"Oh, hey, good morning," Jack said to Lisa as he stepped into their room, his facial expression changing when he glanced at the bed. "What's going on? I thought we had to leave for your appointment in 15 minutes. I'm running late, going to grab a quick shower, but I promise I'll be ready."
"Nothing fits," she turned to Jack from her small desk where she was seated and doing her makeup. She'd turned part of her desk into a good prep area in addition to having a work area there. "Why did I wake up this morning and nothing fits?" She frowned at him and closed her eyes, taking a deep breath. Jack nodded and walked over to her there and sat on the edge of her side of the bed to talk to her.
"Well, I would say it's the same reason that you are nauseous with anything you try to eat."
"That's just it!" Lisa exclaimed, raising her hand in a frustrated gesture. "How in the world am I gaining weight when I'm not eating? Instead, things taste terrible and often come back up. That doesn't make sense."
Jack briefly stood and pointed to where she had the sonogram picture propped up on her desk, "That would be the reason. Nothing about babies makes sense-crying for no reason, barely sleeping when exhausted, and the list goes on. It just starts now-nothing fits you even if you are eating less, throwing up what you are eating-that baby has already started to take over. That baby has a mind of his or her own and is doing everything possible already to aggravate Mom." He gave her a small wink and kissed her cheek as he sat back down to finish their conversation.
She frowned at him and shook her head, "I've told you I can't even think of this as a reality."
"But I can," he shrugged. "Lise, it's a good thing you're gaining weight," and with the look of death she gave him, he raised his hand in defense. "Probably not the best way to phrase it, but don't you see-things are going well. You're gaining weight because the baby is getting bigger. Your body is so far, doing what it is supposed to do."
"Even my bras are too tight," she complained, and Jack smirked at that.
"I'm not complaining about that and don't see why you would either."
"Oh stop," she swatted toward him, finally a chuckle coming from her. "I know it's silly, but I struggle with wanting to hope things will go well."
"Unless we both get a move on, we'll miss that appointment where I know the doctor is going to tell you all is well and whatever genetic testing they have to do, they'll say this baby is a medical miracle with perfect genes. Now," he stood and leaned over to kiss her head, "you will look beautiful in anything that fits," and as he caught her scowl in her mirror, he leaned over and said quietly, "beautiful and pregnant, and as I've told you, I was an idiot for ever thinking that having a baby with you wouldn't be anything short of great. If you get a move on, I will too, and we can get to this appointment and then that luncheon. I'm pretty proud of my beautiful, smart, sophisticated wife for being named the Entrepreneur of the Year today."
She sighed and nodded, "I can't believe I now have to go to that luncheon. I just look fat. They'll think I just sit in France and eat pastries."
"Then tell people," he squeezed her shoulders. "We're going to have to sooner than later. Wouldn't it be better to tell people and let them know you are pregnant than speculate you've gained too much weight eating croissants? Lise, even if something happens, these people are our friends, our neighbors, and they'd want to help out. Now, it's up to you, but think about that while I hop in the shower because I'm not going to this appointment and this luncheon looking like some old duffer who can barely dress himself. I'm off to the shower," and with that, Jack stepped away and out of the room.
Lisa turned back to the mirror and studied herself. She looked old today, or rather tired, even with makeup. She was too old to be doing this, but apparently her body didn't think so. She really, really wanted get excited about this pregnancy, but her gut was telling her not to and not to get attached. Who was she kidding on that? Even as her mind wandered and she snapped back to reality, she found her hand there on her stomach, that yes, seemed to develop a mind of its own overnight. She did look pregnant, not even just fat, and now at 13 weeks, Marion had been telling her that she was lucky her things had fit this long. She did have to smile and chuckle at Amy's comments last week when they told her over dinner.
"You and Grandpa are having a baby? So, that's like my cousin? Wait, aren't you both I mean kinda old for that?"
"Amy!" Marion snapped at her right away. "That's so unkind. Lisa's young. Grandpa isn't," she smirked at her dad, and he eyed her with a smirk of his own.
"Yes, we're having a baby, and he or she will be your uncle or aunt," Lisa said grimacing. "I know it sounds so strange. It is so strange, this family dynamic we have. I've joined the family and messed up things."
"You have not messed up a single thing, Lise," Jack reached over and clasped her hand. "You've added so much, and we love you as part of our family, just as well love this baby too. Amy," he had turned his attention on her, "Lisa has never been able to have a baby-"
"Well, yeah, I mean, I knew she'd never had kids because she's not hiding them in the attic or something."
