Generations: The Long Game

The Six Week Check-up

TW: medical procedures, potentially life threatening medical conditions, illness

Reece woke up early to do Rory's morning feed. Over the last two weeks he had been doing it more and more. Marjorie had lost her appetite, and with that, her ability to breastfeed. After that she never seemed to have enough energy. He tried to research every possibility, but nothing seemed to fit quite right. She wanted to wait for the six-week appointment, and it was finally here.

He only found out about the pains two weeks before. He believed they were getting worse, but she would never let on. He watched her day and night barely letting her out of his sight. When he did leave, he texted her constantly.

Reece didn't even have to ask their friends to watch the children today. They had all volunteered. In the end Carly was the most adamant. Marjorie was like another mother to her, and no one could argue the point any further.

After Rory's feed, he took himself back to the room to find that she had already showered and dressed, but was sitting on the edge of the bed crying. "Gorgeous, what is it? Do you need help with something? Are you in pain? What can I do?"

He had thrown so many questions at her that she only felt more overwhelmed and sobbed harder. When she was finally able to still herself, she looked up at him looking for the calm and not finding it. His anxiety stole their calm away when she needed it most.

"I just want to feel better. I don't know what is wrong, but I need it to be right again, Reece." He pulled her into his arms and the calm came. She relaxed into him feeling so much worry melt away. Even if it was only for a moment, she needed just that moment.

They instructed Carly on the ins and outs of the children. She had been around a lot the last few weeks and didn't need all the information. She also knew Marjorie was struggling with leaving Rory. Even if it was only for an hour or two the first time away was not going to be easy.

She bounced her leg as they waited for the doctor to come into the room. She had already talked to the midwife, had a pelvic exam, had a scan, had blood drawn and was sent for an MRI. "Reece, they didn't do all of this after Emery. What do they think is wrong?"

"I don't know gorgeous. Try not to worry." They both chuckled when he said it. The laughter didn't last long as each had the sobering feeling that this was bad. They would both worry.

When the doctor entered, he introduced himself, but he didn't look up at them. Reece had read somewhere that that was a coping technique. They didn't look at the patients they had to give particularly bad news to. Before he could even say anything, Marjorie spoke.

"Look don't beat around the bush. Just tell us. What is it?"

"Mrs. Knight, we believe your recent pregnancy may have masked it, but we suspect ovarian cancer.