"You're awful quiet," Marty said as she and Jackson walked around the park.
"Just have a lot on my mind," he replied, slipping his arm around her waist.
"You usually tell me..."
He sighed. "Andy enlisted."
She stared at him. "He what?"
"He enlisted last week."
"He promised me he wouldn't!"
"Is that how things are between you two? Should I step aside so that you two can be happy together?"
She looked at him and then sighed.
"Talk to me, Marty."
"What do you want me to say?"
"An answer to my questions would be nice."
"I don't know..."
"That's not an answer."
"Well it's the best one I can give you!"
Jackson frowned.
She sighed and walked away.
"Martha..."
"Don't call me that! I don't know how many times I've told you... I don't like that name!"
He turned her around and kissed her. Marty froze. He let go of her and took a step back. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have done that." She stared at him. He blushed. "No. I'm not sorry. I love you, Marty...I have for a long time..."
"What...? But... why are you telling me this now?"
"I don't know..."
"Are you doing this just because Andy is out of the picture right now?"
"No. He's known about my feelings for you. I guess I was just waiting to see if you returned my feelings..."
She looked down.
He sighed. "I should get you home before your parents start to worry..."
"You're probably right."
They walked back to her house in silence. About half-way there she stopped him with a hand on his arm. "Jackson..."
"What?"
"Did you want to marry me?"
He blinked at her. "E-excuse me?"
"You said you loved me...were you thinking of marrying me?"
"I well... yes... maybe... eventually... you know... when you felt the same..." he stammered.
"I do care for you deeply, Jackson..."
"But...?
"I just never thought about you like that..."
"I see... well, I... guess I understand."
"I'm not opposed to the idea, Jackson."
"... What do you mean?"
"If you were to ask, I wouldn't tell you no."
"You wouldn't? Does that mean yes or maybe?"
She smirked at him. "Why don't you ask me and find out..."
"You mean now?"
"I might change my mind later..."
"Well, I don't want you to regret marrying me..."
"I don't think I will..."
He took her hands. "All... right then. Marty... will you marry me?"
She smiled up at him. "Yes."
"Really?" he said, surprised.
She nodded.
"Oh... oh... well, okay then!" he said with a laugh. He frowned. "Marty...you're parents will never agree to this..."
"Well ... they don't have to know."
"Are you suggesting, what I think you're suggesting?"
"What do you think I'm suggesting?"
"The two of us running away and getting married..."
"Then yes, that's what I'm suggesting."
"And just how are we supposed to pull this off?"
"Instead of going to see Spot and Rae next week, we can simply go somewhere and get married..."
"You're really serious about this, aren't you?"
"I want you to be happy."
"What about you?" Jackson asked, watching her.
"I'll be happy if you're happy."
He didn't look so sure.
She wrapped her arms around him. "Let's get married," she said.
He continued to stare at her.
She pouted. "I can't tell what you're thinking when you look at me like that..."
"I'm just surprised, is all."
She stepped back, a pout still playing on her lips. "You've changed your mind, haven't you?"
"No, of course not!"
She turned away from him.
"Marty..."
"What?"
He smiled a bit. "Let's get married," he said, taking her hand.
"Really?"
"Really."
She squealed and threw her arms around his neck. He laughed a bit, hugging her.
"Marty..." Jackson called, gently shaking her shoulder.
She moaned and slowly opened her eyes. The last two weeks it felt as if she couldn't get enough sleep.
"We're in Brooklyn. Rae went to find Spot..."
She nodded and pushed herself up. "What time is it?"
"We'll make it in time for dinner with Beau."
She nodded. "I am hungry..."
"It doesn't surprise me. You've been asleep since we left Pleasant Valley early this morning."
She smiled a little. "Well, I was tired."
Spot and Rae appeared then. "Let's get you two off this train," Spot said.
They nodded and stood stiffly, wincing.
"Long trip?"
They both nodded. "Some food and a bed sound wonderful," Marty said, wistfully.
Rae smiled, and, with Spot, led the couple slowly down the streets of Brooklyn. After a few blocks Spot stopped and hailed a cab. "Marty looks too tired to walk," he explained.
"We probably should've done that from the start," Rae said.
"I don't mind," Marty protested.
"I could use a ride," Jackson said ruefully.
"It's settled then," Spot said as the cab stopped in front of them. The four climbed in.
"Is it always like this the last two months?" Marty asked Rae.
Rae smiled. "Yes, which is the hard part. But once you have that little baby in your arms, it's more than worth it."
Marty sighed and leaned her head against Jackson's shoulder. He put his arm around her and hugged her close.