"I mean, Amy, Lisa had miscarriages when she was married before, so we aren't telling people yet. She's further along than she ever was before, so we are hopeful we will have a baby in this house soon, but we have to prepare that things could go badly, and there is nothing we can do about that. Her body decides, not us. We can just pray things go well for both Lisa and the baby."
"Oh," Amys' eyes widened, and she nodded, "okay, I'm sorry. I didn't realize."
"You know, Amy," Marion leaned over and grinned at her, breaking the tension with that conversation, "you have an interesting health unit this year. I'm sure you can ask Grandpa and Lisa any questions for it." At that, Amys' face reddened as she realized what her mom was referring to, and then looked at Lisa and Jack, now horrified.
"Grandpa," she grimaced, "you're old. I mean, now I have to tell people my grandpa is, is," she repeated herself and gestured, "doing things that got his wife pregnant?"
Lisa about spit out her water and started coughing. Jack's face reddened, and he pursed his lips, nodding at Amy before he replied, "It's like I've told others in Hudson, Amy. I'm old, but not dead."
Since then, Amy had been very sweet and supportive of Lisa. They'd had to tell her because Lisa was not eating well and appeared to be having morning sickness now in the second trimester instead of the first, or rather, it was just more persistent. That had meant a call to Lou, and while she had been shocked, she sounded like she was happy for them, even if surprised at Jack's age.
"Wow, Grandpa, a baby at your age? Lisa must be something special for you to agree to that," and both Jack and Lisa had just let that comment go.
Jack had told Lisa one evening that he wasn't about to start telling people in Hudson the surprise with her pregnancy but was just going to let people think what they wanted. She was okay with that once they did start having to tell people. It was probably more embarrassing to admit the truth-that she'd had issues in the past that had apparently cleared up making her very fertile and Jack, even at his age, had enough pep in his step to contribute to this as well.
Glancing at the time, and now with it time to go, Lisa stood and looked at the wardrobe mess she had made on the bed. She would need to pack away some of these things and hope that they might fit again. She and Marion had been talking a lot about pregnancy, and one thing that did worry her, if all actually went well, was that nothing might fit right again. Her mind wandered to that as she looked over her beautiful clothes.
"Oh, nothing fit even after I had Lou or Amy, and with Lou, that surprised me. I was really young, and I barely gained any weight. I thought I'd jump right back into my things, but I didn't. My hips had gotten much wider, so none of my jeans ever fit again. Don't even get me started on my bras and tops, not that Tim minded," she chuckled. "I'm telling you-just be prepared for an entire new wardrobe, which will be a shame. You have beautiful clothes. At least mine were just flannels and jeans. It might be even worse at your age, Lisa, not that I want to scare you-"
"No, no," she patted her hand, the two sitting on the couch talking. "I appreciate the honestly. Sadly, as you know, even in our 40's, I seem to have weight gain just looking at a cup of yogurt. I can't image what this will do either, but you're right. It's going to be much worse than those tiny little moms. I saw a few of those at my appointment, and now, I'll be the one they all eye, wondering who would have seen anything in me to get me pregnant."
Marion coughed on her coffee and shook her head, "They will not think that. You're so beautiful. They will probably sympathize knowing that whatever body changes they are going through, they will know it has to be worse for you."
Lisa snapped out of it, knowing she had to find something to wear. She heard Jack walking down the hall and grabbed at a black wrap dress. She'd tried it on earlier, but it had made her baby bump really stick out, but it was comfortable and fit still. It also did the job for the luncheon they were going straight to from her appointment. Before she put it on, she spotted a pair of her favorite pants. She hadn't tried those on yet, just had thrown them on the bed as a possibility. Lisa decided to try them, hopeful they might have some give in them as she remembered. After all, that's one of the reasons they were her favorite pants.
Jack opened the door as she was trying to button them, eyeing her as he saw her trying to button the pants and quickly closed the door as to not expose her to Amy or Marion in the house. She gestured at him, "I can't button my favorite pants."
He nodded, walking to her, and she felt the tears building. "I thought we had this conversation before my shower?"
"Yes, but I thought these might fit. They are my favorites."
"This baby doesn't care about your favorite clothes, Lise," he chuckled softly, stepping toward her with a sympathetic smile. He reached for her pant clasps-they weren't even close to buttoning, and in their close proximity, he eyed her and the pants, "You're going to have to put these up for a few months, but," and at that, he let go of the clasps and put his hand on her stomach, raising his eyebrow at her as he did, "Huh, your stomach is pretty firm now. I didn't realize that or really think about it."
