Jesse walked into Aggie's that night. "Beth?"

"Jess?" She walked over and gave him a hug. "Why were you at the hospital?"

"Clara. She's pregnant."

"That's great. Why the hospital?"

"She was spotting. It was so scary. We thought she was losing the baby, but she's not. She does need to be on bed rest for a while though. When do Mom and Dad get back in town?"

"Next week. I can keep Ryder, Jess. You concentrate on Clara."

"Beth, I appreciate that but how can you do that? You have Lincoln and Jack and the B and B."

"We are family. You would help me if I needed you." She kissed his cheek. "Jack is giving him and Linc a bath. Go home to Clara."

"Alright. Thanks. I love you."

"Love you too."

The next few days were stressful to say the least but she managed, with help from Abigail and a lot of patience.

By the end though, she had a thought that would help her in the long run when emergencies cropped up from time to time.

"Jack, can we talk?" He laid Linc in his crib and sat down on the bed.

"What's up?"

"After the last few days I've been doubting how much I'm going to be able to handle when it comes time for us to put a baby into the mix."

"Oh, babe. You're so capable."

"I appreciate that but I think I need something like a partner. Someone who is willing to split the workload with me. I'd basically be cutting my income in half to pay that person so I wanted to see what you thought about it."

"I think that my income could support us. We might need to have a tighter budget but it could work. So I think putting your income that you do pay yourself into a savings account for emergencies is a good idea. Were you thinking of Abigail for your partner?"

"Yes and I definitely want to open up the B and B for weddings. I think that could be a big income generating aspect."

"I think you should ask her."

"Great."

"Oh, but I have a question."

"Shoot."

"Now that you'll have a partner, do you still want to wait two years to have a baby?"

"I don't know. Maybe a year?"

"A year is better," he agreed with a nod.

Two weeks later

Mike walked into the Maple Hills Medical Outpost with hope in his heart.

"Good morning, sir. How may I help you?"

"I saw a job opening for an EMT online. I submitted an application and I was wondering if anyone had received it yet."

"Michael Hickam?" she asked, looking at the computer.

"Yes, ma'am."

"Right this way." She gestured for him to follow her through a secured door. "Chief Gowan wants to see you."

"Why? I mean, how did he know I would be coming?"

"Just a hunch," an older, gray-haired man with a cane said from the doorway.

"A hunch, sir?"

"I received a recommendation from an Officer Coulter and a Deputy Jack Thornton. So, needless to say, they sang your praises."

He fought the tears of thankfulness that burned behind his nose.

"Your application stated you are a certified EMT."

"Yes, sir. I became certified before becoming a police officer and I've kept my certification up to date since."

"I heard about your incident with the traffic stop."

"Yes, sir."

"How are you dealing with your PTSD?"

"How did you know?"

"Why quit a career as a police officer and essentially slide backwards taking a cut in pay? My hunch tells me you can't step inside the station anymore."

"I'm getting married sir. In about two weeks. I need to support my family. I need this job."

"Are you seeing a counselor?"

"Honestly, no."

"I'd like your position here to be contingent on you attending counseling at least twice a week. I can't have one of my EMT's unable to cope or focus when lives are at risk. Understood?"

"Yes." Gowan reached across the desk and shook his hand.

"You're hired and may start the moment I have confirmation that you are attending counseling."

"Thank you, sir."

"You're welcome."

"Your partner?" Abigail repeated.

"Yes. You're so talented, Abigail. You are a great cook, you are good with people and I've never met a better housekeeper. I could really use you here."

"Can I think about it?"

"Of course. I've jotted down some items for you to consider including your pay." She handed her the paper she had typed up.

"Mama!" Lincoln yelled running in the room.

"Hi, baby. Where's Daddy?"

"Chase!"

"He was chasing you? Could it be because you're supposed to be taking a bath?"

"No bat."

"Yes, bath. You are dirty from playing in the dirt outside." She put him down and swatted his diapered rear. "Now scoot." She giggled as he ran back the other direction. "I couldn't love him more," she mumbled, her heart full.

"You're a good Mama to him. Not many would take on that role with little or no warning."

"Jack was going to so it only made sense that I go with him on the journey."

"You're both very lucky."

"Do you have children, Abigail?"

"I did. My son died in the same accident when I lost Noah."

"Oh my," she whispered. "I can't even imagine."

"Its been ten years. I'm ready to move forward now."

"With Pastor Hogan, perhaps?"

"Perhaps," she said with a smile. "For now, though, I'm going to bed to pray for help in making this decision." Abigail gave her a brief hug. "Beth, dear, take it from someone who knows. Don't wait to live your life and follow your dreams. Things can change in the blink of an eye and then your dreams might not happen."

After Linc and Jack were in bed, Beth took a cup of tea into the library. She paused at the doorway and took a big breath. It smelled wonderful. Like books and love and Aunt Agatha.

She sat on the couch and wrapped a blanket around her body even though it wasn't chilly.

Her eyes landed on the chair closest to the fireplace. Aggie's chair. Where she sat as they read and talked. Where she gave her advice about life.

