-“Sarah, you seem a bit off, love,” called out her neighbour as she leaned over the fence. “Youve looked rather poorly lately. Are you feeling unwell?”
-“I really am, Margaret,” sighed forty-seven-year-old Sarah Middleton, her face drawn with fatigue. “I barely have the energy for anything, and honestly, I feel embarrassed in front of Andrew. I just cant seem to get myself together.”
-“You look like you, but somethings different. Listen, Sarah, could it be a bit of bad luck? Something similar happened to me once. Old Mrs. Agnes read the tea leaves and did her thing, and I was right as rain.”
-“Did it really help?”
-“Of course it did! Remember when she sorted out your little ones colds with those strange brews?”
-“But where would this bad luck have come from?” Sarah frowned, truly mystified.
-“You never know with all the strangers coming through the village. Remember those folks a bit ago, hawking cheap throws door-to-door? Eyes shifty perhaps jealous. Never know what people bring.”
-“But they never even made it past the gate.”
-“Well, then, thinkanyone you might have crossed lately? Perhaps a grudge from Andrews side of the family?”
-“Oh, dont be daft. Andrew and I have a lovely marriage, and his familys always been delightful with me.”
-“Well, I dont know, darling. It does look like a case of bad luck to me.”
With a weary sigh, Sarah wrapped her cardigan around her tightly and set off to see old Mrs. Agnesdesperate for some relief.
Mrs. Agnes, grave as ever, agreed straight away that Sarah had definitely been struck by some bad fortune. She set to work immediately, preparing a ritual of melted wax and muttered incantations. “Youll need to come back a few more times,” Agnes instructed, peering through thick spectacles.
But no amount of melted candlewax or whispered prayers brought Sarah any relief. She felt every bit as miserable as before.
***
-“Sarah, you look a little fuller in the face,” said Dr. Mary Clark, glancing up from her notebook as Sarah sat before her. “Lets have a quick look at your tummy. You say you think its a curse, Sarah? Youre an educated woman!” Dr. Clark scolded gently. “Its not a curselooks very much like a fibroid to me. Best head to Oxford and let a proper consultant check you over.”
-“Just what I need,” Sarah groaned. “Our granddaughters just come to stay, and now this a fibroid out of nowhere.”
Still, the next morning found her on the first bus to the city. Not a curse, but a fibroid? Whatever next? she fretted.
The consultant, Dr. Olivia Hamilton, thoroughly examined Sarah, who explained in careful detail how tired shed been, how nothing felt right, and how every remedy had failed.
-“I even started thinking someone put a hex on me or something”
-“A curse, you say?” Dr. Hamilton raised a brow, then smiled slyly at Sarah. “Your husbands the one whos put this spell on you.”
The twinkle in Dr. Hamiltons eyes only deepened Sarahs bewilderment.
-“Its a baby, not a curse and not a fibroid. Why didnt you come sooner? Instead, youve been wandering about the village collecting diagnoses. Dreaming up all sorts of nonsense.”
Sarah was speechless.
-“Dr. Hamilton, are you quite sure? Theres been no mistake?”
-“If its a mistake, Sarah, best tell Andrew to double-check as well. No, my dear, I assure youyou’re expecting. Youve every chance of having a healthy child. Unless youd rather not?”
-“No, I I do,” Sarah stammered, dazed. “Its just what will we tell the older ones? Were grandparents now”
-“Thats up to you, but my jobs to send you for tests and remind youno lifting anything heavy at home, is that clear?”
Sarah returned home in a bit of a fog, barely able to believe that she would become a mother for the third time.
-“Andrew,” she called, finding him tinkering in the garage, “Im pregnant.”
-“Say again?”
-“A baby, Andrew! Im expecting.”
-“Good heavens,” Andrew sat down hard on the back step. “You said the doctor thought it was a fibroid, then you were sure there was some curse”
-“So much for that idea!”
-“Well, what do we do now?” Andrew asked, still staring at her, stunned.
Sarah was silent, watching him.
-“Oh, where theres room for two, theres room for three!” he laughed, finally standing. “Lets have this baby and sort out the rest as we go along.”
-“What will we say to the kids?”
-“Well tell them theyre getting a new sibling, simple as that.”
***
In the production office, Sarah had always stood out for her calm charm and radianceher gentle manner as well as her delicate looks made her a favourite with everyone.
-“So thats how it happened,” said Lucy Andrewsher voice warm, her smile wide. “Everyone thought it was a curse, then a fibroid, but in the end here I am. Thanks, Mum.”
And it was remarkable to see Lucy, so beautiful, so utterly “unexpected” all those years ago, and yet so cherished, ever since, by the family who adored her.
