Reading that letter hit Jessica hard. She got this pain in her heart and was overwhelmed with guilt.

Reading it made her realize how lucky she really was and how Danny deserved more then a letter. He is such a good man and did so much for Jessica.

Jessica remembers the day perfectly. Sarah's parents were helping Jessica and Sarah move to New York. Jessica had kept it a secret that she was moving from most of her family. She hadn't seen Danny much a few weeks prior to moving. Jessica insisted that they talked and met at the rock the day she left so she could tell him. They decided on a time. But Jessica was too nervous, she wrote the letter and went to the lake a few hours early. She set the letter underneath a smaller rock on a large sitting rock. She left it there and Danny found it. She couldn't face Danny.

Now that Jessica looks back on everything she did that summer, it makes her feel like a horrible person. Her whole family deserved more.

Jane came into Jessica's room and saw her laying on the bed crying.

Jessica didn't know what to do with the letter. She shoved it in her pocket and wiped her tears.

"Hey, are you okay?" Jane says

"Yea. Sorry, I'll be ready in a second."

"Okay, Lillian and I will wait in the car." Jane nods and walks downstairs.

Jessica changes her clothes and takes the varsity jacket with her.

**

When they got to the place they were eating lunch Dorthy, Ann, the kids, and George all were waiting for them at a table.

Jessica was a bit pre occupied. The summer she left kept replaying in her head. Durning the beginning of lunch she didn't talk much.

"Are you excited to go home?" Dorthy asks trying to snap Jessica out of her day dream.

"Hmm?" Jessica says

"Are you excited to go home, to New York?" Ann says

"Oh, yea. I'm excited. I miss it." She smiles.

With her finger, Jessica traces the flowers on the table cloth.

Jane gives Dorthy, Ann, and George a strange look. They knew something was up.

"Hey kids, why don't you go play in the little kids area with Kali while we wait for our food?" Ann says

The kids stand up. "Wanna come aunt Jessie?" Paige says

"No thank you, Paige."

"Are you sad?" Quinn walks up to Jessica.

"No! I'm just fine, honey." She giggles

The kids nod and run off.

"Okay Jessica, what is it?" George says after they leave.

Jessica widens her eyes and shrugs her shoulders.

"Jessie, you can talk to us." Jane says looking at Jessica.

"I owe you all an explanation." Jessica straightens her shoulders.

Everyone's attention was focused on Jessica.

"Jess, you're scaring me. Did you kill someone or something?" Ann says leaning over the table.

"God Ann, no." Jane says

She looks back at Jessica who was quite. "Wait you killed someone?" George giggles

"No, I didn't kill anyone! It's about the summer dad died." Jessica says clearing her throat.

"Oh Jessica, that's the past." Dorthy says

"But I lied. I lied about so much. I was a horrible sister and a horrible daughter. I owe you all an apology and an explanation. That summer was the worst summer ever. I packed up and left without a trace. I didn't speak to you all for so long."

"Jessica, you don't have to do this. We understand it was hard. It was hard for all of us." Jane says softly

"But it was so much more then dads death. So much happened that I didn't tell you. I kept so many secrets that they eat me alive everyday."

"Jess, we all have secrets. Don't let them eat you alive. You're a good sister. We all handled dads death in different ways." George says

"Yea, Jessica you don't need to explain. It's the past. It's a sore subject for you." Ann takes Jessica's hands. Jessica shakes her head and pulls away.

"Jessie, what did you lie about?" Dorthy tilts her head and looks at Jessica across the table.

"A lot. There's so much I need to say. I need to say it now, and you have to let me say it now." Jessica looks at her siblings and mother nodding her head.

They all nod back and Jessica begins.

"A week before dad died, I found out I was *sigh*.... pregnant."

Dorthy immediately starts to tear up. She covers her face and cries. Her siblings sit in the chairs, shocked as ever.

"You had a baby?" Jane says holding Lillian.

"Oh Jessie, I never knew!" Ann cries

Dorthy and George were silent.

"The day of dads funeral when you all couldn't find me.... I was at the hospital, I had a miscarriage. It was one of the hardest things I ever had to go through. I never spoke of it. Sarah was the only one who knew. I never told Danny. I couldn't, I was ashamed. For months on end I kept blaming myself for the loss of my baby. I wanted to tell you all that I was pregnant, I was so scared, but we were all going through so much and I didn't want to disappoint anyone. And dad, I just kept thinking about how ashamed and mad he would be. Mom, I couldn't bare facing goth reaction. I didn't want it to be an excuse for me to stay in Minnesota. After that I went into a deep depression it changed me so much, and I moved out and into Sarah's as you know. I should have never moved out like that and left things the way I did with you, mom. I should have herd you out. I shouldn't have ran away from my problems, but I needed to. It was my only way of getting better. Dad always told me to chase my dreams and get out of Minnesota. I had to do that, for him and for myself. The sadness, heartbreak, and memories, it was all too much.

As you all know Danny and I planned to stay together. We were a happy couple... We never had a mutual agreement to break up. I left him with a single letter the day I left. No one knew I was leaving that day but Sarah and her family. Now that I look back at it I just think about all the heartbreak I caused. I never meant to do that. I wasn't thinking. Mom, you've done so much for me since the day I was born. As a teenage girl I just felt like you were trying to nag me, but you had my best interest in mind and were only looking out for me, George, Ann, and Jane. I don't regret ever moving to New York, I changed as a person and was able to recover and get over my depression. But I do regret how I left. I left so much behind. I left my two amazing sisters and brother, the best mom, and Danny, the love of my life. I wish that I didn't run away like I did. I should discussed it with you and didn't keep things a secret. I've had it all bottled up in the last five years. I guess it was always too painful for me to tell everyone. It's just eating me up inside. Everyday I think, 'maybe dad is up there so disappointed. Thinking how could she get knocked up, how could she leave, she isn't like that.' I'm just so sorry, to all of you. Each one of us were all we had left after dad died. I broke away from this family and feel like I've burnt bridges that can never be put back together. I love you all, and I hope that you can understand and forgive me. I don't want you to think of me as a different person either." Jessica says what she has to say then immediately sobs uncomfortably. She couldn't hold anything in anymore.

