Love is Complicated

Hope

"Sofie?"
"Lily?"
"Raelynn?"
"Thats a country singer." I shoot a glance back at him and he shrugs.
"A hot country singer."
"Sure." I sarcastically agree, going back to the magazine.
"Julie?"
"I can't name my daughter after my brothers ex girlfriend." I look back over at him and his smirk explains it all. I playfully punch his shoulder, knowing Justin would murder us both.
"Clare?"
"I am not naming my daughter after a Brat Doll." Caleb laughs as I hear my phone go off.
"It's sad you still remember the Brat Doll's name." I groan, mostly because I made the stupid decision to leave it in the kitchen; and also because my husband is one-of-a-kind. Caleb had, patiently, helped me get into this position and now I am slowly getting up. His lap is now empty and he groans, mostly about having to help me sit back down afterwords.
"Hello?" (It's me) I casually answer my phone, once I eventually get to it.
"Is this Mrs. Thompson?" I hear a ladies voice. I smile at the sound of my last name,
"Yes, this is her."
"I am the doctor you saw about your child. I'm pretty sure you have seen many by now, but I am the one who told you the news for the first time."
"Oh yes. I have been meaning to call down there. I am sorry for the way I acted to you and your staff. I was in denial, and I am planning on coming to you guys when I'm in labor."
"That's great to hear, thank you, but I am calling on behalf of your situation; we believe we can prevent it." Her words about knock me over, but I take a deep breath and try to stay calm. I have been told so many times, things might work.
"Man, I have to pee." I hear Caleb mutter as he picks his self off the couch.
"Explain please." I sit down at our bar stool placing my elbows onto the table top.
"I have been occasionally looking over your child's folder, and I have noticed that her arm is, in fact, growing. If you would come in and let me update our scans of your child, I can proceed with my obligations; only if you're up for it. I know it may be a long shot, but it may be worth looking into."
"Why?" My voice shatters under pressure, "Why do this all for my family?"
"I told you, we will do our best. We gave up too quickly, and I wouldn't want to go through this myself either."
"When can we come?"
"Now is a perfect time." Out of excitement, I accidentally hang up.
"Caleb!" I yell. Suddenly I hear a loud bang, and a grunt following it.
"Woman!" He threatens as he comes stomping into the room, "You are pregnant. Do not just yell like that across the room! I was in the middle of relieving myself and you rudely interrupted."
"Get the car ready." I ignore his pouting, as I make my way to my shoes.
"Where are we going now?" He pouts even more, and I laugh.
"Sheesh, maybe you're the pregnant one." I sarcastically comment. After the third pair of shoes I try to pull on, I huff from frustration. "I need your shoes, again."

***

"Sorry," We rush into the room being held for us, "I ran into a feet problem..." She laughs and my nerves speed up.
"I think it's about time I introduce myself," She sticks her hand out, "Rosa, Rosa Jones."
"Isabelle, Thomp- you already know my last name." I mumble to myself, trying to limit the embarrassment. "And my first name...." I obviously failed.
"I am going to try everything I can to see if my predictions can become reality, but if they can't I am sorry for getting your hopes up; I can tell you have been through this sort of thing already...."
"Many times." Caleb speaks, gripping my hand. "Thank you anyways; I don't want to just give up, I want her to be able to watch our child grow up herself."
"Caleb, I already told you that's not the main deal here..." I gently assure, "I've gotten okay wih it."
"Well, I haven't." He states casually. Once we got the scan done, we sat waiting for the results. Caleb was antsy but I calmly, and slowly, pulled on my clothes. Once I got situated, Rosa came back in; with a smile printed on her lips.
"We have an option." She says first, "Your child's arm is still in fact growing, but once she reaches a certain point in her development, it will stop. The rest of her body will continue, but not her arm."
"So, what can we do about it?"
"We can force you into labor, sooner than your due date."
"Isn't that dangerous?"
"It has some dangers, but the only effect it will have on your child, is her first couple months will be a little behind in her growth." Rosa explains. "She'll be almost like a premature newborn."
"What's Isabelle's cost?" Caleb speaks up.
"There is a chance of what's at stake now."
"So either way I might lose my wife?"
"Sadly, yes."
"Thank you Rosa," I speak up, taking Caleb's reaction to the news to heart. "we will definitely think about it."
"Contact us as soon as possible." She smiles, before leaving us alone.
"Caleb-"
"I know you're doing this for our baby girl, but I can't raise her without you. I don't want to raise her without you! She will need her crazy, beyond positive, mother to help her in this cruel, hard world." I let his words sink in before running my mouth.
"I know you don't like the idea of me not being there for her, but if it comes down to it, I might not get that privilege. I dream of watching her get her first haircut, or losing her teeth. How about watching her get ready for prom, or going on her first date." Tears swell in my eyes, "I dream of sending her to college, and seeing her grow in the making of her own family. I think constantly about what I'll miss, but no matter what, she'll have you. You will be amazing, maybe a little rough around the edges, but you can always know that I'm proud of you. Plus, she'll always know me; just through you. You can tell our story, or about how we never planned on falling for each other." I take ahold of his hand, "I love you, Caleb Thompson; and nothing will change that."
"I love you too Isabelle; even though you are the most stubborn women I know." He smartly replies as I kiss his forehead. Once we start to head out to the car, Caleb stops the nurse. They share a few words before he comes back to me, smiling that cheeky smile.
"What's going on?" My curiosity picks up.
"We're set for that plan." He casually replies, holding the waiting room door open. I shriek from excitement, wrapping my arms around his neck.
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Thanks for reading!

Sorry, I've gotten behind in school work, so I've been catching up =)

- Emuna_Jasmine