Chapter Three

A few weeks passed, and Anna and John had settled into a routine and did not really think about a baby. Anna would think about it when she gave herself her injection of fertility drugs each morning, but she wouldn't allow her mind to linger there throughout the day. Instead, she would just enjoy John's company and her work. She and John were both part of an estate planning firm based in Downton, which was how they met, and they enjoyed each other's company both at work and at home.

They started each day with breakfast together and ended each day cuddled on the sofa, either watching a TV program together or taking turns reading aloud to one another from their favorite poetry books. It was nice for them to be together, and it helped their mental health improve from the low point they had been at after Anna's last negative pregnancy test.

Instead of thinking about how badly they wanted a baby, they were able to occupy their mind with thoughts of how much they loved one another in each and every moment. This grounded them, and they now felt more content with the idea that a pregnancy would happen when it is supposed to happen. They wouldn't rush it and would instead just be grateful for each day they spent together, growing in their love for one another so that they could one day bring a baby into such a loving environment.

Eventually, Anna's eggs had been harvested and fertilized. She and John were waiting on a call from their fertility specialist to hear how many healthy embryos had resulted from that process, and they decided to take a trip out to the park together in order to help keep it from invading their mind with worry. The fresh air would help clear their heads and allow them to spend some time together out in nature.

As they were walking along the path, John spotted a woman and her dog walking in the field beside them. He nodded to Anna, signaling he was going to go over and see if he could pet the dog. Knowing how much of a dog lover her husband was, she chuckled slightly because he just couldn't help himself and nodded back to him, wordlessly giving him permission to go even though it wasn't needed. She stood there breathing in the fresh air and watching her husband pet the gray sheepdog when she felt her phone vibrating in her pocket.

She pulled it out and saw it was her fertility specialist calling her, so she quickly accepted the call. "Hello," she said into the phone, catching John's eye and waving him over in the process.

"Hi Anna, this is Kimmy, Doctor Ryder's assistant," said the woman on the phone. "I am calling to let you know that you have three embryos that look good. Are you ready to schedule a procedure to implant one of them?"

"Yes, thank you. I am hoping for an afternoon appointment so that my husband can take off work and be with me."

After scheduling her appointment for later on in the week, Anna said thank you to the doctor and hung up, turning to John with a wide smile on her face. "John, we're gonna have a baby," she proclaimed, taking a deep breath to settle herself.

"We are," John said, taking his wife into his arms and pressing a kiss to her forehead. "How do you feel about that?" he asked, giving his wife's back a gentle rub before they began walking again, hand-in-hand. He wanted to make sure she was processing all this okay.

"I am feeling a huge myriad of emotions," Anna answered. "Shocked like I can't believe I just heard those words. Happy. Hopeful. But also scared. There's still a rather large possibility things could go sideways, and if they do, I don't know how I'll handle it."

"Well, I know how you'll handle it," he said assuredly as she looked at him curiously. "With me by your side. Loving you and holding you however, whatever, and whenever you need me to."

Anna teared up slightly at the sincerity of his words. Her husband truly was the best gift she could ever ask for, and her heart was so full of love and gratitude for him. His words and his presence were always such a reassurance for her, and today was no exception. He had managed to calm her fears just by saying he would be by her side, and she knew that was true. Even if the embryo didn't implant or she lost the baby, she could get through it with John by her side. And no matter what happened, she knew they would have a baby someday. It would happen when the time was right. It was in God's hands now, with John as her support here on Earth to help her get through whatever might be in store.