Page 165 of Healing Eleanor

Her words tug at the memories. Ivan is the greatest blessing, our answered prayer. After all the damage I did to my body, my doctor wasn’t sure pregnancy would ever be possible. My cycle had vanished for months, my uterus and ovaries weakened, the odds stacked against me.

When Nik and I started trying, we prayed with every ounce of faith we had. But month after month, the tests remained negative. Slowly, disappointment crept in, and with it came the old whispers of, you’re not enough. I started slipping back into bad habits, chasing control where I could find it.

Nik noticed before I fell too far. He stopped me, held me, reminded me that his love wasn’t conditional on children, and that my worth wasn’t measured by my body’s ability to bear them. Together we decided to let go. To stop trying, to rest, and enjoy the life we already had.

And that’s when it happened. Unexpectedly. Undeserved. Our miracle. A sweet baby boy, given to us the moment we stopped striving and simply trusted.

Because of my history, the doctors marked me at high risk since there were higher chances of miscarriage, prematurity, and low birth weight. But so far, Ivan’s defied every statistic. God is still showing Himself in the smallest details, reminding me He hasn’t abandoned me once.

Scarlett wipes off the doppler and slips it back into her bag. “Have the two of you come up with a middle name yet?” she asks, curiosity in her tone.

I raise my eyes to Nik, and the knowing smile tugging at his lips makes me want to roll my eyes.

“I have one,” I admit, looking back at Scarlett. “But Nik doesn’t like it.”

Scarlett’s brows lift. “Uh oh. What is it?”

Nik stifles a laugh, his cheeks flushing red. “She likes Zeb.”

Scarlett’s head snaps toward me, one brow arched high. “Why?”

“It’s short for Zebedee,” I say quickly, like that will clear everything up. “It means ‘gift of God.’ Honestly, you can’t get much cuter than that, Scarlett.”

The expression on her face says otherwise, and Nik’s laugh breaks loose at her reaction.

I smack his leg. “You’re so mean.”

“I’m sorry, baby.” He brushes a strand of hair from my face, though he’s still grinning. “But that’s really bad.”

Scarlett shifts her gaze to him. “What’s your idea then?” she asks, half-wary.

Nik’s grin softens. “Ozias. It means my strength is God.”

Scarlett presses a hand over her heart, exhaling in relief. “Oh, what a relief.”

I bite back a comment. Scarlett has come to faith since becoming my midwife. She often tells me that watching Ivan’s life unfold has stirred something in her heart.

But at the moment, she’s squarely on Nik’s side. And that is simply unforgivable.

“Someone help me up—I’m out of here,” I huff, and Louie jumps off the couch while I wriggle uselessly, trying to pull myself forward. My belly has officially declared mutiny, blocking every attempt.

Scarlett presses a hand to my shoulder. “Don’t do that, you’ll only hurt yourself.”

Behind me, Nik is trying—and failing—not to laugh.

“And come on, Eleanor,” Scarlett adds with a teasing smile, “you have to admit Ivan Ozias is way cuter than Ivan Zeb.”

“Thank you,” Nik says smugly, sliding his arms around me to help me into a sitting position.

I glance between them. “Traitors. Both of you.”

Scarlett holds up her hands in mock surrender. “Okay, fine. If you won’t admit it, tell me why you want Zeb so badly?”

I keep my eyes away from Nik, because he’ll only revel in it. “Because Nik picked Ivan’s first name. If I don’t get Zeb, he wins twice—and I cannot let that happen.”

Both Nik and Scarlett burst out laughing. I want to tackle them to the floor and demand loyalty, but—pregnant belly and all—I can’t.

“Oh, Eleanor,” Scarlett says between laughs. “I love you.” She hoists her bag over her shoulder. “I have to run, but I’ll see you in two days.” She heads for the door.