Read Online Dear Carolina by Kristy W Harvey - Free Book Online

I’d read about women whose doctors had discovered the disease had ravaged their insides only when they were performing a C-section for third or even fourth children. I knew already that life was unexpected, and, as I lay in bed beside my husband, iPad with tab after open tab, I made a command decision: It would hurt and it would be hard, but I was going to be thankful for my child and refuse to let what I didn’t have overshadow what I did.
    That’s not to say I would give up; I simply promised myself that I wouldn’t let a struggle for another baby define Graham and me. I thought back to that Doogie Howser doctor patting my shoulder and saying, “Don’t worry, Mrs. Jacobs. We’ll get you pregnant.”
    â€œThey’ll get you pregnant,” Graham had snickered on his way out of the office. “
I’ll
get you pregnant.” Then he muttered under his breath, “Arrogant ass.”
    I thought I might as well tell Daniel what was going on; hewould find out sooner or later. But before I could detail my encounter at the doctor the day before, my phone rang. Graham, breathless as a boy in a game of touch football, said, “I have to talk to you.”
    I mouthed
Sorry
to Daniel, and he grabbed the check and went around the corner to stand in front of the same cash register that had been in the lobby of King’s since I was a little girl. I leaned back in my wooden-slatted chair and said, “What are you so excited about?”
    â€œIt’s fate,” was all he said.
    â€œWhat’s fate?”
    â€œI just ran into Amy Perkinson at the farmer’s market. You know, from Cowlick Farms?”
    I laughed every time I heard the name Cowlick Farms because I thought their slogan was so cute: “No hormones. No drugs. Our cows don’t miss a lick.”
    But this time, I was too anticipatory to even laugh.
    â€œI was asking her about the new baby, and, out of the blue, she started telling me about how she had endometriosis. She and Bill had tried for years to have kids when she got referred to an herbalist by a friend.”
    My mind flashed back to Virginia making me go see a psychic with her one time. I felt pretty sure that going to an herbalist would be about the same thing. But Graham was so excited that I didn’t want to pop his balloon.
    â€œThis is it,” Graham said, using the same voice he used when he wanted to get Alex pumped up to go grocery shopping or something equally boring. “This is a sign, and this herbalist is going to be the one that helps us get our baby.”
    I was skeptical at best. I could feel the tears of failure and frustration gathering in my eyes as I hung up, and Daniel, with a fresh sweet tea, said, “There’s no way anybody in this towncould keep their weight under control knowing there’s a Pig in a Puppy right around the corner.” When he saw my face he paused. “Oh, I didn’t mean you, Fran. You’re a fox.”
    I smiled a little, and he put his hand on my arm and said, “See. I knew something was wrong with you.”
    I sighed and stood up, picking up my bag as I did to keep the chair from toppling over. “I’m having a hard time getting pregnant.”
    â€œOhhhh.” He nodded. “I’m so sorry, shug.”
    â€œShug. Y’all. We better get you home before you turn into a full-blown Southerner.”
    Daniel led me toward the door saying, “I read an article in the
Times
about how popular Indian surrogates are right now.” He took another sip of his tea. “But that would never work for you.”
    â€œWhy not?”
    â€œFran, you can barely let me, a trained professional, pick out a piece of furniture by myself. No way you could let some woman you’ve never met carry your baby without being there to criticize everything she ate and make sure she was following your strict rules.”
    He was teasing me, of course. But it made me