An Unexpected Miracle, Chapter 2

Chapter Two

     A still silence hung over the house when Mari awoke the next morning.  She sat up, brushing the tangled mass of brown hair out of her face.  Morning sun shone brightly through the bedroom window, making her squint with the intensity of it.  When Mari saw what time it was, she groaned.  Nine thirty.  Even with her personal life so messed up, this grant was important. There were only a few days left before it was due, so it was essential that she go into work today.  Normally she was there by seven thirty.  Obviously not today.

     Forcing herself to get out of bed, she turned off the bedside light and headed toward the bathroom.  Catching sight of her reflection in the dresser mirror, Mari winced.  Her face was pale and blotchy from all the tears she had cried the night before.  Stripping off the shorts and tank top she still wore from yesterday, she turned on the shower and climbed in, letting the warm water flow over her aching body.  It felt wonderful, so soothing, but as much as she wanted to stay in there all day, Mari knew this morning’s shower would have to be short.  After a quick shower she did her best to cover the evidence of her restless night by applying a light coat of foundation and some blush.  She hoped to avoid any questions from her boss today, at least until she was able to talk with Joe again. 

     She was out the door just after ten, and thanks to light traffic and a heavy foot, arrived at the Research Center a half hour later.  In an effort to avoid seeing anyone who might ask questions about why she was so late, Mari bypassed the elevator in favor of the stairs.  She was not sure she could keep the tears at bay if anyone asked her how she was today.  Although she was ready to collapse by the time she reached the lab, she made it safely without encountering a soul. She dumped her backpack on her desk and slid into her chair trying to catch her breath.  Less than five minutes later her boss entered the lab looking for her.

     “Hey, Mari,” Dr. Greg Wilson called as he let himself in the lab.  A head full of wavy black hair appeared around the cabinet that hid her desk from view.  The six foot two frame that followed was more suited to a movie star than a PhD.  He had eyes as gray as a London fog set in a long and lean face, and a body envied by most of the male research staff and ogled by most of the female staff.  But that Hollywood image hid a mind as sharp as a tack and Mari knew it would be difficult, if not impossible, to hide anything from him.  “I was getting worried,” he said as he walked over to her desk.  “I thought you might have finally gone running for the hills after all the time we’ve had to put in lately.” 

     “Sorry.  I overslept,” Mari replied.  She angled her body towards the desk to avoid eye contact with her very intelligent boss.

     He raised his brows at her rather curt response, but considering the last four months had been rough both work wise and personally, he let it pass.  Mari was usually the epitome of a morning person, which at times could be extremely annoying. It normally took him at least an hour and several cups of strong black coffee before he even began to function properly.  “Don’t worry about it.  I have those figures for you to look at then I think we can get this sent out.”  He handed over a sheaf of papers as he took a seat on the edge of her desk.  Leaning back so he could see her more clearly he remarked, “Must have been some night.”  When Mari did not respond he bent to take a closer look.  “I know it probably isn’t my business, but if you need to talk, I’m here.”

     Mari fought back tears.  She had been Greg Wilson’s research assistant for almost ten years now and their employer/employee relationship had developed into a deep friendship.  “I’ll keep that in mind, Greg.”

     “Take a quick look at these,” he told her, gesturing to the papers in her hand, “then go home.  And don’t come back.  Not for a week, at least.”  Greg overruled Mari’s protest with a raised hand.  “It has to be something serious for you to wear make-up in the middle of summer.  The grant is finished.  It’s going out the door tomorrow and any revisions that need to be done I can do.  And Mari,” he said, cupping her chin in a firm hand and forcing her to look into his concerned gray eyes, “Call Marla.  You’ve been sick too long to ignore any more.”  On that parting note he got up and exited the lab.

     Greg’s unconditional kindness proved too much for her already tattered emotions.  Tears welled and began to fall.  She wiped at them with the back of her hand.  He was right.  It was time to call Dr. Marla Wilson, her primary care physician, who also happened to be Greg’s wife.  Her pregnancy needed to be confirmed and pre-natal care started.  Drawing on a well of inner strength, Mari placed the call and had an appointment for the next morning.  She only hoped there would be an opportunity to talk to Joe before then.  If she went to this appointment with him still believing the worst of her, she might just fall apart.

     It seemed her wish was to be granted.  When Mari arrived home just after two o’clock, Joe’s car was parked in the driveway.  She pulled her SUV next to his Taurus and stepped out, hesitating momentarily.   Relief warred with nerves.  This whole situation was tenuous at best.  What was she going to say?  She closed her eyes, bowing her head.  Oh, Lord, give me the right words and let him hear and believe me.  Mari walked slowly toward the house, each step harder than the one before.  Her wandering mind absently noted that the flower pots on the porch needed watering.  When that thought popped into her head, she rolled her eyes.  She normally did not fear confrontation.  Yeah, but this isn’t your everyday argument about leaving socks on the bathroom floor, Mari grimaced to herself.

