February 20th-

Over the last month Jessica just really focused on the kids and their relationship. There was a lot to be talked about. Jessica, Sean, and Olivia just spent lots of time together. Everything was healed. But unfortunately, the kids wanted nothing to do with Danny at the time. He gave up on calling them and just gave them their space. As much as Jessica loved all of this craziness being set aside and settled, she hated that now the kids weren't on speaking terms with Danny. She never wanted that, as much as she hated him. But Sean and Olivia were old enough to make up their own decisions so she stayed out of it.

As far as Sam went, Jessica and Sam spoke briefly a few times. Sometimes it would end well, others it didn't. They were still a bit awkward. He was busy at the farm and Jessica was focusing on Sean and Olivia. The two of them really wanted to work things out but in a way Jessica was still hurt and didn't know what she wanted.

//-//

It was Sean's eighteenth birthday. To celebrate Jessica's family all came over for a small little gathering. Jessica made all of Sean's favorite foods and Dorthy baked a cake. Since it was his last birthday at home before he leaves for college, he just wanted to spend it with his family. He was always simple.

While Jessica was setting up for the gathering Sean came into the kitchen to see how things were going.

Jessica and Olivia were making little snacks when he came in.

"Mmm, smells good in here!" He says

"Well, just making the birthday boys favorite. How is it that you are an adult but still my baby boy!" Jessica turns around and cups his cheeks.

"Mom!" He whines

"Haha!" Olivia says

Jessica then turns to Olivia and does the same thing. "My baby girl!"

"Mommm!"

"Haha!" Sean says mocking Olivia

"Anyways, what time is everyone coming?" Sean asks

"Five"

"Great, I'm inviting Sam." He says then quickly exits the room.

Jessica stops what's she's doing and goes numb. Olivia watches Jessica's reaction as she yells for Sean to come back into the kitchen.

"Sean, you invited Sam!" Jessica whines

"Yes! You miss him, he misses you! Time to pick up the pieces and date again." He says

"I think we just need a break..." she says

"Oh come on." Olivia says

"No, seriously. We were so dependent on each other and-"

"That's not why you broke up." Olivia says

"No- but he didn't trust me. He blew up and left. Why should I be with someone who doesn't trust me? I love him and want to work things out but-"

"It's too late, I invited him. He's coming."

Jessica rolls her eyes and turns around. "Fine"

Sean and Olivia silently clap hands. Ever since the crazy drama Sean and Olivia still felt guilty about all the pain they caused Jessica. Though Jessica put it behind her they still felt horrible. They knew that their father caused problems with Jessica and Sam and they wanted things to work out between the two of them. They missed Sam being around. And Jessica seemed a bit off without him.

//-//

Around five everyone started to come. It quickly got very hectic. When having all of Jessica's family together, it was always crazy and loud. That's what she loved most about her family, they always knew how to have a good time.

As more and more people showed up Jessica tried to stay out of the living area and in the kitchen. Since Sam was coming she didn't want to face him just yet. She was so nervous to see him.

Jane was helping Jessica with some last minute cooking before everyone was ready to eat. It was so chaotic in the living room and the kitchen was so silent.

"You made tons of food." Jane says looking around the kitchen table.

Jessica giggles "Have you seen the men in our family?" Jessica says

"Mhm... this party is so fun already. I can't believe It's been eighteen years since you popped out that boy."

"Oh gosh, I know!" She says

"Has he heard from Danny?"

Jessica sighs and shrugs her shoulders "I don't know..."

Then, from the living room she heard the front door open and then everyone yelling "SAM".

Jessica rolled her eyes and scuffed.

"Jessie, Sam's here!" Jane says with excitement

"I know" she says coldly

"Are you two together again?"

"No, Sean wanted to invite him."

"Ohh, well you are planning on working things out, right?"

"I don't know!" She snaps

"Sorry...
ahhh Jessica, you can never make up your mind." Jane leaves the kitchen and Jessica was alone.

