Chapter 71
Valerie’s POV
I walked through the front door, dropping my keys on the counter. The silence in the house was palpable. Damian was at work, and Rachel was supposed to be resting. I had stopped by the grocery store to pick up some essentials for dinner.
As I entered the living room, I noticed Rachel lying on the floor. She was crying, her body shaking uncontrollably.
“Rachel!” I exclaimed, rushing to her side.
She looked up, her eyes red and puffy.
“Valerie… help me,” she whispered.
I knelt beside her.
“What happened?”
Rachel winced.
“I fell… I was getting a glass from the kitchen… and I slipped.”
I quickly assessed the situation.
“We need to get you to the hospital.”
I pulled out my phone and dialed the driver’s number.
“John, it’s Valerie. I need your help. Rachel’s had an accident at home. Can you take us to the hospital?”
John’s voice was calm.
“I’ll be right there, ma’am.”
I helped Rachel sit up, trying to comfort her.
“It’s okay, Rachel. We’ll get you checked out.”
Rachel’s tears continued to flow.
“I’m so sorry… this is all my fault.”
I didn’t respond.
Instead, I focused on getting her to the hospital.
John arrived promptly.
“Ma’am, let me help,” he said, gently lifting Rachel into the car.
As we drove to the hospital, Rachel’s cries subsided.
But her eyes remained closed.
Her face pale.
I sat beside her, holding her hand.
Trying to offer what little comfort I could.
We arrived at the hospital.
The emergency room staff rushed to our side.
“Let’s get her checked out,” a nurse said.
I watched as they whisked Rachel away.
Leaving me alone.
Wondering…
What would the doctors find?
And what would this mean for the baby?
For our surrogacy journey?
I pulled out my phone and dialed Damian’s number.
“Hey, it’s me,” I said.
“Hey, what’s up?” Damian replied.
“Rachel had an accident at home. I’m at the hospital with her.”
Damian’s tone turned serious.
“What happened?”
“She fell. I don’t know the extent of her injuries yet.”
“I’m on my way,” Damian said.
I nodded.
Even though he couldn’t see me.
As I waited, my mind wandered to the what-ifs, to the consequences of this unexpected turn.
Would Rachel be okay? Would the baby be okay?
And what would happen next?
**********
I paced the hospital waiting room, my mind racing with worst-case scenarios, when Damian arrived, his face etched with worry.
“Valerie, what happened?” he asked, embracing me, and I explained that Rachel had fallen at home and they were checking her out now.
Damian’s eyes widened with concern, and he asked about the baby, but I shook my head, unsure of the outcome.
The doctor emerged, his expression somber, and addressed us.
“Mr. and Mrs. Smith, I’m afraid I have some difficult news. Unfortunately, the fall caused a placental abruption, and we lost the baby.”
Damian’s face crumpled, and he whispered, “No,” as if unable to process the news.
I felt tears prick at the corners of my eyes as the doctor continued to explain the situation.
Rachel emerged from the examination room, her eyes red-rimmed from crying, and I immediately embraced her.
“Rachel, I’m so sorry,” I said, trying to offer some comfort. Damian’s eyes locked onto Rachel’s, and he whispered,
“I’m sorry, Rachel,” his voice filled with regret. The hospital room fell silent, the weight of our loss hanging heavy as we processed the news.
The doctor continued to explain the medical details, but I tuned out, my mind reeling from the news.
We lost the baby, all our hopes and dreams shattered in an instant.
Damian’s grip on my hand remained tight, unyielding, as we navigated this unexpected grief.
After what felt like an eternity, the hospital released Rachel, and we headed home in silence, the tension palpable.
As we pulled into the driveway, Rachel spoke up, her voice barely above a whisper.
“Thank you… for being here for me.” Damian’s voice cracked as he replied,
“We’re sorry, Rachel. This isn’t your fault.” Rachel’s eyes welled up with tears again, and she whispered,
“I feel like it’s my fault,” but I shook my head, trying to reassure her.
“It’s not anyone’s fault,” I said, trying to ease her guilt.
We settled Rachel onto the couch, and Damian’s eyes met mine, filled with unspoken questions.
What now? Our surrogacy journey, cut short by tragedy, left us with uncertainty and heartache.
*********
Weeks passed since the miscarriage, and Rachel’s recovery was slow but eventual. We did our best to support her, but the tension in the house was palpable, and the loss of the baby weighed heavily on all of us.
One day, Damian and I sat down with Rachel and explained that we thought it was best to settle the surrogacy agreement, to which she nodded in understanding.
We agreed on a generous compensation package, and Rachel packed her bags and left our home. The silence that followed was a welcome relief, but little did I know that a new chapter was unfolding.
A week later, I woke up feeling off, nauseous and exhausted. At first, I brushed it off as stress, but as the day progressed, the symptoms worsened, and I left work early to head to the doctor.
After running some tests, the doctor asked me to wait patiently for the results.
Dr. Lee’s words still ring in my ears: “Valerie, you’re two months pregnant.” My heart skipped a beat as I couldn’t believe it – me, pregnant, after months of trying. Tears streamed down my face, filled with joy, relief, and gratitude.
I couldn’t wait to share the news with Damian, but I wanted to find the perfect way to tell him.
I envisioned the moment: a candlelit dinner, a romantic getaway, or a special surprise. I wanted it to be perfect.
As I drove home, my mind raced with thoughts of how Damian would react. Would he be happy, surprised, or overjoyed? I pulled into the driveway, took a deep breath, and stepped into the house.
Damian looked up from his book and asked,
“Hey, how was your day?” I smiled, trying to contain my excitement, and replied,
“It was eventful.” Damian raised an eyebrow, curious, and asked,
“Eventful?” but I just smiled and said,
“Let’s talk about it later.” Damian’s curiosity was piqued, but I just smiled again and headed upstairs to plan the perfect reveal.
As I changed into comfortable clothes, my mind wandered to the future. We’d finally have a family of our own.
I imagined Damian’s face lighting up when I shared the news. I pictured us decorating the nursery, choosing baby names, and preparing for this new chapter. The thought sent shivers down my spine.
I took a few moments to collect myself before heading back downstairs. Damian was still engrossed in his book, oblivious to the life-changing news I was about to share.
I smiled to myself, feeling a sense of excitement and nervousness.
“Damian, can we talk?” I asked, trying to sound casual.
“Of course, what’s up?” Damian replied, setting his book aside.
I took a deep breath, my heart pounding in my chest. Tonight was the night. I would share our miracle with the love of my life.
Damian’s POV
I set my book aside, curious about Valerie’s sudden seriousness, and asked,
“Of course, what’s up?” Valerie’s eyes sparkled, and her smile hinted at a secret. She took a deep breath before revealing the news that would change our lives forever:
“I’m pregnant.” Time stood still as I processed the words, feeling like I’d been punched in the gut in the best possible way.