Adriana are married, and having a family holds importance for them.
“Lex, why aren’t you happy?” Adriana questions, looking rather annoyed.
“I just think you should have told your husband first.”
“Lex, he’s in Australia for that art promo convention. I want to tell him in person.”
Lex remains quiet. I don’t want to pry right now, but something is definitely wrong. He must have realized how transparent he is and quickly hugs his sister, offering his congratulations, but the more I watch them closely the more I know there’s more to this.
Adriana stays for a few hours, asking question after question about pregnancy. When I can’t stop yawning, she announces she will head home even though both Lex and I offer for her to stay.
The moment she closes the door behind her, the words practically fall off my tongue.
“Why are you upset that she’s pregnant?”
His posture changes, and he appears defeated as he rubs his face with his hands. “Elijah’s cancer has returned.”
It takes me a moment for the words to sink in. Cancer? Adriana never mentions the cancer nor does it seem to cross her mind as she joyfully told us the news about the pregnancy.
“It’s back?”
Lex stands and walks over to Amelia’s bassinet. She’s sleeping, but for some reason, he picks her up and holds onto her. He rubs his nose along her face almost as if he needs a distraction while we speak.
“Stage three, we think. He’s in Australia being treated.”
“Huh… wha…” I can’t form any words, my stomach riddles with nausea at the news. “Why didn’t Adriana say anything to me… and she’s pregnant?”
Again, Lex buries his face into Amelia’s hair. I don’t quite understand what the hell I’m missing.
“She doesn’t know. Elijah wants this treatment first. He doesn’t want to stress Adriana out while they are doing IVF.”
“Why would he want to have a baby if he can quite possibly die?” I bellow.
“Charlotte,” Lex warns.
“No, Lex, why didn’t you knock any sense into him?” Unable to stand quickly, I remain seated with my arms folded beneath my chest. A fresh swell of anger rises within me over the stupid decision they’ve made to bring a child into this world right now. “At least convince him to tell Adriana so she won’t be so baby crazy.”
“Because, Charlie… he has recovered from cancer before. He won’t die, okay… he will be just fine.” His words don’t convince me, and I doubt they convince him.
We sit in silence, holding onto Amelia as if our lives depend on it. Mixed emotions run through my mind, and despite barely sleeping the past week after the birth, my mind refuses to shut down.
I pray Lex is right, that he can prove me wrong, but something greater tells me we need a miracle. I feel its forces and know that only one person can confirm my fears.
Late at night, I reach for my phone as Lex falls asleep with Amelia in his arms. Finding her number in my contacts, I hit call and make my way to the kitchen. It rings, and just before I’m about to hang up, she answers, “Charlie?”
“Mom, I need your help.”
“Corazon, what’s wrong?”
“I need you to do a reading, Mom. I need some answers…”
LEX
There is this feeling that words can’t describe the moment your child cries for the very first time.
The sound rings in the dawn of a new life, new beginnings, and the world is once again blessed with another angel. The adoration I feel for this little girl has consumed me all in one touch. I’m not good with babies, or children for that matter, but somehow, when you are handed your baby for the first time, life just falls into place.
Amelia is perfect in every way as I hold her, carefully counting all her fingers and toes. Of course, she’s tiny and wrinkly, so it’s impossible to figure out who she looks like. Everything about her is so small and delicate that I struggle with this fear of breaking her. She quiets down enough for me to bring her angelic face toward my lips. I know that women talk about how amazing babies smell, but I never understood that until this moment. Amelia Grace is Daddy’s little girl, and she has only been in this world for less than a minute.
I can’t be any prouder to call Charlotte my wife than at this moment. She has gathered her strength and faced the unknown. I’m so proud of her and forever grateful she carried our beautiful child, and