A while later Jessica opened the kitchen so everyone could come in and get what they wanted to eat. As they went through they talked with her as they went down the line. Then- Sam came up to Jessica. He put his hand on her shoulder while her back was facing him. She knew his touch. Her heart began to race.

"Jessica?" He says softly

Jessica slowly turns around. "Sam, you're here." She says

"Yeah... I hope you don't mind."

"Well" she shrugs her shoulders

Sam sensed that Jessica was uncomfortable. "I should have asked, I'm sorry."

"No, it's fine. It's Sean's birthday, he wanted you here. I'm okay."

Sam chuckles at Jessica's quick ramble. "I hope we can talk a bit. Once the party dies down."

As much as Jessica wanted to avoid serious relationship conversation with Sam, she was anxious to see what he had to say.

"Maybe." Then Jessica quickly excuses herself to find Sean.

He was in the living room, talking with his uncles, holding a beer in his hand.

Jessica was furious. Her brother in laws and brother were always beer drinkers. She knew exactly where he got the bottle from.

"What is this?" Jessica says snatching it from his hand.

Sean's face turns red. "It's uh-"

"Ah, my beer! Thanks for holding it, bud." Sam says taking it from Jessica's hand. She knew Sam was lying.

"Lighten up, Jess. The boy is eighteen. It's tradition to have a little fun on your eighteenth birthday." Ann's husband Jake says.

Jessica rolls her eyes and crosses her arms. "I don't want him drinking." She pouts

"I won't, Mom." Sean says

"He's an adult. Let me enjoy himself." Evan chuckles

Sam sits down with the guys. Jessica watches his every move.

"You know what, drink the beer. But just one." Jessica says. She kisses his forehead and Sam hands him back the beer.

All the men laugh.

"You're enjoying yourself, right?" He asks Sean.

"Yeah! I'm having a blast!" He says

"Great.
Now monitor him, don't let him go overboard." Jessica says to the men.

"Yes ma'am!"

//-//

After everyone was finished eating they all gathered around Sean to sing happy birthday. The lights were all out and Jessica walked in carrying the giant cake Dorthy had made with candles all over it.

"... happy birthday day to you!" They all cheer

Then Sean sits in front of his cake. "Thank you guys so much for an awesome birthday." He says

Then he blows out the candles and everyone cheers.

"Okay, who wants cake?" Dorthy says to her family

Majority of the guest raise their hands so Dorthy takes the cake back into the kitchen to be cut.

Everyone enjoyed their cake and the party was then starting to slow down.

Jessica was in the living room with her family when she saw Sam walk into the kitchen.

"Excuse me, I need to go to the kitchen real quick." She says to her sisters as she gets up and leaves.

Sam was the only one in the kitchen. Jessica walked in slowly then locked the kitchen doors. He turned around to see Jessica.

"I wanted to talk to you... I miss you." He says

They stay on opposite ends of the kitchen.

"I'm hurt that you didn't trust me... you blew a little situation out of proportion. You left me. I'm not here to play games and be left. I'm done with people leaving me." Jessica says sternly

"I know, and I hate myself."

"I am sorry about the kiss. I really am... but you know me, I would never do anything to hurt you. I've been cheated on before. I know how it feels. I don't have any feelings for my ex. You need to know that." Jessica says sternly

Sam slowly walks closer to Jessica. "I was cheated on too... it's not that I don't trust you. I don't trust Danny or any man. I get jealous and it's bad. My ex wife cheated on me and got pregnant. She told me it was my baby when she knew it wasn't. I spent months preparing to be a father until the man she cheated on me with offered her more than what I had. She left me for him. I was crushed. Ever since then I've always been the jealous, nervous, type. I hate that I am.
I blew up because I was jealous. It's not because I didn't trust you."

Jessica never really knew the full story about Sam and his ex, but Sam opening up about it really made her see why he lashed out the way he did.

"I love you... these last few weeks without you have torn me apart. I want to be with you. I want to work this out."

Without saying another word Jessica runs into Sam's arms and holds him. She gives him a passionate kiss and starts to cry.

"I love you."

//-//