Jane leaned over and wrapped her arms around Jessica holding her tight. Dorthy, Ann, and George all stood up and hugged Jessica also. They all cried together and comforted each other.

"Jessica, I'm so sorry that I never knew. But you have never disappointed me. You make me proud every single day, even when you're thousands of miles away. You're so special, and your dad is up there watching over all of you. No matter what he is still proud. I miss him everyday and wish that his loss never happened. And I'm sorry for not being there for all of you when you were hurting. I couldn't even be there for myself. I love you all." Dorthy says starting into her children's watery eyes.

"Jessica, never be afraid to come to us. And don't be ashamed about your baby. I know that you would have been an amazing mother, but everything happens for a reason." Ann nods reassuring Jessica.

"We get why you left. And we are glad that you are happy in New York and you were able to get better. That's all that matters." Jane clenches onto Jessica's hand. With Jessica's free hand she wipes her tears and breaths heavily.

"I wish I was able to meet my baby boy. And Danny deserved to know. He did so much for me, you all did. Doing what I did was horrible."

"Jessica, you were depressed. You didn't know how to handle the situation alone. And your baby boy is with dad. Dad is taking care of him." George kneels down to Jessica who sat in her chair. Dorthy and Ann stood behind her and Jane sat on the other side of Jessica.

"I love you jessie. I'm sorry for not being there." Dorthy hugs her from behind.

"Don't apologize mom. You deserve the apology, you all do. I did this to myself, I shut everyone out. I regret it everyday. It was one of those things that I could never talk about. It's too hard to talk about."

"I understand, Jess. I get it. But you're a great person, everyone has their flaws. We aren't mad. You don't have to apologize. You just never deserved to lose your baby."

"I just wish there was something I could have done. If I would have known... I just regret so much. The doctors said it wasn't my fault but-"

"And it wasn't Jessica, you can beat yourself up over it. I know it's hard not too, but don't baby." Dorthy says sternly

"Does Danny still not know?" George says

"I told him when I saw him yesterday."

"You saw Danny?" Ann says

Jessica nods

"How did he react?" Jane says

"He was very understanding."

"You know what kids, I think before Jessica leaves we should all sit and talk. We never talked as a family after your father died. All five of us, I think we should just let it all out." Dorthy says sitting back in her seat.

"I think we should too."

As they waited for their food Dorthy and her kids all sat and talked. They discussed a lot and their feelings. It was something they had never done after Albert died. It was heartbreaking, but good for them to let it all out and just talk a a family.

They all felt a little bit  better after talking and letting everything out. Especially Jessica, she needed to tell her family. She owed it to them.

After lunch Jessica said her goodbyes to George, Ann, the kids, and Dorthy since she left to go home early the next day.

"I want to cry so bad, but I won't!" Paige says

"Don't cry, we can FaceTime!" Jessica says hugging her.

"Bye aunt jessie!" Paige and Quinn say

"Bye loves! Do good in school!"

"Call me! Okay?" Ann says sternly hugging Jessica tightly.

"I will." She nods

"I'll see you soon, right?" George says

Jessica hugs him and nods "yes!"

"You're more then welcome to come home for thanksgiving and whenever you want, okay?" Dorthy nods with tears in her eyes.

"I will buy a ticket. I'll come home."

Jessica hugs all of them goodbye.

She was then on her way home with Jane and Lillian.

Jane and Jessica talked a lot, then she brought up Danny.

"Jessica, I'm sorry that I wasn't there for you. I never knew about the baby and Danny."

"Jane, don't be sorry."

"I love you, you're my sister. I just can't stop thinking about how mean I was to you when you left. It must have been so hard on you."

"Jane, you don't have to apologize."

Jane sighs and continues to drive.

"Jane, do you know where Danny lives?"

"I think, yea. He built a place didn't he?"

"Yes. Do you mind dropping me off there real
quick? I have to give him back his jacket."

"Of course, pull up his address."

**

"Do you want me to wait?" Jane says as they pull into Danny's drive way.

"Umm, no. It looks like he's home. I think I may be a while. I just need to say something before I leave Minnesota."

"Alright, I'll see you later."

**

Jessica grabs the jacket and the letter. She stares at Danny's home then walks up to
The door step.

She knocks on the door and waits.

Danny slowly opens the door.

"Jessica? What are you doing here?" Danny says with a smile.

Jessica looks at him with watery eyes and holds the note in her hand. She looks down at it and Danny looks at her not knowing were she got the letter from.

"What is that?"

"The letter I left you. It was in your jacket."

"I didn't mean for you to see that... I forgot I had held onto it all these years."

"Danny, I'm so sorry."

"Jessica, don't be sorry." Danny puts his hand on her arm and looks down at the letter.

"You deserved so much more. You deserved to know about the baby, me leaving, and I should have never shut you out. I don't deserve forgiveness. Reading this letter makes me think about how horrible it was of me." Jessica drops the letter and jacket on the ground and throws herself onto Danny.

She starts to passionately kiss him as he hold her in his arms.

She wraps her arms around his neck and continues. As they kissed it began to rain, but that didn't matter.

"I'm afraid to leave you. But I'm afraid to try again." Jessica whispers holding Danny's cheeks.

"Don't be afraid."

**