(04-26-2018) I'M SORRY! I had school all day yesterday and was at work all day today and I was writing last night but fell asleep with my computer on my lap. But here it is. Let me know what you think!

*Two weeks later*

I was sitting at my desk, toward the end of the school day as the children took their math test on the algebra we'd been going over.

I was reading when I heard, "Mrs. Thornton?" I looked up and saw Philip with his hand raised.

He'd come back home, finally, about a week ago. His surgeries went well and was doing better than ever. I had told him to try his best on the test and it wouldn't count against him because he missed most of the material. It was just to see where he was with his algebra. I stood up and went over to him, "Yes?"

Just above a whisper, taking the other students into consideration around him he said, "I don't understand this one." and he pointed to a question.

"It's alright, Philip." matching his tone, "Just try your best and we can go over it, alright?" He nodded and turned back to his test.

"Boys and girls," I said in my normal tone, drawing their attention to me. "As soon as you're finished with your test, you're free to go for the day." they rustled a bit, "but that does not mean, rush and get it done. Please take your time with it and try your best." I sat back down at my desk and continued to read.

A few minutes later, Harper, followed by Hattie, then Emily, all handed in their tests. "You checked all of your answers?" Each nodded and continued on their way.

Soon, almost all of my students were gone. Only Opal and Philip were left, and I could see they were both straining, thinking of how to work through the problems.

I got up and slid in the opposite end of the bench that Opal sat on. "Philip, would you join us up here please?" He looked concerned, "You're not in trouble. Come on." I patted the bench beside me, opposite of Opal, and he made his way over.

When he was settled I took a breath, "What are you having trouble with?"

We spent a while going over the questions they were having trouble with and both were less tense and all smiles. I took their tests and put them on the pile on my desk, along with the rest of them.

"Thank you, Mrs. Thornton." Opal hugged me from the side, and I reached and patted her back.

"You're very welcome." She let go and smiled up at me. Grabbing their coats before she left with Philip and headed to wherever they were going.

I packed up the papers, put on my coat, and headed out myself. I made my way down the dirt road to town and stopped at the spot where Jack had proposed to me.

I remembered how perfect it was, except for him leaving the next day. The candles, the rose petals, him… everything so, so perfect. I felt a tightness in my chest and my eyes stung. I moved on before I'd have another episode.

I went into town and stopped at the mercantile, I had run out of some things. I went to the counter to pay and Mr. Yost actually was surprised to see me. "Mrs. Thornton. I haven't seen you in a while."

I smiled at him, "Yes, it has been a while, hasn't it?"

"I hear you're expecting." He said.

My smile widened, "I am."

"That's exciting! I'm happy for you." He said.

"Thank you," I laughed, "I still don't believe it."

"You will, soon," He said, "A child changes your life."

I smiled, "Thank you, Mr. Yost."

"You're welcome. And congratulations." He smiled.

"Thank you." I gave him a nod and opened the door and left.

I made my way across Main Street and over to Abigail's, smiling and giving a few hellos along the way. The door opened and Henry walked out and almost into me, "Oh, Elizabeth, I'm sorry. I didn't see you there." and he stepped out of my way.

"It's quite alright. It wasn't intentional." I reassured him. He tipped his hat and continued on his way. I furrowed my brow and went inside the café, instantly meeting Abigail's gaze and her bright smile.

I went over to her, "Well, someone is in a good mood." I said to her.

"Just been a good day." She said.

I looked out the window and saw Henry walking up Main Street, "What did Mr. Gowen want?"

"Hmm?" She was counting the money in the cash drawer, "Oh, Henry? Just paying a visit. Getting a good meal."

"Henry?" I gave her a look, "He's Henry now?"

She looked up at me, "Well, he's a friend, and friends often call each other by their first names." she got slightly defensive.

I put my hand up in surrender, "I was just asking."

She smiled, "Let me get you something to eat."

I paused, "I never said I was hungry."

"No, but you probably are and you're eating for two now. I'm going to make you something." She finished counting the money and stuck it back in the drawer.

"Abigail, really that isn't-" she was gone, "-necessary." I sighed and found an empty table by one of the windows, sitting down and setting my things down at my feet. Thinking about it, I was a little hungry. Darn Abigail and always being right.

I looked out the window, watching everyone on the street. My students playing, friends stopping to have brief conversations before moving on with their day. They all seemed to move in slow motion though like time could stop at any second.

Before I knew it, a plate of shepherd's pie was sitting in front of me.

The smell was repulsive. The scent of meat and fat wafted up to my nose. Yes, there were other smells in there too, but those were all I could sense. I put a hand over my nose to keep myself in check. Abigail saw it on my face that I definitely was not in the mood for shepherd's pie.

"Oh dear," She took the plate, "I see this won't agree with you."

"I'm sorry."

