United We Stand

by

Sharon Johnson
(sharonj@artograph.com)

     “Fran,” said Doctor Reynolds with real regret in her voice, “I’m so sorry.”

      Fran’s worst fears had become a reality.  She had lost the baby.  She turned in Max’s arms and began to cry.  All Max could do was hold her.  He tried to comfort her but his heart was broken too.  Sure, he had found out only hours before that Fran was pregnant, but he had warmed to the idea very quickly and found he had really wanted this baby.  Tears formed in his eyes too, but he decided he had to be strong for Fran.

     “Why?” Fran cried out in anguish, tears streaming down her face.

     “We don’t really know,” said Doctor Reynolds.  “We find though, that a miscarriage this early in the pregnancy happens because there is either something wrong with the baby or in how the baby is attached to the uterus.  Either way, it could not have been prevented.  It was not your fault, either of you.”

     “What happens now?” asked Max.

     “We will have to perform a D&C to remove any remnants of the pregnancy.  At the same time we will do a complete examination to make sure there are no lasting repercussions.  Mr. Sheffield, we will want to draw some blood from you to make sure there are no compatibility problems.”  Max nodded. “Fran, we will be ready for you in about 20 minutes." Fran nodded sadly and the doctor left the room closing the door softly.

     Fran continued to cry in Max’s arms and now her gave in and let his own tears fall. Several minutes later Max got a hold of himself.  He had to be strong he told himself. “SHHHHH” he said softly rocking Fran in his arms, “It’s alright darling.”

     Fran felt devastated.  She had wanted a baby all of her adult life. To find that she was pregnant by the only man she had ever truly loved and then to loose it for no reason left her empty and depressed. She had never felt such sorrow.  Growing quiet, she rested in Maxwell’s arms.

       “Max?”

      “Yes darling.”

       “I’m sorry.”

        Max looked down at his wife in his arms.  “You have nothing to be sorry for.  It wasn’t your fault. I’m sorry for not being there when you needed me.”

       “No. Maybe if I had done something different….....”

       “Fran, sweetheart, don’t do this to yourself."

      “What do we do now?” she said softly against his chest.

     “We try again. Only this time I will be with you every step of the way.”

      Hearing this Fran started to cry again. When they came to get Fran, Max kissed her, told her he loved her, and then assured her he would be here waiting for her when they brought her back.

     After she was gone, he went down to the waiting room to break the news to the rest of the family.  Everyone stood as soon as they saw him coming.

     “We lost the baby,” he said quietly.

      “FRANNIE! MY BABY!” Sylvia cried. “Can I see her?”

      “No Sylvia, not right now. She is with the doctor.”

      Maggie and Grace fell into their father’s arms crying while Sylvia collapsed into Morty’s arms.

       “Daddy,” Grace said between sobs, “is Fran alright?”

       “The doctor is doing an examination right now to determine that, but, yes sweetheart, I’m sure she will be fine. I’m going back to her room to wait for her.  I’ll come back later to tell you how she is doing.” Max then kissed his two daughters, hugged Sylvia and left.

       The sorrow was heavy in the waiting room, all were feeling the loss and wanting to do something, but knew there was nothing to do.

    Fran was wheeled back into her room sometime later.  She was groggy but awake reaching out to Max as soon as she saw him.  He sat down beside her on the bed and took her into his arms.  Several minutes later Doctor Reynolds came in.

     “The good news is there are no problems medically with either of you.  There is nothing to prevent you from having another child.  But, Fran, you lost a lot of blood so I am going to keep you overnight for observation.” The doctor left a few minutes later.

     “I went down and told the family what was happening,” Max said quietly. “They all want to see you.”

     “I don’t want to see anyone right now,” she said, tears threatening to fall once again.

     “I’ll go tell them to go home.  I’ll be right back,” Max said kissing her.  Fran only nodded.

     Everyone stood as he entered the waiting room.  “Fran is fine and resting,” he said “But she is very depressed and she doesn’t want to see anyone.  They are going to keep her overnight and I will be staying with her.  I think it is best if you all go home.  I will call you later.”

    “She doesn’t even want to see her own mother?” Sylvia cried out in anguish.

     “I’m sorry Sylvia she said she doesn’t want to see anyone.” Max took Sylvia in his arms to comfort her for a moment and then left to rejoin Fran.

      The rest of the day Max and Fran spent comforting each other. They talked of their deep love for each other, of hope for the future and their trust in God to see them through this. Through their sorrow they forged a bond much deeper and richer that love. They now truly belonged one to the other.

      Late that afternoon Fran talked to her mother on the phone.

