Enjoy this little piece of original work!

Rough Draft: Vannah's PoV.

During my life, both in and out of the Marines, I have learned to always be prepared and to expect the unexpected. However, what I wasn't expecting or prepared for, was finding out that I was pregnant for the fifth time in my life. I am forty-nine years old and a mother to five children; Stella and Oliver are the eldest at thirty-one, Denver is twenty-five, Jackson is twenty-three, and my youngest, Gracynn, is fifteen. I am not prepared to be a mother to a newborn at the age of fifty.

My only hope is that Asher will be willing to help me. He is older than I am and will be sixty-one next year and his daughter is sixteen, so I am not so sure that he will want to help. I pray that he does.

I pray that he is just as happy as I am when I found out that I am pregnant.

I groaned as I sat back against the bathroom wall, exhausted. Off and on for the past two weeks, I have felt the urge to vomit every time I woke up or every time I smelled something strong, such as coffee. In addition to the almost constant feeling of nausea, my breasts have felt tender and sore, and I have gained a little bit of weight. My first thought was that it was menopause. However, when it came time for my monthly cycle, I was late.

Then it dawned on me.

Asher and I didn't use protection the first time we had sex.

-

I was scared shitless. When I was pregnant with Gracynn, my youngest, I was in the beginnings of a divorce with my then husband, Gideon. She came as a complete surprise, conceived shortly after I was medically discharged from the Marines. I was so incredibly happy. Gideon, on the other hand, wasn't as happy. He said some terrible things and even went so far as to shove me and hit me. I didn't do anything about that- although, I probably should have.

That is why I was terrified to find out whether or not my symptoms led to the possibility of me being pregnant. I don't think I could handle the sting of rejection from Asher. I don't think I could handle it because I've fallen hopelessly in love with him.

-

After making sure I wasn't going to vomit again, I rinsed out my mouth and made sure I looked somewhat presentable. I needed to discretely take a trip to the pharmacy. God, I never thought I'd be buying myself a pregnancy test at the age of forty-nine.

After I got back home from the pharmacy and a quick trip to Starbucks for my favorite iced tea, I locked myself in my bedroom. I went into the ensuite bathroom and took the test. Talk about the longest five minutes of my life.

My eyes were closed and my hands shaking as I picked up the pregnancy test. After a moment of terrifying hesitancy, I looked at the tiny screen.

One word and one plus sign.

I'm pregnant.

I pulled myself out of the flashback when I heard a knock on the screen door. Asher was here for our weekly date night. Since we began dating six months ago, we made it a priority to have at least one free night where we could have some alone time. Between me trying to run the farm, and Asher being busy with his work as a high school History teacher, we had our hands full. I looked forward to these nights and the intimacy we shared- whether it be sexual or not.

However, tonight? Not so much because I am terrified. I'm terrified of verbal abuse, and even though I highly doubt he would do it, push and shove me like Gideon did.

"Hello, love." Asher said as he kissed my cheek and offered me a single red rose.

"Hey, Darlin'. How are you?"

"Better than ever, now that I'm here with you."

"Sweet talker," I said as I put the rose in a small vase that sat on the table.

After giving me a proper hello kiss, he asked me, "What's for dinner? I'm starved."

"Of course, you are. I just made a simple soup and salad. It sounded good." I shrugged my shoulders. There was no way I was telling him the real reason I chose the soup and salad route. I chose it because I'm pretty sure that they're two things I can actually keep down. Morning sickness has limited my choices and it sucks because I love food.

"Anything you make, I'll eat," he reassured me, "you know I love your cooking."

"Thank you, babe. Oh, and dessert is a surprise."

Asher raised an eyebrow. "Oh?"

I just hummed in response.

-

After a lovely dinner of soup and salad, I went to get our dessert, a chocolate cake... and the gift that contains the pregnancy announcement. It was a small box wrapped in a soft blue colored paper with a white ribbon and bow. Inside of the box was the pregnancy test I took last week, the sonogram photo that I got at my first appointment the other day, a small cow stuffie, tiny cowboy boots, small blanket with baby farm animals on it, a pacifier, and a card all of which were nestled on top of some shredded light blue tissue paper. Inside of the card, which was nondescript, it read:

Dearest Asher,

I once heard that it takes two to tango. In the dance of love we shared, something wonderfully unexpected was created. And when everything grows in the spring, so will an extension of us.

