Jamal gazed at the hills as the sun began to set, he loved to sit here every day and relax. The hills were quiet and serene, this place was his second happy place, and he was stingy with its location. He had told no one about it, not even his wife and best friend who was his happy place but was now the source of his worries, not that he could blame her. No one would pass through what she'd gone through these past years and remain unchanged.
Ten years ago, Jamal and Leah had gotten engaged, the goal was to get married, continue working hard, buy their dream house and give birth to children. Everything had gone according to plan except the last one.
“How many children do you think we should have?” Leah had asked him on their honeymoon.
“Well, my darling wife, after we've had 10 kids, we can begin to talk about family planning!” Jamal had replied in a mock stern voice. He remembered his reply had left Leah in stitches, she'd laughed until tears ran down her face at his ridiculous suggestion.
It was memories like this that brought him to the hills. He loved to sit and reminisce of the time when every day with his wife had been wonderful. But fate had other plans for them, they'd had a beautiful baby girl who they had lost in an accident two years later. A car had run into her in the parking spot at the grocery store. She was just waiting for mummy to load the groceries into their car when the car had failed brakes and hit her. After they had gotten over her death and decided to try again, it had been one miscarriage after another.
A quick glance at his watch confirmed his suspicion that it was time for him to go home. Jamal walked down and got into his car, he decided to get some flowers for his wife on his way home.
“Baby, I'm home!” he called from the entrance, carefully removing his jacket and kicking off his shoes.
“I'm in the kitchen!” she yelled back.
Jamal walked into the kitchen to find Leah washing dishes and dancing, while a bottle of wine and glasses were on the dining table. Strange thought Jamal, but at least she's happy today.
“Flowers for my special flower” Jamal murmured, hugging her from behind and kissing her neck.
“Awwn my husband is so sweet. Thanks, handsome” Leah replied, taking the flowers and putting them into a vase.
“What are we celebrating, babe?” Jamal asked opening the wine and pouring it into the glasses.
“I want you to guess Jamal” Leah replied excitedly. She looked so beautiful standing in the kitchen, clapping her hands excitedly like a child expecting a gift.
“Hmm, let's see a new job? Did you win the lottery? You found out your real father is a billionaire? Just kidding” he said immediately when Leah gave a look that said ‘Really!’
“Wrong answers” she replied smiling. She moved to the fridge and grabbed a bottle of water.
“Wait a minute!” Jamal said warily. In his head, he began to analyze the situation. Leah is happy, she's drinking water, and she's glowing, these things only happened at the same time when she was…oh God, he couldn't go through this again.
“Leah, are you pregnant?” he asked softly, moving towards her.
“Finally, a correct reply, I was about to wither and die there. Aren't you happy?” she asked, seeing the sad and scared look on his face.
“Leah, baby, I don't know what to feel. I'm happy about this baby but at the same time I'm scared of what will happen if we lose this pregnancy again,” he replied.
Leah looked at him with tears in her eyes and nodded. He pulled her into a tight embrace, and they held on to each other. Each miscarriage had made Leah more withdrawn, sad and volatile. She loved children so much that the miscarriages led her to depression and anxiety.
She had resigned from her job and tried so many treatments, but the same thing kept on happening. Their hopes were always dashed and then Leah took it badly, which affected their love and marriage and made life a living hell for Jamal.
“I understand what you're saying baby” Leah said to Jamal, “But I need you to be optimistic about this one. I found a new hospital, and I'm hopeful” Leah replied smiling.
“But all the doctors we've visited said we're both okay. How sure are you that this one will tell you something different?” Jamal asked worriedly.
“I'm sure because your mum and I have been there already and you and I have an appointment next week” Leah said with a twinkle in her eyes.
“So let me get this straight” Jamal said releasing her from his embrace and taking a sip of wine, “My mum knew you were trying to get pregnant again?”
“Yes, dear” Leah replied innocently
“Right! And she was the first person you told when you took in?” he asked again, trying hard not to laugh.
“Erm actually I told your mum and then my mum who told my dad and your mum told your dad. I'm sure the whole family on both sides knows I'm pregnant by now” Leah replied.
“So basically, I who fathered the child, I'm the last person to find out. You made them promise not to talk right?” Jamal asked.
Leah nodded her head remembering how difficult it had been to get her parents and in-laws to keep the secret for a while.
“Mrs. Leah Jamal! I hope you can still run carefully because I'm going to tickle you until you beg!” Jamal roared, going after her.
Leah's squeals and laughter filled the house, something that had been missing in it for a long time.
Two days later Jamal and Leah sat in the doctor's office astounded. They watched him explain the cause of the constant miscarriages in shock.
“So, doctor, what you're trying to say is that rhesus sensitization caused the miscarriages?” Jamal asked again.
“Yes Mr. Jamal, I'm shocked your previous doctor didn't diagnose this the first time it happened” the doctor replied.
“Well thank heavens you did doctor. So what next, is there anything we can do? I really want my baby?” Leah asked nervously.
“Relax, Leah, your case has a solution. We'll inject you with a shot of Immunoglobulin in some weeks. For now, get enough rest and register for antenatal classes” the doctor replied.
“Thank you, Doctor, you're a lifesaver!” Jamal said, shaking the doctor's hand vigorously before carefully leading his wife home.
From the minute they left the hospital, Jamal fussed over Leah and spoiled her silly. No matter how much she protested on helping him around the house, he refused her offer. He only reduced his fussing after he informed Leah that he was considering taking a break from work, and she had threatened to leave the house and move in with her parents until she gave birth.
Every day gave them renewed hope that their child was here to stay, and they refused to find out the sex of the baby, they informed the doctor that as long as the baby was healthy they were happy.
“I hope you like surprises” she had replied with a small smile on her face.
A few months later, Jamal and Leah realized the meaning of that statement. They were blessed with twins, a boy and a girl, and when their families had gathered in the maternity ward to congratulate them on their bundles of joy Leah hugged her husband and whispered:
“Now you have two more people to spoil rotten. Thank you for being with me through this journey”.
“I love you, and I'll always be with you through any journey. Thank you for our babies” he whispered back.
“What are you lovebirds whispering about?” Jamal's mother asked, winking at her in-laws.
“Nothing mum, and I would just like to mention that I'm not leaving you guys in this room alone with Leah and my children” he replied.
When everyone questioned his statement, he looked pointedly at Leah and replied.
“I might just return to find out that you all have named my kids without telling me and I won't find out until they're about a month old or I decide to name them ”.
This response earned him a pinch from his mother-in-law, an ear twisting from his mother and a smack on the head from Leah. While the rest of the family laughed Jamal howled in pain, protesting that he was now a father, and should be treated with respect!
