Marion's head was facing forward, looking out the front of the truck, but she was side-eying Lisa who had gotten back into the truck now over five minutes ago. Lisa had what Marion could describe as a dazed expression, but she hadn't said a word. Marion was determined to get some sort of information before the two left the office. So far, Lisa didn't seem ready to talk, nor did she seem to mind they were sitting there in silence.
After another five minutes of silence and another side-eyed glance at Lisa, Marion couldn't take it any longer. She was good at waiting out things in silence. She'd raised two daughters. No one could mess with her when it came to the silent treatment, but in this case, she wanted to know how she could help Lisa because Lisa seemed to be completely at a loss for words.
"Okay, I don't mind sitting here if that's what you need to do. Really, it's fine, but can you tell me what the doctor said? I just want to help you."
Lisa finally let out a long sigh, and if Marion hadn't seen her breathing, might have thought she'd been holding her breath for over 10 minutes. She finally turned toward Marion, registering Marion's question and folded her hands over her purse, which was sitting in her lap.
"Ahh," she said, now finally talking as she turned her head toward Marion and tilted it as if perplexed, "I am pregnant."
"Okay," Marion said shifting in the truck to face Lisa as she nodded at her. "So, not early menopause or anything like that, a false positive. What did he say about you know," she gestured at Lisa, "what to expect the next few weeks based on before? Oh gosh, Lisa, did they already check and find out you're starting to miscarry?"
"Ahhh," she repeated and let out a long, slow breath as she ran her hands over her purse. Marion studied here, watching for any sign of emotion from Lisa, but for once, she saw none.
"Lisa?" Marion reached over and took Lisa's hand when Lisa was silent for some time, longer than seemed appropriate when they had been in mid-conversation. Lisa hadn't answered Marion's most recent question, and she had a really bad feeling about what Lisa apparently couldn't get out, couldn't hold Lisa's hand tightly and gave her a sympathetic frown and nod, hopefully encouraging her to talk. "I'm here for you. What is the next step?"
"Umm, I need to talk to Jack," Lisa teared up as she nodded. Finally, as if she'd opened the floodgates by now talking, she started to cry again, and Marion shifted as best she could to give her a hug. She held her in an embrace, clutching Lisa as she kept crying.
Lisa was now sobbing, and it even had Marion tearing up, not that she would let Lisa see her that way. She knew she needed to be strong, to support her through this. Marion gripped Lisa just as tightly as Lisa gripped her, Marion's eyes tightly shut as she held back her own tears and concentrated on comforting someone so dear to her. "Jack should have been here. I should have told him."
Marion let out her own jagged breath, knowing that Lisa was right and wishing that she had pushed more for Lisa to tell Jack. She still knew it was not her place to inform her dad. That would have only caused problems with Lisa, but it was hard to hear Lisa say what Marion knew.
Marion pulled back slightly to look Lisa in the eye, "You can still talk to Dad. He will be here for you no matter what."
"I'm 11 weeks pregnant, as of yesterday," she said through her tears and almost in hysteria. Marion's eyes widened, and it took her a few seconds to register that.
"Wait, what? I thought you were like six weeks and said things always fell apart for you between seven and nine weeks."
"Yeah, well, that's always been the case," Lisa sat back, the two now facing each other. Marion was studying Lisa's tear-stained face trying to put everything together. "I didn't have a miscarriage when I have before. No, it's the opposite. The doctor heard a heartbeat and everything. Things seem to be fine, good," she paused, and put her hands to her mouth. "Ahh, I'm actually pregnant, not out of the woods, but the doctor said he's very optimistic things could be perfectly fine, that the miscarriage rate goes down significantly with a heartbeat, and," she started crying again, "I should have told Jack. Jack should have been there with me because oh gosh, this could actually be real, but it can't be. I was told I can't have kids. I told Jack I can't have kids. Oh, he's going to hate me-"
"Stop right there," Marion looked at her sternly, still not quite processing everything, but trying to catch up. "He's not going to hate you. Why would he hate you? He loves you."
"Don't you get it," Lisa shook her head, still crying, her face a mix of so many emotions. "When we hadn't been dating that long, he tried to break things off with me. He told he he wanted me to find someone who was young enough to want what I wanted, to have kids. He said that chapter was over for him. He was going to break things off until I told him that it wasn't a possibility for me at all, ever. Now, here I am. It looks like I've lied to him, and I haven't. Oh, I can't believe this. He's going to be so upset. He doesn't want this. He's not going to want me. A baby. I can't be having a baby. I've over 40. I've told no, you won't have a family. I was okay with that. I was so happy to find Jack, and what now. I can't believe it. I was ready to hear the worst, preparing to hear the worst, and now it's like the greatest and the worst feelings all mixed together. Jack will never forgive me-"
"Lisa!" Marion finally interrupted her and waited for Lisa to come out of her hysteria. Marion grabbed onto Lias's shoulders and looked her in the eye. Lisa wiped at her face and sniffled, finally looking back at Marion. Marion offered her a soft smile, "Lisa, just stop. Oh my gosh. You are going to have a baby. Do you hear that? You and Dad are going to have a baby. It's real, and it's sounding more and more like it could actually happen. I realize things could still go wrong, but you just sat here and told me that right now, things seem to be going ver right. You are pregnant. Dad is not going to hate you. He's not going to think you've lied to him or anything else. Lisa, he loves you with everything he has. Oh my goodness. This is quite amazing, shocking, and yes, I know you are a mess of emotions, but wow, what a gift. Lisa," she smiled again nodding, "we are your family, here for you regardless of what happens. Yes, you need to tell Dad, of course, but he's not going to hate you. Stunned, I can guarantee it, but I mean, you and I have gone from thinking there was some possibility of you having a terminal illness like both of our moms did to you thinking you were in early menopause," she finally burst out laughing. "Oh goodness, the opposite. Seems like things are working just fine and whatever issues you had a couple decades ago, well, things happen in strange ways and nothing is a guarantee."