I know that this unexpected miracle seems impossible, and I'll admit I am utterly terrified by it. My love, we created life: Coming Soon In Spring of 2022.

All My Love,

Vannah

Asher didn't acknowledge the cake, as he had seen the gift first. "Vannah, what is this for?"

"Open it and find out."

I stayed sitting down as he opened the gift. He didn't bother reading the card first, just looked at the stuff inside. The look of confusion made me nervous.

The majority of the emotions that fluttered across Asher's face as he read the card were hard for me to gauge. The last one, I was able to decipher; it was the look of worry, slight happiness, and pain mixed together.

After some moments of tense silence, I bit my lip before saying tearfully, "I'm begging you, please say something. Anything."

"I've got to go." He muttered as he threw his napkin on his plate and got up from the table.

My heart broke into a million, tiny, jagged shards. The only good thing about his reaction is that he didn't get physically or verbally abusive towards me like Gideon did, when I found out I was pregnant with Gracynn. As I watched Asher walk out of the house, I broke down into gutwrenching sobs.

My kids and Asher's daughter, Isla, were all at the movies. I was thankful for that because it meant that they wouldn't see me in a snot faced mess. There was this feeling that I needed to get away from the house. Since my parents own a cabin three hours north of the farm, I decided that it would be the perfect escape.

Before leaving, I penned a note to the children explaining that I was going to the cabin for a few days and that Isla was more than welcome to stay here while I'm away. After that, I grabbed the gift I gave to Asher and put it in the front seat of my truck as I got ready for the long drive to the cabin.

-

The next morning, I woke up in a bed and to the smell of coffee. It was strange because I came here alone and had fell asleep on the sofa last night. So, it was one of two people who decided to come here: Stella or Asher. I desperately hoped it was Asher.

I didn't even bother changing out of my sweatpants and tank-top before making my way downstairs. I was already feeling nauseous as the morning sickness was starting to make an appearance, but when I got into the kitchen and smelled the coffee, I felt the all too familiar churning in my stomach. I wasn't near a trashcan, so my only logical option was to vomit into the kitchen sink.

Just as I leaned over the sink, I felt strong, calloused hands hold my hair back from my face. It was Asher. But if he had a disappointed reaction to me telling him I'm pregnant, why is he here?

"It's alright, love. I've got you." He murmured as he rubbed soothing circles on the small of my back.

As I finished my bout of getting sick, I turned around to look at him. His eyes were red rimmed and slightly puffy, with small bags under them. They were sure signs that he had been crying at some point during the last several hours.

"What are you do-" I had to turn back towards the sink as I vomited yet again. I don't remember ever having morning sickness this bad with any of my previous pregnancies. This little one will definitely keep me on my toes.

"What am I doing here? I came to apologize, Vannah. Also, to explain why I reacted the way I did- which was totally inexcusable."

I rinsed out the sink and the acidic taste from my mouth before speaking. "Let's go somewhere where I can't smell the coffee."

"Lead the way."

I led him out into the screened in back deck. He took the liberty of sitting in one of the arm chairs that sat at the end of the sofa, tugging me down until I was sat sideways on his lap. After, he wrapped his arms around me and rested his hands on my hip.

Laying my head on his shoulder, I sighed heavily. "Spill."

"It took me all of about ten minutes before I realised that my reaction was a bit rash and completely rude. After I spent some time contemplating how much of an ass I was, I drove to Zoey's... grave. Just to ask for advice and to tell her I'm going to be a father again."

I was confused. I thought that Zoey and Asher were just divorced because he never talks about her and she isn't in the picture, so to speak.

My confusion must have been sensed as he continued, "Zoey was my fiancée. We were together for two years before Isla was born. Zoey was twenty-five when she died just after she gave birth; she had some sort of hemorrhage and bled out too quickly for the doctors to be able to do anything."

