Against the Odds Read Online Free PDF Page B

son?  
    “ I think we should find
out what we’re having,” I blurt out. 
    “ You do?” 
    I look at him and smile. “I think it would be
nice. I know the gender isn’t important, but wouldn’t it be nice to
know who will be sleeping in the nursery?” 
    “ It would. We already have
two daughters, and a son may be nice to add to our growing
family.” 
    I am relieved that Robert’s sadness is
vanishing. “Or another girl to add to our already increasing
estrogen level.” 
    Robert pulls on his hair and says, “Another
girl? That’ll make three girls and a wife. I’m recently hoping for
a boy,” he jokes.  
    “ You’ll be just as
thrilled with a girl.” 
    “ I will
be.” 
    “ So we can find out?” I
ask hopefully. 
    “ We can.” 
    I clap my hands and say, “Can we have a
gender reveal party, too?” 
    “ I have no idea what that
is, but if you want a party, we can have a party.” 
    I explain to him what a gender reveal party
is and then I call Mom and Margie. Robert and I get online and buy
some girls clothing in size five and some in size six. We also buy
a few age-appropriate toys and board games for a five-year-old.
Robert and I also shop for some baby things: towels, washcloths,
baby shampoos, and lotions. We have a good day at home
together. 
    Mom calls and said that
she called my doctor and got the sex of the baby. She said he was
at his office and she didn’t have any problem getting it from him.
Since he is also her doctor, he already knew our hesitation about learning our baby’s
gender. 
    “ Do you want to have a
gender reveal party next weekend?” Mom asks. 
    “ Next weekend would be
good. We meet with the attorney tomorrow morning with the other
family.” 
    “ You get to meet your
daughter tomorrow? Can we go with you?” 
    My belly does a somersault
at the thought. Stay strong, Leah. You’re
doing great so far. “I don’t think it’s a
good idea to bombard her with too many people. I don’t want to
frighten her.” 
    “ I understand that. I
guess you’re right. You and Robert go and meet your daughter in the
morning and next weekend you can find out if you are going to
welcome a son or another daughter into your
family.” 
    My mother can be very persistent. I tell her,
“Next weekend will be good.”  
    “ Perfect, I have plans to
put into action, a party to get ready for and a granddaughter to
impress.” 
    I laugh and we both hang up. 

Chapter Two: Meeting Our Daughter
    Robert
    Leah’s inner strength
started to come out today. I use to see it daily, but since Jamie’s
death, it’s been less and less. I don’t know if it’s pretend or if
she is becoming more like her old self. I don’t know and I don’t
care. If she can put on a smile and a
happy face, so can I.   
    Leah and I shop for baby items and things for
a five-year-old girl. We buy items from home and share the laptop.
We each put items in the cart and it turns out to be very
therapeutic. She laughs and in turn, it makes me
laugh.  
    She tells me that Sue knows the sex of the
baby and that the gender reveal party is being planned for next
weekend. Leah and I are both excited to know the sex of the
baby.  
    “ Do you think you’ll be up
to it?” 
    “ I do. I’m not dreading
tomorrow. God gave us another daughter, and we get to meet her
tomorrow. I’m happy about that.” 
    I want Leah to be able to
handle the emotions that a day like that
tomorrow will bring. But I don’t want to upset her,
either.  
    “ It’s going to be very
emotional tomorrow.” 
    “ I know that and I’m
prepared for it. Ace, don’t worry about me, I can handle
this.” 
    I look at Leah and she looks strong. I can
see something in her eyes that I haven’t seen in a while.
Determination? Willpower? Strength? I can’t tell. But it does let
me know that she can handle it.  
    “ Okay, we’ll meet our Lil
girl in the morning and find out if we have a son or another
daughter next