Pouring the tea, Vicki glanced over her should at Diane, sitting on the sofa with her head in her hands. Taking the cups into the living room she sat down next to Diane and put her arm around her. "It will happen for you. I know it will. Perhaps you should see another specialist."
Smiling wanly, Diane sipped her tea. "I suppose. It's just that I don't have a lot of time, you know? I have so much work to do, and Bill's kids are with us a lot these days. Their loopy mother can't handle them most of time, and I..."
She stopped and took a deep breath. "I just really want this so bad. Maybe it's too much. Maybe I should let go for a bit. I just don't know." Lapsing into silence she looked down at the table, lost in thought.
Vicki said nothing for a few moments, then, hesitantly, "I think you're right. Stressing over it can't be helpful. Do you have any holiday time? Maybe you could get away for awhile."
Diane shook her head. "It's madness right now. They won't let me take any leave. I'll be okay. It's just that this is the fourth miscarriage in a row, you know?"
Vicki thought about it for a minute. "Things happen for a reason, Diane. I know that doesn't sound very helpful, but I have a good feeling. You're going to be fine. I just know it."
Diane smiled and then changed the subject. "Well, I'm nearing the end of this big project at work, anyway, so that's a relief. You know they hired me to whip the team into shape and push this thing through. I'm proud of what I've done. So, hey, I should get going. I have to meet Paul soon. Thanks for lending an ear."
"You know I'm always here for you Diane. Remember, everything happens for a reason. Chin up, all right?"
With Diane gone, Vicki got out the I Ching and did a consultation. It was as before; everything would fall into place soon. She didn't know what form it would take, of course, but she had been consulting the oracle since the drama began, and she was certain events would begin to unfold more rapidly in short order. Hoping it would all work out well she put the oracle away and began making dinner.
Two days later the phone rang and Vicki knew. "Hello?"
"Vicki, I have to see you. Can I come over now?"
"Sure, Diane, come on over. I'll be waiting."
Opening the door to a very distraught Diane, Vicki hugged her and led her to the sofa. "Okay, take a deep breath and let it out."
"They let me go, Diane. They just called me in and said they didn't need me any more. I did everything for them. I whipped the team in to shape' I got the project finished in record time. I just don't understand. What did I do wrong?"
"Diane, you didn't do anything wrong. It sounds like you did every thing right. You did what they wanted you to do and now they don't need you any more. It's not fair. They should have been upfront with you." Vicki shook her head in commiseration.
Sobbing, Diane nodded her head, but she was out of words. Consoling her, Vicki began to see how things would play out. "Diane, listen to me. You need to get away with Bill for a while. Tell him he needs to take at least a few days off, and the two of you should go to the lake. Don't you have a place there you can use? Just do it. Forget about everything. Trust me on this. Can you do that?"
"Well...yes, I think he can get away. He's in between projects, and he has leave time. I'll talk to him tonight."
"Good. Just do it. It's the right thing at the right time."
After she'd gone Vicki consulted the oracle. Of course. She should have seen it coming. Brilliant is what it was. It would all be good soon.
Three weeks later the phone rang and Vicki smiled. I'll just bet, she thought to herself. "Hello?"
"Oh, Vicki, I have some wonderful news! I'm pregnant, and I can just feel that it's going to go to term this time. I don't know how I know, but I just do!"
Vicki smiled. "Yes, Diane it will. You're going to be a mother. You were too stressed at your job. Everything happens for a reason. Congratulations."
