Page 156 of What Should Have Been Ours

He glances down at the chart. “Your urine test came back positive for pregnancy.”

I stare at him, not processing the words. “Come again?”

He smiles gently. “You’re pregnant.”

I shake my head, trying to make sense of the words. “No…no, that’s not possible. I can’t get pregnant. I was told I couldn’t after everything. And Cam—” My voice breaks. “My husband wasn’t supposed to be able to either.”

The doctor nods sympathetically. “In cases like yours, it is extremely rare to conceive naturally. But nothing is ever impossible. And by your HCG levels, I would say you’re about three months along.”

Three months.

I feel like the air has been stolen from my lungs.

How did I not know? How did I miss it?

Kinsley gasps beside me.

Then, suddenly, she’s screaming, practically tackling me in a hug.

“Oh my Gosh! Gabrielle! You’re pregnant!”

Her excitement is a stark contrast to the shock still paralyzing me.

I sit there, numb, my hand trembling as I press it to my stomach.

I’m pregnant?

Me and Cam…made a baby?

* * *

The car is silent for a long time.

I just stare out of the window, my mind running in a thousand different directions.

Eventually, Kinsley finally breaks the silence. “Gabs…talk to me.”

“All I ever wanted was a family. A real one…with Cam.” My throat tightens. “And now he’s gone. And I have to do this without him.”

Kinsley watches me carefully. “But you’re not without him.”

A tear slips down my cheek at the thought—I don’t get to do this with him. He didn’t get to find out with me. He doesn’t get to go to any of the prenatal appointments. I don’t get to watch him pace the hospital room, nervous and excited. I don’t get to see him hold our baby for the first time, don’t get to hear him whisper lullabies in the middle of the night, trying to soothe a crying baby. I don’t get to have the life we were supposed to have.

But—but he left me something. He left me with a real piece of himself. He left me a love so strong it created life.

I press my hands over my stomach, fresh tears slipping down my cheeks.

Kinsley squeezes my knee. “Are you okay?”

I let out a small, breathless laugh, my heart aching and so full all at once. “Yeah,” I whisper, nodding. “It’s happy tears, I think.”

I look at her, a smile breaking through the grief. “I’m having a baby, Kinsley. Cam and I… we made a baby. He may be gone, but a part of him is still here. A part of him is growing inside me.”

Our love, the one we built…it didn’t end. It’s still going. It’s still alive. It’s growing legs and arms as we speak.

Thank you, God…

Also…would you mind telling Cam he’s going to be a dad for me?