446 A new blessing!
Lillian Grey ended up spending the weekend idly drowning in her sorrows and being separated from Giselle and Lia. The two had gone out on an early brunch date with Giselle's mother, Melanie, leaving Lillian alone in her place again. After spending the past two weeks judging several stories for a writing competition, Lillian's mind was nowhere functioning right.
Probably, that's why when she heard Anna tell her that she was pregnant, Lillian almost instantly froze up.
Anna's trembling voice called out for her friend. Having Lillian gone mute, the poor woman began to panic. It took a while, but Lillian informed her that she'd visit. Only then did Anna calm down.
**
The morning had finally stretched when Lillian left her place in a hurry to catch a ride. She'd rather let someone else drive than herself. So, getting a taxi was efficient, and she gave out the address before sinking her head into her seat.
Lillian's mind began to wander with memories of Anna and her struggles in life. Out of her two childhood friends, one turned out to be the villain- Something she discovered just recently. Meanwhile, the other might have looked like she had her fairy tale ending, but life wasn't just a fairy tale when two people in love finally get married. Life starts after that, and Anna and Jake were the sweetest couple, praised by those around them and admired by their patrons. Nevertheless, their personal story had sufferings that no one else should ever face in their life.
Anna's miscarriage wrecked her not just once but twice, and that hindered the couple's dream to start a family. This setback threatened the two from ever having hope or dream of having a child together. While Lillian wasted her time mindlessly dating people and breaking up with them to her interest, Anna lived with trauma. Lillian recalled how Anna shriveled up whenever the topic of a child was mentioned anywhere in their conversations. Eventually, the couple had to confront each other about their fears. They decided to embrace the past and move forward because starting a family had always been their dream. When Lillian heard that tearful call from Anna, she felt genuinely happy for her.
While even among the couple's great supporters, there were a few who laughed at Anna's misery. That's why Lillian wished that the two would happily look forward to the future, and soon, a little angel would visit them.
Just as she worried for her childhood friend, Lillian opened her eyes to find herself arriving at Anna's place.
Anna spotted Lillian from the security cameras. She opened the gates to let Lillian inside. Once the two childhood friends reunited, both sighed in great relief. Lillian Grey went straight to hold Anna. She hugged her tight, and the two remained speechless under each other's arms.
"How are you feeling?" Lillian released her grip to inquire. She didn't care to receive an answer and began to examine Anna's face, her features, scanning her whole body, wondering if she was feeling alright.
Eventually, the two had settled in the kitchen.
Anna sat by the table near the window sill, and Lillian stood by the counter, fidgeting as she waited.
"Are you sure?" Lillian asked.
Anna simply nodded in response before adding more.
"I completely forgot that it was time for my periods. And I thought- wow, I didn't get my periods, and then I checked the calendar. And I- I freaked out. I had already bought this and kept it hidden for any emergencies," Anna said to show Lillian her secret pregnancy test kit.
"When did you take a test?"
"This morning- when I realized that I didn't get my periods. It faintly showed the sign, so I went out to get a new one, and I checked again, and it showed positive- the second time too. Lillian, I'm-"
"What about Jake? Where is he? Is he coming back?"
Before Lillian could let Anna have her moment to get sentimental, Lillian questioned Jake's whereabouts.
"Where is he? Is he coming back from work?"
Anna informed Lillian that Jake had gone on a business trip and would only return by Monday or Tuesday. Jake's timing was bad this time. Lillian worried about how he could be somewhere else when his beloved wife had just discovered that she might be pregnant. Moreover, Anna can't be left alone at this time. Lillian suggested that she could stay with her, but Anna refused almost instantly.
"What about Giselle?"
"You're worried about others now?" Lillian stormed.
Anna frowned to reply, "Go back. I can't take care of myself."
"Not a chance. I'm calling your mom or Jake's mom," Lillian remained stubborn through and through. She wasn't going to let Anna be alone herself in such a sensitive period.
"Stop, I- 'm fine. I can take care of myself."
"You don't, Anna. And you know it. You are clearly going to get scared, and you shouldn't be alone right now. I'm telling you I can with you, or you go to your mom's."
"I'll go to Jake's mom. She lives close by. I'll call my mom as well. So, go back to Giselle."
"You worry too much!"
