A Little Understanding

Celebrations All Around

A few weeks had passed since the wedding and they were gearing up to celebrate Benji's fifth birthday. Soon he would be starting school and Layla often found herself wondering where that time had gone. He had grown up so fast, and every day he made the two of them proud.

For Benji's birthday they took him to a waterpark, along with his little friend from kindergarten, James and his family. Benji always struggled to make friends, although his speech had improved a lot he still lacked social skills and he wasn't quite at the same level as the other kids socially. Despite that he and James clicked. James seemed to understand Benji in a way that some of the other kids couldn't. He had once interpreted what Benji was trying to say, stating that he could 'understand that language', and Layla thought that was the most sweetest thing ever.

Benji had always loved the water, and he thoroughly enjoyed all the water slides, wave pools, whirlpools and everything else the waterpark had to offer.

They all had a picnic lunch together complete with a chocolate cake with a number 5 candle for Benji. They avoided the happy birthday song, as Benji still hated it, but they all cheered a quick 'Happy Birthday Benji!' and he even blew out the candle by himself.

A few weeks later, after having had months of school visits to get used to a new environment Benji started school. It was the perfect place for Benji and they were well equipped to deal with his needs. He had a support teacher to help him some of the time, and the classroom even had a special sensory area to help kids like Benji if they got too overwhelmed. Starting school had been a huge source of worry for Layla, but when her and Jeff visited the school with Benji she knew they had chosen the right place.

It took him a little while to adjust, having meltdowns most days for the first couple of weeks. The teacher knew exactly how to handle it and help Benji through, and after those first few weeks he became much more settled.

Jeff continued his carpentry business and while Benji was at school Layla worked on the farm. She also occasionally helped Jeff with his work, her sewing skills meant she could do the upholstery on chairs and stools he had built. Together they made a fantastic team.

From his workshop Jeff watched as Layla chatted to their donkeys as she fed them. He loved that she cared about animals just as much as he did. Since they had started living together they had even rescued a couple more donkeys, some extra chickens and even a highland calf.

When Layla leaned up against the fence as though she was trying to catch her breath Jeff immediately knew something was wrong and he ran over to her.

"Sweetheart are you okay?" He asked.

"Yeah... I'm okay, just feeling really nauseous".

"Are you... do you think you could be..." Jeff asked.

"Pregnant? Yeah... maybe. This is how I felt with Benji".

"Have you had your period?"

"Not for a while, but my cycle was a bit messed up anyway so I didn't want to say anything and get your hopes up in case I wasn't" Layla explained.

"Should we take a test?" Jeffrey asked excitedly.

"Yeah" Layla grinned.

They sat nervously on the bed together as they waited to check the results.

"Okay, times up" Jeff said as he reached for the pregnancy test. "Ready?"

"Yup".

"Okay..." Jeff said as he brought it closer so they could read it. "Positive... we're going to have a baby?"

"We're gonna have a baby!" Layla exclaimed.

"Oh my god we're gonna have a baby!!" Jeff grinned as he jumped up with joy. Pulling Layla into his arms he hugged her tight. "I love you Sweetheart!"

"I love you too Babe".

A few days later they had an ultrasound to confirm. "Congratulations you are indeed pregnant" the doctor smiled. "10 weeks along".

"All that sex on our wedding night did the trick huh?" Jeffrey teased making her blush.

Layla and Jeff decided to wait until she was showing to tell Benji he was going to be a big brother. They weren't sure he would understand without some sort of physical proof, something he could see or feel.

Despite only being twelve weeks along now, Jeff made sure that Layla wasn't doing any heavy lifting and insisted on helping her with all of the more physical farm work. They were out feeding their highland calf George one morning when Layla felt a sudden pain in her belly. Like a period pain, only worse. She doubled over and clutched at her stomach.

"Layla!" Jeff yelled as he ran to her side. "Sweetheart?"

"Jeff... s-something is wrong" she groaned. Without a second thought Jeff scoped her up in his arms and carried her inside.

"Talk to me Sweetheart" he said as he placed her down on the sofa.

"It hurts...th-this isn't normal. I'm scared Jeff... our baby" she cried.

"It's okay Sweetheart" he said as he stroked her cheek tenderly. "Just breathe".

"I... I can feel something".

"Feel what Layla?"

"A warmth... something is wrong".

"Stand up Sweetheart" he instructed and she did so, leaning on his shoulders as he knelt before her. He undid her pants and slid them down her legs. "Fuck..."

"What? Jeff what is it?" She panicked.

"You're bleeding Sweetheart. Wait right here I'll get a maxi-pad" he said as he rushed to the bathroom. He returned moments later with a clean pair of underwear with a pad, and a pair of sweatpants. He helped Layla change and then he carried her out to the car and drove them to the hospital.

As she lay on the hospital bed while the doctor performed an ultrasound, Layla couldn't stop the tears trickling down her face at the thought of losing their baby. Jeff held her hand tight, wiping the tears from her cheeks. "It's okay Sweetheart... it's okay" he whispered reassuringly, although he wasn't quite sure he believed his own words. But he needed to be strong for his wife.

Cliffhanger.... sorry!!
Don't hate me. Stay tuned for the next chapter!
DV.