Chapter 40

ANNA

Well, that just happened.

This day has been spiraling into a whirlwind of surprises.

I’m not saying I regret it, because I don’t. This is just the cherry on top. We already have a daughter and another baby on the way. I don’t want anyone else, he’s the one for me.

So why wait, right?

I never dreamed of a big wedding, a big ring, or any of the other things most girls fantasize about. I just wanted one thing. I wanted James. That was it, I wanted James, and of course, my degree.

But that’s not the focus right now. I just want to be happy, and he makes me happy.

“What's going on in that beautiful mind of yours?” he asks me as we stroll back through the town.

“I’m just happy. And I’m trying to process everything.”

“Don’t overthink it, A. We’re still us,” he reassures me.

“I know, I know,” I respond. And I do know, but it's a lot to take in.

~Like, dude, give me a moment.~

Mom and Dad will definitely have a reaction, that’s for sure. But this was our choice. We wanted to do it this way. I could’ve told James I wanted a big wedding, but I couldn’t care less about that.

“So, are you ready to go back to our Olivia?” he asks me.

I glance at the time and realize we’ve been gone for two hours. “Shit, let’s go! We need to go!” I exclaim. I tug him across the street so we can head to the hospital.

We wash our hands before we enter Olivia’s room. I look at my left hand, gazing at my rings. I can’t believe it, I’m a married woman. I’m a freaking married woman.

“Mommy? Poppa, where is Mommy?” a very groggy Olivia mumbles. She’s been sleeping this whole time.

“Mommy will be right back, sweetie. She and your dad went outside for a bit.”

“Oh, okay,” she says with a small, disappointed voice.

I open the door and see my sleepy girl rubbing her eyes.

“Hi, Lovebug. We’re back,” I tell her, walking into the room.

“Mommy!” she squeals happily.

I walk over to her and sit down on her bed. She climbs on top of me, snuggling in. Just like she always does when she’s tired.

“How are you feeling?” I ask her gently.

“Tired. I think the chemo warriors are doing a good job?” she says with a hopeful voice. I don’t know what to tell her because I don’t know.

Instead of filling her head with false promises, I just kiss her head and tell her they are trying to help her. I look over to my mom and dad who have slight smiles on their faces as I stroke Olivia’s hair.

Mom’s eyes widen and she jumps up. She shrieks and yanks my left hand from Olivia’s head.

“Oh, my God!” she exclaims happily.

“Damn, woman!” Dad says, covering his ears.

“Look, Jack!” she yells again, showing my hand to my dad.

“What’s that?” he asks.

I pull my hand back and hold it out. “It’s my engagement ring and my wedding ring,” I tell them simply.

“Enga-g…wedd—” Dad stutters. “What?”

I give him a nod as I take James’s hand and pull it forward, showing it to Mom. James swallows deeply and looks away, trying to act completely nonchalant.

“You got engaged?” Mom asks.

“Yes,” I tell her. “And married.”

“You’re married?” Dad asks.

I give him a wide smile.

“All that in two hours?” he asks, stunned.

“Well, we just wanted it to be done. We know we’re going to spend the rest of our lives together, and we wanted to make it official. It was just a city hall visit—when the baby is here, we’ll have a whole ceremony.

“I’ll wear the white gown, and you can walk me down the aisle. I promise. But we just couldn’t wait, Daddy. Don’t be mad,” I plead.

“I’m not mad. I just… I just wanted to be there,” he says, a bit sad.

“There wasn’t anyone else there but the mayor and some forms,” I assure him. “I promise you didn’t miss anything. You will be at the actual ceremony—that will be the event to remember.

“This was just the legal part,” I finish.

“Okay. Well, we can't change it, and if you wanted it this way then who am I to tell you not to?” he says casually.

“Please tell me it will be a big wedding,” Mom says, but James starts laughing.

“Anna? Big wedding? Do you know I got chewed out for buying her an engagement ring?”