      They fell into a fitful sleep holding each other in Fran’s hospital bed. Neither Fran nor Max slept very well.  The noises and smells was a constant reminder of where they were and why. Fran was not in pain physically but the emotional pain was very hard to bear.  She alternated between bouts of depression and crying with an almost catatonic state where even Max couldn’t reach her which scared him.  He hated to see the women he loved in such pain. He was sad and depressed too but was far more concerned with Fran’s well being than with his own.  He felt so helpless.  He also felt guilty he had not been with her to share her joy before it had turned to sorrow. Now all he could do was be here for her. The night was very hard for both of them.

     Before breakfast Max went home to get Fran some clothes for her trip home.  All she had with her was what she had worn to the hospital; a coat and the now blood stained white negligee.

     Max came in as everyone was sitting down to breakfast.  Morty and Sylvia had stayed the night and even C.C. was there. It was very quiet as no one felt like chattering.  They all looked to Max expectantly.

     “Good morning everyone.  I’m glad you are all here as I have something very important to talk to you all about.  I’m going to bring Fran home in a few hours. This whole experience has been very hard on her; actually for us both.  She is very fragile right now.  I don’t want any of you to upset her in any way.” He looked at each person seated at the table in turn. Everyone just silently looked down at the table, each feeling the sorrow in their own way.  “Margaret will you get something for Fran to wear home and whatever else you think she needs? I need to get back.  C.C., I want to see you in my office.”

    C.C. followed Maxwell into the office and shut the door.  Before she could say anything Max said, “C.C. I don’t want you to upset Fran,” she started to protest but Max held up a hand to stop her. “I don’t want to you call her Nanny Fine.  She is no longer the nanny. She is my wife and her name is no longer Fine it’s Sheffield.  I know you call her that just to irritate her and I will no longer stand for it. You will call her Fran or nothing at all.  Do you understand?”  She nodded silently.  She knew when she was beat.

    Max then went to collect the case Maggie had packed and returned to the hospital.

     After Max had left her, Fran took a shower.  Once she was standing beneath the spray she began to cry again.  Great wracking sobs. She leaned her head against the wall and cried out her heartbreak. Why? she kept crying. Why? She had been so happy.  Why was that happiness taken from her? Why was her baby taken from her? Why? No answers came. After a while she pulled herself together enough to wash. Then, dressing in the clean hospital clothes she had been given went back to her room.

      She was waiting for Max when he returned. She was standing in her hospital robe staring out the window as he entered. The last 24 hours had taken its toll. Her hair was still damp from her shower and hung limp down her back.  She wore no make-up. The robe she wore was shapeless and wrinkled. She turned her pale expressionless face to look at Max.  He put the case down, walked to her and took her in his arms.  They stood there silently holding each other for a long time.

     “Margaret packed some things for you,” he said quietly breaking the silence. Fran nodded, not yet ready to leave the haven she found in Maxwell’s arms and get dressed to face the world. All she wanted or needed was Max to continue to hold her. He understood completely.

     Sometime later, dressed, her hair done and with make-up on, she looked like Fran again.  Max and Fran sat together on the bed waiting for the doctor to come in before Fran’s final discharge.

     Doctor Reynolds came in a few minutes later.  “Fran, Maxwell,” she began, “I know this has been a horrible ordeal for you both but I don’t want either of you to be discouraged.  There is nothing to stop you from having a baby. I have never seen such love and devotion in a couple as I have seen in you two. The positive attitude you have displayed toward the situation and each other has been an inspiration. I know that you are strong enough to get through this together. I want to see both of you in three weeks in my office to see how you are both doing.”  They both nodded. “If you have any questions or need anything call me.”

     Max stood and took the doctors hand in his, “Thank you.”

    “Your welcome.  I wish it could have turned out differently.”

    Looking at his wife “So do we.” said Max.

    The limousine was waiting for them at the main entrance. He had used the service that morning rather than drive his own car or have Niles drive the town car. The ride home was short and quiet. “Ready?” Max said to Fran when the car had pulled up in front of their house. Taking a deep breath and letting it out slowly, she replied, “No but lets get this overwith.”

     Everyone was in the living room waiting for Fran and Maxwell’s arrival.  They all stood and began moving toward the entryway when they heard the door opening. Fran came in first followed by Maxwell carrying her overnight bag.

      “Hello everybody,” Fran said.

      Sylvia got to her first taking Fran in her arms. Everyone else surged forward to surround her. Fran was overwhelmed by the love and support she felt directed toward her from her family. The next few days were going to be hard and she would always remember what had happened in the last 24 hours, but with Max and this wonderful family behind her she knew that she could get through anything.

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