“They still hurt, Hon,” he said by way of answering the phone.

Two weeks and still he limped. But they’d agreed: after years of trying, at 43, they surrendered to time. So he’d endured the pain, swelling, and subsequent celibacy.

“I’m pregnant,” she replied. “You’re going to be a father.”

Jon Shank teaches high school English in Pennsylvania. He blogs at intothewake.wordpress.com.