A month later, late September

"I'd love to see it, Nathan. Really."

She was speaking of his inn. They had coffee most weekday mornings at her cottage, once King was off at school.

He had not asked her to the inn. At first, he didn't want it to be anything but his and Faith's dream. It felt wrong to show it to anyone else. Now, they were friends, best friends really. He couldn't think of an actual reason not to show it anymore.

"Okay. Coffee at my place tomorrow."

"What about now?"

"I have to get some work done...you know what? Sure. Let's go see it." He needed to stop making excuses.

She smiled and put both of their cups in the sink. Then she followed him next door.

"Nathan, it's lovely," she told him as they walked through the entrance.

"Do you really think so?"

"Yes. The English country charm...its perfect."

He showed her the kitchen, the dining room, his office and then they walked upstairs towards the guest rooms.

"You're opening in two weeks, right?"

"Yeah. I don't have any reservations yet but I hope the website grabs people's attention."

He was a successful website designer so he knew what it took to get people to take a first look and then a second.

"It will. I know it."

He wondered if Faith would like it. He designed it with her in mind.

"I know Faith would have loved this," she mentioned, reading his mind somehow.

His eyes flicked to hers and then they went back down the stairs.

"You still miss her," she stated, not asking. "I still miss Jack. Not everyday but he's always going to be in my heart."

She pulled her necklace from behind her shirt. "His ring. Sometimes I forget I have it on. Sometimes I wonder if it's crazy to want to keep it close...after five years. Memories and all that."

"I didn't want to move here, to England," he admitted. "It was Faith's dream. Somewhere along the way, it became mine. Moving here. Having four kids. Opening the inn where people would want to stay again and again. She would cook for them and it would be perfect."

"And now…"

"I have to do it without her. All of it. Well, not the four kids part. I guess you could say I don't like being alone."

"You'll find someone to be with. You're still young. Even more kids might be possible."

He chuckled. "How old do you think I am, Elizabeth?"

"I don't know. Forty two or three?"

"I'm forty six. Finding love again isn't something I see happening for me. More kids? Not without the love part."

"Never say never, plus you could adopt as a single man. Now, question, who is going to cook for guests?"

"Well, certainly not me," he laughed.

"I could do it."

"I'm sure you have better things to do than work."

"Nope. You and I have coffee and then...nothing. You'd be doing me a favor. Actually it's a win win."

"I couldn't pay you very much at the beginning."

"That's fine."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes. I hate being bored."

In addition, if she were honest with herself, she'd wager a guess that daily coffee with Nathan was going to be a thing of the past...unless she made sure she was in the same kitchen.

The next morning, Henderson, Jake and Tara's house

Tara handed him his travel mug and then grabbed her cup of tea.

"Thanks," he told her. "I'll see you at dinner?"

She nodded and kissed him softly. "Be safe, love."

"Promise."

Once he left, she drank her tea and then showered and dressed. She had to be at the doctor's by 9am. She was feeling fine but something was concerning her so she made the appointment.

Then she needed to go to the grocery store, the dry cleaners and her parent's house to pick up a few last boxes. Her day was full, even on her day off.

"You're kidding," she muttered, sitting up on her gynecologist's exam table.

"The blood test can confirm…"

"Holy cow. We...this isn't happening now…" She shook her head. "I'm a cop. Ever seen a pregnant cop?"

"Well, yes."

"I don't...no...you have to be wrong."

Her doctor moved her stool closer and touched her hand. "Tara, wait for the blood test results. Should be just a few hours. If you want, go get a test from the pharmacy. If you're pregnant, there are choices for you."

"I'm keeping my baby. Thank you, doctor." She put her hand on her tummy, as if protecting him or her from harm. No, there wasn't any choice. If she was pregnant, she would be a mom and Jake would be a dad.

After Gracie finished her class for the day, she headed straight to Kate's House, hoping to see Jude. He wasn't there yet though.

"Uncle Lee?" she called, her voice echoing in the empty house.

"Upstairs, doodlebug," he called her, using her nickname he had used since she could remember.

"Oh! Aunt Rosie! You're here too?"

"Of course I am. Lee said he could use my help with the design aspects."

She hugged both of them. "Thank you so much for helping Jude."

"Sweetie, he's your boyfriend. Of course we want to help."

"Yes, well."

"Yes well, what?"

"Aunt Rosie, we only had one date and...we kind of stopped being anything more for now."

"What on earth for?"

"Rosie, don't pry," Lee admonished.

"I'm not prying, Lee. I'm concerned for our God-daughter's well-being." She turned back to Gracie. "Now, tell me what happened. Did you two have a fight?"

"No no. Of course not. We are just both really busy right now. Both of us are in school and working and he's got family stuff and Kate's House. It's a lot to juggle."

"Well, I always say, when juggling, its best to have two sets of hands."

"Rosie, when have you ever said that?" Lee asked her.

"I just did, Lee."

"Mmhm."

"I'm trying to give him space. He was so overwhelmed and...he's my friend first so I thought it was best."

"Space sure makes it hard to get to know a person."

"And lean on them," Lee contributed.

