bobby are on the floor.
Mike: Somber. Julie had her ultrasound appointment today.
Cindy: Dreading the rest of the talk. Something's wrong, isn't it?
Peter: Chokes. Julie and I lost the baby.
Jan: WHAT?!
Peter: We went in to hear the baby's heartbeat. The doctor tried one machine, and couldn't hear anything. So, he got the ultrasound machine out. The baby didn't have a heartbeat.
Tears stream down Cindy's face.
Jan: Solemn. Just like Paige.
Peter: Kinda.
Bobby starts to say something, but remains silent. However, a single tear rolls down his cheek. Peter notices.
Mike: Does anyone have any questions?
Bobby: What happened?
Mike: Peter?
Peter nods and Mike explains what Mark and Carla told them.
Bobby: Confused. Huh?
Jan: Let me see if I get this. Because something went wrong during conception, the baby never really developed, but the sac, fluid and placenta did?
Carol: That's right.
Jan, Bobby and Cindy try to figure it out, but are unsuccessful.
Peter: I'm still trying to wrap my head around it too.
They finish up their discussion and then the kids go to their separate rooms. Mike and Carol give Peter one last embrace.
Peter: Can you invite Greg, Marcia, Alice and Sam over tomorrow night so I can tell them?
Carol: All right.
Peter: Tears streaming down his face. And can you guys tell the grandparents?
Mike: We can.
Carol: Oh, and don't set your alarm for school tomorrow. We're going to let you stay home. I think you need tomorrow and Friday off.
Peter: Thanks.
Carol: Embraces her son. I love you, Peter.
Peter: I love you too, mom.
Mike: I love you too, son. I'm sorry this has happened.
Peter: Thanks.
They say goodnight. Mike and Carol check on the twins and see that they're still asleep. Then, they get ready for bed.
Carol: Lets the tears flow. Oh, Mike!
She falls into Mike's embrace.
Mike: Tears roll down his face. I know.
Carol: I hurt so badly for him and Julie.
Mike: So do I. He'll get through this and we'll help him through it.
Carol: First, they find out they're pregnant, and when they finally get used to the idea, this happens. Sighs.
Mike: Kisses her on the lips. What?
Carol: It's so unfair!
Mike: What do you mean?
Carol: Mom called last night.
Mike: And?
Carol: Tears cascade down. Christine's pregnant. She and her boyfriend are pregnant. The baby's due in November. They heard the baby's heartbeat yesterday and then told mom and dad.
Mike: Oh really?
Carol: Mom called me this morning.
Mike: How do you feel about that?
Carol: Sighs. Of course, I don't want something bad to happen to their baby, but why Peter and Julie? They've got their heads on straight and their baby's gone, while my sister's kid and her boyfriend are troubled and their baby's healthy. They can't handle a baby!
Mike: Pulls her into an embrace. I don't know why. We may never know why. It does seem unfair.
Carol: I hate seeing Peter hurt like this. I haven't the heart to tell the kids about Christine.
Mike: We don't have to for awhile.
Carol: Sighs. And although I said I wasn't ready to be a grandmother, I was looking forward to being a grandmother to this baby.
Mike: Me too. I was looking forward to being a grandfather, and doing a lot of the neat things my grandfathers did with me.
They cry in each other's embrace.
The next day (Thursday)
The mood at the Brady house is a somber one. Jan, Bobby and Cindy quietly eat their breakfast and get ready for school. Carol feeds the twins their breakfast. Mike works from home. When the twins go down for their naps, Carol calls her parents to come over. Mike calls his as well. Their parents arrive at the same time and ring the doorbell. Carol blinks back tears and answers the door.
Martha: Hugs her daughter. Carol.
Carol: Sniffs, blinking back tears. Hi, mom.
Martha: You sounded distressed over the phone.
Agnes: So did Mike.
Carol: Come on in and I'll get Mike.
While the Bradys and Tylers sit in the living room, Carol knocks on Mike's office entryway.
Carol: Mike, our parents are here.
Mike: Puts down his drafting utensils. I'm coming. He embraces his wife. You ready?
Carol: Chokes back tears. No, but we need to tell them.
Reluctantly, they walk into the living room to tell their parents. They greet each other. Carol sits in the rocking chair and Mike stands beside her.
Thomas: What's going on?
Martha: Is the baby okay?
Tears stream down Carol's face as Mike inhales to speak.
Mike: No. Peter and Julie lost the baby.
Agnes: Oh, Mike.
Henry: Whispering, as his face falls. Damn.
Martha: What happened?
Mike explains what the Dunhams told him and Carol.
Thomas: In shock. Man!
Agnes: Peter and Julie must be devastated.
Mike: They are.
Carol: He's at Julie's house right now. We thought it best to let him stay out of school today and tomorrow.
Martha: How are you doing with all this?
Carol: I... I just can't believe it. It feels a lot like deja vu.
Mike: It's bad enough going through it as the parent, but when it happens to your son...
Agnes: I understand.
Martha: Yes. Her face falls. Oh, Carol! And with Christine's baby due a month after Julie and Peter's was.
Carol: We didn't know about Peter's baby when you called, and besides, you couldn't have known.
Martha: Would Peter want us to let the family know?
Mike: I think that would be best.
Agnes: We can do that for you.
Carol: Please, just tell them they lost the baby. Peter and Julie said they'd rather not have the details spread beyond immediate family and grandparents.
Martha: All right.
Later that evening.
Carol calls Greg, Marcia, and Alice and Sam to invite them to dinner, as Peter had requested. As the family waits for them to arrive, the phone rings. Carol answers it, revealing Ellie on the other end. Carol updates her on the recent news.
Carol: Crying. Will you call Martha and let her know?
Ellie: I will.
Carol: Thanks. She hears the doorbell. That's probably Greg and Marcia. I've got to go.
