“Evelyn, your counts are very good. The chemotherapy is working extremely well. It is better than we could have imagined. We have no doubt you will beat this again if we stay with the aggressive treatment schedule.” He sighs, looking away from my happy face for a moment. “Your blood tests revealed something else though. We would like to think this is a miracle Evelyn. You are so strong. You fight cancer so well we have no doubt you will be able to handle this if you choose too.”

What is this old man going on about? All this talk is starting to scare me. “Dr. Z, you’re scaring me. Quit trying to protect me. Just say it!”

“Evelyn, you’re pregnant. Around seven weeks if we’re guessing correctly.”

I sit straight up in Tristan’s lap, shock coursing through my entire body. I am what? I can’t be… it’s all but impossible. Somehow, I manage to stammer out, “I’m—I’m pregnant?”

How did they miss something this huge with all my blood work? I don’t even get the chance to ask because Tristan speaks up.

“How could you miss this with all the blood work she has?”

He sighs and answers truthfully. “Honestly, with all the chemo and radiation she has been through, I didn’t think she would have any fertile eggs left. We were not watching for a pregnancy. We were just watching to see that her cancer counts were going down.”

My mind is spinning in circles, so I say the first thought that I could grab. “So I’m pregnant? Is this a good thing or a bad thing with my cancer? How will this affect my remaining treatments?”

Tristan grips me tighter, letting me know I have asked the right question.

“Well, the fact that your body is fighting so well is definitely a good thing Evelyn. This baby is a real miracle. Women go through chemotherapy all the time while pregnant. While it is a little rougher on them, most manage quite well.

Taking a deep breath, I release all the stress and tension the last few minutes have caused. With a confidence that I feel in every fiber of my being, I look at each of these wonderful doctors and say, “What’s there to think about? You said my counts are good. You have just told me I am going to be a mother when I thought it was impossible; when I thought that dream had died. There is not one thing to think about.” With happiness, hope and joy radiating from every pore, I turn in Tristan’s arms to face him, beaming a bright smile. “This is a good thing right? You’re happy? We’re having a baby!”

He snaps his eyes away from the doctors, his forehead laced with worry. “Of course I’m happy baby. I’m just a little worried, scared actually.” He whispers.

I run my fingers over his worried forehead, trying to smooth out the furrowed lines. I gently grab his face and place a soft kiss on his lips. “I’m Evelyn Beaumont.” I say simply. “I’ve beat cancer once. I can beat it again while being pregnant,” I giggle.

His eyes soften and a huge grin follows. “We’re going to be parents babe,” he says.

Yes we are!

21

Oh my God. We are pregnant. Evelyn is fighting cancer. We are having a baby.

Our baby! All these thought just keep circling around in my head. I am excited. I am terrified. Excited to be a father. Excited to be having a child with my infinity. Scared at what this means for Evelyn’s body. She is already going through so much. I wonder how much more of this her body, mind, and soul can actually handle. God! We are going to be parents!

I have had Evelyn back for a little over two months and we are already having a baby. My mind is reeling. I pray that we can get through this; I pray that my infinity can fight cancer while carrying a child.

I look over at my infinity. Our hands are tangled together while we drive home. She looks so elated. There is not one ounce of worry on her beautiful face.

She made me call an emergency dinner with all our family and friends. She is also making the band resume our gigs. I am not thrilled, but she looked at me with that stern Evelyn face and made me bow down at her feet.

“You will start working full time again Tristan. The band needs to start up again. Your agent is already mad enough.”

“No!”

“Tristan, don’t push me on this,” she spits out. “I won’t be the reason you and the band don’t get signed. I will not be the reason you stop playing. We took a year off school so I could heal. What more are you going to give up for me? It’s time for music again babe,” she whispers.

“But—”

She holds up her beautiful, frail hand while we walk back to the Jeep.

“No buts babe, music—just music,” she says.

I sigh. I have lost this one; there is no reasoning with her. Just Evelyn’s own brand of logic and things are set in stone.

I pull up in front of our condo, noticing the cars parked outside. It would appear that Adella and the band are already inside, waiting for us. Once our families get here, we can share our amazing news.

“So, let’s see. What does our baby wants to eat?” She giggles and rubs her stomach as we walk toward the house.

There is nothing to do but grin as she slowly contemplates what to feed our miracle child. “Oh! The baby wants mashed potatoes, green beans, macaroni and cheese, and a big fat tender steak!”

As soon as we close the door, I call mom, asking her to stop and pick up everything for dinner. I don’t even get to breathe before we are bombarded with questions.

“Tell me what’s so important that we need to have a meeting the two nights in a row.” My brother grins playfully at us.