Book 2 - Chapter 5: Chance Encounter?

Liz I had so much fun with my bitches. I opened up to them and told them what happened to Mary. I still feel this sadness that I can't shake, but I know it will get better. That’s all I can hope for, and I am determined to heal. I told them not to wake Zander when they left. He needs to get some sleep. The nurse said that he got up every time they checked on me. He spends way too much time worrying about me, and he tends to neglect himself. All that is going to change. I can't let my issues and emotions cause so many problems for us. I also can't put my baby at risk again. I still didn't wake Zander, when Dr. Lubbe stopped by. I know he wants to be there for me, but he needs a break too. Dr. Lubbe was so awesome and understanding, just like the first time we met. He is coming to see me again tomorrow, but it felt good to get everything out. Then I will see him once a week until I have a better handle on my emotions. I have been keeping so much bottled up and I didn't even realize it. Kyle, Tiffany, Elaine, Martha, the whole saga we went through just piled up and then the news of Mary just pushed me over the edge. I realize that if I am not careful, I could cause myself and the baby serious harm. And in turn, cause Zander harm and that is something I never want to do. More than an hour after Dr. Lubbe left, Zander came into the room. “Hey baby, why didn't they wake me? Are you okay?” “I am fine Zander, I told them not to wake you. You are over tired and you need rest. Dr Lubbe was also here and the first session went well. He will come see me at the house once a week if that's okay with you. It’s just for now, until I feel like myself again,” I said. “I would've liked to be there for you. But I am glad he can help you. I am happy with him coming to the house, you need to take it easy anyway.” he says and kisses my forehead. “What did you and the girls get up to?” he asks and I chuckle. “We just talked and had cheesecake and peppers.” I say, smiling. “Cheesecake and peppers together? What a weird combination.” “I know, but that is what your son wanted, and it really tasted so good.” I say, and he grimaces and that makes me chuckle. “I won't force you to eat it. Rosa sent over a pot pie. Will you ask them to warm it for us? Dr. Nox said I could have some.” I say and he nods and leaves the room. I feel much better and much lighter. Dr. Nox said I can definitely go home tomorrow at this rate. The baby is okay and that was my main worry. “They will bring it in a few minutes,” Zander says when he comes back into the room. “Thank you, come sit here with me, I missed you.” I say, and he chuckles and gets into bed next to me. We enjoyed the food and I went to sleep after Dr. Nox came to do her last examination for the day. I had a good day, but I feel drained. Emotionally and physically. But I know I will be okay. I have a wonderful husband and family, and a little bundle of joy on the way. I was discharged the next day, and I was so happy to be back home. I had to stay in bed for the rest of the week, but I feel much better. It's been three weeks and Zander and I are at the mall, looking at furniture for the nursery. Everything is so expensive, and I know I have money now, but I hate wasting it. We already knew what we wanted. We checked the catalog beforehand, but Zander insisted we come in to have a look at everything first. According to him, you don't always get what you order. The pictures always look beautiful, but the product isn't always up to standard when it gets delivered. We browsed and made sure everything was the way it looked in the catalog. We were about to pay, when Zander had to take a call, so he stepped outside. The minute he left, the sales assistant came over. “How far along are you? You are positively glowing.” she says, smiling. “Ten more weeks to go, then my bladder can have some peace,” I say, and she chuckles. “My name is Emma, do you need help with anything?” she asks. “I think we know what we want. I am just waiting for my husband to get off his call.” I said. She seems really sweet, and she looks a little younger than me. “Do you have any kids?” I asked and she smiled. “No, I have not been that fortunate yet. But I have given my details to an adoption and surrogacy agency. I would really like to bless a family if I can. There are many couples that can't conceive, and I would like to help at least one. And I don't have a special someone yet to start my own family with,” she says. “Wow, that is very noble,” I said. “I would never call myself noble. For me, it's a way of giving back. My mother couldn't conceive, so my parents used a surrogate. If it wasn't for her, my parents would never have had me. I just want to give