Autumn woke when she heard a faint cry coming from down the hall.

She noticed it was her mother, so she got out of bed and walked over to her room. She lightly knocked on the door.

"Mommy?"

"Oh I'm sorry, honey!  Mommy's okay.. go back to bed, baby."

"Let me in!  You're not okay."

Jessica stood up from the bed and walked over to let her in.

"What's wrong?" Autumn asks.

Jessica shook her head as tears continued to roll down her cheeks.
"Nothing!"

Autumn walked in and shut the door behind her.
"Where's Danny?"

"He um.. he went to work."

"It's midnight."

"There was an emergency."

Autumn sat down and patted the bed beside her.
"Sit down, momma."

Jessica sat beside her and Autumn gave her a beautiful smile. She then wrapped her arms around her and Jessica laid her head on her daughter's shoulder.

"You don't have to tell me what's wrong. I just want you to be okay. And I want my baby brother or sister to be okay." Autumn pats Jessica's stomach.

Jessica smiles softly. "I love you, baby."

"I love you more, mommy."

"Whatever it is, it's not worth it.  Feel how much this baby is kicking right now, they're saying to stop crying and let them sleep!"

Jessica couldn't help but laugh.
"I'll stop.. you're right."

"Of course I am!"

Jessica giggles and kisses Autumn's forehead.

"I'm gonna sleep with you just to make sure you actually get some rest."

"You are an angel, Autumn Rae."

Autumn smiles and says, "I am."

Jessica laughs. "I'm just going to use the restroom and I'll be back."

"Okay."

**

Finally Jessica was asleep.  Autumn laid on her side and watched her mother sleeping peacefully, with one hand resting on her belly.

"God.. no matter what's happening.. Just please watch over my mom.  She's the most incredible person I know.  She deserves to be happy."

Autumn then closed her eyes and went to sleep.

The next morning Jessica woke up and dressed the kids.  She planned to give them the best Thanksgiving she could.

"Alright kids! Mommy made lots of yummy food, so eat up!"

"YAY!" Julia claps. "Mama, where's dada?"

"Uhm.. honey, he'll be here later. Let's eat, okay?"

"We save some for dada?"

"Yeah, baby. We'll save him some food."

Autumn watched Jessica and saw her trying hiding so much pain. She knew Danny wasn't at work. She was older and she understood. She knew something wasn't right.

Autumn decided to wait until after they ate to bring it up to her mother.

**

"Teo gots mashed potatoes on him!" Julia laughs and points to her brother.

"He's a bit messy, isn't he?" Jessica giggles.

"Yes! Teo, you silly boy!"

Theodore giggled and held a handful of mashed potatoes out for his sister.

"Oh he wants to share!" Jessica chuckles.

"Haha! No thanks, Teddy! I gots my own!" Julia smiles and points to her plate.

"Thank you for sharing though, Theo!" Jessica smiles softly and rubs her back.

The kids continued eating and talking.
Seeing their little faces, Jessica didn't understand how Danny could just walk out on them without even saying goodbye.  Jessica then started to become emotional.  She didn't want the kids to see her cry, so she took a deep breath and said, "I'll be right back, babes.  Eat your food, okay?"

Jessica then walked out of the kitchen and into the living room.
Autumn followed her and by now Jessica was in full blown tears.

"Mom!  Mom, calm down.." Autumn walks over and rubs her back.

"I'm sorry!  Auttie, please go sit with your brother and sister."

"No, I'm staying with you!  I need to make sure you're okay!"

"I'm okay, I promise."

"No you're not.
.. I'm going to ask you a question, and I need you to tell me the truth.... Did Danny leave us?"

Jessica bit her bottom lip and looked her daughter in the eyes.

"It's okay. Just tell me." Autumn spoke in a soft voice.

Jessica nodded her head and Autumn's heart broke.

"I don't know what to do!  Everyone is just going to laugh and say they told me so!  I'm So embarrassed!"

"No, don't be embarrassed!  You love Danny and he made you think he loved you too. They'll understand, Momma."

"I can't tell them." Jessica nods.

"You have to.  We can go back home.  We can stay with grandma and grandpa. It'll be okay."

"Autumn, they're going to be so mad at me!  Ann! She's going to laugh in my face!"

