"Love & Friendship", a new original story by Gratiana Lovelace, 11/26/12

"Love & Friendship", Ch. 23 (PG-13) & 24: Robert and Lydia Grow their Family,

"Love & Friendship", Ch. 23 (PG-13) & 24:  Robert and Lydia Grow their Family,  2/04/13 Gratiana Lovelace

An Original Story Copyrighted by Gratiana Lovelace (all rights reserved)

[From time to time, I will illustrate my story with my "ideal" actors cast in these roles:

British actor Richard Armitage as Robert and American actress Diane Lane as Lydia, the 1940's child actress Margaret O'Brien as Kaitlyn, Alfre Woodward as Social Worker Marla Washington, and others.]   [(1ab) Story Logo]

Author's Mature Content Note:  "Love & Friendship" is a romantic love story set amidst contemporary times.  As such there will be some passages in this story involving heartfelt love scenes or other sauciness (R rated) and some passages involving highly dramatic moments.  I will label the maturity rating of those chapters accordingly.  Otherwise, the general rating for this story is PG or PG-13 due to mature situations and topics.  If you are unable or unwilling to attend a movie with the ratings that I provide, then please do not read those chapters.  This is my disclaimer.

Author's Recap:   Kaitlyn had her first day back at school on Monday with her new foster family with Mummy Lydia and Daddy Robert.  They were amused that Kaitlyn's class is watching Robert's industrial revolution cotton mill  love story.  But, the violence in the first episode was unsettling to Kaitlyn.  However, both Robert and Lydia assured her that there is never a reason to hit anyone and that no one in the story was actually hurt.  This relieves Kaitlyn since she has heard stories from other foster care kids about being beaten [(2)].  This is their first week as a foster family--with a meeting on Friday to determine if Kaitlyn gets to stay with Robert and Lydia.  However, they will have some surprising news on Wednesday that will impact all of their futures--but especially, little Kaitlyn.

Ch. 23 (PG-13):  Lydia and Robert visit a Fertility Doctor with Unexpected Results

In combination with being foster parents, Robert and Lydia have always planned to also seek help from fertility specialists—in case the 48 year old Lydia might be able to become pregnant.  So, on Wednesday, February 2nd, Robert and Lydia head to the OBGYN offices of the aptly named Dr. Stella Borne after dropping Kaitlyn at school.  And, much to Robert's chagrin—since he is only going along for moral support while Lydia is tested—Robert gets tested, too.  It takes Robert a little while to provide his sperm specimen because he's so nervous and feeling on the spot.  But, eventually, he succeeds.  Then, Robert and Lydia go out for lunch—after which they return to the doctor's office for their in office consultation around 1:00pm.

Dr. Stella Borne:  Dr. Borne is a kind, no nonsense  fertility specialist medical clinician with a proven track record of helping families welcome babies.  She wears the usual white lab coat over her professional business attire.  Actually, she is about Robert and Lydia's age and has twenty plus years of experience.  And with a name like hers, she was born to be a fertility doctor. "So, Lydia and Robert, did you have a nice lunch?"   Dr. Borne smiles knowingly at them.  She can always sense the anxiety inherent in couples waiting to hear if their chances of conceiving are good versus nonexistent.

Lydia:  "Yes we did." Lydia  smiles.  Then she asks getting to the point of their visit.  "Were our test results hopeful that I might be able to become pregnant?

Dr. SBorne:  "Most definitely!"  Dr. Borne says positively.  And Robert and Lydia smile hopefully.  "So, whose results do you want first?"   She looks back and forth between Robert and Lydia--who blanche.  "Right, we'll start with you Robert."  He starts squirming in his chair.  "Robert, your sperm showed good motility."  Robert looks quizzically at the doctor, not knowing what she means.   "That means they swam well."