“The pain of losing a child never really goes away,” Bette started, “It fades over time and becomes a different sort of ache. A longing maybe.”

Clara let these words wash over her and listened to her mothers soothing voice. The pain hurt so much right now. Not just the literal pain but the emotional pain as well. She remembered a conversation shed had with her mother many years ago.

“Mom,” Clara had asked

“Yes?”

“How old would my brother have been now?”

Bette looked to her daughter, “What?”

Clara clamped her lips together and then spoke, “I heard you and dad talking once. You said that you would have had a son, older than me.”

Bette nodded her head, “He wouldnt have been much older sweets. About ten months older.”

“You were younger with him than you were with me?”

“We were sweetie.”

“Real young,” Clara commented doing the math in her head

“Yes, we were.”

“Did it hurt?”

“What?”

“Losing him?”

“It still does.”

Clara recalled this conversation and the pain still visible in her mothers eyes. She never forgot that look. She never thought shed have to deal with the same thing, especially at the age that she was.

“Im the same age as you.”

“What,” Bette asked

“When you miscarried. You were sixteen.”

Bette nodded her head, “Yes I was.”

“Do you think this is genetic?”

“I”m not sure sweets,” Bette said brushing away the hair that was in Claras face with her free hand, “I dont know why things like this happen. They just do. Its a lame answer yes, but the truth nonetheless.”

“Yeah,” Clara spoke

“Rob should be in here with you sweets. I need to go and get him.”

Clara held on tightly to her mothers hand, “Dont go.”

Bette placed her hand over top her daughters, “Im here Clara. Rob needs to be here as well. This was his baby too.”

Clara understood this and eased her hand from her mothers, “Okay.”

Bette stood up and kissed her daughter on the forehead, “Im always going to be here for you Clara. Always.”

Clara nodded her head as she uncurled herself and lay flat, “I love you mom.”

Bette smiled softly, “I love you too.”

Going into the hall she leaned against the wall and sighed deeply. After a moment she pushed off against the wall and walked out toward the waiting room. She saw Rob curled up in her mothers lap. Bettes heart broke a little more at seeing this. She went over to the boy and kneeled in front of him.