Author's Note: There's been chatter about Shane taking the pregnancy test, so of course, I couldn't resist sharing how I imagine it went down. When you get to the end, cue up the last five minutes and watch the beautiful scene that showcases both Oliver's and Shane's surprises that make way for a new thing.
Shane stepped out of the Timepiece Revival Repair Shop, rubbing her thumb over the smooth, polished cherrywood knob affixed to the brass crank that had kept the O'Toole family clock ticking for the last one hundred years. She had apologized profusely to the proprietor for her behavior when she dropped it off and thanked him just as profusely for his craftsmanship. He told her he was happy he could help and then proceeded to give her a bill that was three times what she expected it would be. Pulling out the credit card she had reserved for her online shoe shopping and other personal uses, she gladly paid for it. It was worth it to be able to surprise Oliver and watch him as he methodically wound the clock, knowing it would soothe the ache created by her carelessness. She hadn't realized it, but she missed the steady ticking of the clock too, missed the gong that sounded on the half hour.
What had the counselor said? A surprise that leaves behind the old things and makes way for a new thing. She looked at the crank that fit perfectly in the palm of her hand. It would be a surprise, but not one that makes way for a new thing. No, that surprise would require a bit more brainstorming. Maybe Rita could help her out.
The red and green blinking lights of the sign across the street caught her attention. She looked up and saw the pharmacy's flashing cross. After checking for traffic, she hurried across the street. She felt a strong pull to go inside. As she entered, she gave a nod to the person behind the counter.
"Can I help you find something?" The clerk asked.
"No, no, I'm fine. Thanks," she responded. She couldn't bring herself to say the words.
Fortunately, the shop wasn't large, and she easily found the row she was looking for. Considering the size of the store, she was overwhelmed by the large selection they had available. She pulled out her phone and started googling which test had the highest ratings and reviews.
In the car, she stared for the longest time at the brown paper bag on the seat next to her. Her stomach had been churning off and on for weeks now. She attributed it to the schedule they were keeping and the discord she and Oliver had been experiencing. Could it be more than that?
Their bickering had grown more frequent lately and had finally made its way into the DLO, something she knew Oliver couldn't tolerate, and, quite frankly, she couldn't either. It was driving a wedge between them and had shifted them out of the honeymoon phase faster than Shane expected. Her love for Oliver was so intense it caused a physical ache in her chest every time she thought about him. It made the current state of their marriage all the more confusing. She was unhappy because he was unhappy, and he was unhappy because she was unhappy. It was the hamster cage wheel that kept going round and round and neither knew how to get off of it. Oliver's suggestion to seek help caught her by surprise, but she was grateful for his willingness to open up to someone. Before long, Calliope had set them on a path to truly becoming husband and wife.
Shane headed toward Park Avenue West and the historic O'Toole mansion but quickly turned around, expecting Oliver would be there. She needed privacy, and the only place she could think to go was the DLO. It was bound to be empty as she and Oliver had been the last to leave.
As she made her way through the sorting floor, she nodded and waved to the few familiar faces she saw. She found the bathroom closest to the DLO. Stepping into the stall, she pulled the test out of the package with trembling fingers, almost dropping it. There were three tests inside and she intended to take at least two of them. She skimmed through the instructions, noting that the test claimed the ability to confirm one way or another earlier than their competitors and fast, in about a minute.
She followed the directions and did everything the package said. She set them down on the small shelf inside the stall meant for a purse or phone. She covered them with the box, afraid to look. And then she waited. It was the longest minute of her life. She couldn't exit the stall should someone come in and see her or, worse yet, walk into the stall she now occupied. So instead, she paced as best she could in the tiny enclosure. In reality, there wasn't enough room to pace, so she stood there rocking back and forth as her imagination went wild. She couldn't wrap her head around the idea and, for weeks, had convinced herself she must be going through the change of life all women experience. Her steady back-and-forth motion reminded her of how Charley moved whenever she had Eleanor in her arms. Was it instinct that made mothers do that to calm their babies?
She couldn't believe she was in this position. The upset stomach and hot flashes had been going on for months, but the ongoing fatigue was a fairly new symptom. She couldn't remember ever needing to go home in the middle of the day for a nap, but she had done so on that disastrous day she broke the clock crank. She put her hand on her stomach. It didn't feel as flat as it did the day she married Oliver, but then, she'd been on a strict regimen in order to fit into her wedding dress.
The tapping of her foot echoed off the cinder block walls. She glanced at her watch, which was counting down the seconds. She felt the buzzing on her arm as the timer wound down and alerted her that the minute had passed. Taking a deep breath, she blew it out slowly, steadying herself for whatever she would find underneath the box. Her hands shook as she lifted the box to reveal both test results: pregnant.
A gentle sob slipped from Shane's lips as her eyes filled with tears that threatened to spill over. All doubts about her feelings should the test turn out positive vanished from her mind. Her hand instinctively moved back to her stomach, her fingers tenderly caressing the subtle curve as if to soothe the baby growing inside. She shook her head, still not believing it. There was new life inside of her. A life that had been created from the love between her and Oliver.
She couldn't stop her mind from racing through all the possible reactions Oliver might have. They had discussed the idea of having children but never said definitively that they would try to have one. Given their age, they knew that conceiving might pose both challenges and risks, so they put their faith in God, trusting His plan for them. Should they be blessed with new life, they would embrace it, but should it not happen, then they would do everything they could to support Norman and Rita and any children they might have.
Shane swiftly gathered her things and headed to the DLO to do the only thing she knew to do. She opened her laptop and began searching for whatever information she could find on early pregnancy. She struggled to guess how far along she might be. Working backward, she realized the upset stomach, hot flashes, and exhaustion had been going on for a couple of months now. She figured she could be anywhere from two to three months along.
She remembered the sonogram Rita and Norman had shown them of the little girl they planned to adopt. Shane wondered what her tiny baby looked like at this stage. Her tears streamed down her cheeks when she pulled up an image of the life growing inside of her. It had a head, a body, arms, legs, and even fingers and toes. Her motherly instinct kicked in, and she knew she would do everything in her power to protect this baby. She quickly printed out an image to show Oliver after she broke the news.
The news. How was she going to tell him? She glanced at her watch and realized he was probably waiting and wondering where she was. She put everything in her bag and got to her car. The trip home gave her enough time to devise her plan. What had Calliope said? A surprise that makes way for a new thing. Giggling nervously, she knew she was going to get an A-plus on this assignment.
