The Darkest Hour

Chapter 6: I Have Been Changed For Good

After Joseph got over his initial shock, he and the doctor went back into the room and Joseph held Clarisse's hand and reassured her everything would be alright.

"Clarisse, it shouldn't take these tests long to come back. Seventy-two hours at the most."

Clarisse looked at Joseph and he saw her eyes fill up with tears. Joseph sweetly kissed her on her head and gave her a quick, tight embrace.

"Joseph, how am I going to last three days? I don't know if I can wait that long to figure out what is wrong."

"My love, we will have to. Don't worry; we'll get through this together! I love you, Clarisse."

Joseph kissed her on the lips, very passionately, making the doctor quite uncomfortable. Dr. Nash kindly cleared his throat, making the couple jump slightly.

"I'm sorry, doctor. We got a little carried away."

Clarisse blushed while pushing her husband off her and shaking the doctor's hand.

"Thank you very much for coming on such short notice, Dr. Nash. We appreciate you very much."

"It was my pleasure, Clarisse."

The doctor kissed her hand, and left quickly. Clarisse's eyes went right to her husband. Joseph knew the question that was about to come out of his wife's mouth.

"Darling, what were you and the doctor talking about, out in the hallway?"

"Nothing really, darling. He was just telling me that…the tests may take longer than he expected. He didn't want you to know, because he didn't want to put any more stress on you than was necessary. He doesn't want to hurt the…never mind."

Joseph's eyes got wide as he almost ruined everything. Clarisse was puzzled and asked:

"Hurt what?"

"Nothing, love. He just needed to take some extra precautions. Nothing to worry about. Now, you need some rest, just lay there and sleep."

Joseph said, making his way to the door.

"Joseph, please stay with me."

Knowing it wasn't a good idea, Joseph declined her request.

"Darling, there are some things I need to talk to Charlotte about, I am sorry, but I can't stay with you. Just rest."

Joseph blew his wife a kiss, and shut the door. He didn't know what to do. If the doctor was right, his life would change for good! How would Clarisse react? How would the whole country react? It was a shock alright, a good shock or bad? He didn't know. He had to confide in someone and the only person he could think of was Charlotte.

(I could do a cliffhanger again, right here, but I don't want to be THAT mean so I will continue. Love y'all!)

After leaving Clarisse's suite, he bumped into Charlotte in the hallway.

"Joseph! Is Clarisse alright?"

The young woman asked, genuinely concerned about her friend.

"Well, Charlotte, that's what I had to come talk to you about. Please, come with me to Clarisse's office. We can discuss this in private there."

Joseph said, practically dragging Charlotte down the hallway. Once in the office, Charlotte sat in one of the chairs facing Clarisse's desk, as Joseph shut and locked the door. He went and took a seat behind the desk. He leaned over the desk to whisper to Charlotte.

"Charlotte, this is not confirmed, but the doctor thinks it is a possibility, and I don't know what to do."

"What are you talking about, Joe?"

"The doctor thinks Clarisse might be…Oh geez Char, I can't even say it! It's so…weird."

"Joe, we are both adults here, and we are good friends. You can tell me anything."

"Okay, but you have to swear you will keep it between you and me. Nobody can know, especially Clarisse, alright?"

"Joe, I swear I will not tell another soul! Just please, let me help you. What are you babbling about?"

Charlotte asked as Joseph's dumbfounded expression went from flabbergasted to serious.

"The doctor came in today and did a few tests and took a few samples, and he pulled me out in the hallway after he asked Clarisse a few questions and he told me that he thinks Clarisse is…PREGNANT!"

Joseph whispered the last part, just in case there were people wandering the halls. He really didn't want any of this to get back to Clarisse just in case she wasn't pregnant, he didn't want her to get her hopes up.

"WHAT? How is she…She's too old isn't she?"

"Well, yes, but I guess it was a miracle…"

"…Or a curse."

Charlotte muttered.

"Anyway, whether it is a curse or miracle, Clarisse doesn't find out until the doctor tells her or we find out for sure, one-hundred percent sure, alright?"

Charlotte nodded. Joseph went back upstairs to check on Clarisse. When he opened the door, he saw the most beautiful picture he could ever imagine. Although, she was just sleeping, Joseph thought she looked the most beautiful she had ever looked. Was she….glowing? No, Joseph thought to himself, you have got to push that thought to the back of your mind. She can't be pregnant. She's not. Joseph climbed up into the bed, and before he knew it, he too was asleep.

Joseph awoke from the phone ringing. He answered it and it was the doctor.

"Oh, Dr. Nash! I hadn't expected a call from you. Did you need something?"

"Joseph, yes, the tests didn't take as long as I thought they would and I would like to come by and give Clarisse the news properly and in person. Would that be too much of a trouble?"

"Not at all, Doctor. Thank you so much!"

Joseph hung up the phone, waking up Clarisse and told her the doctor was on his way back home with the tests. The doorbell rang and Olivia answered it and pointed the doctor in the way of Clarisse's suite.

"Oh yes doctor, come in."

Joseph said, as the doctor walked through the opened doorway.

"Clarisse, I got the results back from your test you took a few hours ago. Do you realize what kind of test you took?"

Clarisse shook her head no.

"Well, I ran a pregnancy test on the urine sample you gave me. Clarisse, I have to tell you I have never seen anything so miraculous in all my years of practicing."

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