Against The Rocks

The Waiting Game

"Do we look yet?"

"It's only been thirty seconds, Johnny."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, I'm timing it."

"I swear we've been waiting for five minutes at least."

"Can we talk about something else?"

"Sorry, just nervous."

"Me too."

Lily slipped her hand into Johnny's and squeezed it. They were sat in the kitchen, a heavy atmosphere weighing down on them, while a pregnancy test teased them from the bathroom windowsill. Lily was so anxious she felt sick, and had insisted they wait in the kitchen instead of standing over it, willing it to change. Now, as the seconds ticked by slowly, she'd almost lost her nerve completely and couldn't seem to sum up the courage she'd need in roughly two minutes to go and check it. Johnny was the total opposite, desperate to get in there and read it before she'd even flushed the toilet. His leg jigged with anticipation as they perched on the stools at the breakfast bar, trying to find anything but the test to talk about.

The Skylark had surpassed itself, netting its owner a hefty sum. It had been enough to start the couple on their fertility medications, as well as to book in their IVF treatment. With the science-y side of things taken care of, Lily had attended the clinic for the embryo transfer, and then there had been nothing to do but play a very impatient waiting game for the test date the nurse had given them to see if it had worked. They'd mainly passed the time with Brian and Heidi, though their friends had no idea why the pair were so on edge as they insisted on distracted dinners and film nights to try and occupy their minds.

"What time is it now?" Johnny asked impatiently, looking over at his wife who was looking paler by the second.

"It's only been 30 seconds. We still have two minutes to go," she replied quietly, staring straight ahead out of the window at the white picket fence that bordered their small home.

He nodded, though he could hardly believe how slowly the time was passing. Wringing his hands with impatience, he opened his mouth again, "What if it's positive?"

"What if it's not?" Lily retorted, lowering her eyes. The need to nervously fiddle with something overcame her resistance, and she found herself tipping salt out of the shaker and pushing it around with her fingertips – something she would have told Johnny off for doing. "What happens if it doesn't work?"

Johnny wrapped his arms around her shoulders, pulling her into his chest. "Then we save up again," he shrugged, like it was nothing. "There's nothing we can't achieve together."

"I don't know how you can be so positive," Lily sighed, burying her head in her hands.

"We just have to get through it, Lil, there's nothing else we can do. And we will get through it. I'll carry you, no, drag you if I have to," he teased, taking one of her hands and lacing his fingers into hers.

She abandoned her salt artwork and gave him a grateful smile, "I love you. You know that, right?"

He scoffed, "I'd be worried if you didn't. I'm a top specimen – the best mankind has to offer. I think we both know I'm the pinnacle of human existence because of that time where I-"

Lily's phone began chiming and dancing across the table, cutting off Johnny's vainglorious boast. Lily snatched it up and looked over at him with wide, anxious eyes, "It's time."

"What do we do?" he asked, suddenly feeling panic rush through his veins with an icy bite. "Just look at it?"

"Yeah, I guess," she shrugged, staying glued to her seat.