His Unexpected Family by Patricia Johns

dear?”
    “What about you?”
    “I think that Jessica made the best choice in choosing you. I think Cora would be a lucky girl to grow up with a kind and loving mother like you.”
    Emily shot her mother a grateful smile. “I love you, Mom.”
    “I love you, too, sweetie.” Her mother smiled. “So what are you going to do?”
    “I’m not entirely sure. What would happen if I fought this?”
    “It’s hard to tell.” Her mother laid Cora back in the bassinet and dangled a toy above her. “Steven would be angry, very angry. It would really affect your relationship with him.”
    “And Uncle Hank?”
    “He’s just grieving Jessica right now. I don’t know. People would choose sides....”
    That was exactly what Emily was afraid of—a big, tragic divide in a large family. The Shaws had big yearly family picnics. Everyone came with all of their children and grandchildren. There were games, more burgers than anyone could eat and a whole lot of gossip and chatter. Emily met cousins she saw only once a year, but it felt good to be a part of the Shaw clan. They had something special—a unity that defied the modern tendency to fracture.
    “And what if I lost this case?” That was Emily’s biggest fear—that after all of this trauma to the family, she’d lose the case anyhow and have nothing to show for it.
    Her mother didn’t answer that. She just exchanged a sad look with her daughter.
    “Is it worth it?” Emily asked.
    “Only you can answer that.”
    That was true enough, and Emily knew it. It was almost harder that way—having to make this decision that would affect all of them on her own. Jessica had named her the guardian of her daughter. Emily was the one with legal rights to the baby, and she was the one being brought into court about it. No one else could make this decision for her.
    “I think this is different for you because of your condition.” Her mother sighed. “You have more to lose.”
    Emily couldn’t help but agree. It had been two years since her doctor explained her medical situation to her. There had been months of testing, culminating in a day of exploratory surgery. When she awoke from the anesthetic, her doctor sat down beside her bed and met her gaze levelly.
    “It’s worse than we thought, Emily.”
    “How bad is it?”
    “The endometriosis has affected every part of your reproductive system. This is a severe case.”
    He had explained that another surgery was recommended. It was a solution that sounded like good news to her, and she felt a rush of relief. But then he had explained that the surgery would be a hysterectomy. Her symptoms would go away, her pain would be gone and she’d feel normal again. She’d have her life back, but—the kicker—she’d never have children.
    But the surgery was her only option. She was infertile.
    Emily and her mother had discussed the options long and hard. She had been in severe pain for the better part of a year. Her job was at stake. The school relied on her, and with her condition, she wasn’t going to be able to continue teaching.
    It had been the hardest decision she’d ever made, but she’d made it. The surgery had done all that the doctor had promised, and after a lengthy recovery, life had gone on, but there had always been a small part of her that quietly mourned the children she would never have.
    “Is it possible that God has a different child in store for you?” her mother asked now.
    Emily’s heart constricted at those words, and she winced. “I’ve thought about it, Mom,” she admitted, “but it would hurt. A lot. I’m crazy about Cora. Is that called bonding? I don’t know. The thought of just giving her up to someone else and walking away makes my heart physically hurt.”
    Tears rose in her mother’s eyes, and she nodded. “I know that feeling,” she whispered.
    Cora started to fuss, and Emily’s mother passed the baby to Emily. She tucked her little legs up underneath her and held her close the way Greg