"Of course. My best friend, who lived a trash life, had just started to settle down. Yes, I want her to be happy."
Lillian's brows questionably raised in response to Giselle's snarky comment. Since it was only the truth, she let it go without having a rebuttal.
"First things first. Let's go to the hospital, okay?" Lillian groaned to suggest.
Anna looked timid. The word hospital tried to trigger her trauma. She knew she had confronted it with Jake and people like Lillian to care for her. Even so, the subtle fears seemed to stop her from moving forward.
Knowing this very well, Lillian approached Anna. She caught her in a surprise to shake her out of negative thoughts.
"I'm sure you will be fine. You have to be careful from now onwards, right? For our golden baby!"
Anna was on the verge of tearing up again, but she held back from agreeing with Lillian.
***
Anna and Lillian went to the hospital and spent the entire afternoon there. Anna visited the doctor who stuck with her from the past. Even the doctor made it a priority to take care of Anna as soon as she heard about her visiting the hospital. Anna had called Jake's mom and informed her of the good news. By the time they returned home, the blue day sky had turned to deep purple, reflecting the arrival of a beautiful evening.
Lillian promised to stay until Jake's mom arrived to accompany Anna. But, since it turned out to be such a beautiful day, not only for Anna but for her well-wishers, Jake's mom reached her son's place sooner than expected.
Upon reaching, the mother-in-law embraced Anna lovingly as she cried tears of joy from hearing the good news. She kept showering Anna with kisses on her forehead and endlessly praising her courage. She apologized to Anna for disclosing it to her husband, who wanted to join his wife to visit their daughter-in-law, but Jake's mom strictly asked him to keep it a secret. They don't want anyone to jinx or even think it harmful. Together, the three ladies sat down at last. Anna sat in the middle as she kept receiving love from both sides. Lillian had met Jake's mom, so she shared what had happened in the hospital. Anna was advised to eat healthily and sleep regularly on time. Considering the past, her doctor strictly warned her to be extra cautious this time. Therefore, without Jake, Anna must have someone to be there for her. Jake's mom listened attentively but couldn't stop herself from crying and nodding at the same time.
When Lillian finished, she asked when Anna was planning to tell Jake. She had been wanting to ask that question ever since she arrived at Anna's place this morning. However, the course of their conversations drifted her from inquiring. Now that Jake's parents knew the good news, it was time Anna called Jake to reveal the pregnancy.
"No!" Anna uttered, sending the two to shock.
"Anna?" Jake's mom called her.
"Mom, I know. I am going to tell Jake. But not now," Anna replied.
"He deserves to know before any of us, Anna," Lillian remarked.
Jake's mom agreed as well, but seeing Anna hesitate, she knew that it must be tough for her. It must be difficult for Anna to convey the news since having gone through such a painful experience in life. While it was such a rejoice to hear for others, it wouldn't be the same for the couple. Jake would be incredibly happy, but it might take some time to get there.
Anna requested that she'd tell her husband after he returned. Jake's mom supported her while fighting back the never-ending tears.
"If only you'd tell him, he'd be rushing here in a second," Lillian added.
"No."
Lillian tried to joke by remarking how Anna prioritized Jake's work over her pregnancy and how Anna was such a good wife. However, her efforts failed to lighten the atmosphere.
"I don't care about that, Lilly. I know Jake more than anyone. Of course, he'd rush here as the first thing, but I need time to process this myself. I can't let him see me in this state. When I tell Jake, I want him not to worry about me but be happy. I want to be stronger for him, for us- and our child. So, this works- I'm glad I got some time."
Jake's mom reassured Anna. It was fair from her perspective. Hence, Lillian had no choice but to agree. And that cued her time to leave since Jake's mom was already here and taking special care of her daughter-in-law. Lillian asked Anna to call her anytime, and before leaving, she gave Anna another hug, only gentle this time. The visit to the doctor left Lillian to be vigilant with her movements. She knew she could hug someone to the point where it could hurt. So, Lillian restrained herself from exerting force.
With that, Lillian bid her adieus to both and specifically asked Anna to be brave and confident. More than that, to have faith in herself. Anna looked much better than she did this morning, which relieved Lillian from unnecessarily worrying. She gave a little kiss on Anna's forehead and soon left to return home while controlling herself impatiently from sharing this good news with Giselle.
