**A Child at Forty-One!**
“Who has a baby at forty-one?” shouted James at his wife, Emily. “Most women your age are grandmothers! Honestly, Emily, think about what you’re doing. You couldnt care less what we thinkI get that by now. But have you even considered the child? I dont want to be hobbling around with a walking stick at her wedding!”
“What if something happens to us while shes still little? Sort this outor Ill leave you!”
Emily had been married to James for twenty years. Shed wed him young, still a university student. All this time, shed believed him to be her closest ally, her rock. Never had she imagined hed turn against her.
Recently, a storm had erupted in their familyall because of an unexpected late pregnancy. James was adamantly against it.
“Have you lost your mind, Emily? Deciding to be a mother now? Weve got three wonderful sonsDaniels at university, and Thomas and William are finishing Year 9. Isnt that enough?”
“What will the boys think? That their parents have gone mad?”
“But James,” Emily insisted, “Ive always dreamed of a daughter. If Gods given us this child, why shouldnt she be born?”
“And if its another boy, do we go for a fifth?” James snapped.
“I just know its a girl.”
Even the boys didnt support her. When the twins, Thomas and William, heard about the pregnancy, they flatly refused to share their room. Daniel, the eldest, voiced his concerns too.
“Mum, arent you scared? What if something happens to you?”
“Itll be fine,” Emily assured him. “Im not that old!”
This wasnt the first time James had protested a pregnancy. Years ago, when Emily was expecting again, hed been just as reluctant. Back then, Daniel was three, money was tight, and they lived with Jamess parents, leading to constant clashes with her mother-in-law.
But when the doctor revealed it was twins, everything changed. Jamess mother gave them money for a deposit on a flat, and he became more attentive. Thomas and William turned out to be calm babies, and Emily even managed to sleep. Daniel adored having siblings to play with, giving her much-needed breaks.
Now, Emily hoped everything would somehow fall into place again.
But by the third week, trouble began. She fell ill at work. For over a decade, shed been a nail technician, accustomed to the strong smells of polish and oils. Now, just the sight of bright bottles made her nauseous. Medication didnt help, and she had to quit her job.
Bedridden, she couldnt even wash dishes, let alone clean. Groceries had to be bought, which didnt please James or the boys. With her income gone, money grew tight.
James, a paramedic, started working double shifts. Daniel switched to evening classes to work part-time at an electronics store. Every day, Emily sensed their silent disapproval. Even her parents warned that having a child so late was risky.
Neighbours whispered when she went out. She felt utterly alone.
At her second-trimester scan, the doctor frowned at the monitor, murmuring numbers to the nurse. Emily lay still, barely breathing.
Finally, she asked, “Doctor, is it a boy or girl?”
“A girl. But theres a serious issuea neural tube defect. The tube should be closed by now, but in your daughters case, its open. She could be disabled.”
Emily burst into tears. “Cant anything be done?”
The doctor looked away.
Numb, she wandered home. Time blurred. Sitting in the car, she sobbed before forcing herself inside. James was heating dinner, watching the news.
“I had the scan today,” she said. “Its a girl. But theres a problemher neural tube hasnt closed.”
James stiffened. “What did Dr. Harris say?”
“Nothing helpful. They suggested termination, but I refused. I couldnt do it, James. Shes still our daughter!”
“Youre insane! Do you realise what this means? That child could be severely disabledif she survives! Tomorrow, were going back. Ill get the referral myself.”
“I wont go. Dont ask me to.”
“Then dont expect my support! I wont watch you sufferor that child!”
He stormed off, yanking a duffel bag from the wardrobe.
“James, what are you doing?” Emily cried. “Youre leaving? Running from this? Shes yours too! How can you be so heartless?”
“I wont stand for it! I agreed when you decided to keep the baby, thinking shed be healthy. But this? No. Have you even seen what disabled children go through?”
“My mother had a son after meborn with a heart defect. He lived six months. I remember the agony. She never wanted more children. I wont put us through that. Im taking the boys.”
He left. Emily couldnt stop him.
Jamess mother, Margaret, was stunned when he turned up on her doorstep.
“Whats happened? A row with Emily?”
“Worse. Shes insisting on keeping a disabled child. Im filing for divorce.”
“James, the decision is hers. She and that baby are one. Calm downlet me make you tea.”
Sitting heavily, he asked, “Mum would you have had Ian if youd known?”
“Of course! I prayed hed survive. Back then, they couldnt operate. And ultrasounds arent foolproofhasnt Dr. Harris made mistakes before?”
James recalled a neighbour whose baby was misdiagnosed with a heart defectborn perfectly healthy. Complaints about Harris were rife. Doubts gnawed at him.
The next morning, he went to the clinic. Harriss door was locked.
“Hes not in today,” a nurse said. “The machines brokenagain. They bought a cheap one, and its always failing.”
Suspicion flared. An old colleague worked at a private hospital. Hed take Emily there.
Returning from the shops, Emily froze seeing James home. “Get ready,” he said curtly. “Were going private.”
At the clinic, the scan was swift. The doctor smiled. “Everythings normal. Your daughters developing perfectly. Would you like to hear her heartbeat?”
As the steady rhythm filled the room, James wept. Emily asked about the earlier diagnosis.
“The neural tube is closed. Your babys healthy.”
Relief washed over them.
In the following weeks, every test confirmed their daughters health.
When little Sophie was born, flawless and bright-eyed, even the doubters gathered to celebrate.
“She looks just like you,” Margaret whispered, cradling her. “Im so proud, James.”
He adored Sophie from the start, spending every free moment with her.
“Fancy watching telly with me?” Emily teased.
“Later,” hed say, grinning. “Sophie and I have important business.”
Even the boys, whod sworn they wanted nothing to do with a baby, took turns pushing her pram. Emily trusted them completely.
Sometimes, the greatest blessings come disguised as stormsif only were brave enough to weather them.