FIFTEEN YEARS BEFORE

"My dear, Beth. You must always remember to follow your dreams. Don't drag your feet. Things can change very quickly."

"I'll remember, Aunt."

"You can do anything you set your mind to do."

"How do you know?"

"Because that's what my father told me and he was a very wise man."

"Tell me about him, Aunt."

PRESENT TIME

It had hit her hard when Abigail basically repeated word for word what Aunt Agatha had told her years before. She was following her dream. She had Jack. She had the Bed and Breakfast. Now she had Linc.

But she still had a hollow feeling in her gut that told her that now was the time to fulfill another dream.

"Beth?" Jack whispered, walking in the room. "Honey, it's late."

"I want to have a baby with you, Jack. I don't want to wait a year."

He sat next to her and watched her. "What changed your mind?"

"Aggie and Abigail. They both told me to follow my dreams and not to wait. Life is too short to wait. I want this, Jack."

He smiled and wrapped his arms around her. "Maybe we should wait until Abigail answers your proposal."

"Yeah. Maybe." She moved to his lap and put her palms on his cheeks. "Or maybe we should get started now." The intense kisses that followed left no room for stopping, in his opinion.

He got up and locked the door and then went back to the couch where she was waiting.

A few days later, Abigail came to her and accepted her proposal, wanting to be an investor in the B and B as well as partner. She had money set aside from years before and had wanted to find a way to help someone and make a difference.

So of course, Elizabeth agreed and they drew up a contract, making sure to run it by their lawyer, Bill Avery.

As the days passed, Bree and Mike's wedding was getting closer. Abigail and Beth worked tirelessly to get everything done.

Abigail offered to make the cake which was going to be lemon, requested by the couple.

The weather forecast was promising. It would be cold but the snow was going to hold off so they put up the rustic arch with the woods as the backdrop.

The evening before, they had a rehearsal and then a dinner of pulled pork sandwiches with coleslaw, sweet potato fries and mac and cheese was planned for after.

Mike led Bree into the library at the B and B.

"Babe? What are we doing? We need to get out there soon."

He gently leaned her back against the door. "I need quiet, Bree. It's great having my brothers and Mom here but...they are so loud."

She giggled and slipped her arms around his neck. "I wish it was tomorrow," she whispered as she kissed his warm lips.

"Jack and Beth got married the night of their rehearsal. We could do it too."

Their lips met again, a bit more passion than before. "Its tempting but...our flight isn't until tomorrow." They were headed to Florida for a long weekend.

They heard a giggle from further inside the room. "Tate?"

"Yes, Mama?"

"Come on out here, please." He walked out of the shadows and looked sheepishly at them. "What are you doing hiding in here?"

"I'm hiding from X."

"Why's that?"

"Hide and seek, silly."

Mike knelt down and wiggled his fingers for him to come closer. "Hey, Tater. Let me fix you here." Mike tucked his dress shirt into his pants. "There you go."

"Thanks, Daddy."

"You're welcome."

"We better go out there," Bree said, opening the door.

As they wandered into the kitchen, Abigail looked up. "Where have you been? Pastor Hogan is ready and waiting at the archway."

"They were kissin' in the liberry," Tate tattled proudly.

"Tate," Bree hissed, her face turning red. "Let's go."

The rest of the rehearsal that evening went well and the meal was delicious. Once the kids and Bree left to go home and everyone else went to bed, Mike found his mom in the kitchen at the table.

"Mom?"

"Hi, Michael." She dabbed at her eyes with a tissue.

"What's wrong?" He hadn't seen her cry in years. She was so strong. She raised four boys on her own for goodness sake.

"Nothing, dear." She gave him a smile.

"You don't cry, Mom. Something has to be wrong."

"No, sweetie. I'm happy and so very proud of you." He sat next to her and she took his hand.

"Why, Mom? I'm nothing special."

"You, my love, are very special. You are my firstborn. My strength when I needed it the most. You became a man at age ten when your father left. You shouldn't have had to do that."

"It was my job, Mom."

"No, it was his and then mine but, Michael, ten year olds are not supposed to be fathers. Despite not having much of a childhood, you grew up and became this strong, important police officer. You saved people's lives."

"I failed, Mom."

"No, dear. You succeeded. You took that bullet and you survived. And when you could have given up, you didn't. You became what you needed to be to take care of your family." She squeezed his hand and smiled. "How could I be anything but proud of you?"

He took a quiet moment and then he looked at her. "I love you, Mom. I am who I am because of you, not me. You're strong and independent and you taught me that love is the most important thing in any situation. Love never fails. So thank you for believing in me and for raising us like you did. I'm going to do my best to teach my boys and any future children we have what you taught us."

That was a huge conversation for Mike. As he lay in bed that night, anxious to be Bree's husband and Tate and Xavier's father, he couldn't believe how much his life had changed over the years.

He would have never expected to love someone so fiercely as he did Bree and the boys. They made him want to be successful and he would do anything to do it.