someone else that same gift,” she says, and I smile. “You have a good heart, Emma. I wish you all the best.” “Thank you mam,” she says and then reaches into her pocket. “Let me give you this.” She says and writes her name on the back of a business card and hands it to me. “These are the details of the agency. If you know of anyone that may need my help, they can call them and ask for me,” she said, and I smiled and put it in my bag. “I will definitely keep this.” I say and she smiles. “Thank you mam,” “Please just call me Liz,” I say. “It's nice to meet you Liz. Hopefully, I can help someone you know.” “You never know,” I say and she smiles. “Back to work for me. Did you have a look at the rocking chairs? I have the perfect one for you,” she asks me and I nod. “I like this one,” I answered and showed her the one we decided on. “I like that one too, that's the one I was going to show you. I can see you sitting in it with your baby.” she says, smiling. Zander comes over and puts his arm around me before I can answer. “Sorry about that, it was Toby,” he says and I nodded. “It's okay, Emma kept me company. Emma, this is my husband, Zander.” “It's a pleasure to meet you, sir. I can ring you up if you are ready. Or if you still want to browse, I can help with that too.” Emma said, smiling at Zander. “I think we have decided on most of the furniture. Let me show you.” Zander says. He makes me sit down on the seat, while he points out everything to Emma, and she starts ringing it up. What a lovely woman. I am sure she will make a couple very happy. When we paid for everything, we said goodbye to Emma and left the store in search of some food. I was starving, shopping made me hungry. Who am I kidding? Everything makes me hungry. I told Zander Emma’s story while we ate, and he was also very impressed with her. You don't get many people that want to help, just because they can Vance stopped by to see me the next day. He couldn't wait to share his good news with me. He and Mark have started the process of finding a surrogate. They want to have a baby of their own. Since meeting Mary, I have been a firm believer in signs and chance encounters. It can't be a coincidence that I met Emma and now Vance needs someone like her. “I am so happy for you, Vance. Did you find a surrogate yet?” I ask and he shakes his head. “Not yet, but we registered with an agency.” He says. “Well, I met a girl at the mall yesterday that is registered with an agency too. She works at the store where we bought all the furniture for the nursery. She was birthed by a surrogate, and she would like to help a couple experience that same joy.” I said, and he smiles. “Then it must be a sign. Do you know her name? Can I go see her?” “I can do you one better.” I said and went to look in my bag for the business card. “Her name is on the back. You can ask them for her specifically.” I say and he smiles and hugs me. “Thank you b***h, I really appreciate this.” “I hope she can help you.” I say and I genuinely mean it. They deserve to have a child of their own. Both he and Mark have a lot of love to give, and they will make excellent parents. And my little munchkin will make his first friend. I know they will spoil that baby rotten. I suppose all the time they are spending with little Zia has made them want their own child. They are so patient with her, and she loves her new uncles. The furniture for the nursery was delivered before Vance stopped by. Zander came home early just to help me get everything set up the way we wanted. We already had the room painted in baby blue, with a mural of the night sky painted on the roof. The stars are painted with glow in the dark paint, so that the baby has something to look at in the dark. After we moved all the furniture in, I tackled the clothes we bought. Robyn and I may have gone a bit overboard, but baby clothes are just so adorable. It's hard to resist all that cuteness. Rosa has already washed all the clothes, and they smell like a newborn baby, and it's making me restless. I don't think I have ever been so excited about meeting someone before. “What’s that goofy smile for?” Zander asks me, snapping me out of my thoughts. “I just can't wait to meet our son.” I say, smelling the clothes, and he smiles. He comes over and pulls me into his arms and kisses me. “Me too, my Liz. By the new year, our lives will be forever changed. Well, until we have our daughter,” he says with a smirk. “Woah, hold your horses buddy. Let’s live through this one first.” I say, rubbing my tummy and he chuckles. “He will be the sweetest angel.” “Keep telling yourself that, and it may just come true.” I say and we both chuckle. “He will be perfect, like his mom.” He says and kisses me tenderly, making my heart melt.