Page 89 of Muskoka Miracle

“It’s okay,” Dan murmured.

She nodded. A supernatural peace flooded her soul, like someone somewhere had just prayed for her.

The sonographer returned, accompanied by a gray-permed woman, who greeted them then looked at the screen. They conferred with each other, then looked at the previous results.

“What’s happened?” Sarah asked.

“This echo seems to be suggesting there’s no issue.”

“What do you mean?”

“Well, this previous scan suggested there was a problem in the valves on the left side of the heart, but today’s scan shows no sign of that.”

Sarah’s heart thudded. “What are you saying?”

“I don’t understand this.”

Sarah squeezed Dan’s hand, as hope flickered.

But when they returned to Dr. McKinnon he wasn’t encouraged. “It’s likely there was a problem with their machine,” he scoffed. “I want you to schedule another appointment.”

She clamped her lips. She didn’t want to.

“I know you might like to think going against medical advice is nice for your ‘beliefs’, but you need to prepare yourself. The chances of a live birth are next to nil.”

Why did that man’s words poison her seedling faith?

“I can’t stand that man,” she muttered when they exited the room.

“You want a second opinion?”

“Yes please.”

“Okay. Wait here.”

“Dan?” She watched as he marched back in, and from the closed door heard raised voices then silence. Two minutes later, Dan reappeared, an envelope in his hand.

“That was fast.”

“We got our referral.” He held the envelope higher.

“You mean we don’t need to see him again?”

“Let’s hope not.” Dan’s lips tweaked. “And after that encounter, I don’t think he wants to see us again either.”

“Oh, thank you.” She squeezed him—hugs were getting more squashy now—as thankfulness bloomed for this man who fought for her, for them, for their child.

How did other people manage when they didn’t have the finances to fight for a second opinion, and took whatever the medical professional said as gospel?

“God help all expectant parents.”

CHAPTER19

Dan slapped the puck to Toronto’s Matt Reynolds, watching as the star forward neatly scooped it before sending it into the net to score. The siren blared and he high-fived his teammates and skated back to the bench, glancing up to where Sarah would normally be sitting with the other wives and girlfriends. But she’d hardly come at all this year, what with their fight following Dr. McKinnon’s virtual banning of her involvement with the tour, then feeling too tired after all the scans. He was glad their days of fighting were done. It was easy to see how the strain of these situations caused couples to buckle under the pressure.

He sucked down an energy drink, glad that his shift had ended, that he’d get a break to sit and pretend to watch the play while his thoughts trudged back to his absent wife.Lord, be with her.

“Dan?”

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