They hang up and Carol goes to answer the door. She blinks back tears and opens the door to reveal Alice and Sam.
Carol: Alice! Sam! Come in!
Alice: Notices something's wrong. Mrs. Brady.
The women embrace. Sam greets Carol and as they enter the house, he spots Carolyn laughing as she walks toward him.
Sam: Scoops her up. Hi cutie! How's my favourite baby girl?
Carolyn: Pats his face. Am! Am!
Sam: Laughs. Signs and speaks: Yes, I'm Sam.
Carolyn: Am!
Sam kisses her cheek, and Carolyn returns with a sloppy wet kiss on his cheek. Carol and Alice snicker at the scene. Mike, followed by Greg, Nora and Bobby, enters the living room and greets Alice and Sam. Greg and Nora greet Carol, Alice and Sam.
Mike: Dinner's ready. Burgers are all cooked and everything's set up outside.
Carol: Thanks. Is Marcia here too?
Greg: Yes. Ryan insisted Marcia play with him and his truck.
Carol smiles.
Bobby: Do you want me to get Peter? Jan and Cindy are setting out chips and stuff.
Carol nods as the family gathers outside for dinner.
Mike: Let's join hands and pray.
Mike prays and the family fills their plates. As they eat their dinner, Peter decides to go ahead and share his sad news. He looks at his father, who nods.
Peter: Unsure. Ummm, yesterday Julie and I went to the doctor to listen to the baby's heartbeat.
Marcia: How did it go?
Peter: Inhales. Not good. The doctor couldn't find a heartbeat.
Alice: Sad. Oh, no!
Greg bows his head, sorrowful.
Nora: I'm so sorry, Peter.
Peter explains what he learned at the doctor's office.
Sam: I'm real sorry, Pete.
Marcia: Me too.
Peter: We have the procedure tomorrow.
Greg: I can't imagine...
Peter: Thanks.
Later that evening, Greg and Marcia talk to Peter in his suite.
Marcia: How are you, really?
Peter: This feels surreal... like I'm in a daze.
Greg: Did they tell you what kind of molar pregnancy it is? Complete? Partial?
Peter: Annoyed. Complete, but does it matter? Don't go all pre-med on me, please.
Greg: I'm sorry. I got carried away.
Peter: I know. Gets up and paces his suite. I was just getting used to becoming a teenaged father, and I was actually getting excite about meeting my son or daughter. And now, all that's gone. I don't care that the baby "wasn't a baby," like the doctor said. This baby was mine. Mine and Julie's.
Tears flow down Marcia's cheeks.
Peter: Continues. And now, tomorrow we're having to say goodbye.
He cries into his oldest sister's embrace.
The next day (Friday)
Once again, the breakfast table at the Brady household sports a somber mood. Jan, Bobby and Cindy leave for school. Carol feeds the twins as Peter picks at his breakfast.
Carol: Do you want me to go with you?
Peter: You don't have to.
Carol: I can. Alice is coming over today and has volunteered to watch the twins.
Peter: It's okay.
Carol puts down the spoon she'd been holding and looks her son in the eye.
Carol: No, it's not.
Peter: Huh?
Carol: It's not okay. You and Julie lost your baby and she's having a DNC today. That's not okay. You lost your child.
Tears stream down their faces.
Carol: I don't mean to make you more upset. I just want you to know your dad and I are here for you.
Peter: Inhales. I think I want you to come with me.
Carol: I will. Finish up your breakfast and as soon as Alice arrives, we'll go.
Fifteen minutes later, Alice arrives, and embraces her friend.
Alice: Where's Peter?
Carol: He's almost finished getting ready. Thank you for watching the twins for me.
Alice: I'm glad I can be here to help.
The women lift the twins out of the high chairs and bring them to the family room. Peter exits his suite and enters the family room.
Alice: Gives Peter an embrace. I love you, Peter.
Peter: Love you too, Alice.
Carol: Ready, Peter?
Peter nods and they leave.
At the clinic
Carol and Peter find the waiting room and see Julie and Carla. Peter gathers Julie in an embrace and gives her a tender kiss.
Peter: I love you.
Julie: I love you too. Puts his hand on her abdomen and weeps. I don't want to have to say goodbye to her.
Peter: I don't either.
They sit and remain in an embrace until a nurse calls Julie back. Carla accompanies her daughter to the back and stays with her until the general anaesthesia took effect. Then, she walks back out to the waiting room and joins Carol and Peter.
Carla: She's in surgery now.
Peter: Tears stream down his face. Ho... How long?
Carla: About half an hour. Then she'll stay in recovery for another half hour.
Carol holds her son's hand.
Carla: I want to thank you for how you have treated Julie with utmost love and respect.
Peter: I do love her.
Carla: I know, and it shows. She pauses and inhales. It broke mine and Mark's heart when she told us she was pregnant.
Peter: Yes, ma'am.
Carla: ….but seeing how loving and tender you've been with her has really impressed me.
Peter: Thank you.
Carol's eyes shine with pride and admiration.
Carla: You're a really good man, Peter. Many kids would've walked away, but you stayed and showed us you were in this for the long haul.
Peter: Yes, ma'am. Mom and dad taught me to stick to my commitments. I made a commitment to your daughter and our child, and I wanted to stick to it.
Carla: I appreciate that.
They spend the remainder of the wait in silence. The doctor finally comes out and lets them know that the procedure was done and Julie was in recovery.
Doctor Anderson: Again, I want to let you know I'm so sorry.
Carla: Thank you.
Peter and Carol nod, as a single tear rolls down her cheek.
-End of Chapter 44-
A/N2—Here's an article over the condition I used: en. Wikipedia wiki /Molar_pregnancy
(remove the spaces; this website doesn't display links correctly)