Immersed in my work, the next two weeks passed without realization. While struggling one morning with a difficult scene in the upcoming book, the phone rang. Aggravated, I reached for it. Much to my surprise, it was Jessica.

“When will you be at a stopping point?” she asked.

“Two weeks. Maybe three.”

“Have you got a minute?”

“Sure.”

“I uhhm. I took. I’m,” she stammered. “I’m pregnant.”

I leaped from my stool. “I figured you were,” I blurted.

“What do you mean?” she snapped back. “That’s your response? I figured you were?”

“I’ve been thinking you were,” I said excitedly. “For the last week. It’s a wedding night baby.”

“Why do you say that?”

“Do the math, genius,” I said jokingly. “We’ve only boned once in the last two months.”

“I think I’m much more pregnant than that. Either that, or this one is going to be twins, or something. I’m exhausted.”

She’d done nothing but sleep since our return from Las Vegas. She was also short-tempered and moody. The changes in her had me hoping she was pregnant. I had a gut feeling she was, and that the baby was conceived on our wedding night.

“Let’s go to the doctor and find out,” I said. “My bet is that we conceived on February fourteenth.”

“Okay. I’ll see you when I get home.”

“I love you,” I said.

“I love you, too.”

The elation we’d both exhibited a year earlier was missing. I was still on my heels from our previous loss and couldn’t fathom going through the same thing all over again. I had little expectation that I could live through losing another child. I doubted Jessica could, either.

Nonetheless, I was hopeful.

We spent the next two weeks joyous one moment, and fearful the next. Waiting for the axe to one day fall, we sat on pins and needles, hoping for the best, but expecting the worst. Four weeks into the pregnancy, Jess made a doctor’s appointment.

Our visit to the doctor confirmed my suspicions.

Our week-long trip to the city that never sleeps allowed us to shoehorn many activities, shows, meals, sights, and events into our schedule. It only afforded us one opportunity, however, to make love.

Our wedding night.

Upon receiving the confirmation from the doctor regarding the day of conception, I clenched my fist and held it over Jess’ lap.

She rapped her knuckles into mine.

The doctor grinned. “What was that about?”

“Wedding night baby,” Jess said.

“That’s awesome,” the doctor said.

“What about the baby’s health?” I asked anxiously. “Is she healthy?”

“You don’t know it’s a girl,” Jess said.

I arched an eyebrow at Jess, and then looked at the doctor. “What about the baby’s health?”

“Everything looks fine right now, but it’s way too early to tell.”

We explained the miscarriage we’d experienced. The doctor expressed her condolences but offered nothing to comfort us in the way of assurances that this baby would be any different than our last.

I begged for a sonogram. The doctor refused. She then placed a device on Jessica’s stomach, which produced an audible heartbeat.

Hearing it was enough to convince me that this time was going to be different. There was nothing to support my belief, but somehow, I knew.

Two weeks later, contrary to Jessica’s requests, I posted a picture of her on Facebook, and included a hashtag with the photo.

#babymomma

The book world went wild.

“What if--” Jessica began.

I pressed my index finger to her lips. “It’s going to be just fine.”

Having told my fans and followers, we had no choice but to tell our families. We told her parents by phone, and then made the trip to my parent’s house on the following Sunday. After taking our position in the usual places, we made the announcement.

“Mother!” I shouted. “We’ve got an announcement.”

She glanced to her side. “Okay.”

“Are you listening, Pop?”

“Like Dumbo the elephant,” he said. “I’m all ears.”

“Jessica’s pregnant,” I said. “We’re going to have a baby.”

“Oh,” my mother said. “I already knew that.”

I looked back at her in complete shock. “What?”

“I had a dream. Last Wednesday. I told your father.” She glanced at my father. “When was it, Dave?”

He rolled his eyes. “Wednesday.”

She grinned, and then rubbed Jessica’s shoulder. “I’m so happy for you.”

My mother claimed to be clairvoyant. I never disputed her claims. She had several circumstances over the years that were inarguable.

My father cleared his throat, commanding our attention in doing so. As Jess and I both met his gaze, he smiled. “Congratulations.”

“It’s a wedding night baby,” I said.

“Gave her the wedding night dick, did ya?” he said with a laugh.

“David Wilson Hildreth!” my mother shouted.

He chuckled. “She always hears the bad, and never hears the good.”

A few days later, I told the older children. Erin was excited to the point of coming home from college, and Derek was excited about having a baby brother. Alec gave congratulatory comments to us both, but his sincerity seemed lacking.

I couldn’t help but wonder if the animosity it seemed Alec felt was a result of Landon, Lily, and the new baby getting what he felt he was cheated out of when I went to prison. Before I left, we were inseparable. After I returned, he never quite had the time to spend with me that he once did. Initially, I dismissed it, assuming it would change in time.

Based on his actions, I wondered if time had the capacity to heal all wounds. As Jess progressed through the pregnancy, I prayed for two things.

Acceptance from my eldest son, and the baby’s health.

If I could somehow obtain those two things, my life – and Jessica’s – would be nothing short of perfection.