"No they won't!  She won't! They love you, momma!"

Jessica looks down as she begins crying harder.
"You're in school, I have to stay here.  And now I'm all alone.. it's just me with three kids and one on the way! How am I going to do this?"

"We can move, it's okay!  I can just be homeschooled for the rest of the year then transfer back to my old school."

"Autumn, I've moved you way too much already, baby."

"I don't mind it! I make friends wherever I am." Autumn smiles.

Jessica let's out an exhausted little laugh and places her hand on her bump.

"I don't know.." She says gently rubbing her hand in a circle.

"I can call daddy!"

"No.. I'll call him."

"You promise?"

"I promise." Jessica nods and smiles softly.

"Okay! I'll go check on the babies."

"Thanks, honey.. Hey wait!"

"Yes?"

"I love you."

Autumn smiles. "love you too, momma."

Autumn leaves and Jessica wipes her cheeks.
She then takes her phone and dials Sam.

"Hello?"

"Sam.." Jessica says in a shaky voice.

"Jess? Are you okay?"

"... Sammy.. please don't say I told you so."

"Why?  What happened?"

"He left."

"What do you mean?"

"Danny left me."

"What?! When?!"

"Last night.. I was cooking all day because we were going to have Thanksgiving just the five of us.. and last night he just.. he said he couldn't take me anymore.. And he just left. He doesn't want anything to do with me or the kids. How could he do this, Sam?" Jessica cries.

"Oh honey.. I am so sorry. I'm coming over there right now."

"No sam, don't. You should be with your family right now."

"You are my family, Jessie. Landon and I are on our way."

"Please be careful."

"I will. I'll see you soon."

"Okay.. thank you, Sam."

"Of course.  Jess?"

"Yeah?"

"I love you.  You're an incredible woman, and you need to know that."

"Thank you.  I love you too, Sam."

**

Two and a half hours later Sam and Landon arrived.
Autumn opened the door and her little brother attacked her with hugs and kisses.

Sam smiled softly, then immediately walked over to hug Jessica.  Jessica cried softly into Sam's chest.

"I've told you for years that you are worth so much!  Haven't I told you that?"

Jessica nods her head as low muffled sobs escape her.

"Well I meant that.  Don't let him tear you down.
You are a strong woman and the most amazing mother ever.  You don't need a man, Jessica."

"But I love him.  I don't understand how he can do this."

"I know, honey.  I'm so sorry."

".. Thank you for coming, Sam.  I really needed a friend right now." Jessica says, laying her cheek on his chest.

"Of course!  I'll always be here for you."

Jessica squeezes him a bit more, then wipes her cheeks.

Sam looks over to the side and sees Julia and Theodore passed out on the couch.  Theodore in a diaper, and Julia in underwear.

"Too much turkey?" Sam chuckles.

"No, I actually didn't eat that much."

"I meant the kids." He smiles.

"Oh!  Heh!  Yeah.. they're pooped.."

"They look cute."

"Thanks.." Jessica sits back and looks down to her belly.

"This baby.. he said he wanted another baby.
Who does that, Sam?  Who leaves their pregnant wife and his three children?  Hell, four children!  Autumn is his step daughter!"

"I don't know.. I don't know what kind of monster you have to be to do something like this.  I don't understand it."

"I don't know what to do now.  Autumn has talked about being homeschooled for the rest of the year, and then starting back with her friends in Minnesota."

"That's not a bad idea.  I'll help you in any way.  Not only with Autumn, but with all of the kids."

"Sam, you don't have to." Jessica pouts.

"I want to, Jess!  You're not going to be doing this alone."

"Thank you..
Now.." Jessica takes a deep breath.  "I need a job!"

"No you don't."

"Yes I do!  I don't want to stay with my parents.  I'm too embarrassed!"

"Jessie, you're their daughter!  They're not going to make fun of you or treat you badly."

"I know.. but still, I can't." Jessica nods.

"Stay with me."

"What?  Sam, I can't."

"Yes you can!  Landon will be a good distraction for the little ones.
Juju helped Landon after Megan passed, and now it's his turn to return the favor."

"Sam.."

"You'll have your own room, and bathroom.  You'll have privacy.  I promise I won't try to get with you." Sam winks.

