Marcie had never been so nervous in her life. She could hardly breathe as she sat in the diner waiting for Gabrielle. A thousands thoughts raced through her mind, her palms sweating as she bounced her leg nervously.

"Marcie?" Gabrielle walked into the diner. "I am sorry I'm late."

"Oh you're not... it's... OK." Marcie said. "I'm just glad you came."

"You said on the phone that it was important."

"Yeah... very important," Marcie took a deep breath. "I don't even... I don't know how to even say it..." Gabrielle sat forward in her seat. "Miss Medina... I loved Al more than anything in this world." She worked hard to keep from crying. "And..." she took a deep breath. "I don't know how to say this."

"This has to do with Al?" Gabrielle asked.

"Ye...yeah," Marcie said. "You can say that." She bit her bottom lip. "Miss Medina..." Marcie began bouncing her leg again. "I... I'm..." she paused. "I'm pregnant."

Gabrielle went completely still, jaw dropping in shock. "Pregnant?"

This was it, Marcie thought. This was the last straw. Gabrielle was really going to hate her now. "I didn't mean to disappoint you. I didn't do this on purpose, I didn't..."

"Marcie," Gabrielle tried to stop her.

"I just needed you to know... because of Al and...

"Marcie," Gabrielle reached across the table for her hands. Marcie's eyes were bloodshot with tears.

"I don't know what to do, Miss Medina. I don't..."

"Well... You can start by calling me Gabrielle." Marcie sniffled, wiping her eyes. "You are going to be fine, Marcie. You're going to be just fine."

"But I don't... know how..."

"Then I will help you," she said.

"Al... this baby is all I have left of him and I... I am going to do everything... I'm going to try to... do everything right to protect..."

"I know." Gabrielle soothed her. Marcie was completely in tears now. "Marcie... don't cry."

"I'm sorry" she said. "I just... I miss him so much." She paused. "I'm going on and on and... I know you miss him too... so much. I... needed you to know this."

"I am going to help you," she repeated.

"I didn't want you to feel an obligation to me..."

"You're having a baby, Marcie."

The words echoed in her mind. "I'm having a baby...Al's baby. I'm having Al's...I'm having..." Marcie couldn't catch her breath.

"Can we have some water... please." Gabrielle said. "Easy, Marcie," She moved over beside her, helping her with the water. "Breathe. That's it."

"I'm sorry."

"Don't be sorry" Gabrielle told her. "Let me help you. And I promise... everything will turn out just fine."