Total pages in book: 131
Estimated words: 122609 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 613(@200wpm)___ 490(@250wpm)___ 409(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 122609 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 613(@200wpm)___ 490(@250wpm)___ 409(@300wpm)
“Mr. Wilde,” The fertility specialist leaned forward and smiled at him with her slanted emerald eyes. “I know you’re in a state of shock. You’re trying to understand all of this, put it together, but I’ve seen this happen before. It really is not as uncommon as you imagine. Roughhousing between boys can definitely impact fertility if the testicular injury is serious enough. In your case, it wasn’t. The proof is in the pudding. Unless your doctor sent you to a fertility specialist recently, your general practitioner will have no idea about your sperm count. That’s something that has to be checked by someone like me, and bloodwork won’t determine that.
“A medical professional can only make educated guesses on your sperm quality by drawing from your family history, your age, your health, things like that. A couple believes they won’t have children biologically, so they go on about life and look into other resources to build a family. Happens every day. You took your doctor’s word for it, and your mother’s, but that happened a long time ago.
“You had a childhood injury due to an altercation with a playmate when you were twelve or thirteen. You’re now thirty-six. Lots of time has passed… Yes, your sperm count is a little lower than average, and that may in fact be due to your injury, but other than that, the quality of sperm is good and you’re producing enough spermatozoa to impregnate someone who is fertile, with no issue. Honey’s egg quality is excellent, despite her also being in her thirties. As far as that injury… you could have healed over time if it was minor, or perhaps the original doctor was mistaken—who knows?” She shrugged. “The bottom line is that you’re going to be a father, Mr. Wilde. Honey is definitely pregnant. Congratulations.”
He sat there with his mouth open, running his hands down in his face in disbelief.
“Thanks. When she told me her period was late a few weeks ago, I didn’t think anything of it. She’s been really working hard at her job lately. Then, she started getting sick… throwing up in the middle of the night. I didn’t know morning sickness didn’t have to happen only in the morning.” He felt silly admitting that. Dr. Williams clasped her hands together and nodded in understanding. “She told me she was going to take a pregnancy test, and it still didn’t register for me because most of my life I’ve never considered this as a possibility. It came back positive. We were both stunned. Then she took another. And another. I knew she hadn’t cheated on me… that never crossed my mind. I knew the baby now growing inside of her was mine. I… I cried. It was tears of joy. I always wanted a child. We’re having a baby…”
Just then, Honey returned to the office after a visit to the restroom.
She sat down in the chair next to his, resting her hands on the arms. He placed his hand on top of hers, rubbed on her fingers then held them. They were going to be parents sooner than they’d imagined…
“Okay, I’m ready.” Honey wobbled out of the house, her purse over her shoulder. Archer jumped out of the car and opened her door for her, then helped her inside.
“Did you call Irish?” she asked as she put on her seatbelt.
“Yeah, she’s going to drop off Tyler at his dad’s since it’s his weekend, then swing by.” Honey nodded. “I called your mom, too. Your mother and sister are getting on the next plane. My mother made me stay on the phone, on three-way, while she called everyone.”
Honey laughed at that.
“I’m glad she’s trying recovery again.”
“Me too. She said after your baby shower, Irish pulled her aside and told her she isn’t allowed to see Tyler unless she straightens up. Said she can’t risk having my nephew taken away after she just got visitation with him again. Now that Chasity is serious about her own recovery, she’s not taking any chances. She’s getting her life on track, joined a gambling addiction group, and it’s been helping. My mother broke down, Honey… She reached rock bottom. It killed her, ya know? The thought of not being able to be with her grandkids. She didn’t want to be excluded from Chase’s life, the way she wasn’t much involved in Tyler’s. She claimed she saw this as a wakeup call. Like a second chance.”
“Yeah, she told me that, too. Your mother seems quite philosophical, lately. I guess we all are, to varying degrees.”
He couldn’t deny that. Honey began to fidget around in her purse, then pulled out a Kleenex and dabbed at her eyes.
“Baby, what’s wrong? Contraction?”
She shook her head. “No, not that… Well, yeah, they’re comin’ stronger now, but that’s not what has me like this… I just miss Chasity so much. She should be here, too.”