"I just can't believe it."
"I know. I'm sure it was quite the shock, you preparing to hear that you were miscarrying and to get a heartbeat." Marion put her hand to her mouth, shocked and shook her head, "Wow, I can't imagine that. I mean, I know that sound from the girls, but to think you'd never hear it."
Lisa nodded, still sniffling and reached to her bag. Marion watched, noting Lisa's hands were trembling, but smiled when Lisa pulled out a sonogram picture.
"The doctor gave me that. I can't believe it, and I can't believe Jack missed it."
Marion put her hand over Lisa's, "He loves you and will be okay. I know he will. Give him some credit. Having a talk about where you are in life before you get married is way different than a surprise like this while you are married."
"But he said he didn't want another family and was in a very different place. I keep hearing that-"
"Lisa," Marion gripped her shoulders again, "breathe. Calm down. You've had a huge shock. The last week has been crazy. You've been sick, had emotions all over, now look-a baby," she grinned. "Oh, Dad is going to flip," and at that, Lisa started to look panicked again. Marion shook her head, "I really believe he will be okay. He loves kids, and he loves you. What, is he going to turn you out on the street? We both know he wouldn't do that. It takes two to tango," she smirked, and then, she grimaced and shuddered. "Of course, now I have to think about all of this too."
"I, I just can't believe this," Lisa said, finally calming down and shaking her head. "I'm stunned."
"So, the one question I have-" Marion stopped talking and looked at Lisa. "11 weeks? Lisa, that's almost the first trimester. That is crazy."
"Umm, yes, ahh," she looked down and shook her head before looking up at Marion. "11 weeks as of yesterday according to the ultrasound."
"How were you so far off? Do you even really know?"
"Well," she shrugged, "I suppose a couple of things. I didn't exactly know how they dated your weeks and should have looked, but I couldn't because I just knew in my gut this would go so horribly wrong. On top of that, I guess I just was off by a couple weeks." Marion gave her a perplexed look and shook her head, and Lisa sighed, gesturing as she continued. "I suppose I based it off the last time," she made a face at Marion, and suddenly, Marion's face turned beet red.
"Oh, gosh, umm, yes, back to I don't have a father when talking to my friend about this, no father, and you aren't family-"
"Hmm, yes, well, since you asked and since I was way off, it was more like end of April, beginning of May, which means-"
"Oh, gosh, fishing cabin," Marion waved her hand adding, "right, so I wasn't too far off with the going at it like rabbits comment." She flashed a smile at Lisa and then pointed at her. "Okay, you and I are getting into some very touchy areas here. While of course, I realize you had been away from Dad, it's not like I want to exactly have some semblance of a visual image-"
Lisa gripped Marion's hand and nodded, "Ahh, let's leave it at that."
"I know today has been a roller coast of emotions, but, Lisa!" Marion exclaimed, smacking at her steering wheel. "This is amazing! Come on, let's get going. I know you need to talk to Dad, but please don't worry. He's going to be thrilled."
Lisa frowned at her as she leaned back in her seat and shook her head, "Somehow Jack and thrilled don't go very well together. Marion," she said, waiting for Marion to look over at her after putting on her seatbelt. She gave her a nod, "Thank you for coming with me, for insisting on taking me because I have so many emotions right now. I'm certain I would haven't been able to drive, and I'm even now having trouble focusing. I want you to know I really appreciate you and love that we are family."
"You're welcome and anytime," Marion reached over and squeezed her hand, nodding at her. "Sounds like you are going to need a lot of my help going forward. Now, let's go. You have some news to share."
"Ahh, to Fairfield, please," she frowned, giving Marion a glance. "I'd really like some time to gather my thoughts. I'm still struggling with all of this, and not to mention, I still feel terrible, really awful. I suppose at least I know why, but I'm exhausted, nauseous, and now a nervous wreck."
Marion just looked at Lisa, her stepmother, the woman her father adored, the woman who with her news was about to change the family dynamic forever and was quiet while she just thought about all of that. She adored her too; it was easy to do so, and while this news was incredibly crazy, it was quite the blessing. She was happy for Lisa, thrilled honestly. She hoped her dad would be happy too, stunned for sure, but she hoped he would take the news well. Marion had no doubt that her dad would be a little concerned with his age and all, but he was such a good man. Lisa was a wonderful person, and it really was a blessing the two of them could share this together. Finally, she just nodded and started the truck, heading toward home, or Fairfield first.
