New Beginnings, Chapter 32
 
 

Chad moved his ear from the door.

" My mother's pregnant?"

Chad went back and listened at the door.

" Well Eve, you're doing very well…considering."

" Considering.."

" Eve, let's be blunt. I've been your OB-Gynie since we were both assigned to Harmony Hospital. I've seen you through two of your pregnancies."

" I know."

" So we both know how hard the pregnancy with Simone was. We almost lost both of you. I held your hand at the couple of miscarriages you had after Simone. Scientifically, there should be no way that you are pregnant."

" I know."

" So, I will stress to you again, that you will have to help me. I want to see a beautiful, healthy child. I think you know that the most we can hope for is for you to carry until 8 months. If you can hold on until then, I can all but guarantee that I'll be able to take care of things from my end. But, that means NO STRESS! Fainting, like you did in California, isn't good for you or the baby."

" You're not telling me anything I don't already know."

" Good. You will have to look after your diet, which should be no problem. Of course, you're putting in for leave soon at the Hospital.."

" But.."

" No buts. You will probably make it six to eight weeks TOPS before I order bed rest for you. But, I know what an active person you are, so I'm not going to push it unless I think it absolutely necessary. Delicate pregnancies like yours are tricky. I want everything in our favor."

" TC and the girls have promised to take good care of me."

" Well, I already knew I had them as my strongest allies. Not ever patient is so lucky."

" I know how lucky I am."

" Ok. Well, I've looked you over, head to toe, and I've drawn the blood. I'll take it back to the lab and get is tested on. I want you to get bedrest for the next 3 days, and then a LIGHT schedule at work. Have you spoken to the Chief of Staff?"

" I've left a message."

" Ok. If there's a problem, tell me. I'll bend his ear."

" Thanks…for everything."

" It's my pleasure. Now, you two take care. I'll call you with the results of the lab work. And next week, you and TC can come in to hear the heartbeat."

" We will."

The doctor leaves and Eve is thinking about the baby when there is a knock on the door.

" Chad? I thought you had left."

" I was going to when I heard that it was a doctor seeing you."

" Yes. Well, I guess you know."

" You're pregnant."

" Guilty as charged."

" Are you ok?"

" If you were listening, you heard the doctor tell me that I was doing fine."

" She said that you fainted in California. What was that about?"

" I had just seen Julian on the TV. I was in a sort of shock."

" Oh."

" But, it was a happy shock. The best shock of my life."

" Doctor Russell.."

" Do you have to be so formal?"

" Yeah, I think I do. I just found out that you were my mother. That's going to take some time to wrap my mind around. And, now - you're pregnant."

" Chad, I don't want you to think that I love this baby more than you. I love you SO MUCH! You can't possibly understand."

" Julian wrote me a letter. He was very clear about how you felt about me. So, I'm going to have a little brother or sister?"

" Yep."

" You really want this baby?"

" Absolutely."

" Aren't you..well…."

" Older to be a parent of a newborn? " Eve laughed. " I guess I am. But, I know so much more now than when I had you. I'm in a totally different place in my life."

" Yeah. This father stuck around."

" Chad, please don't be bitter towards Julian that way. He….he just didn't have any support to be brave. It's hard to be brave if it's not in your nature, like you."

Chad blushed. " You think I'm brave?"

" Of course. You're fearless, honest and a good person, Chad. You're better than both of your parents. Julian might have been a coward all those years ago, but I've been a coward for all these years, with my lies to TC and the girls. But, all of that will stop tonight. I will tell them about you. That you're my son, and that I'm so happy about it."

Chad went to the window in Eve's room and looked out.

" I don't want you to do it."

" Wha….what did you say?"

" I don't want you to tell Coach, Whitney and Simone about me."

" Why? WHY would you not want me to tell?"

" Because….I want to be a sibling."

" Huh?"

" I heard the doctor. ANY stress could cause you to miscarry. I can't think of a more stressful situation than for you to not only come up with a random child from your past, but a child fathered by the one person I KNOW Coach Russell hates more on the face of the Earth. IF he hates someone more than Julian Crane, please enlighten me. "

Eve was silent.

" See? This will turn into nothing BUT Stress about 2 seconds after you tell them about me, and that won't be good for the baby. How long do you think it will be before you miscarry."

" The doctor was just being overcautious."

" Oh, she was? Was she exaggerating when she said that you had a couple of miscarriages? Did I imagine that?"

" No."

" So, given that this will be nothing but stress, why would you think that this pregnancy wouldn't end up in miscarriage too. Because you hope it to be? That's not good enough. The evidence is against you."

" What do you propose? That I keep silent? Deny you? For how long?"

" Long enough for the baby to be born."

" That's MONTHS!"

" I know. But, let's be honest. I've waited all these years for my mother and father to claim me. What's a few more months. A few more months that at the end of them could produce a sibling. The FIRST sibling that I would have a chance to REALLY know. Even after you tell Whitney and Simone, things aren't going to be right for us. Not for a long time, if EVER. The bonds might not EVER be there. But, with THIS kid, I have a chance. To be a big brother. To have family that wants ME and loves ME with no complications from DAY ONE. Don't take that away from me. Don't take that chance away. I know you want this baby, so why not do everything you can to bring it to term."

" But that would mean denying you!"

" I know that you want to claim me. That's enough for now. And, maybe, by the time the baby's born, Coach Russell would have the chance to adjust to who my father is, and he'll be cool with me, so that when the truth is revealed, he won't be so mad."

Eve looked at Chad and realized that he was serious.

" What are you going to do when the reporters ask you about your mother."

" I'll say I'm respecting her privacy. That she has a life, and that she didn't choose to lead it publicly. I'll say it once, and that's it. The only person with my real birth certificate was Orville, and he's dead. If they go looking for 'Chad Harris' birth certificate, they will draw a blank. I'll protect you and my sibling."

" What about Julian?"

" He won't say anything. Not if he wants any kind of a relationship with me."

" Chad….are you sure?"

" Yes. You want to do something for me? Carry my sibling to term. Give me a shot at ONE warm, loving, uncomplicated family relationship. "

Chad looked at his mother.  Eve finally nodded.

" You want this?"

" More than anything, Doc."

" Ok….for now."

Chad smiled. He went over to his mother and kissed her.

" Thank you."