"Shh!" Jessica chuckles and looks over to Autumn who was speaking to her brother.

"But really, It's not about that right now.  It's about returning the favor for a great great friend.  You have always been there for me, and when I lost my wife, you stepped in and took care of Landon and I.  It's my turn to take care of you and the kids."

"Sammy.. I feel bad.  I have three kids that aren't even yours.  I can't let you do that."

"I don't care if they're not mine!  You guys are family, and I take care of my family."

"Oh Sammy.. Thank you!  I don't know what I'd do without you.."

"Ditto." Sam gives her a soft smile.

***

The next day Sam began packing up the house.
Right now the plan was to head back to Minnesota as soon as possible.

"Mommy, I weally want my daddy!" Julia says on the verge of tears.

"I know, love.  I'm sorry."

"Where he at?" She lifts her hands.

"I don't know, baby.."

"He kay?"

"Yeah, he's okay.."

Sam noticed Jessica starting to tear up, so he stepped in.

"Hey Juju on that beat!"

"Sham!" Julia smiles at him with red watery eyes.

"Go play with Landon, okay?  After we finish up here, we're all going for ICE CREAM!" Sam shouts with excitement.

"YAY!!  WOOOOO!"

Sam laughed at her cuteness.

"Thank you for that, Sam." Jessica says wiping the corner of her eyes.

"No problem!  Now, you sit down, please."

"I'm okay, I need to move around."

"Fine, But don't over work yourself." Sam points his finger at her.

"I won't."

"So.. are you gonna find out what you're having this time?"

"I don't know!" A smile appeared on Jessica's face.
"I really liked finding out at birth but, I don't know!
I kinda want to know now!" She giggles.

"Hah!  How far along are you?"

"Seventeen weeks yesterday."

"Oh wow! So if you really really wanted to, you could find out now?"

"Yeah!  I guess I get to go back to my old doctor now, huh?
.. Shit, I'm going to need to call Danny eventually." Jessica sighs.

"Why?  Don't worry about money.  I don't want you speaking to him."

"Sam, I can't do that.  We have to talk about us and the kids."

"What do you mean?"

"Like, is this really it?  Are we getting divorced?  Is he going to want to see the kids?"

"Jessie, sweete.. you told me what he said."

"I know.  But maybe he'll change his mind.
For the kids, I hope he does!  I don't want them to not have a relationship with their father."

"I understand.. I'm really sorry you're going through all of this."

"Thanks.. me too.."

***

A few days later.

Jessica has informed her family about all that is going on, and that she and the kids were going to be staying with Sam. Of course her family was heartbroken for Jessica, and wanted to hurt Danny.

"We leabing my home? What around my woom?!" Julia asks with a sadness in her eyes.

"It'll be okay, Juju! We're gonna go to Sam's, and it's gonna be a blast!"

"What about daddy? He needs to know we not home! What about if he comes home, mommy?"

"It'll be okay, honey.  He'll know."

"I want my dada!" Julia bursts into tears.

"Oh sweet girl, I know.." Jessica wraps her arms around her and holds her to her chest.

"Baby girl, it's okay.."

"I mish him!"

"I know, honey.."

Sam watches as Jessica comforted her daughter.
He felt so terrible that they were in this situation.

**

After a long drive home, they finally arrived at Sam's.

"Oh goodness, this baby is wild tonight!" Jessica stretches out her back and rubs the side of her belly.

"Can I feel?" Sam smiled.

"Sure, Go ahead!"

Sam placed his hand on her stomach and the look in his eyes was beautiful.

This child wasn't even his, yet he seemed to love this baby more than Danny ever would.

"You're so sweet.. Danny never touches my belly. Ever!"

"Really?"

"Yeah. Actually, I had asked him to feel them moving right before he left.. apparently that's what set him off." Jessica rolls her eyes.

"Aw.. I'm so sorry. I love feeling babies moving around. It's so beautiful."

Jessica smiles softly.
"It sure is.."

Sam smiles. "You go get some rest and I'll make us all something to eat."

"It's okay, Sam! You've done so much already.  Let me cook!"

"No ma'am. You're pregnant and I want to treat you like the queen you are."

"Aw.."