"Yeah, has been for a week or so," she huffed.
He kept his hand there and waited for her to look in his eyes, "That's a very good thing, Lise. You are growing a baby. Your body is doing what it is supposed to do, and I want you to forget about the pants. Focus on the fact that we're going to have a miracle baby-one I didn't want," he winked at her, and she rolled her eyes, "and one you told me you couldn't have. We're both wrong. I am very excited we are going to have this baby, and look at you, popping out of your pants because that baby is growing and getting ready to meet us. Now, we have to go. Do you have something that fits?"
She pursed her lips and nodded at him, leaning up to kiss his cheek, "Thank you for grounding me. I tried on this black wrap dress earlier."
Jack stepped back to look at it as she held it up, waving his hand, "Looks very nice to me, stretchy. It didn't fit?"
"It still fit," she nodded, "just-"
"Just, what?"
"The fit of it, it really shows off my stomach, makes me look pregnant and I felt like I was falling out of the top of it."
He winked at her, "I'm not seeing a problem with that image. The dress is lovely and would look nice at your luncheon. Why don't you try it on for me?"
"You're horrible," she said with a chuckle as she admitted defeat with her pants and took them off. She put the dress on, feeling a bit self-conscious as she caught Jack eyeing her very changing body.
"Thanks for the show," he winked at her, and she finished pulling her dress on and pointed at him.
"You really are awful, staring at my grotesque changing body."
"You're beautiful, and there's nothing grotesque about growing a human being. There, now, I like that dress," he told her. She gestured to her middle.
"I look fat."
"Pregnant, and yes, you do. Didn't Marion tell you that women just 'pop' and all of a sudden look pregnant? You were saying last week when you went to the supermarket that several pairs of pants didn't fit. It's happening. Your body is changing, Lise, and I'm not going to stop telling you that it's a good thing because you're adapting to having a baby. You can't have that baby and have your body stay the same. I personally, vote for the baby because," he said as he stepped up to her and leaned down to kiss her neck, "I like all your curves."
"Hmm, some of them more than others," she said, eyeing him. "Am I falling out of this dress, be honest?"
"No, you're really not. Now, it just looks like your old duffer of a husband paid for his much younger wife to have a boob job." Jack flashed a grin, and Lisa's mouth dropped open before she smacked at his shoulder.
"I can't believe you said that!"
"It's true. That's what it looks like unless you want to tell people the truth-that your old duffer husband couldn't keep his hands off his much younger wife and knocked her up instead," he winked. Jack moved quickly, stepping back before she swatted at him again. She looked to him, horrified and shook her head.
"I can't believe I have to drag you around with me today. Come one, we're late."
"At least I don't need a walker or wheelchair that would make us even later. Let's go. Our day awaits, and I intend for it to be a very good day."
An hour later, they were back in the examination room, waiting to see the doctor. Lisa had reached for Jack's hand, as he sat in the chair next to her.
"Well, I have to admit, we were getting a lot of stares out there in the waiting room," Jack frowned, chuckling as he looked over at Lisa. "Your hand is shaking, Lise. Just relax, Hon."
"Oh, I hate this, all these tests. I mean, what if something is wrong?"
"What if all is right? Let's wait for the doctor, okay?" Jack squeezed her hand, and before he could say more, the doctor walked in.
"Mrs. Stillman, good to see you," he said, glancing at her chart as he closed the door and turned toward her.
"Hi, ahh, this is my husband, Jack Bartlett," she said, gesturing to Jack, and Jack stood just briefly out of his chair to shake his hand.
"Doc, nice to me you. Please call me Jack. Have to say never expected to be sitting here in an OB's office, but glad to be here," he chuckled lightly as he sat back down.
"Jack, yes," the doctor smiled, "have to say you two are quite the story here in the office. A surprise, I'm sure considering all the factors Mrs. Stillman here told me about."
"Call me Lisa, please," she interrupted. "I'm carrying the baby and still can't believe it, quite the shock, yes."
"You two definitely seem to have defeated all the odds-age, infertility, planning-well done. So," he glanced at Jack, "you're okay with everything? Last time she was in here, she was worried you wouldn't be on board."
"Course I am," Jack huffed slightly. "I love her. How could I not? She's drop dead gorgeous, a wonderful woman. She's my world, and well, life is crazy. We're having a baby even at our ages and despite many obstacles."