I felt tears well up in my eyes both from my emotional state and from his story of Zoey. "I-I'm sorry," was all I could whimper.

Shrugging his shoulders he said, "It's in the past. Now that I think about it, and this may sound a bit morbid, but I can take it as a blessing."

"WHAT!?"

"Just think about it; her death and the events that have happened after it... well, they eventually led to me finding love with you."

He had a sweet and morbidly valid point.

"Anyway, after visiting Zoey, I drove back to your house. Stella opened the door when I knocked and gave me a proper dressing down. She also, said she understood my reaction and that I had some serious groveling and apologizing to do and what you went through with Gideon. Stella gave me the address to this lovely place and then, I drove home and packed a bag so I could come and stay with you. I want to apologize to-"

I cut him off, "It's okay, I understand."

"No, Vannah. It isn't okay. My reaction was inexcusable. The thought of something happening to you, like it did to Zoey... let's just say it's terrified me. However, that gave me no right to be such an ass."

-

We had sat in silence for a few more minutes before I suggested we get changed out of our pajamas and into actual clothes. I wanted to take him to Miss Daisy's Diner, a small fifties themed diner down the road from the cabin. However, even though Daisy wouldn't mind it, us showing up in our pajamas would be a little weird.

"Hey Asher, do you want to go out for breakfast?"

"What have you got in mind?"

"Well," I answered as I stepped out from the bathroom, "There's a little diner not far from here that has food to die for."

"Sure, why not?"

As I started to brush my hair out, he walked over to me and gesturing to my hair brush, softly asked, "Here, let me?"

I handed him the brush and closed my eyes. Never, have I ever had a lover as attentive as Asher. Where Gideon was brash, possessive and oftentimes obnoxious, Asher was the opposite. He wasn't very possessive over me, wasn't obnoxious and loud, and he was reserved, very loving and gentle. It's quickly becoming clear to me that he is my one true love.

I must have been lost in thought as I felt him place a kiss on the back of my neck and roughly whisper, "There you go."

I smiled at him in the mirror. "You didn't have to put my hair up into a messy ponytail. Thank you though."

"Anything for you, love."

-

As we entered the diner, Daisy appeared. "Annie! I haven't seen y'all in a bit, where ya been?"

"Hey, Miss Daisy!" I gave her a hug before continuing, "If you lead us to my normal spot, I'll tell you everything."

She smiled and raised an eyebrow. "Fair enough babygirl. Three pancakes, six slices of bacon, one egg over easy, one piece of homemade cornbread- with butter, peanut butter and honey? Served with a glass of freshly made sweet sun tea, with a slice of lemon?"

I looked at her with a slightly guilty look. "Yes, ma'am."

"And for you good lookin', what'll it be?"

"I'm not sure. I suppose I'll take a glass of sweet sun tea, and if you have stuffed hashbrowns, that would be delightful."

After she led us to my favorite spot, the dining area in the back that's usually reserved for special occasions, she went to make our breakfast.

"Damn it, she knows," I muttered.

"What do you mean?"

"Ever since the first time I have been pregnant, I made it a point to come here on the weekends and she remembers the order. Every. Single. Time. That woman knows almost everything and I don't know how she did it, but she just took one look at me and knew I am pregnant."

"Well, my darlin', you do have that slight glow to you that every expectant mother has."

-

When Daisy sat our plates and drinks in front of us, she eased herself into the chair across from me. "How ya been, Annie?"

Where do I even start? The last sixteen years have been rather hellish. It started with the divorce from Gideon, being pregnant with Gracynn and having her almost a month early, being told I'm partially blind in one eye from an injury I got on my last deployment, to a slew of other problems.

"Where should I start?"

"Start off from when you had your last little one?"

I was nervous to say anything. Not because I don't want people to know, but I dealt with some things that I've never told anyone about because I've always kept things to myself. Another reason I was nervous is because I don't want Asher to run from me, after he hears about some of them.

With a reassuring squeeze on my knee, from Asher, I began speaking.

"Well, after Gideon filed for divorce, I found out I was having Gracynn. He wasn't happy and told me he knocked up his mistress- so somewhere out there, the kids have a half-sibling. Anyway. The pregnancy went relatively well, but I had Gracynn a few weeks early."

