Chapter 5: A Birth and a Death

Chapter 5: A Birth and a Death

THREE WEEKS LATER

 "You hurt Nan?"

 Nathan looked worried as he pointed at my hand against my stomach.  I have been feeling queasy for the last week or so.  I think I might have eaten something that doesn't agree with me.  That had to be it.

 "No sweet boy, I just have a stomachache," I replied as I ruffled his hair on his head.

 Nathan just turned two last week.  We had an elaborate party for him, anyone who was anyone showed up.   He is such a handsome and sweet little boy.  I have come to love him like he is my own; we are developing a close bond.  I know it will be hard to leave him once Jason returns home and we start our life. 

 "Nan-"

"Oh, no, hold that thought little man!"  I get up and run for the bathroom barely making it before puking.  I have not been holding anything down lately.

 I clean myself up and come back out.  Nathan is waiting for me at the bathroom door with worry on his face.

"It is okay sweetheart, I will be better in no time.  It’s just a stomach bug"

 I pick him up and hug him close to me when a knock taps on the door.  Mrs. Harper enters, "lunch is ready Mrs. Reece."

 "Thank you Mrs. Harper, and please, I have told you, call me Lydia, Mrs. Reece sounds so old."

 Mrs. Harper laughs, "yes Lydia, I will try to remember."

 I don't think I will ever get used to being called Mrs. Reece.  I have been married for exactly three weeks today.  I miss Jason every day.  I have talked to him twice since his deployment and I have received one letter.  He is constantly telling me how much he misses and loves me.  It makes my heart so happy and full knowing that in just a few short months, he will be here with me.  

Nathan and I ate lunch like we do every day.  It is our bonding time and we both look forward to it.  After dinner he spends two hours with his parents.  I know they are busy so it is nice to see them make time to spend with him each day.

I decided to lay down for a little bit, I still wasn't feeling well and actually felt worse after eating. I slept for about an hour when I woke up to the phone, by my bed, ringing.  The Woods set me up with a private line so I could keep in touch with my friends and family while I was here.

"Hello?"  I said groggy.

"Is that a way to say hello to your only sister?"

"Sorry Grace, I just woke up."

"Just woke up? It is nearly two in the afternoon!"

"I know,  Nathan is with his parents right now and I wasn't feeling well so I laid down.”

 "Why what's wrong?"  she sounded worried.

"Nothing, I have just been nauseous the past week or so, can't keep anything down."

"Oh boy," she replied, somewhat less nervous than she was a minute ago.

"Oh boy what,"  I said, rolling my eyes like she could see me through the phone.

"When was the last time you had your period sis?"

"Uh,"  I thought about it for a minute before shock and realization took over, "actually I am two weeks late!  I don't know why I didn't think of this before!"

"It will be okay, just go to the store and get a few tests.  Get the good ones, don't be cheap, they are more accurate. Get yourself a doc appointment as soon as possible!"

"Yes mom!"  I laughed,  Grace was always trying to act like mom to me ever since our mom died a few years back.

She laughed too, "just call me after you take them.  I would like to know if I am going to be an aunt!"

"Alright Grace,"  I said, rolling my eyes again.  "I will talk to you soon then."

"Alright, love you sis!"

"Love you too!"

After hanging up,  I looked at the clock, 1:30.  I wasn't supposed to have Nathan back again until three.  I grabbed my coat and headed to the store.

There were so many choices to choose from.  Grace's words played over in my head, "get the good ones, don't be cheap."  I sighed and grabbed a few of the digital ones from the shelf and went to check out.

Back at the house, I sat waiting for the first test.  Fifteen minutes, the box said.  I was nervous, it felt like time was going too slow.  Finally the buzzer rang and I nearly jumped off the bed running for the bathroom.

 I picked up the stick and saw the word clear as day.  PREGNANT.  Shit, this is it. I am going to be a mom.

 So many thoughts ran through my head.  How am I going to care for a baby and take care of a toddler?  What about Jason?  He is overseas and will miss the birth of his child.  He won't meet the baby until he or she is almost a year old!

 I take the second test and wait fifteen minutes only for it to confirm the first test.  Okay, I already have a doctor appointment on Friday, I will let him know about this too.  We can make it through this.  I call Grace back.

 "Hello?"

 "Well, auntie Grace-" She screams, cutting me off,  "OMG! It's about time one of us had one! When are you going to tell Jason?"

 "We have a scheduled call tomorrow night, I will tell him then."

 "This is so exciting!"

 "I wanted you to be the first to know,  but I have to go, Mrs. Harper will be bringing Nathan back to me in a few minutes."

 "Have you figured out what to tell the Woods yet?"

 "No, I will figure it out when the time is right."

 "Alright sis, I love you!"

 "Love you too!"

 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 

I can't believe it has been a month since my beautiful little girl was born; ten months since I first found out.  She looks just like her father with his same greenish-blue eyes and red peach fuzz.  He was so excited when he found out he was going to be a father.  He sent a whole bunch of gifts for her.  

The birthing process was amazing, they had set up cameras and connected a call to where Jason was stationed so that he could be there with me to see the birth of his daughter. Five hours of labor, but when she finally came out, we both cried;  she was perfect.  She already had both of us wrapped around her finger.

 The Woods were really great about everything.  They let me make the room off to the side of mine into a nursery for her.  I decided to paint the room in pink with grey elephants as the theme.  Nathan helped me pick out the elephants.  He was excited too.  He already loved her so much and was always wanting to play with her and hold her.  He is gentle and caring towards her, almost like a protective big brother.  I knew he would always look out for her.

 Jason and I decided on the name Charlotte Gracelyn Reece.  Jason’s mother passed away when he was only five years old,  her name was Charlotte, so we decided to name our baby after her in honor of her.  Gracelyn we chose because of my sister, and Charlotte’s god-mother. 

I was putting Charlotte down for a nap, Nathan was next to me singing a made up song to her.  He loved to sing to her.  She seemed to love it too, and would calm down instantly and fall asleep.  I swear those two already have a bond.  He is always wanting to help me with her, well, as much as a two-year-old can.

I heard the doorbell ring down in the entryway, but continued tucking Charlotte in, I figured Grant would see to it.  We had just gotten Charlotte asleep; I had taken Nathan's hand and was about to walk out when an intense knocking began on the door to my bedroom.  I open the door to see an ashen-faced Mrs. Harper in the doorway.

 "Mrs. Harper! What's wron-"  she cuts me off taking Nathan's hand from mine.

 "Lydia there is someone in the entry for you, let me take Nathan while you speak with him."

 My heart skipped.  For me?  What is she talking about?  The look on her face didn't reveal that this is good news.  I walked downstairs wearily.  As I entered the entryway of the house I saw a man dressed in a black navy outfit with white gloves and a white hat holding a folded American flag.  My heart stopped. 

I could feel my heart shatter into a million pieces as I walked up to him.  I have seen this in movies and videos.  I knew what this meant.  

"Mrs. Reece, I am sorry to inform you about your husband.  He was killed in action while on tour.  His body is being flown back to the U.S. as we speak.  We were good friends; he was a good man and an even better soldier.  I am very sorry for your loss."

 He hands me the flag as his words become a blur to me.  This can't be happening right now. I feel my knees weaken as I fall to the floor.  Tears streamed down my face.

 "If there is anything we can do for you Mrs. Reece, please don't hesitate to ask."  He looked down at me as I hugged the flag to my chest.  I could feel his hand on my back.  “I truly am sorry for your loss.”  

 With his words, he regains his composure, nods his head and turns to leave.