The Problem with Dreams

Chapter 2 - Visiting with Babies

Marion and Richard watched their retreating form of their friends as Greg and Susan left Marion's hospital room.

"Did you get the impression that they weren't necessarily here to see us?" Richard asked.

"I was thinking that too," Marion said. "Susan did seem awfully anxious to see Dr. Daniels when he came. She and Greg were even with him when he came to my room ... like they'd been to see him first."

"That's what I was thinking," Richard agreed. "And didn't he say Susan has an appointment with him next Wednesday?"

"Yes," Marion said. "Hum, I wonder."

"What?" Richard asked in concern. "Do you think there's something wrong with Susan?"

"Not necessarily. I'm wondering if she might be pregnant again," Marion said.

"Do you think she is? Or is it something else?" Richard wondered. "I can't help remembering how devastated she looked in the parking lot the day we saw her there ... like she'd had some seriously bad news."

"Not just that she'd lost the baby?" Marion questioned.

Richard considered what he knew. "No, I don't think so, Marion. They lost the baby while they were still in Hawaii, before their flight arrived in Los Angeles. That was in the middle of last September. It was old news to both of them by the time we knew we were pregnant on November first. I think whatever she learned that day was something new, something devastating and something that affects both of them. I can't help wondering if it has something to do with the other health problems Susan has."

"Because of her head maybe?" Marion speculated. "I know they said something about having to watch her blood pressure because of that."

Richard arched a brow. "You know, that could be it. Maybe they found out it would be dangerous for Susan to have a baby."

"Do you think they would really want a baby though, Richard? I know Susan is younger than I am by a year or two, but Greg is much older. His natural children are grown, and neither of Susan's children is that young anymore," Marion remarked.

"True, but they also have Jessie. She's only seven. That's not that old," Richard reminded her.

"I know, but starting over with a baby, at their age?" Marion asked.

Richard caught her eye. "We are such hypocrites, Marion. Who are we to talk about whose too old to be having a baby?"

Marion blushed. She'd thought that too, for a while now. But no part of her being was sorry they'd gone through with it. Her thoughts were interrupted however by a nurse wheeling a pair of bassinets into her room and she didn't have time to think about it anymore.

"It's almost time for feedings again," the nurse said. "I recommend feeding Melissa first. Your milk will be more concentrated at the beginning of the feeding cycle ... and it should be coming in soon. She needs the extra calories, so what do you say?"

"Girls first, I always say," Richard agreed and he went to wash his hands before handling the babies. Already the protocol for interacting with them was becoming routine.

c

Although they left the hospital together, Greg and Susan had arrived in separate cars. Consequently they each drove home on their own. It was barely five o'clock when they arrived at the farmhouse, and Susan went directly in to begin work on dinner while Greg checked in with Matt, Zackary, and Jessie.

"Hi," Matt commented when Greg walked in.

"Hello. Is everything all right here?"  Greg asked.

"Yeah, but I was wondering if Mom's all right," Matthew said. "A Dr. Thurston called today for her just after she left. Something about some test results? It sounded like it might have something to do with her head."