June 19th, 31 weeks-

After a few weeks Jessica was finally able to find a doctor. She had a few visits to make sure she liked him, but no doctor could compare to her last. Her new doctor didn't know her past or present. She was becoming more anxious again, worried for the baby. Even though she knew everything was just fine.

Sarah tagged along with Jessica for the day. After her appointment they were going to go eat. Aspen can along as well.

"Babe!" Aspen points to Jessica's belly as she pulls up her shirt for the doctor.

Sarah and Jessica laugh.

"Yes, honey. Jessie is having a baby!"

"Oooo" Aspen smiles

"How are you feeling, Jessica?" Sarah says to her. Jessica seemed a bit nervous

"I'm okay... just a little anxious."

"It will be all good."

Jessica's new doctor comes in. He was younger. He was very nice to Jessica. She warmed up to him quickly.

"Your Baby is about two pounds already. She's getting pretty big." Her doctor says

Jessica chuckles "I can see" She says looking a her now large stomach. It had grown a lot in the last few weeks.

"That's good. Everything looks just fine. In two weeks we can do an ultrasound." He adds

Jessica nods then sits up.

"Have you come up with a birth plan yet? Do you know what you are leaning towards?"

"For sure at the hospital." She says

"Natural?"

Jessica shakes her head "I don't know yet. I haven't really thought about it." She says softly. In this moment she felt so unprepared. She never thought about this stuff.

"That's quite alright. Are you are feeling okay?" He asks

She shrugs her shoulders "I guess the usual discomfort and light sleeping."

"That's all normal. Just keep doing what you're doing because everything is looking fantastic. Ten more weeks. It will come quick."
He says

//-//

Knowing that her baby was okay always put Jessica in a good mood. She was able to settle down her mind and enjoy herself.

Sarah drove them over to a little cafe.

"Aspen, can you say Jessie?" Sarah says to Aspen to was babbling in her high chair.

She shakes her head and smiles at Jessica.

"Yessie" She says

"Wow! Good job, Aspen. Pretty impressive." Jessica says holding out her hand.

Aspen hits it with all she can and giggles.

"She loves you, Jess. You're so amazing around kids." Sarah says

"I guess I've had practice with the nieces and nephews." She smirks

Sarah looks at Jessica then back at Aspen. She sighs and becomes quite. After a while Jessica notices that something is bothering her.

"Sarah, are you okay?" She asks

Sarah looks at Jessica with watery eyes. "No..."

"Why?" She asks, concerned.

"Jessica, I've never said that I'm sorry."

"For what?"

"How I blew up on you back in New York. I was so terrible to you. You were just trying to be a good friend and I stuck you in the middle. You were such a big help and I just freaked out. I didn't talk to you for months, I can't forgive myself." She begins to cry softly

"Sarah, that was months ago. Don't worry about it. Besides, I was the one in wrong. I should have never let Evan come in." She sighs

"I'm glad you did. Evan is her father."

"But I should have asked." Jessica says sternly

Sarah shakes her head. "I'm just glad that we have put this all behind. Those months where I didn't talk to you were the worst."

"I missed you. But now we are both in Minnesota. Don't worry about it Sarah. It was a tough time."

"Mama happy!" Aspen smiles

"Yes, Mama is happy." Sarah chuckles

//-//

A couple days later Jessica was in her mother's garage looking at all of her things from New York and everything from the baby shower stacked up into boxes. She had just gotten off the phone with her realtor. The people renting her house asked to stay an extra two weeks paying Jessica double. As much as Jessica didn't want to except she did. The extra money would be useful. Now, she wasn't moving until July 19th, a month away from her due date. That would only give her thirty days to really prepare for the baby. She became stressed very fast.

Dorothy had been looking for Jessica. When she found her she was starting at all the boxes with her hand on her stomach.

"Jessie, what are you doing in here? It's so dirty!" She chuckles

"I can't move for another few weeks now..." she says softly

"Why not? I thought you were going back next week?"

She shrugs her shoulders "They offered me double to stay a while longer. I couldn't turn it down."

"Well, that's okay. Is that what is bothering you?" She says putting her hand on Jessica's back.

"I just feel so unprepared. I don't know what I'm doing. I don't know anything about kids or what I need." She sighs

"You're set on a lot of things, but before she comes we can go and finish getting you settled. And when you move in we will help you set up the nursery. You'll be too pregnant to be putting together cribs and dressers." Dorthy chuckles

"I'm not ready..." she cries

"Oh darling, no one is ever really prepared for parenthood. That's just a little secret. But there is no doubt in my mind that you won't be an amazing mommy. Don't stress, okay?" She hugs Jessica tightly and takes her back into the house.

"We will have George do all the hard stuff for you." She giggles

Jessica laughs along with her mother.

//-//

As promised, a few weeks later before Jessica moved back into the lake house, Dorothy to her to a baby store to really prepare her for the things she'd need for a baby. Jane and Ann tagged along.

Jessica pushed the buggy while her sisters and mother threw things into the cart. Jessica didn't stop them, she just watched the pile grow. She was so overwhelmed. Each time try threw something into the cart they told her why she'd need it.

"This! It's a must... when you co-sleep, it's better to put her in a bassinet on the bed instead of nothing. Just in case!" Ann says

Jessica nods then Jane comes with a pack of binkies. "You can never run out."

As they continue to walk down the aisle Jessica stops and takes a few deep breaths.

When they noticed Jessica wasn't behind them they stop.

"Jess, is everything okay?" Dorthy asks

Jessica shakes her head. "I can't do this." She mumbles to herself

"What honey?" Dorothy says

"I can't do this..." she says in a louder tone

"Can't do what? Are you tired? We've been walking a lot." Ann says

"No, I can't be a mother... this is all so much. Everything you're saying to me is going in one ear and out the other. I don't know what I'm going to do with all of these things!" She says picking up random items in the cart

They all stand their awkwardly, not knowing where any of this was going.

"I'm going to be a terrible mother. I don't know anything." She says

"That's not true, Jessica. When you hold her in your arms, it will all come naturally. Nothing can really prepare you for a baby, I'll be honest. But you'll have us." Jane says to her

"Yes, I agree... Jess, if you want to leave we can. We don't want to overwhelm you." Dorothy adds

"No, I appreciate all of this. It's just a lot to take in. She'll be here so soon."

Dorthy comes up to Jessica and gives her a hug. "You need to think positive. Don't bring yourself down."

Jessica looks down at the ground trying to hold back her tears. Suddenly so many emotions hit her, and hard. She didn't know how to hold back.

"I just wish he was here with me..." she cries

Her sisters and mothers heart broke for her. She was so distraught.

"I'm sorry, Jessica." Her sisters say hugging her as well.

"He'd be so happy... I'm trying to be happy for him." She says

"We know... and you're doing great."

//-//