Sarah smiled as her dad on the computer screen leaned in now too. “It seems the condition I have will take about nine months to fully develop.”
She watched her parents gradually comprehend what she was saying. How she wished she could be telling them this in person. Emotion hovered. She batted it away. She was way too prone to tears these days.
“Sarah, you don’t mean…?”
Hope shone on their faces, and she was so glad she could confirm the good news. “Dan and I are having a baby in April.”
“Oh, sweetie, that’s so exciting! Congratulations, Dan.”
“Thanks, Lindy.” Dan leaned into the shot, broad grin permanently attached these days.
“Congratulations to both of you! We know this means so much.”
“Congrats, you two! Sarah, I wondered if you were, when you complained about being so tired and sick all the time,” Bek crowed.
“I didn’t think it was possible, what with the cramping and blood and stuff.” She snuck a peek at her dad. He looked a little gobsmacked. Oh well. “Sorry, Dad. Just keeping it real.”
Just not so real that they needed to know about the doctor’s cautions about their child’s potential to be born with health issues. Saying it aloud seemed to add weight to that diagnosis. And she didn’t want to do that and spoil her celebratory birthday video call.
“So what does this mean for your trip to Australia?” Bek asked, oh-so-practical as ever.
Ah. Great question. Sarah felt the tension emanate from Dan. “The doctor said I’d be over the worst of the sickness soon,” she said carefully.
“But you need to take care, sweetheart. Especially when you’ve been so tired.”
“See?” Dan murmured. “Even your own mother agrees.”
She kept her gaze on the computer. “I’m not going against medical advice.”
Yeah, from the looks of her family, nobody was buying what she was trying to sell.
“I’m not,” she insisted. “Dr. McKinnon said I’d be fine by then.”
“But it’s only a few weeks away,” her mother protested.
“Exactly. So it’s too late to cancel now.”
“Sarah…”
Irritation spiked, and she turned to Dan. “Do you know how hard it’s been to not see my family this year?Sohard. And now I finally get the chance to see them and you don’t want me to.”
“Sar, this isn’t the time,” he said in a low voice.
“No, it’s exactly the right time. They’re my family. They want to see me.” She sniffed. “And I want to see them. Ineedto see them, Dan.”
“They could fly here—”
“No! Why does it always have to be they come here? What if I want to be there? What if I don’t want to feel cold for once, and want to actually see the Pacific Ocean, and smell gum trees, and hear accents that sound like mine? Iwantto be there.” She wiped away stupid tears. Oh, these hormones were making her so emotional.
“We all understand that,” her mother soothed. “It’s just we’re concerned about your health, and the health of the baby.”
“I’mfine.”
“You’re not fine,” Dan said gently. “You’re exhausted.”
“How are you going to cope with all the traveling that the tour involves?” Bek asked.
Another excellent question. Touring was demanding at the best of times. But stubbornness refused to give in. Not yet, anyway.
