"Mom don't pay any attention to him. We're happy for you." James sits beside his mother and wraps his arm around her.

"Thank you baby.. But I can't be with him if one of my kids doesn't feel comfortable with me dating."

"Mom, fuck Sam!"

"James!"

"I'm sorry, but he's an asshole and you deserve to be happy!"

Jessica cries harder.

"I love him so much, James." Jessica looks sadly into his eyes.

"Well that's good, mom!" He rubs her arm and holds her tighter.

"I just wish Sam was happy for me."

"It's just a shock right now, he'll turn around."

"What if he doesn't? James, I don't want to be alone."

"You won't be, mom."

***

Samuel's POV.

Sam drove over to his grandmother's house to talk to her.

"Samuel! Oh my goodness, what a surprise!" Jane hugs him tight.

"Hey grandma, how are you?"

"I'm going well! When did you get in?"

"Just a little while ago."

"Well come in! Have you talked with your mama?"

"Yeah.." Sam looks down.

"Do you know?"

"That she's betraying my father? Yes."

"Samuel!"

"She told you?!"

"I met him."

"Oh my gosh, how could she do that to you?"

"Sam, I told her that I wanted to meet him. They've been going to church together."

"Are you kidding me?"

"Sam, your mother has been alone for over two years. She has been to hell and back. You've given her trouble, she's had a baby alone, she's raising him alone, she's gone through depression and anxiety all alone. No she's not actually alone, but without Sam she feels alone, I know she does.

Samuel, I'll admit that it was hard seeing her with Daniel for the first time, but seeing the smile on her face.. It's something I haven't seen in a long long time.

He's so sweet to her, and Grayson loves him.

No one can replace your father, and that is not what she's trying to do.

She needs someone there for her. It's time for her to be happy."

Sam had tears in his eyes.

"I guess I didn't think-"

"Damn right you didn't think! What did you tell her?"

"I.. I wasn't very nice to her."

"Samuel Roger Shepard.. Your daddy wouldn't want you to be this way. He would want you to welcome this man into your family with open arms. Don't let this pull you away from them. Your mother needs her baby.. Don't make her give up someone she loves."

"She loves him?"

Jane slowly nods her head.

"Oh wow.." Samuel takes a deep breath.

"Go back home and talk to her. Apologize for the way you behaved, and give her a hug. Your mom missed you boys so much, and has been counting down the days since she last saw you. You boys are her world, and loves you all so so much. Please go be with her."

"I'm so stupid." He looks down and nods his head.

"It's okay. I still love you." Jane smiles.

Samuel looks at her and chuckles.

"I love you too, grandma."

Sam visits with her for a little while, then gets in his truck and takes his phone out.

"Hello?"

"Hey! Uncle Tim?"

"Samuel?"

"Yeah."

"Hey! Is everything okay?"

"Yeah, everything's fine... I just wanted call and talk.. Talk with someone that sounded like my dad." His voice cracks.

"Awe bud..."

"I just miss him so much and.. Well you both sound the same. I miss his voice, uncle Tim! I miss hearing him say my name, and joke around! I thought it would eventually be okay, but it will never be okay again!" Samuel bawls to his uncle.

Jessica's POV.

"Where do you think he went? Call him and make sure he's okay! I don't want him driving upset the way he was."

"Okay."

James calls Sam but gets no answer.

Jessica worries for her son, and holds onto her phone hoping he'll call.

*Jessica's phone rings*

She gasps and looks down.

"It's Daniel." She says in a low voice.

"We'll give you some privacy." James says.

He and Michael take the baby to the other room.

"Thanks...

Hello?"

"Hey gorgeous."

"Hey baby.."

"What's wrong? You sound upset! I thought your boys were coming home today, you should be happy!"

"I am happy! I just.."

"Oh no.. Did you tell them about us?"

Jessica cries silently.

"... Yes." She says in a small voice.

"They weren't very thrilled, were they?"

"James is fine, it's Sam.."

"Oh Jessie, I'm sorry."

"Danny, I can't be with someone if my boys aren't ready for me to date."

"Jessica, what are you saying?"

"Daniel, I love you so so much.. Oh God I love you! *Cries* but I can't be with you, I'm sorry!"

"Jessica!"

"Goodbye Daniel." She whispers before she hangs up and cries hard.

What she didn't know was Sam had come in through the back and had been listening in the kitchen the whole time.

Jessica covers her face and cries.

She didn't want to be alone again, and the thought of it made her want to die.

Sam walked in and sat beside her.

"Mom."

Jessica jumps and gasps lightly.

"Oh baby, you're back! I was worried!" She grabs his face in her hands.