"Yes, you are," and with that, he turned back to Lisa. "Glad to see you today. That means things are going well. How are you feeling?"
"Honestly?" Lisa made a face, "I feel awful."
"No cramping or pain?"
"Nothing like that," she shook her head. "Ahh, tired doesn't begin to describe me, no appetite but throwing up even when I haven't really eaten. Somehow gaining weight with no appetite-"
"Yes," he glanced at her chart, "you've gained just over two kilograms since the last visit. That's very good."
Lisa's eyes widened, "Are you serious? How is that possible with the little I've eaten."
He nodded, looking at Lisa, "Babies get bigger, but I need you to eat even if things don't taste right. Is everything making you nauseous?"
"No," she sighed, frowning. "It's not even just one thing, but nothing tastes good, and the nausea hits at odd times. None of my clothes fit, so I knew I'd gained weight, but that's surprising it was that much in just two weeks."
"Just keep taking care of yourself," he told her. "Jack," he eyed him, "please make sure she eats. Lisa, I do really need you to try for the baby. We're doing all we can to get him or her here safely. I'm glad you aren't having any cramping or pain. That's a very good sign. We're going to run some genetic tests with some blood samples. Now, with that, we'll be able to determine the gender. I will call with those results, but do you want to know with the gender results, or are we going old-fashioned here and waiting until the delivery?"
Lisa scrunched up her face and looked over at Jack. He waved his hand at her and shrugged his shoulders, "Lise, I told you that it's up to you. I'm fine knowing, but I know you've had your concerns-"
The doctor eyed Jack and then Lisa, "Concerns?"
"I'm ahh, just worried that it's all too real if I know a gender and something goes wrong."
He nodded, "I am sure it's still scary, and yes, as I've told you, you aren't out of the woods. I've unfortunately had women miscarry much later. I have no skin in the game, but if that's what is holding you back, I will say that those who do have miscarriages later all want to know if it was a boy or a girl just for their own knowledge. You two decide. I'll know either way and can call you with that information as well as the genetic results. Normally, you wouldn't know this early, but testing gives us that information earlier."
Lisa glanced at Jack again. He gave her a nod, "Up to you."
"You're sure you would be okay knowing?" Lisa asked Jack, and with that question Jack turned back to the doctor.
"Doc, yes, let us know," he said and glanced back at Lisa with a wink. "My wife is a planner, and I think this will make it a little more real."'
"Okay," he said, glancing at the two of them and making a note in the chart. "Now, blood pressure looks good. Let's take a listen and check that heartbeat." After some movement to get situated, the doctor had Jack move to the other side, where he stood holding Lisa's hand. She was lying down on the table, and he smiled down at her with a wink. She gripped his hand with all she had; she was still terrified, but the instant they heard that fast heartbeat, Lisa's smile widened, and when she looked up at Jack, she had tears in her eyes.
"Baby is sounding good, strong heartbeat," the doctor told them, looking over. Jack chuckled, patting Lisa's hand. The doctor continued, "All in all, a very good visit, but I do need to hear you are eating more, and while two kilograms is a good start, you will need to gain more weight."
"I'll do my best," she sighed. "Really, though, things are looking okay?"
"I'd say better than okay," he told her, "honestly. With your age and all, women can have serious problems early on. You aren't having medical issues so far, and let's keep it that way. Now, any other questions? Next appointment will be in a month, around 17 weeks."
"I have a question, Doc," Jack commented and then asked, "At what point are she and the baby out of the woods? I know babies can be born early and all, but what are we talking?"
"I need her to get to at least seven months, 28 weeks. Technically," he shifted his head from side to side, "some survive earlier than that but the bare minimum I want to see is 28 weeks, 37 weeks is considered full term then until 40 weeks, so we have a ways to go, but no reason right now to doubt that. Lisa," he turned to her, "your previous miscarriages were at that critical time of development. For whatever reason, your body couldn't continue on with those pregnancies. This time," he shrugged, "it appears to be different."
"Maybe it's just a better husband," Jack said with a small smile and wink at Lisa. The doctor picked up on that comment and jumped in.
"Oh, many things could have contributed to issues before, even yes, fertility and the ability to carry through a pregnancy. Yes," he gestured at Jack, "a different partner can change things, as well as stress."
"Things were certainly stressful with my ex-husband what, 16 years ago," Lisa sighed. "Leave it now to the two of us," she waved at Jack, "the dinosaur-aged couple here to get it right," she chuckled lightly.