     She opened the front door, pausing a moment to let the coolness of the house wash over her.  Stepping inside, she was met by the sight of her husband leaning against the doorframe of the living room, arms folded across his chest.  Dressed in a black business suit with a crisp white shirt and red power tie, Joe looked extremely intimidating.  His blue eyes were cold and distant, the color of a high mountain lake and his posture screamed “unapproachable.”

     “Hi, Joe,” Mari greeted him cautiously.  She shivered slightly as she closed the entry door and put her keys and backpack on the hall table.  The atmosphere was like walking into the frozen tundra and the t-shirt and skirt she wore were more suited to warm weather.  Never one to back down, Mari squared her shoulders before turning to face him.  Gathering her courage she asked, “Can we talk?”

     “Talk about what, Mari?  What can you possibly say that will change any of this?”  Joe pushed away from the wall and stalked into the living room.  He flung his six foot body into a chair barely managing to contain the rage boiling just below the surface.  Jerking his head towards the facing chair, he motioned for Mari to be seated.  When she warily settled onto the edge of the chair he gripped the arms of his chair and gave vent to the anger bubbling inside him.  “I don’t understand why you did this.”

     “This what, Joe?” Trying hard to bury a sudden rise in frustration, Mari leaned forward to stress her words.  “I did not have an affair.”  Each word was enunciated carefully.  “How many times do I have to say it before you believe me?  The last time I had sex was with you and that was over four months ago, the morning you left for Houston.  Since then I’ve been working like a madwoman trying to get Greg’s grant renewal work done.  You know what grant time is like, Joe.  There hasn’t been time to do anything but work in the lab and at the computer for the past four months.  I’ve worked late almost every night.  If you don’t believe that, you’re welcome to talk to Greg.  Most nights when I finished work, I came home and collapsed from exhaustion.”

     Joe turned his head, staring out the window. An uncomfortable silence stretched. When he finally turned back to face her, there was a bleakness in his eyes that tore at Mari’s heartstrings.  “I want to believe you Mari, I really do.  I love you so much.” The words were said with such fervor and such pain Mari’s heart ached.  “I want to believe you so much that I called the doctor who treated me when I had the mumps today in the hopes that maybe the reports were wrong all those years ago.  But he looked over my records and confirmed that the possibility of me fathering a child was next to nothing.  My sperm count was so low he didn’t even think using my sperm for artificial insemination would be worth the effort.”

     Mari rose from her chair and went to kneel in front of her husband.  “I know it’s hard to believe, honey,” she said, her voice beseeching.  She took one of his hands grasping it tightly between hers.  When he stiffened but did not pull away she continued.  “I’m having a hard time with it myself.  I struggled knowing I would never have a child from my own womb.  I know you know that.  But I love you.  I loved you enough to give up the dream of having a family.  Scientifically I know that what has happened is close to impossible.  But miracles do happen, Joe.  I don’t know why God would choose to give us one, but he has.”  Mari’s voice pleaded for him to understand.

     “Mari.  I can’t.  I just cannot believe that this type of miracle could or would happen to me.” Joe rose abruptly causing Mari to scramble to her feet.  He stood stiffly in front of her, staring at her belly, his face a mask of pain.  “When this comes out,” he gestured towards her stomach, “there’s going to be talk.  We’ve been married ten years and most people know we can’t have kids.  I’d rather not add to all the speculation this pregnancy is going to cause so I won’t move out, but I can’t be around you, Mari.  It hurts too much,” his voice turned quiet, the words anguished.  “I’ll be moving into one of the guest rooms.  The time in Houston put me behind on my accounts at work so I won’t be home much anyway.  I need time to think.”  Turning his back on her, he strode out of the room and up the stairs. 

     Sounds overhead indicated Joe was moving between the master bedroom and the guest room at the far end of the house.  Mari sank down into the chair Joe had vacated, despair filling her.  Her head drooped on the back of the cushioned seat.  What am I going to do, Lord? she wondered.  You answered my most secret prayer and I’m about to lose the person I love most in the world.  A heavy sigh came from deep inside.  A wave of exhaustion crashed down on her.  She was so tired she could not keep her eyes open.  They fluttered closed and Mari drifted into a deep, but troubled sleep.

     An hour passed before Joe walked softly down the stairs.  He peered cautiously into the living room and found Mari deeply asleep in the chair he had vacated earlier, legs curled up under her, head resting on her shoulder.  He gazed down at this woman he had married, the woman who had made each day since he met her so wonderful.  His heart and body ached with desire for her but the pain of her betrayal was so raw.  Strands of soft brown hair fell in untidy waves around her face highlighting the pallor of her skin.  Her face was thinner now than it had been four months ago and dark circles stood out like bruises beneath her eyes.  Never in a million years would he have guessed that the flu symptoms she described having would actually be morning sickness.  As his gaze slid down her body he could see the subtle changes this pregnancy had brought to her body.  Her waist was thicker, her shirt tighter.  But she was still, oh, so beautiful. 

     Emotions warred within him.  He loved his wife, had believed that nothing could come between them.  But echoes of the past clouded his thoughts, allowing doubt to gain a foothold in his mind.