"Mom, I'm so sorry.

I wasn't thinking of your feelings. I am so so sorry, I didn't mean the things I said."

Jessica's lip quivers and Sam starts crying.

"Mom, I don't want you to be alone. I want you to be with someone that makes you happy. Please call him back!"

"Samuel.." Jessica softly touches his face.

"Mom, please."

"Are you sure?"

*Nods*

"I'm sure."

"I don't want to be with someone. If you're not ready."

"Mom, don't do that. I want you to do what makes you happy."

Jessica smiles softly and rubs her thumb back and forth on his cheek.

"Okay.."

"Invite him over for dinner tonight."

"Really?" Her smile grows.

"Yeah." He nods.

"I love you." She hugs him tight.

"I love you more, mom."

***

"Jessica!" Danny answers.

"Daniel, I am so sorry!"

"Jessie, this can't be it!  I love you so much."

Jessica could tell Danny was crying.

"Danny, please forget what I said.  Forget everything and come over tonight for dinner.  My boys are making something special."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes baby.  I'm sorry."

"No, don't apologize!  I'd love to join you and your family for dinner."

"Good!  Thank you!  Oh and please bring Zachary.  I want him to meet my boys."

"We'll be there!"

"Alright, I'll see you later."

"Love you, baby."

"I love you too."

Jessica hangs up and takes a deep breath.

***

Sam and James made dinner and Jessica went in to talk to them.

"Boys, I wanted to show you guys a letter I found from daddy."

The boys turn their attention to her and she reads the letter.

Once it got to the end, she said,

"He said, Tell them I'm okay with it. If they give you a hard time, tell them to leave you alone or I will haunt their asses for the rest of eternity."

"That's dad alright!" Michael laughs.

"He was a great man." Sam smiles softly.

"I know he's happy for you, mom." James says.

Jessica smiles and wipes her face.

***

They hear a knock on the door and Jessica immediately gets a sick feeling in her stomach.

"Oh God!" Her eyes widen and she touches her stomach.

She walks over and opens the door.

"Hello beautiful." Danny smiles and kisses her cheek.

"Hey!" She lets out a deep breath.

"Hi Zach."

"Hi Ms. Shepard."

"Um.. Come in."

"You okay?" Danny chuckles.

"I don't know!" Jessica laughs.

"Hello Daniel." James shakes his hand.

"Mr. Huston." Sam smiles and shakes his hand.

"Have a seat."

"Oh god.." Jessica sighs as she sees her boys sit in the living room with Daniel.

"So Daniel.. You're a dentist?" Sam says.

"Yes sir!  I mean yes!"

Jessica chuckles and looks down.

"You love my mom?" James asks.

"Very much!"

He nods and asks, "You'd do anything for her?"

"Anything in the world."

"You don't care that she has four kids?"

"The more the merrier!" Daniel smiles.

Jessica smiles and bites her bottom lip.

"What do you see in your future together?"

"I see myself with your mother for a long long time... If she'll have me!" He smiles at Jessica.

"I really do love your mother, and I hope that you know how much respect I have for your father.  I am not trying to replace him.  That bond you guys have will last a lifetime.  I just want you to know that I'm here.  Jessie knows I'm a talker, so if anyone wants to talk.. I'm here always."

"You have a nice house?" Sam asks.

"Yeah!  It's just me and my son, so it's not huge, but it's enough for us."

"Are you divorced?"

"No, actually uh.. My wife passed away many years ago."

"Oh!  I'm sorry."

"Daniel-"

"Call me Danny." He smiles.

"Danny.  Our mom means more to us than anything or anybody in this whole world.

She's our everything and I don't want to see her get hurt." James says.

"I promise you with everything I have, I will never hurt your mother.  I love her with everything I have."

He smiles and turns to Sam.

Samuel nods and shakes Daniel's hand.

"Welcome to the family, Danny."

Danny and Jessica both sigh with relief.

"Oh goodness!  You two boys are tough, but I love how protective you are over your mother."

"Family is all we have and she's the best.. Please take care of her."

"I promise."

Jessica smiles and walks over to hug her boys.

"I love you guys."

"We love you too."

Jessica hugs Danny and kisses his lips.

Michael comes downstairs with Grayson and he kicks his legs trying to get down.

"Danny!  Danny!"

Jessica chuckles and watch him run over to Daniel.

He picks him up and pats his back.

"Hey buddy!"

"Hi buddy!" Grayson smiles and waves at Danny.

"Heh!  You're so cute!"

Jessica took in a deep breath and smiled softly.

She finally felt okay.  Everything was going to be alright.