Daisy looked at me thoughtfully, knowing there was more to the issue with Gideon, but she didn't push. "What about yourself?"

I put my fork on my plate and took a sip of my tea. This was going to be uncomfortable to speak about, but as each of my therapists have said, it will help a great deal to talk about what I went through during my time in the Marines and afterwards.

"As you know, I was in the Marines for eighteen years. I was on three deployments and on my third one, I was injured."

Before I could continue further, Asher asked how I was injured.

"Our convoy was driving through a small village on the Afghan border when I saw a man with a bomb strapped to his chest, heading towards a small school building. At the time there were only a few people walking around outside and a small group of children were inside..."

I trailed off taking a deep breath. This is something that a select few knew about; my Commanding Officer, my therapists, and my doctors.

"Before anything could be done, the guy walked into the building and detonated the bomb he had strapped on himself. The several of us jumped off the humvee we were in, and ran into the school to look for survivors. I-I found a little girl, her little brother, and their teacher, still alive- albeit barely. I picked the kids up in one arm, the teacher in the other, and brought them back to the humvee. Then, I ran back into the building to double check things and seen that only five out of the six of our platoon members made it out by themselves. The sixth one... sh- she was passed out and I am guessing because of the fumes from the explosion."

I took another deep breath before continuing, and hoping I didn't have a PTSD attack. "On our way out, I felt something fall from what remained of the roof and hit the left side of my face. I screamed for help and then fell to the floor with my platoon member in my arms. When I hit the floor, I landed on my knee. It pretty much shattered it on impact because of how heavy my gear was, and how much my platoon member weighed and how heavy her gear was."

I felt Asher wipe away a tear that I didn't know was falling down my cheek. "My love, so brave, so fearless."

I gave him a tremulous smile.

"After a total knee replacement, nineteen stitches, and two weeks of being in the hospital, I was released from the Marines. Six months afterwards, I was officially, medically discharged and retired; being in the Marines earned me a Purple Heart, and a few other medals."

I briefly paused to finish my tea and breakfast. Despite this being mentally exhausting, it does feel pretty good to talk about it.

"You know the story with Gideon, I won't delve into that. Anyway, at the end of my pregnancy with Gracynn, there was a slight issue with her heart beat dropping, so we had to induce my labor. Gracynn Renee Knight was born three weeks early, on May twenty-first, two-thousnand-seven. Gracynn was so tiny. She was only six pounds, and was the smallest and most adorable little one."

"What else?" Daisy asked.

"Well, I was diagnosed with PTSD, arthritis, depression, and anxiety. I have only had one major episode of PTSD; it was Gracynn's first Fourth of July. We went to my brother's house and there were fireworks. Needless to say, that flipped a switch. So now, I just bring noise-cancelling earplugs to block out the loud booms."

Daisy rounded the table and gave me a tight squeeze. "I'm so sorry you had to go through that, child."

She sat back down before speaking again. "So, how'd y'all meet?"

Asher answered, "I'm a History teacher at Birch Valley High. It was Veteran's Day, and the class was able to invite a veteran if they knew one. Vannah, showed up in a splendid little dress and-"

He was cut off as I was forced to rush to the nearest bathroom.

I heard Asher come in and kneel beside me as I heaved up what I had just eaten. He was rubbing soothing circles on my back and murmured, "It's alright, love. You're okay. I've got you."

Asher was being so kind and caring and it, along with the force of me emptying my stomach, made me cry.

"I lo-love you."

"I love you too, babygirl."

"C-can we g-go home now? Being in this place is making me queasy."

"Yes, my darling," Asher answered softly, as he helped me off of the floor.

-

Woo-hoo, end of the chapter! When writing almost anything, you are typically supposed to write the starting chapter first. Of course, with me being me, I wrote the chapter that marks the half-way point in my book first.

This chapter (and the whole book, really), is partly for my friends and family. For the last several years, they've encouraged me to write a book, and here we are now, writing, "Their Second Chance".

Whether you like it, love it, or hate it, please feel free to leave a comment. You're feedback is welcomed and appreciated!