Connie and Jacob had been living together now for four months, things were going great between them. They'd settled into a routine that fit all three of them. The weekends Connie got off from work were spent with Grace and a couple of times Jacob had insisted on taking them away for the weekend.
Grace had accepted Jacob with open arms into their little family and was happy to spend time with him when her mum was at work.
"Morning Grace." Said Jacob wondering into the kitchen.
"Morning." Smiled Grace. "Where's mum?"
"She had to go in early this morning, there was an emergency..." Explained Jacob. "Can I got you some breakfast?"
"Can we make pancakes?" Tried Grace with a hopeful smile on her face.
"Mmmm...I think we can stretch to that, yes...as long as you help!" Grinned Jacob.
The pair set about measuring flour and mixing the ingredients, happily chatting away to one and other when Jacob's phone rang.
"Hello?" He answered. "Oh hey Charlie, everything ok?...Charlie...Please tell me she's going to be okay...Erm, ye...right...we're on our way." Jacob hung up the phone and leaned heavily on the work top.
"Jacob?" Asked Grace with worry in her voice. "Whats wrong?"
Looking at Grace Jacob took a deep breath. "Theres been an accident...we need to go to the E.D...go get your things." Said Jacob quietly.
"Is something wrong with mum?" Asked Grace.
"Shes been hurt...but she'll been fine.." Jacob said trying to sound positive for Grace's sake.
The pancake batter was left forgotten as they rushed from the house, charging to the hospital to be with Connie.
"Charlie!...where is she?" Demanded Jacob rushing to the nurses station with Grace.
"Jacob...she's fine...they'll be no lasting damage..." Charlie told him. "shes in resus...come through." Charlie led the pair into resus where they saw Connie laying peacefully on one of the beds.
Jacob watched as Grace rushed over to hold her mum's hand.
"Charlie...what the hell happened?" Asked Jacob stunned in place by the sight before him.
"A young man was brought in...he'd been involved in a robbery earlier in the night...it looks like in the get away he caused a pile up on the motorway...when he came to in resus he panicked and lashed out...Connie got in the way." Explained Charlie. "The good news is the stab wound isn't serious...superficial really...it just required a few stitches...in the struggle she fell and bumped her head...She unconscious at the minute...her head C.T was all clear, there's nothing to suggest that she won't make a full recovery."
"Thanks Charlie." Said Jacob with a small smile and started over towards Grace.
"Jacob..." Said Charlie looking a little unsure calling him back. "There's something else..."
"What is it?" Frowned Jacob.
"Erm...while we were running tests..." Charlie cleared his throat. "We found this..." passing Jacob Connie's notes before he continued. "The pregnancy test came back positive...we did a ultrasound to check on the baby...everything seems fine...I say she's about 3 weeks...She probably doesn't even know yet...Jacob?"
Jacob stood rooted to the spot reading over and over the results on the paper in front of him. "Jacob, mate...are you ok?" Asked Charlie.
"Err...ye...Erm...wow...this is...I wasn't expecting...I'm...I don't know what to say...their both going to be ok?" Struggled Jacob.
Charlie gave him a nod and smile.
"This is...wow...this is big..." Jacob grinned.
"Here, I think you'll want this." Said Charlie pulling out envelope from the back of Connie's notes. "Its from the scan."
"Thanks Charlie." Said Jacob.
"JACOB!" Shouted Grace.
Looking over he could see Connie stirring. "Connie?" He went to her side and held her hand.
"Hey sweet cheeks.." He said with a sigh of relief.
"What happened?" She asked weakly, not entirely awake. Groaning and holding her head she tried to move.
"Don't worry about that now you just rest." He said stroking her forehead as she went back to sleep.
"Is she going to be ok?" Asked Grace from the other side of the bed.
"Shes going to be fine...she'll be a bit poorly for a while but she's going to be back on her feet before you know it!" Said Jacob smiling brightly at her.
Jacob and Grace sat by her side until she woke again. "Hey mum...how are you feeling?" Asked Grace giving her mum a hug.
