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Previously in "Distracting," Henry and Karen kissed, Katie confided to Lily her feelings about an anonymous girl, who Lily deduced must be Jessie. Lily then immediately disclosed the information to Judy after promising secrecy.
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Part 3: "Waking Up""Very funny, Judy." Needless to say, Lily did not look amused.
"So Jessie…" Lily nodded. "And Katie…" Lily nodded again. Judy just shook her head. "There's certainly a lot going on."
Lily, lost in her own thoughts and concerns, seemed glazed over as Judy continued, "What with going to Australia… and now not going to Australia… and Jessie and Katie" she still received no reaction from Lily other than an absentminded nod. "And the baby…"
"Excuse me?" Lily asked, unsure she had heard correctly. Judy simply looked at Lily, letting her know that she knew all about what she didn't think she knew. "How did you—?"
"Sam said Rick told him—so you are? Why didn't you tell me?" Judy asked indignantly.
"I've only told Rick so far. I just found out." Lily moved to sit at the table. Judy followed.
"It's official? You've seen the doctor?"
"Well, no. I haven't."
"Then how do you know?"
Lily gave Judy a look that implied Judy was a fool to question Lily's certainty. "I have been through this a few times."
"Sure, but that was years ago."
"Thanks," Lily said sarcastically. "Women my age can still have children. I'm not in the nursing home yet."
"But it's rare. I mean you're pushing 44, Lil." Judy paused as Lily conceded her point. "What if it's menopause?"
"Menopause?" Lily asked, almost insulted.
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Grace stumbled down the stairs, still groggy from the early morning wake-up from her bladder. Unfortunately, she couldn't fall back asleep, so she decided to meander downstairs to grab something to drink. As she reached the end of the stairs, Grace heard Lily and Judy's whispers from the kitchen. Always curious, Grace slowed her approach. As long as she was awake at such an early hour, she could make it worth her while by catching a few choice bits of the two women's conversation.
Judy was in mid-sentence, "… all I'm saying is that the house is full as it is. What are you going to do with—"
"I don't know," Lily responded. Grace peered in the doorway to see Lily stand up from her seat at the table and cross over toward the sink. She seemed tired and worried. "It's horrible timing. Rick's job offer, my job offer, Mom, not to mention everything going on with the kids."
"And now Jessie's… thing" Judy added. Grace's eyes widened.
Lily took a deep breath. "There's so much going on. And, I don't know what to do." Her voice broke slightly. Grace suddenly felt guilty for listening in on her mom's pained conversation—she was obviously upset. Grace entered the kitchen awkwardly, causing Lily to immediately tense up. Judy hid the saltines under the table.
Lily and Judy exchanged a look; an awkward silence followed. "I was just going to get a glass of water. I couldn't sleep." Grace stated, heading for the cupboard.
"Heh," Lily snorted at the statement. Grace got a glass out and filled it. She turned to face her mother, who had her head cradled in her palm.
"So did Jessie talk to you?" Grace asked, hoping to discover exactly what her mother knew.
Lily and Judy exchanged another look, this one of intrigue. What did Grace think was going on? And did she know more than them?
"Um, no." Lily answered vaguely. A moment of awkward silence followed. "Grace, it's probably best if you forget that you heard anything."
"Why?"
"Well…" Lily began, looking to Judy for help.
"Well…" Judy started, also unsure of what to say.
"Whatever," Grace huffed. "I probably know more than you anyhow," she mumbled before leaving the kitchen. Judy and Lily exchanged yet another look.
As Grace made her way through the doorway to the kitchen, Rick entered, noticing the obviously perturbed Grace making her huffy exit. Rick watched with amusement as Grace stomped off. He made his way over to Lily and kissed her good morning.
"What was that all about?" Rick asked, reaching to pour himself some coffee. Lily rolled her eyes.
"Nothing," Lily muttered. Rick turned with his cup, a quizzical expression on his face. Realizing that Lily wasn't paying any attention to the expression on his face, he directed his look of curiosity towards Judy, who shrugged.
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Karen's House 8 a.m., same morning
Jessie squinted her eyes open, and sat up. She had fallen asleep on the couch watching TV and had apparently spent the entire night there. She wondered if her mother had come home last night, and if she had a good time. Jessie could hear the coffee perking, and since Eli never rose before early afternoon, she guessed her mother had in fact made it home safely.
