AllFreeNovel
Share Us
The debris from the fire filled a dumpster that was yet to be emptied, but other than that, all signs of Patty’s destruction were gone. She had been released on a bond and hadn’t tried to contact Tony to apologize. The only other sign that there had been a fire was a slightly charred piece of board and batten siding that Big Mike was going to replace on Sunday after church.
“I love our house,” Tony said when they pulled into the driveway.
“I do too. Thank you so much. I love you, Tony.” She was emotional, but he didn’t notice.
“I love you, too,” he said, distracted, wanting to get inside. “Careful getting out.”
He took the bags of food and she had the tray of coffee cups.
“You’re really pregnant,” he said, checking out her belly.
“That’s what they tell me. I went to the doctor last night and set up an ultrasound for your day off.”
Unlocking the door took some concentration, but when he succeeded and pushed it open, placing the food on a card table in the living room near the window so they’d have light, he finally paused and looked right at her. “You never told me you went to the doctor.”
“I just forgot I had the appointment, to tell you the truth. I had to make a death run to get there on time after work.”
They left their coats on because it was still chilly inside, the sun not out under the gloom of clouds.
“How’d it go?” he was busy laying out their food on paper napkins, opening coffee and adding creamer just the way she liked it. Here was her opportunity to tell him.
“I do have some news.”
“What kind of news? Are you having twins?” He chuckled.
“No, I’m not having twins. Will you please sit? I don’t want to have this conversation standing up. The baby is healthy; she’s got a great heart. But there is a problem.”
“What problem?”
When she didn’t answer right away and even in the dark house it was clear the color had drained from her face, Tony grabbed her arms, holding her close, looking into her eyes. “Bridget, you’re scaring me. What is it?”
“There is a high probability, or so the computer says, that she has trisomy 21, or Down syndrome.”
He slowly let go of her, a tic in his jaw making it clear he’d heard, and he was processing it. All the energy she had, all the resolve to be positive for Tony’s sake, flew out of her body at the moment, and she pulled a chair over to sit.
He walked through the living room, poking at piles of lumber, flipping switches that had no power, finally responding, “How are you?”
“I’m fine physically. Emotionally I wish I were dead. I have no idea what to expect. I spent time on the internet last night reading blogs about what parents feel when they get the diagnosis, and no one jumps for joy.”
“What does it mean for the baby? I mean, besides the physical appearance difference? That I can cope with.”
“No one knows until she’s born. Her heart was fine at ten weeks. We’ll see it again on Monday. I just hope she’s not going to die.”
“Is that an issue?” he asked, suddenly frightened.
“It could be. I still have twelve weeks to go. The moment they made the determination she could have Down, it became a high-risk pregnancy.”
The realization that they could lose their child hit Tony like a medicine ball to the face, and he winced, falling to his knees in front of her. He buried his face in her lap and pulled up her sweater to expose her skin, his hands on her belly, and began to sob. She kept running her fingers through his hair, listening to him wail, wishing she could join in. It wasn’t to be. Numb beyond belief, there were no words. It was what it was.
“We have to take one day at a time, Tony. I’m not sure I’ll survive this otherwise.”
“Oh God,” he cried. “Oh God!”
It was exactly what she’d felt, but she couldn’t put it into words. Swirling in her head were the unimportant but, according to the blog she’d read, real issues that had to be dealt with. They had to tell people the diagnosis, friends and family. They couldn’t isolate themselves. That would be the worst thing. She was so pissed off at everyone. It was irrational, but she couldn’t help it. The biggest fear was they’d pity her. Pity would be intolerable.
He reached for a paper napkin on the table and stood up to blow his nose. “Come here,” he said, pulling her up from the chair, embracing her. She felt his body shaking. Bending down, he kissed her belly, pulling her sweater up again and her pants down so he could feel her skin, and like magic, the little baby began to roll around.
“I love her so much. I’ll do anything to make sure she’s going to be alright. I’m scared though. How will we take care of her?”
