possibly be a worse friend? After everything Barbaraâs done for meâ¦
There had been so much upheaval in recent months, she really just wanted things to be settled for a while, not change. But she put her concerns aside with the stern reminder: Itâs not about me.
âSo whatâs wrong? Isnât this a good thing? You guys want kids, donât you?â She placed the two mugs on the table and sat down on the end around the corner from Barbara.
Barbara nodded. âIâm just so scared,â she said, and began sobbing. âIâm a mess.â
âIs it the hormones?â
âNo. I wish.â
âIs there a problem with the baby?â
Barbara fiddled with the handle on the mug and then without looking up said, âIâve had two miscarriages in the year since weâve been married. Iâm so scared of going through it again. But not enough to stop trying,â she added with a wan smile.
âOh Barbara, Iâm so sorry.â Emily put her arm around her friendâs shoulder again, this time loosely. âWhy didnât you tell me?â
âBecause I wanted to be positive, put it all behind me â us.â
âWell, letâs hope it will be third time lucky,â Emily said softly, giving her a gentle squeeze.
âHmm.â
âSo how far along are you? When does morning sickness set in?â
âIâm only a couple of weeks. It should be too early for morning sickness. I think my problem is the stress and anxiety.â She took a tentative sip of her tea and then sat with her hands wrapped around it for a few moments.
Emily waited her out.
Barbara finally looked up. Her forehead was creased with concern. âIâm sorry I didnât tell you, but we didnât want anyone to know until three months was up and we were in the safe period. Although thatâs a bit of a misnomer; I lost Isabella at four months. She was the second one. They were both before I knew you.â
âIâm so sorry,â she said, hugging Barbara again.
âThe doctors havenât been able to find anything wrong,â Barbara said with a shrug, answering the question on the tip of Emilyâs tongue. âJust bad luck, not meant to be, and all that,â she said with a resigned shrug of her shoulders.
âGod, I feel so helpless,â Emily said. âI canât even begin to imagine how you must be feeling.â She wondered why Isabella had a name but not the first baby. But she wasnât about to ask.
âWeâre just trying to be as normal as possible and try not to jinx things. We know you guys didnât buy our non-drinking story last night,â she said, smiling weakly. âWe discussed it on the way home. Davidâs going to tell Jake today too.â
âWell, you tell us if thereâs anything we can do for you â both of you â no matter what it is, or what time of the day or night. Promise me youâll call if thereâs anything at all â big or small,â Emily said.
âI promise. Thanks, Em, that means a lot.â
âGod, Barbara, after all you guys have done for meâ¦â
They hugged briefly.
âNow, should we start our totally indulgent and lazy day while the men folk are out toiling the fields?â Barbara asked.
âYes! And letâs pop the corn! It can be lunch,â Emily declared.
âI was hoping youâd say that,â Barbara said, grinning. âI seem to be craving popcorn at the moment.â
Halfway through the movie â the new Julia Roberts â Emilyâs phone began to ring. Barbara paused the DVD as Emily picked it up from the coffee table.
âSorry, Iâd better get this,â she said, looking at the screen. âItâs Simone, Jakeâs sister,â she added, and answered. âHi Simone.â
âHi Em, how is everything?â
âIâm good, but what you really mean is,