"Please, Elizabeth, don't be. I remember the feeling. Not well, but boy, is it hard to forget entirely." she stepped away, thankfully, the smell growing faint. "What would you like?" she asked.

I pondered a moment, not being able to decide. "Pancakes and watermelon?"

She gave me a look, "That's all you've been eating for weeks. How are you not sick of it?" I shrugged and she only rolled her eyes and went back into the kitchen.

"Thank you!" I called after her.

If Jack were here, he'd for a fact be sure I ate a variety of things. Things I'd be able to stomach of course. But he would never just let me eat pancakes and watermelon, no matter how much I wanted it.

Abigail was back soon with my food, and the sweet smell was just what I wanted. "Abigail, you are truly the best." I placed the napkin in my lap.

"Because I make you food?" she laughed.

I rolled my eyes, "No, you're always here for me and it means so much more than you know." I reached out to her, intending shed take my hand. She took my clue and placed her hand in mine and I gave it a squeeze. "I don't know what I would do without you."

She squeezed my hand back, "You'd figure things out." she said confidently.

"I'm glad one of us thinks so." I laughed and we let go of each other, and I started to eat.

"How have you been feeling?" She asked.

I took a bite of the pancakes, they were so fluffy, and warm, and couldn't have tasted any better! "The morning sickness has gone down quite a bit. The only way I even feel nauseous is with certain foods." I laughed.

Abigail pouted, "You usually love my shepherd's pie, too."

"It wasn't the shepherd's pie itself," I took another bite, "It was the meat and the oil and I need to stop talking about it before I really am sick."

She laughed, "But everything else is well?" I nodded, not convincingly enough though. "What is it?" she asked.

"I just… I get nervous because I won't feel him or her move for hours on end then feel the littlest whisper of it and it's gone again for hours." I shook my head, "It just scares me."

"That's normal early on. Peter did that to me a lot and I would drive myself insane until he moved again."

"Really?" I needed reassurance.

"Really." She smiled.

Rosemary came in just then, "Elizabeth! There you are!" She pulled up a chair and sat down between Abigail and me. "I was going to save this, but I'm too excited! Look at what I found at the mercantile!" She held up a very puffy, pink, baby-sized dress.

"Baby clothes?" I asked.

"Why, of course, silly! You're going to need them!" She was bubbly beyond control.

I gave a laugh, "Thank you Rosemary, but what if it isn't a girl?"

"What do you mean?" I couldn't believe she just asked that. Abigail stifled a laugh.

"I mean, what if it's a boy?" I said, my heart skipping a beat.

"Well, you're going to have to discipline it sometime."

What did that even mean? I just shook my head, "It's adorable Rosemary, thank you." With that, she put it back in the bag and placed it by my other things at my feet, and I took a bite of watermelon.

"What are you hoping it is, Elizabeth?" Abigail asked a look in her eyes told me she had an idea of her own.

I smiled, "I don't know. Truly. I'll be happy either way. When I wrote to Julie, she made it very clear she will have a niece." I laughed, "And my parents said they are also happy with either, but Viola already has a little girl, so I know they want a grandson."

"Well, I believe I've made it clear that I think it will be a girl." Rosemary laughed.

"I think it'll be a boy," Abigail said.

"Well, what's your reasoning there?" Rosemary asked.

"She's carrying more toward the front than anything else," Abigail said. I just sat there listening.

"She's only just over three months along, you can't really tell yet."

"It's far along enough if you ask me."

"Well, I think it'll be a girl."

"We know you've said that already."

"Well, at least I'm the one who is right."

Folding her arms, Abigail said, "What's your reasoning Rosemary?"

"I… I just know it."

"Jack wanted a boy," I said, not thinking before it came out. I hadn't spoken to him in over a week to anyone. Abigail and Rosemary stopped and looked at me. "He wanted someone to play ball with, who he could teach to run the farm we were going to build up on that hill." I looked out the window. I smiled, tears welling in my eyes, "He said we couldn't have any daughters." They looked confused, "He said it was because he would no choice but to pull out his rifle any time a young man came around." I chuckled. "He said, he'd never be able to tell them no because they'd look too much like me and he'd spoil them rotten." I smiled and looked back to my friends. They both had closed mouth smiles with their eyes glazed.

"Did you two ever discuss names?" Rosemary asked.

I shook my head, "No."

"Do you have an idea of what you'd name them?"

"Definitely Jack for a boy. No questions asked." I said very seriously.

"And a girl?" Abigail chimed in.

I shrugged, "I don't know. I can't come to a conclusion on that one."

"Well," Rosemary said, "Regardless, girl or boy, this baby will be beautiful."

"Thank you. I can't help but think that this baby is a miracle. To help me… heal… I suppose." I said.

"Definitely." Abigail said, "I completely agree."

Am I pulling at your heartstrings? Cause that's what I'm trying to do. Again, sorry it took so long!

ALSO if you haven't already, go follow my "When Calls the Heart" account _when_calls_the_heart_