Once at Sippi's house, Spot stopped Rae from going inside. "We are going to have dinner with Lizzy."
Rae looked at him. "Are you sure we can?"
"I've already cleared it with the school."
She smiled and nodded. "All right then. How's she doing?"
"They said she was doing well. A bit more stubborn than the other students, but when she decides to learn, she picks up new lessons quickly."
"She gets that stubbornness from you."
Spot smiled. "Not a chance. It's all from you, little lady."
"Oh really?" she asked with a smile.
"Of course."
She laughed. He slipped his hand in hers and they walked down the street.
"When do you go see Trent?" he asked.
"Tomorrow..."
He squeezed her hand gently. "Worried?"
"Not really...he'll probably just ask me the same questions he's asked every other time I've come to see him."
He led her across the street. "Would you like me to come with you?"
After a moment, she nodded.
He kissed the side of her head. "I love you, Rae."
Rae smiled a bit. "I love you too, Spot."
He kissed her nose. "Lizzy's school is right behind you."
She glanced back. "Well, what are we waiting for?"
He put his arm around her and led her across the street. Taking the heavy knocker, Spot gave the door three loud knocks.
A moment later the door was answered by a plump woman who smiled at them. "Good evening, Mr. Conlon. Mrs. Conlon."
They smiled back. "Good evening."
"I didn't tell Elizabeth that you were coming...I thought she might like the surprise."
They nodded. "Alright," Spot said, leading Rae in.
"She's in the schoolroom at the end of the hall reading, if you'd like to go get her yourself."
"Alright. Thank you again," Rae said with a smile.
"My pleasure."
Spot and Rae headed down the hallway, glancing around curiously. They found her alone in the room at the end of the hall, her head bent over a large book on the table. They were quiet for a moment, as they watched her fingers drift over the page.
Spot nudged Rae and nodded toward Lizzy. "Good book, Princess?" he asked.
She started and sat up straighter. "Daddy?"
"I'm here, Liz."
Rae smiled. "Me too."
"Momma? Why... are you both here??"
"Because we wanted to see you."
She smiled. "Well, good. I'm glad you came." She carefully reached for her book and closed it.
"How about going out to dinner with us?" Spot asked.
She smiled and nodded. "Yes! I'd like that."
"Well then...let's go."
She stood and headed in their general direction. "Don't tell me," she said, holding out a hand. "Just keep talking and let me find you."
So they did, and they watched, impressed as she found them quickly.
She smiled at them. "I'm learning a lot here."
"Yes, you are." Rae put her arm around the girl and kissed the side of her head. "And we're very proud of her."
Lizzy smiled, but when she hugged her mother she frowned.
"What's the matter?" Spot asked.
"Are you still sick, Momma?"
"Why?"
"Momma's thinner than I remember..."
"I'm not really sure, honestly..." she said. "I'm here to see Trent as well."
"He needs to make you better!"
She smiled. "He's trying his best, sweetheart."
"I don't know about the two most beautiful girls in Brooklyn and Pleasant Valley, but I'm hungry," Spot said.
Lizzy managed a smile. "Daddy... now you're just being silly."
"No I'm not squirt. You look just like your momma...and your momma is the most beautiful woman I know."
Rae laughed. "Like she said, you're being silly."
He laughed along with her. "Come on, woman."
"Where are we going to eat?" Lizzy asked as they headed out of the room.
"Why don't you decide."
She thought about it for a moment and then mentioned a nice Dutch restaurant down the road. Once they were seated at the table with their food, Lizzy leaned over to Rae. "Momma..."
"Yes, sweetheart?"
"Can you tell me where everything is on my plate?"
Rae smiled. "Of course."
Lizzy smiled. "Look at it like a clock...that's how they tell us at school."
"All right." And Rae dictated what was on her plate.
"Thank you Momma."
"You're welcome." She ate a bit. "How do you like your school?"
"I really like it a lot."
"What have you learned?" Spot asked.
"Normally one of the first things you learn in classes is to read Braille...but Kenneth had already taught me to do that..."
"So you were advanced then," he said with a smile.
"Only is my class work...I'm a little behind in everything else..."
"What else did they teach you?" Rae asked curiously.
"How to get by on our own..."
"I'll bet that's helpful."
"I'm learning how to tell where people are just by the sound of their voice..."
"That's wonderful!"
"I've made some friends too."
"Great!" Spot said. "When you come home, you should invite them over."
Lizzy bit her lip.
"Is something wrong?" Rae asked her.
"They've been teaching us to see faces by touching them...I want to be able to see both of you."