"I sure miss him. We used to have lunch every day and now, I'm lucky if I see him twice a week."

"Well, Gracie Rose, what are you going to do about that?"

"I don't know but I may have an idea."

Jude got in his car, surprised to see a cooler on his front passenger seat. He was almost afraid to look but there was a note on top in Grace's handwriting.

"Hope you had a good day! Enjoy!"

Inside the cooler was a cake with "I miss you" written in icing on top. German chocolate cake and a sweet message from Gracie. What a wonderful wrap to the day.

When he got home, he set his cake on the counter and picked up his phone to call Gracie.

"Hey," she said, answering on the first ring.

"Hey. I have a question."

"Okay."

"Do you like cake? A sweet, beautiful woman brought me some today and I can't possibly finish it all."

She giggled. "What kind is it?" she played along.

"My favorite. German chocolate."

"Sounds really good. I'd love to help you out but aren't you heading to your parents tomorrow and Kate's House? I don't want to keep you."

"Gracie, I miss you too. If you have homework, we can study together."

"Deal. Have you eaten dinner?"

"No."

"I'll be over in thirty. I'm bringing food."

She showed up a short time later with a big bag of food.

"What smells so good?" he asked, kissing her cheek.

"Gyros and fries!"

"Oh my goodness. That sounds amazing."

"Lets eat and then hit the books."

They sat at the dining room table and did just that. She needed to write an essay but she couldn't concentrate. All she wanted was to talk to her best friend and find out how he was.

The irony that he was three feet away frustrated her.

She sighed and closed her eyes. Then she did possibly the most impulsive thing she'd ever done. She put her pen down, stood up, walked two steps and bent down and kissed him.

He was surprised at first and then he just went with it. He reached up and touched her cheek, deepening the kiss. "Mm...I'm not sure that was appropriate for someone who's supposed to just be my friend," he teased.

She smiled and kissed him again. "I don't want to be just friends, Jude. I want to be your girlfriend. I want to support you and help you with Kylie and I want to meet your family."

He pulled her onto his lap and just held her. "Okay."

"And I'd like you to come with me to England to meet my mom in December."

"Okay."

"Are you going to agree with everything I say?"

"If you kiss me like that again, quite possibly."

She laughed. "My Aunt Rosie is going to be so proud of me."

"Why's that?" he wondered, running his fingers through her dark hair as he leaned his forehead against hers.

"She said, 'when juggling, it's best to have two sets of hands.'"

"What were you talking about exactly when she said that?"

"How I was trying to give you space because you have so many things going on."

"Gracie…"

"Hm?"

"I don't want space from you. It doesn't work. This has been the longest month of my life without you."

"I don't want space either."

"Okay so we agree. As little space as possible."

She kissed him again and again. "Let's have cake."

Jake and Tara's house

Tara smoothed her dress over her slim hips one more time as she heard the front door open.

"Babe?"

"Hey," she whispered, holding her arms up to hug him. "I'm so glad you're home."

"Me too," he told her, hugging her tighter. "You look gorgeous. What's the occasion?"

"We need to talk. Dinner will be ready in about ten minutes."

"Okay, I'll change and be right out."

She nodded and touched her flat tummy, trying to calm her nerves.

He came out in a white button down and black pants with no tie.

"You look so handsome, love."

"Thank you." He gave her a kiss and put his hands on her hips. "So, we need to talk?"

"Yeah. Help me carry the roast to the table?"

After a blessing, they dished out their food and started to eat.

"So, how was your day?" Tara asked.

"Kinda slow, which I guess is good." He touched her hand. "What did you want to talk to me about?"

"This is big, Jake."

"What is?"

"I had a doctor appointment today."

"Are you sick?"

"No. I'm feeling fine. I...I'm about 8 days late."

"Late for…"

"Late. My period."

His eyes got big and his hand with the fork froze halfway to his mouth. "Does that always mean…"

"I suppose not but in my case, yes. I'm pregnant, Jake."

"What? But we aren't… I mean, we….what?"

She giggled. He had turned pale, if that was even possible for a black man.

"A baby. We, you and I, are going to have a baby. Together."

"How?"

"Hon, I'm pretty sure you know how it happened."

"Yes but...I thought you had that implant...that's birth control, right?"

"Yes it is but nothing is 100% preventative."

"It should be! It's to control births! Tara!"

She took his hand and squeezed. "Jake, please try to be calm."

"You're joking. You want me to be calm after you just told me that?"

"Listen, I have an appointment in a few weeks to have an ultrasound. I'd like you to come. It might help you feel better about it."

"Are you...why aren't you freaking out about this?"

"I had a few moments of freaking at the doctor. But you know what she told me?"

"What?"

"That I have choices if I'm pregnant. Right from that moment, I knew that I would keep our baby. There was no way on this earth that I would not love my child. Our child."

He reached over and rested his hand on her tummy. "Our child."

"Yes. Hon, we are going to have a beautiful baby boy or girl that was made from our love. Its amazing."

"A blessing," he agreed. "Yes, we will raise this child together."

She nodded and kissed his lips. "Together."