Jessica stared wide eyed at Dr. Porter then she smiled and chuckled. "You're pulling my leg, right? That is not possible!"
Dr. Porter sat down on his chair in front of Jessica and said. "I'm not pulling your leg. You are one hundred perfect pregnant. I would say, you are around seven to eight weeks."

Jessica stopped smiling then her mind began to race.

"But...but, Neil, I'm fifty years old! How is this possible?" Jessica asked in confusion.
"Being pregnant at fifty is very rare but not uncommon. However, you will be the first in our town to be going through a pregnancy at such a late age. That is, if you and Phillip do chose to keep the baby. If you decide to keep the baby, then I will keep an extra eye on the both of you and if not then we can terminate."
Jessica sighed and said. "We're catholic remember. Phillip and his family wouldn't allow a termination. Unless Phillip throws all his morals he grew up with out the window. Oh...I don't know what to do!"

Dr. Porter gently put his hand on Jessica's. She was beginning to panic and he wanted to comfort her. Jessica relaxed a little and looked at Dr. Porter.

"Jessica...go home and talk to your husband. In the end it'll be both of your decision." Dr. Porter said. "For now, I will give you a prescription for prenatal vitamins and some anti nausea medication. I want you to take them until you and Phillip make a decision. On your next appointment which will be the Monday after thanksgiving, is when I need to know your decision."

Jessica nodded then thanked Dr. Porter. He left the room so she could get dressed then he walked next door to the pharmacy to get her prescription for her. He thought it best to get them for Jessica so the pharmacist, Mr. Clark didn't go spreading the news of Mrs. Anderson's condition.

The unfortunate downside of the town was that everyone knew everything about everyone else. Nothing was a secret. The only persons that could be trusted was Jessica and Sarah. Sure they talked about everyone else when a new rumor would reach their quit town but they never went around spreading any rumors.

Dr. Porter got the prescription then walked back to the exam room where Jessica now waited for his return.

"Here you go, Jessica." Dr. Porter said. "Now, take these until you make your decision. Then when I see you again, we'll discuss the next steps."
"Thank you Neil. Happy thanksgiving and see you soon." Jessica said.
"Happy thanksgiving." Dr. Porter said then walked Jessica out.

Jessica got into her car and sat there for a few minutes. She needed to wrap her mind around this news. Was she happy? Was she excited? Could she be excited and happy? Will her children be happy for her? Will Phillip be happy about having a new child to welcome into the world? Would he be angry?

Jessica was brought out of her thoughts when she heard a knock on her window. She looked up and saw her daughter in law.

Jessica rolled down the window and said. "Hi Shannon. Oh, get in. It's cold outside."
Shannon got into the passenger seat and reached over to hug her mother in law. "Hi Jessie. I just came to check on you. I saw you from across the street and you've been sitting here for a long time."

Shannon was a hair stylist and worked at the beauty salon that is right across from Dr. Porter's offices.

"I'm fine. I've just been feeling tired and I was coming down with something." Jessica said. "But I just saw Dr. Porter and he gave me some medicine. I just needed a few minutes before I went home."
"Aw, Jessica, I'm sorry you're not feeling well." Shannon said. "How about I pick something up for dinner tonight? You won't have to cook."

Jessica closed her eyes and sighed silently. She forgot that today was Friday; every Friday, Rick and Shannon would join Jessica, Phillip and Karen for dinner. They would have fish for dinner with sides and dessert. All cooked by Jessica of course. But since she's been feeling sick, she forgot to buy the fish for tonight's dinner.

Suddenly, Jessica's face paled and just the thought of fish made her stomach turn. But thankfully Jessica was able to will the nausea away.

"Oh my goodness. Are sure you're okay?" Shannon said in a concerned voice as she took in Jessica's appearance. "You've gone so pale."
Jessica looked at Shannon and said. "I just...I just don't feel well and the thought of having to cook tonight just...just makes me even more tired."
"I know Karen will have a fit, but I'll bring some pizza for us and I'll cook her some fish sticks with some mac and cheese and mash potatoes." Shannon said.
Jessica laughed and said while shaking her head. "I'm sure she'll love that. But, I think it'll be a good substitute for the real thing."