"Well, that will bring up something you two will need to discuss, no rush yet, but something that you will have to decide before the baby is born-"
"What's that?" Jack eyed him with a curious look.
"Going forward, after the baby is born," he told them with a nod, "family planning or birth control options because yes, as you can both see, you can have a baby. Now, this is always your choice, but at your ages, that is something to seriously consider because the health risks will increase as you get older."
Lisa made a face and looked up at Jack. He waved his hand and shook his head, "Oh, at my age, I'm not interested in a vasectomy."
"Yeah, well, I'm not interested in starting birth control pills when I've never had to take them. I guess that will leave us with two options, Jack," she said with a smirk-"chancing it again, and we see how well we beat the odds or I suppose celibacy," she pursed her lips. "Now, while I had been led to believe this could never happen," she gestured to her stomach, "it has, and the doctor is right. We will have to discuss it."
"Like I said," the doctor jumped in, "nothing has to be decided yet. As you know," he grinned, "can't get pregnant when you're already pregnant."
"Which brings up a concern I have that I wanted to clarify," Lisa asked, eyeing Jack as she then turned her attention to the doctor. "Is it too risky to be ahh," she blushed, "intimate because it seems like too great of a risk to me."
"Not at all," the doctor said with a small smile at the two of them. "It's nice to see a couple married as long as you two-"
"Oh, we've only been married now seven months," Jack interrupted.
"Ahh," the doctor nodded. "Forgive me. I thought it had been longer, but congratulations, and yes, still the honeymoon stage. No issues at a for you both," and at that, he patted Jack's shoulder. "Still virile, Jack, good. I enjoy interesting stories here, and you two are one."
"Glad to hear that doc, I mean, all of that," Jack said nodding. He glanced at Lisa, "See, no risk. You are worrying too much, and we all can agree that's not good for you or the baby."
"I know. I know," she sighed and turned her attention to the doctor, "Ahh, when will you have those results?"
"Few days to a week," he told them. "I'll call you with them and with the baby's gender, yes?"
Lisa and Jack glanced at each other, and this time, Lisa answered with a nod, "Yes, we'd like to know the gender."
"Okay then, I'll send in the nurse to collect the blood we need, and I will see you in a month. Any issues before-"
"Yes, yes," she nodded. "I'll contact the office. Thank you."
"Thanks, Doc," Jack said, gripping his shoulder as he shook his hand. "Thanks for all of your information."
Once the doctor stepped out, Jack turned to Lisa and helped her sit up on the table.
"Well, I like him, older, but not as old as me," he told Lisa.
"No, he's not quite as old as you, but it wouldn't matter if he was," she said, running her hand down Jack's arm as she sighed. "I'm just worried anything will cause this miscarriage. I couldn't live with myself."
He turned and took her hands in his, "You are doing everything you can. You've limited your caffeine. You're not drinking alcohol. You aren't riding. You're going to try and eat better," he made eye contact with her, and she nodded. "Lise, I'll follow your lead, but know that I love you, always will, and well," he smirked, "you heard what he said about me-virile."
"You're horrible," she swatted at him. If anything, this conversation here is a mood killer, as is the talk about birth control. Goodness, at our ages."
"Yeah, have to agree with you there," he said as he helped her stand up. "Now, we'll finish with the nurse and be on our way because you, my dear, have a big award to receive today. He leaned over and kissed her head, but as he started to step back, Lisa tugged at his hand. He turned toward her where she was now seated again on the edge of the examination table. She tugged him to stand there right in front of her.
"I'm still not feeling quite myself and I know probably won't, but I'm just not feeling very desirable right now."
"Hey," he moved hair out of her face and smiled softly at her, "you don' have to explain or feel a certain way. I'm fine if we have to pause things for months. I get it. Lise, despite many odds, you are having our baby, and that's pretty great-our own flesh and blood, half you, half me, someone help that child," he chuckled. He pulled her hand up and kissed it, adding, "Just know, I find you desirable all the time, and doc said it was fine."
She nodded and then shook her head at him, "Thank you for understanding. From what I've read," she raised an eyebrow, "pregnant women's hormones change drastically throughout pregnancy, so maybe for you, there's hope down the road."
Jack laughed as he nodded, leaning in to kiss her again, "I love you, and I can't wait to meet this incredible gift we've been given. Just think a year ago, you and I were muddling through some awkward early dates. Glad we both decided this relationship was worth it."