"Your son?"

Jessica nods her head and looks down to the grave.
"My sweet sweet Nolan."

Danny kneels down beside her, still in shock.

"I-I had no idea.. how?  I'm sorry, don't answer that!"

"It's okay.  He was four.. it happened on Christmas Eve."

"Oh wow.. I'm so sorry for your loss.
Do want to talk?  We can go get some coffee or—"

"Actually.. could you drive me home?  I was a little tipsy so I took an Uber from my parents house."

"Of course!"

"Thank you."

Danny then took her by the hand and helped her up.

"I'll tell you everything.. like you, I haven't really spoke about it."

"You tell me whatever you're comfortable with.
I'm here for you.. just like you were there for me."

Jessica smiles softly.
"Thank you."

**

"Right here."

"Okay.." Danny pulls in and stops the car.

Jessica takes her seatbelt off and gets out of the car.

Danny follows her to the door, and on the way compliments her decor.

"It's beautiful out here.  I love the way you've decorated."

"Thank you.. come on in, would you like something to drink? Coffee, soda, water, a beer? I'm gonna make me some coffee."

"I'll have coffee. Thank you."

"No problem."

"Socks!" Jessica shouts.

Danny looks at Jessica with confusion.

"Sorry!" She laughs.
"That's my dog's name.  You must've thought I was crazy!"

"Oh no!" Danny chuckles.
"That's a cute name."

"Thank you." Jessica says as she kneels down and let's the dog cover her in kisses.

"He's my son's... Nolan named him.  He said he looked like he was wearing socks so.. it just kinda fit." Jessica chuckles.

"He did a very good job." Danny smiles softly.

"Thank you.. come on in the kitchen and I'll make your coffee."

Danny followed her and took a seat at the table.

"So.. I'll start at the beginning.
.. I was nineteen and I had this deadbeat boyfriend.
My parents of course didn't approve, but that only made me want to be with him even more.  Teens are stupid." Jessica rolls her eyes.

"We dated for a few months before I found out I was pregnant.. I moved in with my boyfriend.. Frank.
Well it was a mistake. We fought all the time.. he even hit.."

"No!"

Jessica nods her head and brings the coffee to the table. "I was stupid.
.. I had the baby.. and he was so perfect.
Oh gosh, he was the most beautiful baby I have ever seen. I mean, he came out.. blonde hair.. blue eyes.
Most babies have those weird stages.. my boy.. he didn't. Anyway.. living with Frank wasn't great, so I left him and went to my parents house.
I went to school and my mom watched him.
He was.." Jessica smiles with tears in her eyes.

"He was the happiest little boy. A couple years later.. with the help of my parents, God bless them. We moved into this house. His father wasn't around so, I understand how hard being a single parent is.

But it's also the most rewarding job in the entire world. For four years.. that little boy.. gave so much happiness. I've always struggled with anxiety and depression.. but Nolan.. he made it—" Jessica struggles to speak.

"He made it all disappear. His happiness was contagious. Ah, I love him so much!" She covers her face with her hands that were now shaking.

Jessica sniffled and wiped her cheeks.
"On Christmas Eve.. two years ago.. I lost my light."

"I can't imagine how horrible that must feel."

"I don't wish it on anyone.
We were leaving his Christmas program at school.. he was a shepherd.." Jessica smiled through her tears.

"Oh he looked so cute in his little costume!
I have so many pictures from that night but.. I can't get myself to look at them.

.... I was talking to one of the other mothers and.. Nolan just kept begging to go home. He wanted to go home and get to sleep so.. so Santa could come." Jessica's voice shakes.

Danny moved closer to Jessica and rubbed her back.
"It's okay. You don't have to tell me."

"No.. I want to.
He kept pulling on my hand saying.. Mommy! Mommy! Let's go home! Santa's coming!
.... He won't come if we're not in bed!

Why didn't I just leave?  Why didn't I pick him up and leave that place?!

I told him I was coming.. and I told him.. I told him to go play with his friend in the courtyard.
I did this to him!"

"No.. no you didn't."

"I told him to go play, so I could talk!
He was only four! I should have known better! I should have kept him by my side!

.... He was playing hide and seek.. he hid..
he hid behind a truck and.. a-and—"

"It's okay.."

"All I remember is hearing him screaming Mommy..
and then I heard the most horrible horrible sound.
It was the sound of that truck.. crushing my baby!"

"Oh my gosh."

Jessica turned and held onto Danny as she sobbed.
"I held him in my arms.. he was covered in blood..
I told him that I loved him and that I was sorry.
He was struggling and... he looked into my eyes and reached for my face.. and then he... he passed.
My perfect baby boy passed away in my arms!"

"That's heartbreaking.  I'm so sorry, Ms. Lange.
I-I have no words."

"He was too good for this world.. I just miss him so so much!"

"He's still with you.  He'll never leave you."

"I know.. thank you for listening to my story."

"Don't mention it!  I'm here for you."

Jessica then pulls away and wipes her cheeks.
"Since he passed, my anxiety and depression has come back worse than ever.. for a year I didn't leave the house.. and then I realized that he wouldn't want we to stay home and be sad.  He would want me to do what I always wanted to do.  That's teaching.
A little before he passed, I had just finished school, and I was talking to him about what I wanted to do in life.  What I wanted for us.
He was so happy for me!  He wanted his mommy to be his teacher." Jessica smiles.

"Anyway.. I decided to do this for him.
This is my first year as a teacher and..
Your daughter.. all of the kids, but Delilah especially has made this new journey so incredible.

I understand her because.. that's me.  I've had anxiety since I was a child.  I understand how horrible it is to live with it every single day.
I feel for her and, I want to do whatever I can to help her." Jessica then teared up just thinking about Delilah.

".. She's given so much joy, Mr. Huston.
I absolutely love being her teacher."

"Aw.. well you know how much she loves you.
You're very special to her."

"That's so sweet!  When you tell me that she loves me.. or like the other day when you said that she picked me to be her Mom!  It makes me so happy.  We're helping each other heal."

"Yes you are.  She asked me the other day if I thought you'd take her to the zoo." Danny chuckles.
"She loves you!"

"Aw I love her!  Of course I'll take her to the zoo." Jessica laughs.

"That would make her so happy." Danny smiles.

Jessica smiles softly and wipes her tears.

"Oh my gosh, it's Thanksgiving!  I'm sorry, you probably need to be somewhere!"

"No it's fine!  Delilah actually sent me to fight in those Black Friday crowds."

"Are you serious?" Jessica chuckles.

"Yes!  I have her list here."

"Do you need help?  I have nothing else to do and.. I don't.. I don't want to be alone right now.
Would you mind if I went with you?"

"No, not at all!  I'm gonna need the help." Danny chuckles.

"Great!  Let me just go change!  I'll be back."

"Okay." Danny smiles and watches Jessica hurry to her bedroom.

He then spoke very quietly and said,
"Grace.. what are you doing?"