A few days later.

Jessica explained to her parents why she needed the six hundred dollars, and they were surprised.

"Samuel has always been such a good boy!" Dorothy cries.

"He is a good boy, he's just going through a hard time right now... we all are."

"Well we'll help you Jessie, for sure!" Albert says.

"Oh thank you so much!  I promise I'll pay you guys back!"

"Don't worry about it, baby.  We'll always be here, okay?  Just let us know when you need help."

"Thank you."

The next day.

"Hello, mom." Michael smiles.

"Hey!

... uh.. why are you being weird?" Jessica looks at all of them as they sit around staring at her.

"We're sending you to the doctor."

"You guys are crazy, I'm fine!"

"Explain the vomit, please." Sam says.

"Honey that's normal!"

"No it's not!"

"Yes it is, Google it."

"You're going to the doctor, I've already called." James says.

"You called?  You can't call to take care of your own appointments, but you called my doctor?"

"Yes and you have an appointment today at two for a check up."

"Hah!  You guys are weird!" She laughs.

"Mom we're serious."

"Ugh!  But why?!" She whines and throws herself on the couch.

"Are we two today?" Samuel asks.

"You stop it." Jessica points her finger at him.

"Mom, why won't you go?"

"Because I hate going to the doctor!  I only went two times and that was because I absolutely had to!"

"Why was that?"  Michael asks.

"To have those two fools, then to have you."

"Hah!  Well you're going again!"

"Why James?  Why do I have to go?"

"Because we don't want something to happen to you the way it happened to dad!"

"Honey, I'm fine!"

"Please just go, mom!  James checked with the insurance, it won't cost you a cent!"

"You called my insurance?"

"Well actually Barbra did all that."

"Barbra?"

"The lady at the doctors office."

"Hm!  Okay.. well then.. I guess I better get going before I'm late."

"Drive safe."

"Drive safe!" She mocks them and grabs her purse before leaving.

***

I can't believe these boys sent me to the doctor!  They're nuts!

"Mrs. Shepard." The nurse calls her back, pulling her from her thoughts.

Jessica steps up on the scale and says, "Wooooaaah!  That's not right!"

"Hah!  It's perfectly normal."

"But I didn't.. oh well.. wait till I tell my boys.  They sent me here because they think I'm sick."

"Why do they think your sick?"

"Well for the past few weeks I've been throwing up everything I eat.. except for junk food surprisingly.  Anyway, I told my son I gained five pounds.. it's more than that now, but he didn't believe me!"

"I see.. 

Okay, go ahead and lie back."

The doctor feels her stomach and asks if her periods are regular.

"Uh, sure.."

"That doesn't sound too positive.  When was your last menstrual period?"

"I don't know, it's been a rough two months, so I really couldn't tell you."

"Okay, that's fine.  We're gonna send you for some blood work, then you can go."

"Great." Jessica sits up.

She goes to get her blood drawn, and they ask her to go back and wait for the doctor.

Okay now I'm starting to worry.  Why would they tell me to stay?  Usually they just say thanks, we'll call you.  What's going on?

After what feels like forever, the doctor walks in.

"Is everything okay?"

"Everything's fine.  It's exactly what I expected."

"What is it?"

"You're pregnant."

"Pregnant?" Her eyes widen.

"Mhm." The doctor nods her head.

"I-I.. I don't... oh my god.." Jessica touches her chest and starts to cry.

"I take it a congratulations isn't due?"

"Hm?  No, no that's fine.. it's just.. my husband... he-- he passed away two months ago."

"Oh Mrs. Shepard, I am so so sorry!"

"Thanks.  It was unexpected.. very unexpected.  We had planned to have another baby.. but when he got sick... it all just happened so fast.... oh my god...." Jessica looked like she could just fall over.

"Sit down, Mrs. Shepard, I'll grab you some water."

"Thanks."

Jessica runs her hands through her hair and her eyes stay wide.  She was in shock.

"Pre--pregnant?"

***

When she got home, the boys were in the living room waiting for her.

"How'd it go?"

"You guys um.. I need to talk to you."

"What do you mean?  What's wrong?!" Samuel panics.

"Nothing.  Nothing's wrong... I just.. I need to talk to you."

"What is it?" James asks.

"Well.. the day before your father was diagnosed, he and I decided to um.. have another baby.. with everything that happened, we obviously forgot about it, but uh... well... I guess it happened that night because.... I-I'm pregnant."

They boys sat there without blinking.  They were in shock.

"What?!" Michael asks.

"I know, I'm shocked... I was scared to tell you guys, because I didn't know how you'd react but--"

"I mean.. I'm happy.." Samuel says as James adds, "Yeah, me too."

"You are?"

"Yeah.. it's like dad's gone, but.. we get to meet someone else that he's apart of.. that's kinda cool.."

"Yeah.." Jessica nods as a tear rolls down her cheek.

"This is so weird," Michael stares at the ground.

"It is but.. it's kind of amazing...

Dad left us this last gift.. mom he gave you one more gift before leaving.. he's still here with us, but.. it's just different.. maybe that's what your dream was about."

"Maybe." She wipes her tear and smiles.

"Yeah, I bet it was!" James smiles at her.

"How far along are you?"

"Ten weeks."

"Wow... this is crazy.  We're gonna have a little baby." Sam looks at her and smiles.

"Heh!  Yeah.. he's gonna have some pretty amazing big brothers, isn't he?"

"He?  What if it's a girl?"

"Your father and I never had much luck having girls!" Jessica laughs.

"But it's okay, because I love my boys more than anything in this world!"

"We love you too, mom." They say before sharing a group hug.