"Go rest. The kids are occupied with Landon's toy room.  We'll be fine." Sam smiles.

"Okay.. thank you, Sam!"

"No problem!"

**

"Mommy! Mommy!"

"Yes, honey?"

"The food is weady!"

"Ooh goody! Baby is hungry!"

"My baby hungwy?!" Julia gasps.

"Yes! He or she keeps kicking mommy because I haven't a given them food!"

"Oh no! Baby, no cwy! Mama, Get Up!" Julia shouts.

"I'm comin, baby!" Jessica chuckles.

Julia runs out of the bedroom, and Jessica quickly stops her before she gets to the stairs.

"Be careful, Juju!"

"I kay, Mama! I kay!"

"Let me hold your hand."

"No mama!" Julia nods.

"Julia Summer, give me your hand." Jessica says grabbing ahold of her.

"Ohhh! Mama, I big girl!" She stomps her feet.

"I know you are, but you still need help going down stairs."

"I gonna be tree!"

"I know! In four days, I can't believe it!"

"Yeah, I BIG!"

"You are!" Jessica laughs.

Getting to the bottom of the stairs, Theodore walks over to Jessica and hugs her legs.

"Mama!" He smiles.
"Mama! Ma mama!" He giggles and squeezes his cheek against her.

"Aw! I Am your mama, handsome boy!"

Theodore pats her legs then gives them kisses.

"Oh my cutie!" Jessica picks him up and kisses his cheek.

"Mama!" He laughs.

"Do you know how cute you are, Teddy?"

Theodore smiles and nods his head up and down.

Jessica laughs. "Well good, I'm glad!"

"Sham, my mama said that my baby is mad because it's hungry!" Julia says to Sam who was walking out of the kitchen.

"Well come eat, Mama! The food is ready!"

Jessica giggles and takes a seat at the table.

"You're gonna like it, Jessie.  My daddy is a really good cook!" Landon says.

"I know! He is a really good cook!"

"How you know that?!" Landon's little eyes widen.

"Because your daddy has cooked for me a few times." She smiles sweetly.

"Yep!  Jessie likes my meatballs." Sam smiles proudly.

At the time, Jessica was taking a drink of her water.
She choked a bit, then looked at him.  Sam laughed and said, "I had to, I'm sorry."

"You're a jerk!" Jessica laughs.

"Mama, that's not nice." Julia nods.

"Yeah, Mama.  Not nice." Sam says with a strange face.

"Oh Lord." Jessica chuckles and rolls her eyes.

**

After their meal, Sam and Jessica took the kids out to the backyard to play.

"Oh Theo, look at you hard at work, buddy!" Jessica smiles. "You look like a little man!" She giggles.

"I gave him my hat cause it not fit me anymore!" Landon smiles.

"Aw, well thank you so much, Landon! That was very sweet of you. Teddy, can you tell him thank you?"

Theodore smiles at Landon and signs, Thank You.

Landon giggles and says, "You're welcome, Theo!"

"Jessie, he talks?"

"Yeah baby, he talks. He's still learning though.
He can sign really well though, huh?"

"Yeah! He's super smart!"

Jessica giggles. "He is! Thank you, cutie." She smiles.

**

Sam and Jessica sat on his patio furniture. Sam noticed Jessica just staring at the kids as they played, not speaking a word.

"Are you okay, Jess?" He asks.

"Yeah.. I mean, not really but.. my babies are okay.
This little one sure seems to be fine." Jessica says looking down and running her hand over her bump.

"I'm doing well." She nods.

Sam gives her a soft smile. "I know it sucks, and trust me, I wish this never would have happened.
But, everything happens for a reason. I mean, I never liked Danny for you, and you know that.
.. And I really wish you were the one that had left him but... Still, this all happened for a reason."

"That's true.."

"But look at what you've got out of this whole thing.. two great kids, and one on the way!" Sam smiles.

Jessica smiles with tears in her eyes.

"And I'll be here for you the entire time.
If you want me by your side, that is! If you don't, I'll just be there for you from afar."

Jessica laughs. "I would love you by my side, Sammy. You're my best friend."

Sam smiles softly and nods his head.
"Yep! We're best friends.."

***
Do y'all want to know what the baby is in the next chapter, or wait until he or she is born? 💖💙