Love is Complicated

On The Plus Side, It's a Girl (;

"Sorry!" I rush into the church, eyes falling onto my bumb. Everyone is standing around, almost like Calebs family and mine having a joined reunion. I feel my throat tighten, and the reality hits me. I have to tell all of them.... Almost on cue, Caleb scoops up my hand and shoots me one of his looks. Before we can comfort each other, I'm pulled into someone's arms.
"I'm so mad at you." Ella squeals in my ear. "But your cute little belly makes up for it!" She pulls away.
"It's not so "little'." I laugh dryly.
"Are you okay?" Her features turn serious. "You look as if you've been... tortured...."
"We didn't get much sleep last night." Caleb comes from behind me, placing his hands on my shoulders gently.
"There's more. I can tell." She narrows her eyes, the look of determination on her face. She won't let me live this down....
"There's my baby sis!" Justin hollars, bringing mom and dad over with him. He envelopes me into his brotherly hug and I nuzzle against his chest. Justin has always given the best hugs....
"She's my daughter!" My mother shouts, her impatient quality showing.
"Alright alright. Sheesh." As Justin backs away to give mom some room, I lightly grip his hand. His face turns serious when I swallow the tears forming in my eyes.
"You are not allowed to go that long without seeing me when your pregnant, missy!" She complains, with a tease on the edge of her tongue. My dad gives Caleb a hug and starts talking about work.
"Daddy? Did you forget about the second child you had?" I tease, forcing my dad to stop talking.
"Caleb, son, do you hear anything?"
"I do not, sir." He plays along.
"Dad, please. I hug him through the little game he has played with me since I was little.
"Oh! It's Isabelle! Why didn't you say anything?" We both laugh, as he properly gives me a hug. "Honey, you gotta lay off the Chocolate cake, your gonna get fat!"
"Same to you, mister!" He pats his stomach.
"Shhh. Don't tell your mother." He leans in, "So, how's my grandbaby? Have you found out the gender?"
"We're gonna make an announcement later, no spoilers daddy." I uneasily smile.
"There's my son!" Hilary rushes over and kisses Calebs cheek. "My sweet boy! Phone calls are not enough!" She smiles, before lookin over at me. "Oh, and not to forget, my beautiful daughter-n-law!" She pulls me into a hug and I laugh.
"How was the vacation?"
"Actually it was business." Leo stands beside her, a smile on his lips. I take in his fashion choice, placing him in the clothes I made him buy. Hint: not a suit.
"It wasn't for me. I enjoyed that beautiful sun!" Hilary sighs, her smile proving how relaxed she is. "And you!" She opens her eyes and holds out her hands, "Your belly almost knocked me into Kansas!"
"You wish!" I laugh.

***

"I can't do this."
"Yes, you can! I'll be right next to you!"
"But their all watching, and Ella is going to disown me, my mother will cry hysterically, and my dad will have the my grandbaby? Not my grandbaby look, and Justin will ignore me for months! You know what he did the last time when-"
"Isabelle, your rambling!" He laughs, kissing my forehead.
"I got this." I shake my hands like my favorite football players do before a play, as I face to go up the stage steps. Caleb plays along with my confidence booster, placing his hands firmly on my shoulders.
"You're almost there baby. You are a strong, confident, pregnant woman. You've been through worse."
"I'm almost there, with you." I giggle before grabbing his hand and dragging him onto the stage, at my side.
"Isabelle!" He laughs, and we stand in the middle. Caleb whistles to get their attention, and they all form around the front of the stage. Our main friends and family in the front row, with eyes eager to know the news. "Hello, dear friends and family," Caleb, being the goof he is, introduces this meeting with a joke. "Welcome to our part-aye."
"Excuse him, you all should know by now that I already have a child to take care of." I shoot him a innocent smile as they all laugh.
"You're the one talking." They get louder as Caleb speaks. I shove him lovingly, making him smile.
"Anyways, you all know why were here!" I rub my baby belly. My family hollars and Hilary joins in as Leo just laughs. I look over at my husband, our smiles starting to turn into pain. He takes my hand and whispers I love you before I clear my throat to declare the hard news.
"We have some great news, obviously, but we also have bad news." Caleb speaks before making sure if I still wanted to tell them.
"Let's start with the bad news, and end with the good news, shall we?" I grip harder onto his hand. I hesitate, so he takes that as a hint from me;
"We found out, that our child has a underdevelopment in the arm."
"It is still growing, but once I hit a certain point in my pregnancy, it will stop proceeding with the normal growth pattern." I speak up, stopping in time for Caleb to pick back up. Everyone's faces get wider, and I see them fill with shock.
"If we wait until the due date, we risk having to amputate the arm, which could kill the child itself."
"Or, we could enduce the labor at the time the arm stops growing."
"But we risk Isabelle's life...." Caleb slowly spits out, and I hear my mother cry out.
"I have made a decision; the second option is what I have chosen." Everyone is talking over one another, and Caleb and I stand frozen, unable to comfort them, let alone ourselves. My thought go crazy, and all I can feel is the little movements that haven't stopped since this morning, or Caleb's hand on mine trying to stay 'okay'. The first thing I think in my head, I spit out on my tongue;
"On the plus side, it's a girl...."

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Thanks for Reading!

Sorry, it took reeeeally long
*deep sigh*
Blame the "writers block" (Lol)

- Emuna_Jasmine