As the week passed by, Evan was still not really speaking to Jessica. What hurt Jessica more, was that Evan stopped talking to the baby and touching her belly.

Jessica tried in vain to get Evan to open up about what was wrong. Jessica even reached out to Phil and he promised he would try to get Evan to tell him what was wrong.

It was a Friday afternoon, and everyone was at work at the bookstore. Evan was spending the day with his father.

Jessica was managing the cash register while Emma was in the back going through inventory and Sara was walking around incase any costumers needed any help.

Some time later, a customer flags Sarah down and asked for a certain book.

"I'm not sure we have that one, but, let me check the back just in case." Sarah said. "Give me a few minutes."

The customer nodded and continued to look through the books while they waited.

Sarah walks to the back and looks in an area she knew where hard to find books were kept.

Sarah looked and found one last copy they had. She takes it into her hands then was about to leave when she heard Emma sniffling.

Sarah goes over to where Emma was at and see's that she's crying.

Emma was in a corner of the room; she wore a purple long sleeve turtle neck, and she wore sunglasses over eyes. She was sitting on the floor with her arms wrapped around her legs.

Sarah and Jessica had wondered when Emma arrived for work why she wore sunglasses inside and why she had asked to be in charge of taking inventory.

They had asked her if she was okay but all Emma said was, "I'm fine."

Now Sarah was really concerned. She quickly went back to the customer to give them the book so they wouldn't be kept waiting.

After, Sarah rushed back to Emma and said. "Emma? What's wrong?"

Sarah sat beside her as Emma looked up.

"Nothing. I'm fine." Emma said unconvincingly.
"Emma, sweetie. I know there's something going on." Sarah said gently. "We're friends, remember? You can tell me anything."

Emma looked into Sarah's eyes and saw so much concern. Emma sighed then she took off her glasses.

Sarah gasped as she saw that Emma had a black eye.

"Oh Emma! Who did this to you?" Sarah asked.

Emma cried as she told Sarah everything that had transpired the night before.

"My...my boyfriend...he beats me." Emma said. "Well...he's my ex boyfriend now. I...I found out that I'm pregnant. I'm one month along and yesterday, I told him. He got angry and he said that, why wasn't I on the pill? He blamed me for getting pregnant. He started to hit me and he was...he was trying to kick me in my stomach but I managed to protect it. He told me that he didn't want anything to do with this baby. He also told me to get my shit and go. I...I got my things out of the apartment and now...I guess I'll just live from out of my car now. Until I can find somewhere to go."

Sarah didn't say anything. She just gently hugged Emma and Emma hugged her back. Emma buried her face in Sarah's chest and sobbed her heart out.

Emma felt safe in Sarah's arms. Sarah was like a motherly figure to her and she was glad she had someone like Sarah in her life.

"I don't know what to do, Sarah!" Emma cried. "I don't want to get an abortion, but I don't this baby either. I can't raise a baby on my own."
"Shhhhh..." Sarah said. "For now, lets not think about it. What I want you to do, is calm down. I then want you to relax here in the back. After we leave here, you are driving to my house and you will stay there until you get back on your feet. For however long that may be."

Emma pulled away and said. "Sarah, I can't stay at your house. I...I don't want to burden you with all this. Plus, what would Lily think?"
"Lily wouldn't mind. She's your friend too and she'll understand." Sarah said. "Also, you're not burdening me with this. I want to help you. Maybe...maybe we can help each other?"

Emma smiled through her tears and hugged Sarah tightly. "Thank you, Sarah!"
"You're welcome." Sarah said. "Now, I better get back before Jessica sends a search party. I'll see you later."

Emma nodded and sighed. Sarah went back to check in on the bookstore and Jessica. Everything was going well and the day went on as usual.

Emma felt a little better now that she told Sarah everything that was going on and also that she had somewhere to stay.

By the end of the day, Jessica felt exhausted. She sat down on the sofa that was upstairs and put her feet up.

"You okay, Jess?" Sarah asked.

Jessica rubbed her belly in gentle circles and smiled a tired smile at Sarah.

"Yeah. Just a little tired." Jessica said. "Haven't been sleeping well. From multiple bathroom trips during the night and now worrying about Evan. I just hope today Phil was able to get through to him."
"I'm pretty sure it was Michael's mother that said something to him!" Sarah said. "I've met her before and she was....pleasant." Sarah rolled her eyes and chuckled.

Jessica laughed and nodded. "Yeah. I have no doubt she was involved. Once I find out, I am going to give her a piece of my mind!" She said.
"I have no doubt about that." Sarah said with giggle. "You are pretty scary when you are angry. But Jess, you're pregnant. You have to take it easy."

Jessica sighed heavily and laid her head back against the sofa. "I'll try, but I am going to defend my husband." She said.

