Virgin River (Virgin River #1)(98)

“Three months,” she said, her voice quieter than usual. “Approximately.”

“Congratulations,” he said. Beside her the ultrasound bleeped as it warmed up. He pulled out the speculum after the pap slide was complete and gently palpated the uterus, measuring for size. “You’re almost as good at this as I am, Mel,” he said. “You have reached the right approximate diagnosis. Good. Everything’s good.” He pulled the wand from the ultrasound; because this was an early pregnancy he would do an internal probe for a better reading as opposed to running the probe over her still flat belly. “Turn your head, Mel,” he said. “Beautiful,” he added.

She looked at the monitor. Tears slid out of her eyes and into the hair at her temples. There it was, a small mass, limbs just visible to the practiced eye, moving around inside of her. They watched the new life for a little while and she gave a hiccup of emotion, moving a trembling hand to cover her mouth.

“Just about twelve weeks,” John said. “Out of the miscarriage woods. We’ll print you out a picture, though the view is going to be lots better in another few weeks.”

He removed the probe and helped her to sit up. June leaned a hip on the counter and John returned to his stool.

“You’re in perfect health,” her doctor said.

June handed Mel a tissue. “I’ve been there, Mel,” June said. “Believe me.”

Finally John said, “What’s the matter, Mel? How can we help?”

She blotted her eyes. “I’m sorry to do this to you, but it’s just so complicated.”

John reached out to her and gave her knee a squeeze. “It probably isn’t as complicated as you think.”

“Oh, wait,” she said with a weak, embarrassed laugh. “How about I start by telling you I’m hopelessly infertile.”

He gave a little laugh. “Let’s see—you have a uterus, ovaries, fallopian tubes… And I’ve heard this business of not being able to get pregnant from pregnant women before.”

“And I went through three years of infertility treatment, including surgery, without success. We even had one very expensive, very failed attempt at in vitro.”

“Well, that puts an interesting spin on things. Maybe you should back up a little. You don’t have to talk to us, Mel. It’s up to you.”

“No, I want to. I need advice. I’m a mess. See—before moving up here from L.A., I was married. My husband was a doctor—we often worked together. We tried desperately to have a baby. He was killed when he happened into a robbery in progress. That was a year and three months ago. Almost exactly. I came up here looking for a simpler life, a safer life. I just wanted to start over.”

John shrugged. “Kind of looks like you found what you were looking for.”

She laughed. “Virgin River isn’t all that simple. But yes, in some important ways, I found what I was looking for,” she agreed. “Of course, this wasn’t planned. I didn’t think it was possible for me to get pregnant.”

“Is the problem Jack?” June asked.

“Yes, but he doesn’t know it. He’s so wonderful, but he knew from the beginning that I wasn’t quite over my husband. I adore Jack—you can’t imagine—but I still haven’t gotten to that point where I feel free to move on to—” She took a breath. “To another man.” They gave her a moment and another tissue. “This is supposed to be my baby with my husband. The one we tried so hard to have.” She blew her nose.

June stepped forward and took her hand. “It seems apparent that Jack loves you. And that he’s a good man.”

“Good with children,” John put in.

“Whether you planned to or not,” June said with a shrug, “it appears you have moved on. At least in some ways.”

“The last time I gave my heart and soul to a man, he died,” she said with a sniffle. Then she lowered her head and a couple of tears fell on the hands folded in her lap. “I don’t think I could survive something like that again.”

June stepped forward and took her into her arms and John was quick to join her. They comforted her for a minute. Then John gave her shoulders a squeeze and said, “Mel, I like Jack’s chances. Five wars couldn’t kill him.”

“Five wars?” June asked.

John shrugged. “You didn’t know that?”

“I knew he was in the marines!”

“Men actually do talk,” John said.

“That husband of mine,” she groused. “He’s so badly trained!”

“I’m so confused,” Mel said. “I don’t really know what to do!”

“Naw, that’s not true. It’s a done deal, Mel,” John said. “Now you just have to be a little kind to yourself and work through it. You wanted a baby real bad, and you’re having one. Jack—he doesn’t know?”

“No. He knows I’m widowed—he’s the only one who knows in Virgin River. But he doesn’t know how hard I tried for a baby. He’s been so supportive of me in my grieving moments—he hasn’t said a word to anyone, because I asked him not to. It’s easier, you know—when people don’t look at you that way. Like you might be in constant pain. But,” she said, “he also offered to take care of our birth control concerns, and of course I told him I had it covered. I was absolutely sure I couldn’t get pregnant. God, I’d never do this to a man!”