Karen was set in her ways and if anyone messed with her routine, she would give them an earful.

Shannon giggled. "She'll be fine. I'll take the heat. She'll get over it. Well, I won't keep you. Go home and try to rest. Rick and I will be there by six."
"Alright, see you soon." Jessica said. "And thank you for offering to bring pizza. It'll be huge help to me."
"You're welcome. See you soon!" Shannon said as she hugged Jessica then got out of the car and walked back to the beauty salon.

Before Jessica turned her car on, a new worry popped into her head. She was afraid of Shannon's reaction to her pregnancy.

Shannon and her son have been trying for a baby since they got married and still nothing. Jessica hoped that Shannon wouldn't be too hurt when she heard the news.

Jessica sighed then turned on her car and made her way home.

When Jessica walked through the door, she went straight to the kitchen to get a glass of water so she could drink her prenatal vitamins and anti nausea medication.

Once she was took her medication, she walked upstairs to her bedroom where she hid her medication away in her nightstand on her side of the bed.

She then made her way out to the hallway to walk to Karen's room to check on Karen.

Jessica could hear the television blasting from Karen's room. She had to hear it at almost full volume because Karen was losing her hearing.

Karen saw Jessica entering her bedroom and she turned down the volume from her remote then said. "'Bout time you got home! I need to use the dang bathroom."

Jessica suppressed an eye roll because on a normal day at the library, Jessica would be home a little later than she was now. She was actually early.

"Sorry to keep you waiting mom." Jessica said as she helped Karen out of bed then to the bathroom.

Karen grumbled and complained about nothing really, but she wouldn't be Karen if she didn't complain about something.

After Karen did her business in the bathroom, Jessica led her downstairs and into the living room where Karen would spend the rest of her day sitting in a rocking chair by the living room window.

Jessica sat her down on the rocking chair then put Karen's throw blanket on Karen. Karen began to rock gently and Jessica sat down on the sofa.

Jessica was glad to be sitting; she was already so tired and yet she still had the rest of the night to get through.

"Shannon is bringing something for dinner." Jessica said. She wanted to tell Karen so she wouldn't be surprised to see Shannon walking in with pizza.
"I'm not eating pizza!" Karen said angrily, already knowing what Shannon was bringing. "It's Friday and we eat fish on Friday's. Why aren't you in the kitchen preparing for dinner? What am I supposed to eat then?"
Jessica was getting a headache by listening to Karen rant. "I know today is Friday and I don't feel well enough to cook. She's bringing you fish sticks with mac and cheese and mash potatoes. You love mash potatoes and mac and cheese. You can have second helpings if you don't like the fish sticks."
Karen huffed and said. "You don't feel well?" She laughed humorlessly. "I honestly don't understand the women of today. Any little sickness and they have to rest, stay in bed and take medication. In my time, there was none of that! I used to cook for my husband and children even when I was feeling sick. I had to push through, including when I was pregnant and tired. Which is maybe the reason I lost two! Gosh girl! I told Phillip not to marry you. But he left you with child and had no choice."

Jessica's headache was beginning to become unbearable. She closed her eyes and tried to drown Karen's voice out. She was also feeling nauseous again and she wanted to go to bed.

Jessica finally had enough; she turned on the television that was in the living room which finally stopped Karen from talking. Jessica excused herself and ran to her bedroom then she rushed to her bathroom. She made in just in time to empty the contents of her stomach which was close to empty. She cursed the anti nausea medication which didn't help at all.

Jessica flushed the toilet once she was done then she sat back against the bathtub. Tears rolled down her cheeks wondering if she could go through with this pregnancy. She was already so exhausted and she had a long road ahead of her still.

Jessica put her hand on her belly and whispered. "I don't know what to do about you little one. I don't know how your daddy will react or your siblings. I'm so scared and so confused."

Jessica's tears continued to flow down her cheeks. She looked up and sent up a silent prayer asking for all the strength in the world.

Sorry if this wasn't too exciting but I hope you all are still enjoying this story.

Next chapter Jessica will finally tell her family about her pregnancy. Any guesses of their reaction?