**Diary Entry A Late Surprise**
“Goodbye,” Emily said, rising from the chair and heading for the door. She needed time to process everything.
“Take care. Dont forget your vitamins. Your next appointment will be texted to you,” the doctor replied briskly, still scribbling in the medical notes without looking up.
“Right” Emily murmured before hurrying out into the corridor and then onto the street.
She had to make sense of what the doctor had just told her. Deep down, shed suspected the reason for her recent fatigue. But until the ultrasound and test results confirmed it, she hadnt let herself believe it was real.
Emily was forty-four. Shed grown up in a large family, the eldest of four. Her parents often relied on her to look after the younger ones. It wasnt that her childhood had been unhappyjust that while her friends were out having fun, she was stuck at home checking her brother Olivers homework, picking up the twins, Sophie and Lily, from nursery, and making sure everyone was fed.
Early on, shed decided: if she ever had a family, one child would be enough. Her husband, James, felt the same. A year after their wedding, their daughter Charlotte was born. Emily had been twenty-eight then, James thirty-two. By then, Emily was certainCharlotte would be their only child. Shed done her share of child-rearing; now it was time to live for herself.
Charlotte had grown up well. Now in Year 11, she was bright, responsiblenever any real trouble. Sure, she asked for the latest phone, headphones, clothes, but nothing extreme. The Harrisons life had settled into a comfortable rhythm. James was a department manager at a construction firm, Emily worked as an accountant for a local company, and Charlotte split her time between school and cheerleading competitions. If James and Emily went awayvisiting friends or a weekend spa breakthey could leave Charlotte without a second thought. Life was easy, predictable.
Now, sitting on a bench in the hospital gardens, Emily tried to process the news. She was pregnant. Three weeks along. James didnt know. Charlotte certainly had no clue. Suddenly, she pictured herselfexhausted, juggling a baby alongside work. What would her colleagues say? And her friend Sarah? Shed think Emily had lost her mind.
A call from Charlotte snapped her out of it.
“Hi, love?”
“Mum, where are you? I thought you had the day off. I came home and youre not here.”
“Oh, I just popped to the shops. Ill be back soon. Heat yourself something up, alright?” Emily kept her voice light, though her chest felt tight.
“Fine. Bring me something back, yeah?” Charlotte chirped.
“Course” Emily forced a laugh, though it sounded strained even to her.
Hanging up, she sighed and glanced around. Her thoughts spiralledanother child meant prams, cots, clothes, endless expenses. When Charlotte was born, prices had been lower, life simpler. Or maybe it had just seemed that way when she was younger.
She sighed again. She should be happy, but all she felt was dread. Too many “buts” crowded her mindher age, the judgment, the upheaval. She didnt want to leave her comfort zone, didnt want to drag her family into it either.
For now, she decided, shed swing by the shopping centresince shed stupidly lied about itand buy something to keep up appearances.
That evening, she tried to act normal, despite the lingering nausea.
“Em, you alright? You look knackered for someone who had the day off,” James joked.
“Just a headache.”
She waited until Charlotte was out with friends before telling him.
“James I saw the doctor today. Im pregnant.” She studied his face carefully.
“Bloody hell! I thought you were ill!” He laughed, rubbing his face. A pause.
“You sure?”
“Positive. They did a scan.”
“Blimey. So Im gonna be a dad again? Brilliant!”
Emily forced a smile. “Yeah”
“Boy or girl yet?”
“Too early.”
“Then why the long face? Everything alright?”
“Its just were not exactly young. How do we tell everyone? My coworkerstheir kids are finishing school! And Charlottewhats she going to say?”
“Who cares what anyone thinks? Our parents will be thrilled, Charlottes old enough to understand, and if anyone at work has a problem, its envy talking.” He pulled her into a hug.
Part of her was relieved by his reaction. But doubts gnawed at herher age, Charlottes inevitable resentment, the cramped two-bedroom flat. Money was already tight with Charlottes tutors, and next year would be worse with A-levels and uni applications.
Later, she tried again.
“James do you really think this is a good idea?”
“Why wouldnt it be?”
“Youre not thinking it through. A baby changes everythingno more lie-ins, no spontaneity. What if what if somethings wrong with the baby?” Her voice cracked.
James was quiet for a moment. She wondered if he was picturing himselftired, unshaven, in stained joggers.
“Em, dont talk daft. Forty-fours nothing. The Wilsons had their second at forty-eight! Besides, youre just hormonal. Remember when you made me nick apples from next door at midnight when you were pregnant with Charlotte?”
She laughed despite herself. “Id forgotten that.”
“Good times,” he murmured, holding her.
The next morning, they broke the news to Charlotte.
“Charlie, howd you feel about a little brother or sister?” James asked over breakfast.
“No.”
“Why not?”
“Dont tell me youre actually having another.”
“Mums pregnant. Youre going to be a big sister.”
“Youve lost it. Im off.” She shoved her chair back.
“Charlotte!” But the front door slammed.
“James maybe this is a mistake.”
“Relax. Itll be fine.”
All day, Emily was on edge. That evening, bracing for another row, she heard Charlotte call out.
“Mum, wait”
“Charlie? I thought you had practice.”
“Coach is ill Mum, is it true?”
“Yes. I didnt plan this. Im not even sure”
“Dont be. Ill be off to uni soon anyway. Youll need something to do.”
“Oh, love” Emily hugged her, tears spilling.
“Sorry for earlier.”
“Dont be daft. Come on, lets go home.”
There were awkward conversations at work, tough weeks of morning sickness, a scary spell of bed rest, a difficult deliverybut they got through it.
*****
That evening, Emily and James walked the pram along the park path.
“Asleep?” James whispered.
“Out like a light,” Emily said, peeking in.
“Em Im so glad we have Henry. If youd told me two years ago Id be a dad again, Id have laughed.”
“Thank you, James.”
“Me? This was all you.”
“No. You were right. I doubted everything.”
“I had my moments too. Imagined wed ruined our lives. But now? Ive never been happier. A sononly thing missing.”
“We have a son,” she corrected.
Charlotte jogged up behind them, schoolbag slung over her shoulder.
“He asleep?”
“Like a log,” they chorused.
“Mind if I walk with you? Dont fancy being home alone.” She took the pram handle.
They strolled on together, knowingwhatever came nexttheyd face it as a family.
**Lesson:** Lifes best surprises often come when we least expect them. Fear makes us resist change, but sometimes, what we dread most becomes our greatest joy.
