"Good morning, baby." Dorothy hugs Jessica.

"Hi mom!"

"How are you doing?"

"Better.. I mean.. I'm doing okay.."

"Yeah?  Well good... You look so pretty." Dorothy smiles and softly caresses her cheek.

"Aw, thanks."

"I don't mean this in a bad way at all honey, but.. you're starting to put on weight! You had lost so much, so that makes me so happy."

Jessica smiles but doesn't say anything.

"Don't take that the wrong way, it's really really good!"

"I know, thank you!" She laughs.

During mass, Jessica started to feel really light headed and nauseated.

"You okay, mom?" Michael asks.

"I don't feel well." She grabs onto the pew in front of them and looks down.

"Are you gonna be sick?"

"Yeah.."

"Go!"

Michael let's her by, and she walks quickly to the bathroom.

"Is your mom okay?" Sarah asks.

"Yeah, she's just going to the restroom."

"Oh okay."

When Jessica came back, it was time to get in line for communion.

"You okay?" James asks.

"Yeah.." She sighs holding her stomach.

Oh God, not again... Please just let me by without puking on the priest!

Jessica takes communion, then walks passed the wine and hurries back to the bathroom.

"I'm gonna go check on your mom, she looks sick."

"NO!" The boys say loudly, making everyone turn to them.

There eyes widen and Samuel says, "I mean, she's a big girl.. She's fine!"

"Stop that!  She's gone through a lot lately, I'm gonna go check on her!"

When Sarah walked into the bathroom she heard Jessica.

Sarah lightly knocked on the bathroom stall and asked, "Jess.. You okay?"

"Yeah, I'm fine."

"Do you need anything?"

"No, I'm good."

When Jessica walked out Sarah was standing right the door.

"Jesus Christ, Sar, you scared me!" She jumps and grabs her chest.

"Sorry!  Jessica.. Are you okay?"

"Yeah, just a bug probably."

"Jess, you've been like this since Sam passed.. I think you should go to the doctor."

Jessica just looks at her and Sarah says, "It could just be depression, but what if its something worse? 

... You guys were both my best friends.. I can't lose you too."

"You're not gonna lose me!  Sarah, there's something I wanna tell you... *Sighs* I um..

.... Nothing, never mind."

"What is it?" Sarah looks concerned.

".... I'm pregnant."

"What?" Her eyes widen.

"The day before I took Sam to the doctor, he brought up about having another baby, and... Well let's just say his little guys work fast." She chuckles and cries.

"Oh Jessica!  This is so incredible!" Sarah hugs her and Jessica cries more.

"Aw sweetie, this must be so hard."

*Nods*

"It is... he was so excited to start trying... The idea of having another baby made him so happy." She looks down.

"You know Jess... I think in some weird way.. People get a sense of when things are gonna happen... I think this happened to help with the healing process.   I know that it'll never be the same without Sam, but.. Just think how you'll get to meet this new little person that is apart of you and him... Sam is free of pain and with the lord, but he's still on this earth with you, in your boys and in this baby!"

"That's what the boys said." Jessica wipes her face.

"What do they have to say about this?"

"They're excited. They've been so great!  They came with me to see the baby and were there to comfort me when I broke down.  They are all like Sam in different ways... He would be so proud."

"He is, Jess!

... I can't believe you're having a baby!" She smiles.

"I know.  I really am happy, it just sucks that it has to be this way.  It's not the baby's fault, so I'm trying my hardest to be okay, but it's still so fresh... I didn't have time to get used to the fact that he had cancer, I didn't have months to say goodbye, and he didn't even have a chance to fight.. It all just happened and went downhill so fast that it still doesn't feel real."

"I know.." Sarah rubs her arm.

"Jess, you know we're here for you always.. We'll help you out with anything."

"I know.. Thank you."

Sarah smiles and says, "You're gonna have two in college, one in high school and a newborn!"

"I know!  Oh god, that's a huge gap!  This baby could technically be my boy's! My grandchild!"

"Oh darling, you're much too young to be a grandmother!"

"I am, aren't!" She laughs.

Sarah loved hearing her laugh.  It had been so long since she had last heard it.

By the time they went back, the mass was over.

Dorothy and everyone else saw them walking towards them giggling.

"We have to go baby shopping, Jess!" Sarah hugs her and bounces up and down.

"Quiet!  No one else knows besides the boys!" Jessica laughs and taps her arm.

"I just wanna tell them!  There's a baby inside of you!"

"Quiet!"

"Alright I'm done!" Sarah laughs.

"Where did you two sneak off to?" Dorothy asks.

"Oh we were just talking." Jessica smiles.

"During church?"

"Well Sarah was helping me with something."

"That's true, I was!"

"Alright, well everyone come over to my house for lunch."

"We'll be there!" Jessica smiles.

***

Jessica drove the boys to her parents house, and said, "I think if we're the first ones there, I'm gonna tell grandma and grandpa about the baby."

"You are?  What are you gonna say?"

"I guess just that I'm pregnant.  I don't want to make a huge announcement, because it is still sad, you know?"

"Yeah.  Are you gonna tell grandma Shepard today, too?"

*Sighs* "Yeah.. It's gonna be hard for her.. I mean, I know she'll be thrilled, but.."

"No, I get it."

Jessica and the boys got to the house when her parents arrived.

"Jessie, will you help me in the kitchen, please?"

"Sure mom."

Jessica follows her and Dorothy reaches into the fridge to take out a bowl.

"Here, can you hold this left over chicken, please?"

Jessica grabs it and her eyes widen.

"Oh my gosh!"

"What?" Dorothy turns around.

"Oh my gosh I have to grab something, here take this!" She quickly hands it back and runs to the bathroom in her parents room.

Dorothy suspects somethings up, so she follows her.

When Jessica comes out of the bathroom Dorothy was sitting on the bed.

"Mom!" She startles her.

"Are you okay?"

"Yeah.."

"What's wrong?  The chicken made you sick?"

Jessica looks at her with a sad face and nods.

"... You're pregnant, aren't you?"

Jessica nods and Dorothy smiles.

"How did you know?"

"You can't stand the smell of chicken when you're pregnant!  Honey this is great!" She stands up and hugs her.

"Thanks."

Dorothy looks into her eyes with tears.

"No matter how horrible this whole thing is.. Sam always finds a way for you to smile at the end of the day.  That's what he always wanted.. For you to be happy.  He left, but--

He left a great gift." Dorothy touches her stomach and Jessica gives her a small smile.

***

How should she tell Sam's mom? 

I'm really excited about this book, I have a lot planned, but it'll be a while till we get there.  What do you guys want to see before then?  Like little things to before the bigger chapters🙃🤐