"Much better..." Smiled Connie and then she turned to Jacob. "How long till I can get out of here?"
"They are happy for you to leave in a little while." Smiled Jacob. "As soon as you've eaten and drank something...if you can keep that down we can be on our way...Grace?...do you think you could track Charlie down for me please?" Asked Jacob with a small smile.
"Sure...won't be long." Said Grace skipping out the room.
"You remember what happened now?" Asked Jacob and Connie nodded. "How's your side feel?"
"Sore...but bearable." Offered Connie sitting up.
"Listen there's-" "Right let's see how you go on with this food." Interrupted Charlie placing some sandwiches and a cup of tea on the bedside table.
Jacob pulled Charlie to one side. "I haven't had time to tell her yet...i'll do it at home when Grace as gone to bed."
Charlie nodded his understanding. "Make sure she rests." He told him as he passed him a couple boxes of medication. "Pain killers if she needs then and folic acid...she'll need another check up in the week so make sure you tell her soon, ok?"
"Thanks Charlie."
It was getting late by the time Connie, Jacob and Grace made it home. "Come on let's get my two favourite girls into bed." Said Jacob helping Connie upstairs.
Once Grace was settled Jacob went to sit beside Connie on their bed. "How you feeling now...do you need any painkillers?" Asked Jacob.
"No, I'm fine...are you ok?" Asked Connie looking at Jacob's expression. "I didn't mean for you to worry." She told him leaning into his side.
"Its not your fault...there's...erm...there is something we need to talk about though...Erm...it's..." Jacob struggled to get his words out, nervous about Connie's reaction.
"Jacob...what's wrong...just say whatever it is." Urged Connie.
"I really don't know how your going to take the is news..." Jacob pulled the scan picture out of his pocket and passed it to Connie. "...Charlie organized a ultrasound when your blood test came back positive." He added as he watched the news sink in.
"But...I can't be..." panicked Connie looking at the image. "...we've always been careful." She said looking at Jacob for answers.
"Your a doctor...you know nothing is 100% effective." Jacob reached for the side of her face and moved a lock of hair over her ear.
"How could I not know..." questioned Connie. "...How could I not know I was pregnant?"
"Your not far along...Charlie says about three weeks..." explained Jacob.
"And its ok...after today?" Frowned Connie running a tentative finger over the black and white image.
"Ye it is...you need to take it easy for a little while...Make an appointment with maternity as soon as possible to get checked over." Said Jacob taking hold of her hand. He took in the lost expression on her face. "That's if this is what you want..." ventured Jacob, a sinking feeling starting in his chest.
Connie's head snapped up, shock all over her face. "I'm just trying to process all this Jacob...I don't know what to think...this was the last thing I thought we'd have to deal with." She told him honestly.
"I know...I felt exactly the same...Get some sleep...we'll talk in the morning." Said Jacob climbing under the covers and gently wrapped his arms around Connie. "I love you sweet cheeks." He told her quietly.
"I love you too muscles."
That night Connie got very little sleep, thoughts running through her mind of the baby growing inside her. Could she really bring up another child, after the mess she made with Grace in the past.
These past few months she had worked hard to be the mother Grace needed and felt she was getting somewhere. Grace trusted her again, she was happy...they were all happy, wouldn't a baby complicate things?
How would Grace react to being a big sister?...would she feel like she was being pushed out?...would she want to go back to her dad's?
Would it undo all the progress they'd made?
She wasn't exactly the ideal age to be having a baby...but she was fit and in good health.
All the reasons why she shouldn't have this baby kept stacking up.
And then there was Jacob.
Connie knew deep down Jacob would want this baby...he'd make a great dad, he was amazing with Grace and she wasn't even his...not that it made a difference to him.
If she explained to him that she couldn't have this baby would he hate her?
Would she lose him?
It was five in the morning when Connie gave up on the idea of sleep, she slipped out from under Jacob's protective embrace and eased herself out of bed to continue her dilemma downstairs.