She closed her eyes for a moment and Sarah said. "Jess, why don't go home and rest? Emma and I will lock up."
Jessica opened her eyes and said. "Thank you, Sarah. I owe you one."
"Don't worry about it." Sarah smiled. "Go on, and I'll see you later."

Jessica stood up from the sofa and hugged Sarah goodbye. She then grabbed her purse and car keys then told Emma a quick goodbye.

Jessica drove home and once she was inside, she dropped her purse and car keys on a table. She slips off her shoes then walks over to the sofa and lays down. She was too tired to even walk upstairs to her bedroom.

Jessica fell asleep waiting for Evan to come home.

An hour later, Jessica woke up to some commotion coming from the front door.

Jessica struggled to get up from the sofa but she managed. She saw Phil helping Evan through the front door.

"Phil? Evan?" Jessica asked worriedly.

Phil looked over at Jessica and said. "I'm sorry, Jessica. I took Evan out for some drinks and well...he drank a little too much."

Jessica walked over and closed the front door. Phil quietly said to her. "He finally told me what Michael's mother said to him. Let me put him down on the sofa and we'll talk."

Jessica nodded her head and followed them to the living room. Phil sat Evan down on the sofa and Evan finally saw Jessica.

"Jessica!" Evan said happily. "Hi, honey!"

Jessica looked on worriedly. She held her belly with both her hands.

"Jess! I...I'm sorry for how I've been acting." Evan said sadly. "Come here please....please Jess come here."

Jessica looked at Phil and he nodded a little. Jessica sighed and walked over then sat down next to Evan.

"Hey! This is my wife! I'm married to the most beautiful woman in the entire world! Oh!!! And that's my baby in there!" Evan said as he placed his hand on Jessica's belly. "Dad! Look! I'm gonna be father!"

Evan had a huge smile on his face then suddenly, the smile faded from his face. Then tears began to roll down his cheeks.

"Jess...I...I not going to be a good father." Evan said sadly.
"Evan! Of course you will! You'll be a great father." Jessica said as she caressed his cheek.

Evan shook his head no. Then he stood up angrily.

"No!!!! No, I'm not!" Even yelled.

"Calm down, son." Phil said calmly.

"No, dad!!!" Evan yelled. "Alice said...she said that I, we, Jessica and I! That we were selfish for keeping our baby. She said we should have terminated!"

Jessica's eyes widened then she became angry as Evan continued to say what Michael's said to him.

"She said, Jessica was too old to be having a baby and that I am too slow to take care of a baby!" Evan said then yelled at the end of his sentence. "She didn't use the word slow, but I know that's what she meant! She also said that...that..." Evan was slurring but he kept going. Now he was finally getting out what he kept bottled in. "...Alice said that, that I will end up hurting the baby and when our baby gets older, that she will become embarrassed of us!"

Jessica continued to sit on the sofa and tears were now threatening to fall. How dare this women say these things to her husband!

"She's right, Jessica! We shouldn't be having a baby!" Evan said. "I'm not going to be a good father! I'm not! I'm not! I'm not!!!!!"

"Evan! Enough!" Phil said as he gently took Evan in his arms. Evan wrapped his arms around Phil and began to sob in his father's arms.

Jessica stayed still, she wanted to badly to have Alice in front of her now. But she would have to wait for that moment.

Jessica wiped her tears away and stood up. "Evan...it's okay."

Jessica rubbed Evan's back and Evan let go of Phil so he could hug Jessica. Phil stepped back but stayed close incase Jessica needed help.

"Evan...you will be an amazing father." Jessica said gently. "Sure, we will both make mistakes. But together we will learn from them and because of it, we will become great parents. You hear me, Evan Peters?"

Jessica gently pulled Evan away then held his face in her hands. Evan looked into her eyes.

"Our daughter will not be embarrassed of us." Jessica said. "Sure, maybe when she's a teenager, she will. But it won't be because I'm older, or that you are not like other fathers out there. It will because it comes with being a teen. Almost all teenagers hate their parents at some point." She chuckled. "So please, Evan. Stop thinking this way. We are going to be fine."

Evan finally calmed down and kissed Jessica. When he pulled away he said. "Okay. I'm sorry for how I was acting, Jess. I love you."
Jessica smiled and said. "I love you too. Now, let's get you to bed."

Evan nodded and with that, Phil and Jessica got him changed into his pajamas then got him into bed.

Jessica thanked Phil for his help and gave him a hug then he was on his way home.

Jessica locked up then leaned against the door for a moment. She took a deep breath and sighed. It was then and there that Jessica decided that this coming Sunday, Michael's mother will know her wrath.

Hey! It's been a while!

Hopefully you all enjoyed this chapter.

Now, the confrontation between Michael's mother and Jessica is going to happen in the next chapter.

Any suggestions of what Jessica should tell Alice? What else would you like to see happen?