She made her way into the kitchen, finding her mother at the table with a cup of coffee and a smile on her face.
"Good morning, Honey," Karen greeted her daughter. Jessie walked over to her mother and embraced her from behind, planting a kiss on Karen's cheek.
"Good morning." Jessie found herself enchanted by her mother's good mood, the drifting smell of coffee, and her own pleasant memories of the time when her family life wasn't so confusing.
"How was the wedding?" Karen asked.
Jessie made her way to the fridge for some orange juice. "Gorgeous. Tiffany's dress was so pretty."
"I hear Katie made an appearance."
Jessie blushed as she poured herself a glass of juice, her thoughts drifting back to the ceremony. "Yeah. It was fun." Jessie joined her mother at the table. "You certainly look happy. How was your night?" Jessie asked knowingly.
"Very nice," Karen answered with a smirk. Jessie looked at her mother, clearly expecting more of a report.
"Nice how?" Jessie asked. Karen stood and walked to the sink, rinsing her cup and placing it in the dishwasher.
"What do you mean?" Karen responded, keeping up the coy act. Jessie sipped her juice.
"I don't know. Like, did anything or anyone in particular contribute to the 'very nice' quality of the evening?" Jessie grinned, anxiously awaiting her mother's response.
Karen blushed slightly before answering, "There was someone. And yes, we did have a very nice time."
"Hmmm," Jessie teased. "They must be pretty special."
"Maybe," Karen answered, the hope evident in her voice.
"So what made you decide to call them?" Jessie asked, pleased with herself.
"It turns out my daughter is very wise for her age."
"I am, aren't I?" Jessie responded as her mother came over and kissed her forehead.
"Thanks for the advice," Karen said, sitting down next to Jessie. Karen brushed some stray hairs from Jessie's face. "How did my daughter get to be so wise?"
"Experience."
"Oooh," Karen said. "Sounds like some juicy gossip."
"Wouldn't you like to know?" Jessie answered coyly.
"Does this experience involve anyone I know?"
"Maybe."
Karen looked at Jessie intrigued. Jessie smirked and stood up from the table to place her glass in the sink. Karen's expression became more serious. "Does this experience need to involve a mother-daughter conversation—?"
"No, Mom," Jessie interrupted, embarrassed at the direction their conversation had already taken. "It's completely innocent. You don't have to worry."
"Like hell," Karen said, moving to join Jessie at the sink. "Some young boy has stolen my daughter right out from under my nose." Jessie rolled her eyes.
"It's nothing like that."
"Alright." Karen pulled Jessie into a hug. "Just remember that having sex isn't all fun and games…" Jessie hoped that her mother's pause meant she was dropping the subject. Karen, however, felt she should say a little more. "There are consequences, you know."
"Mom!" Jessie let the tone of her voice beg her mother to quit the subject of conversation they were headed towards.
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Jake and Tiffany's Honeymoon
Jake attempted to approach the bed quietly, but a baby toy hidden under Tiffany's slip, which was strewn on the floor, gave him away. Hearing the squeak, Tiffany startled awake to see Jake standing in his boxers holding a single rose. They shared a smile until the baby, whom the squeak also woke, began to cry—loudly.
Jake made his way to the crib, putting the rose between his teeth to free his hands. He lifted his daughter and began to rock her. Tiffany got out of bed and put on her robe to join him at the crib's side.
She reached over and took the rose out from between Jake's teeth, cooing at the baby, trying to calm her. Tiffany kissed her daughter and then Jake on the cheeks.
"I was trying to be stealth," Jake said in between the cries. Tiffany smiled. She placed the rose back between his teeth and took the baby from him. She sat down in a chair and began to breastfeed.
Jake placed the rose on the bedside table and knelt down next to Tiffany. Tiffany looked at him, noticing he seemed lost in thought. "What are you thinking about?"
"Hmmm? Oh, I was just trying to decide which of you two I loved more."
"And—?" Tiffany asked, her grin as wide as her still recovering from maternity figure.
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Next time in "Distracting," Rick and Sam prep to meet with Colin, while Lily's health takes a potentially alarming turn.
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