“So things are better between you two now?”
“Yes.” She sighed. “I don’t know why I always tend to fly off the handle like that.”
“Um, I think it has something to do with hair color,” Bek said, waving her ponytail at Sarah.
Her smile twisted. “I don’t know how much longer that excuse is going to wash with Dan.” Or if it ever had.
Her mother laughed. “It’ll be good to have him back.”
She nodded. “I’m glad he got the chance to go to the west coast to see some of his friends.”
“And how about you?” her mother asked. “Have you been keeping in touch with any of your friends?”
“Well, you met most of them the other night.” When she’d hosted her own version of a soiree.
“They’re the ones involved in the Musko-cheers thing?”
Sarah glanced at Bek.
“Hey, I might be your sister, but I still follow you on Instagram.”
“That’s right. I forgot I mentioned about the fundraising for the Muskoka facility on there a while ago.” She plucked a grape and unpeeled it, then popped it in her mouth.
“That’s kind of gross,” Bek said, wrinkling her nose.
“It’s also fun.” Oh, the things that she enjoyed now, now she wasn’t on the frantic mouse-wheel of life.
The Heartsong tour season was done. She realized that now. She could maybe write more music, or possibly join a couple of nearby North American city concerts, but the frantic pace of what she used to be able to do she didn’t want to anymore. Which made the album offer all the more interesting.
She’d replied, but all the baby drama had meant she hadn’t responded to their contract. She grasped her phone, opened up her email, and studied it. Then prayed, felt a yes, and signed.
“Whatcha doing?” Bek asked.
Sarah told her, swearing them to secrecy. “I know you want me to be open with Dan, but I’d like this to be a surprise.”
“I think he’ll get a real kick out of it.”
“Such a romantic gesture.” Mum sighed. “So, did I hear something about Dan thinking of retiring?”
Sarah explained a little more, which was why the campground and special needs facility could make a lot of sense. “This could be a good thing to do.”
“A good thing or a God thing?”
“We’ve been praying about it, and both of us think it’s a God thing.”
“It really sounds like you’ve been bonding well with these women.”
Sarah nodded. “It’s funny that although we live in the same apartment in the city, I only got to know Jackie more while in Muskoka.” How ironic that it was here, and not there. Except not so ironic, when she had only wanted to avoid her before. “Jackie and Toni, who also lives in Toronto, both pop in occasionally. They’ve both been great in sharing a bit about what to expect when you’re expecting.” She groaned. “There’s just so much, isn’t there?”
Bek shot her a sympathetic smile. “It might be an answer to your prayers, but it doesn’t mean it’s easy.”
That was for sure. “I really thought that by four months I’d be over vomiting by now.”
Just like last time her body had reacted strongly to the little creature it was growing, and instead of putting on weight, she’d been losing it. Ginger helped, and the rest. Dr. Feldman was really happy with their progress, apart from slightly elevated blood pressure, which saw encouragement—not warnings—about the need to relax, to try and get her blood pressure down.
What a difference Dr. Feldman’s outlook had. She might have similar suggestions to Dr. McKinnon, but she framed it in a way that Sarah wanted to try, rather than resist. When Sarah had first talked to Jackie about her desire for a different obstetrician, she’d put her in touch with the Christian woman who city friends had recommended to her. And yes, she knew going behind Dan’s back about that hadn’t been good, but he’d agreed after their meeting that Dr. Feldman’s supportive nature was refreshing.
“From what I’ve seen with all your notes, it appears that there’s definite improvement in the heart.”
