**Out of Time**
“Goodbye,” Emily said, rising from the chair and heading for the door. She needed time to process everything.
“Take care. And dont forget your vitamins. Your next appointment will be sent via text,” the doctor replied briskly, not looking up from the notes she was filling in.
“Right” Emily murmured before hurrying out into the corridor and then into the chilly afternoon air.
She had to make sense of the news shed just received. Deep down, shed suspected the reason for her fatigue, but until the ultrasound and blood tests confirmed it, she hadnt let herself believe it was real.
Emily was forty-four. Shed grown up in a large family, the eldest of five. Her parents had often relied on her to look after the younger ones. Her childhood hadnt been unhappy, but many evenings shed been stuck at home babysitting while her friends went out. There was always somethinghelping her brother Tom with his homework, fetching the twins, Sophie and Lucy, from nursery, or making sure dinner was ready.
By the time she married James, shed already decided: one child, no more. James, too, had no dreams of a big family. A year after their wedding, their daughter Lily was born. Emily had been twenty-eight, James thirty-two. From then on, Emily was certainLily would be their only child. Shed had her fill of parenting early, and now it was time to live for herself.
Lily had grown up well. She was in Year 11 now, doing brilliantly. A good kidno major troubles, though she sometimes asked for new phones, clothes, or makeup. But nothing out of the ordinary.
Life for the Harpers had settled into a comfortable rhythm. James worked as a department head at a construction firm. Emily was an accountant at a local company. Lily went to school, attended cheerleading practice, and occasionally travelled for competitions. Weekends were for relaxing, dinners with friends, short breaks awayeverything was easy, predictable.
Now, sitting on a bench outside the hospital, Emily tried to steady her thoughts. She was pregnant. Three weeks along. James didnt know. Neither did Lily. The image flashed in her mindexhausted, holding a baby, colleagues whispering, her best friend Sarah shaking her head in disbelief.
Her thoughts were interrupted by Lilys call.
“Hey, love, whats up?”
“Mum, where are you? I thought you were off today. Came home and no ones here.”
“Oh, just popped to the shopping centre. Be back soon. Heat up some lunch, alright?” She forced her voice to sound light, though her chest felt tight.
“Okay. Bring me something back?”
“Course I will.” She tried to match Lilys cheerfulness but heard the strain in her own words.
Hanging up, Emily sighed and looked around. The whirlwind of worries returned. Another child meant more expensesa pram, a cot, clothes, endless little things. When Lily was born, prices werent like they were now. Back in the early 2000s, life had felt simpler. Or maybe it just seemed that way when you were young.
She exhaled heavily. She should be happy, but dread curled in her stomach. There were too many “buts”her age, the judgment, the upheaval. She didnt want to leave her comfort zone, and she certainly didnt want to drag her family into it.
For now, she had to keep up appearances. Since shed lied about the shopping centre, she might as well go there and buy something.
That evening, she tried to act normal, despite the queasiness.
“You alright, Em? You look wrecked, and you were supposed to be relaxing today,” James joked.
“Just a headache.”
She waited until Lily went out with friends before telling him.
“James, I went to the doctor today. Thing is Im pregnant.” She watched his face carefully.
“Blimey, you scared me! Thought you were seriously ill!” He laughed, then paused. “Youre sure?”
“Positive. They did a scan.”
“Well, Ill be. So, Im going to be a dad again?” His grin widened.
“I suppose.”
“Any idea if its a boy or girl?”
“Too early.”
“Then why the long face? Everything alright?”
“For now. But were not exactly young. What will people say? And Lilyhow do we tell her?”
“Who cares what people think? Our parents will be thrilled. Lilys old enough to understand. And work? If anyone says anything, its jealousy!” He pulled her into a hug.
Part of her was relieved by his reaction. But doubts gnawed at her. Their age. Lilys reaction. A baby would turn their lives upside down. Their two-bedroom house barely had space as it was. Then there was Lilys A-levels next year, university applications, tutoring feesmoney would be tighter than ever.
Later, she tried again.
“James, are you really sure about this?”
“Why wouldnt I be?”
“You dont get it. A baby changes everything. No more nights out, no lie-ins. What if what if somethings wrong with it?” Her voice cracked, and she burst into tears.
James was quiet for a moment. She wondered if he was picturing himself, sleep-deprived, in stained joggers.
“Em, dont talk daft. Were only forty-four. Remember the Robinsons? Hes forty-eight, shes forty-sixthey just had their second. He looks better than ever!”
“Thats what *he* says.”
“Youre just hormonal. Remember when you were pregnant with Lily and sent me scrambling for apples at midnight?”
She snorted, wiping her face. “I remember.”
“Good times,” he murmured, holding her close.
The next morning, they told Lily over breakfast.
“Lily, howd you feel about a little brother or sister?” James asked casually.
“No.”
“Why not?”
“Please dont say youre having another baby.”
“Well Mums pregnant. Youll be a big sister.”
“Have you lost it? Im going to school.” She stood abruptly.
“Lily” But the front door slammed behind her.
“James, maybe this is a mistake.”
“Dont worry. Itll be fine.”
Emily spent the day on edge. That evening, she braced herself for another argument as she walked home.
“Mum, wait” Lilys voice stopped her.
“I thought you had practice.”
“Coach called it off. Mum is it true?”
“Yes. Honestly, I didnt expect it either. Im not sure this is the right time”
“Dont be. Ill be off to uni soonyou and Dad will need something to keep you busy.”
“Sweetheart” Emily hugged her, tears spilling.
“Mum, Im sorry.”
“Dont be silly. Lets go home.”
There were awkward conversations at work, a difficult pregnancy with a spell in hospital, a tough labour, sleepless nightsbut they got through it.
*****
That evening, Emily and James strolled with the pram.
“Asleep?” James asked.
“Out like a light,” Emily whispered, peeking in.
“Em, Im so glad we have Noah. If youd told me two years ago Id be a dad again, Id have laughed.”
“Thank you, James.”
“What for? Youre the one who did all the work.”
“No, you were right. I doubted everything.”
“I had my moments too. Imagined wed ruined our lives. But now? Happiest Ive ever been. A sononly thing missing.”
“*Our* son,” she corrected.
“Asleep?” Lily joined them, backpack slung over one shoulder.
“Like a log,” they chorused.
“Mind if I walk with you? Dont fancy being home alone.” She rested a hand on the pram handle.
They walked together, three now four, knowingwhatever came next, theyd face it as a family.
Sometimes, the best things come when we least expect them. Life has a way of working out, even when the timing feels all wrong.