"We want you to see us too," Spot said with a smile. He stood and knelt next to her chair.
Carefully, she reached out, so as not to jab him in the eye, and slowly, her fingers drifted over every feature of his face. She carefully ran her fingers along each scar that marred his face. "Do they hurt?" she asked him.
"Not since before you were born, princess."
She smiled. "That's good."
He took her hands and kissed them. "I love you Liz."
She smiled and hugged him. "I love you too, Daddy."
"Why are you looking at me like that?" Rae asked Trent the next day.
"Have you not been listening to what you've been telling me?" he replied.
"What?"
He leaned against the wall. "You've missed your monthly three times now...you've been waking up sick in the mornings...even you should know the signs Rae."
She frowned. "I... I'm pregnant?"
He nodded.
"But... I..."
"But what?"
"I don't know..."
"I can't promise you anything Rae..."
"I know," she said, chewing her lip.
"If you spend the rest of the time in bed...there might be a chance...but I just don't know."
"Well... you did warn me..."
He nodded. "I did."
"I didn't even think of it- getting sick and everything and not once did it cross my mind...I've been so sick anyway since the triplets were born..."
"It's been almost fourteen years since the last time, Rae..."
"I know."
He pushed away from the wall. "I'll send Spot back."
She nodded slowly.
"If you two have any questions, I'll be in my office."
She nodded again. "Thank you Trent."
He left the room and a few minutes later Spot came in. "What's wrong?" he asked, kneeling beside her.
She sniffled. "I'm pregnant."
"You're...what?"
"Pregnant."
He pulled her into his arms and held her close. She wrapped her arms tightly around him. "Is he sure?" Spot asked, his voice but a whisper.
"He seems sure."
"What else did he say?"
"That he couldn't promise anything. If I stayed in bed, I might be okay, but maybe not."
He tucked her head under his chin. "We have to try, sweetheart."
"I know... But I'm scared, Spot..."
"So am I."
Rae buried her face in his shoulder.
As he gently rubbed her back, memories flooded his mind.
Rae moaned in pain as she eased back onto the couch. She felt worse now than she had when she was pregnant with Sam.
Ann skipped into the room with some flowers in her hand. "Hey Momma."
Rae pushed herself up a bit. "Hey sweetie."
"Daddy said to give these to you."
She smiled and took them. "Thank you, sweetheart."
Ann leaned over and kissed her on the cheek. "Love you, Momma."
She hugged Ann. "I love you too, Annie."
Ann giggled and ran from the room. Rae smiled and sniffed the flowers. Andy came in a few minutes later, hiding something behind his back.
Rae smiled a bit. "What do you have there, young man?"
He grinned. "Some flowers for you..."
She laughed a bit. "More flowers? Why thank you!"
He gave her the flowers, kissed her cheek and ran from the room.
She smiled. She shifted uncomfortably and set the flowers on the table beside her. Closing her eyes, she tried to find a comfortable position. She heard a third set of footsteps heading in her direction and she opened her eyes again.
"Hey," Spot said, kneeling beside her.
She smiled a little. "Hi."
"How are you feeling?"
Resting a hand on her stomach, she murmured, "I'm feeling awfully fat."
"You're very beautiful."
She shook her head. "I feel about ready to pop. This baby keeps kicking me- I think he's trying to turn me inside out!"
He leaned forward and kissed her gently.
Rae smiled faintly. "Thank you."
"You're welcome."
"And thank you for encouraging Ann and Andy to bring me flowers. That was sweet."
"I was hoping it would make you smile," he said, sitting beside her on the couch.
She smiled. "Well, it did." She rested her head on his shoulder.
He held her close. "I love you, Rae."
"I love you too."
Trent knocked softly on the door.
"Come in," Spot said.
"I just wanted to let the two of you know that I'm leaving on a call. You can stay as long as you'd like."
They nodded. "Thank you," Rae murmured.
"You're welcome," he said, slipping from the room.
Rae sniffled and dried her eyes on a handkerchief. "We should... probably get back."
"Only if you're ready to leave," Spot said.
She sniffled and nodded. "I think I'd just like to go home and lie down/"
"We can catch the train home tonight. I'm sure Sip could ride back to Pleasant Valley with Jackson and Marty."
She nodded. "I hope he doesn't mind... I'm sorry, Spot. I know you wanted us to all be together longer."
He brushed her hair behind her ear. "Right now you are more important than any of that."
She frowned. "But it's always about me..."
"You are the most important thing in the world to me Rae...I couldn't bear to lose you."
She sniffled.
"Let's go home Rae."
She nodded and took his arm. "All right."