Dad laughs. “Yeah, that’s my girl. Big weddings aren’t all that, anyway,” he says.

“Easy for you to say—you’ve had that,” Mom says with teary eyes.

“Fuck,” she says, waving her hands before her teary eyes. “Goddamn hormones, I don’t want to be an emotional mess again. God, with Anna I cried for nine months straight,” she says.

She tries to get her emotions under control by waving her hands at her face and pacing through the room with her head tilted toward the ceiling.

“That must’ve been awful,” I say sympathetically. “I was puking my guts out for half of it and horny as hell for the other half.”

“I opt for the latter!” James and Dad say together, raising their hands and making Mom and me laugh.

A knock echoes through the room and Dr. Jasmine steps in. “Well, Anna. I hear you’re expecting?” Her smile is warm and genuine.

I return her smile with a nod. “Do you think the baby could help with Olivia’s treatment?”

“We can certainly explore that. If the baby can donate umbilical stem cells, it could be a game changer. But remember, there are no guarantees,” she warns.

My mom moves to stand beside me. “Could you check my baby too? That way we have two potential stem cell donors.”

Jasmine’s eyes go wide. “You’re pregnant as well?” Her voice is barely above a whisper. She glances at my dad, then back to my mom.

“Yes, I am. Anna and I are perfectly in sync. So, whatever tests you run on her, you can run on me too,” Mom says, her words making my eyes well up.

I rush to her, wrapping my arms around her neck. “Thank you!” I exclaim. I can’t believe she would go to such lengths for me. She’d do this for ~me~.

“What are you thanking me for?” she asks. “Of course we’ll test this baby to see if it’s a match. I’m your mother—I’d do anything for you.

“Even if it means getting pregnant again and again to help you and Olivia.”

Dad’s eyes widen, and Mom turns to him. “It’s just a figure of speech, Jack Williams. Let’s have this baby first, then we’ll see,” she says, wagging a finger at him.

“I’m just happy, babe,” he says, pulling my mom into a hug.

“We’ll get everything sorted out,” Jasmine says. “I’ll go check on Olivia now.”

“Hi, sweetheart,” she greets Olivia.

“Hi, Dr. Jasmine.”

“How are you feeling?”

“I’m tired. I think the chemo warriors have been fighting really hard today. Can they take a break?” she asks, her tiny hands fidgeting.

~She's so exhausted.~

“Of course, honey. Your chemo warriors are working hard inside your body right now. Tomorrow we’ll bring in some fresh ones to help. But for now, just rest, okay? If there is any pain—”

“—the big red button is my friend,” Olivia finishes for her.

Jasmine checks her temperature, inputs something into a machine, and stands up. She beckons James and me over. We follow her out of the room, and I give my mom a nod.

She understands immediately and moves to Olivia’s side, who is already settling back into her bed.

Once outside, we turn to face Jasmine.

“So, the fatigue is normal,” she starts. “We’ve given her a heavy dose of chemo. Tomorrow will be a bit easier. The baby is wonderful news, but there’s still a chance they won’t be a match.

“However, the odds are good that they will be. I don’t want to sugarcoat this—when you reach twelve weeks we’ll run some tests. I’ll also test your baby sister or brother.

“Wow, that sounds strange,” she adds.

“Are you okay?” I ask.

She gives me a quick nod.

“I’m a little taken aback, but I’m happy for all of you. Jack has always wanted this, and I couldn’t give it to him. I’m glad he found it—and with your mother. First loves never really die in this family,” she muses.

“Teen pregnancies either,” I joke, trying to lighten the mood. She laughs along with me.

“You’ll be fine, Anna,” she says, before walking away.

I turn to James and bury myself in his chest.

“She’ll be okay,” he says, and in this moment, I truly believe Olivia will get better. I know she has a fighting chance. We hold each other, taking in the fact that she really might be okay.

“How is Olivia?” a voice interrupts our quiet moment.

~Ruby~…