William had stayed awake most of the night thinking about what Grace had said. Now he sat in his easy chair by the fire in the family room which faced the kitchen.

Julie was in the kitchen making herself a cup of tea or coffee. He wasn't sure which. Then he saw her grab the teapot and his question was answered.

He watched her press on her belly and smile. Then she said something he couldn't hear, assuming she was talking to the baby.

She looked beautiful in the dim light by the stove, her red hair shining and hanging loose around her shoulders. The smile that graced her face when the baby kicked. She certainly looked older, more mature. More serious but obviously in love with her son. He knew the signs. Grace had looked the same way when she had been carrying all three girls.

"Dad?"

She had come into the family room as he had been thinking and he hadn't noticed.

"Hi."

"You scared me. I didn't know anyone was in here." She set the teacup on the table by the sofa and curled her body into a ball, her knees off to the side.

"Sorry."

She noticed he looked tired, exhausted maybe. "Did you have trouble sleeping?"

"I guess you could say that."

She nodded and sipped her tea, staring into the fireplace.

"You're beautiful." Her eyes moved to his, stopping her teacup at her lips.

"I am?"

"Yes. Gorgeous." He stood and moved over beside her. "I love you, Jellybean."

Unable to stop them, her tears rolled down her face. "Its been a long time since you called me that, Dad."

He opened his arms and she leaned into them. "I love you so much," he told her again. "I'm proud of you. For what you've done when faced with an obstacle. You've really matured."

"You are?" It was such a huge relief.

"Yes, and I'm sorry for acting the way I have for the last few months. I should have supported you."

"You are now. That means everything." She wiped her eyes and sighed before picking up her teacup again and finishing it. "Ok, well, I need to get ready for work."

"You're going to work?"

"Yes. I need to buy some clothes and diapers for this little man. Kind of a necessity."

"Julie, shouldn't you rest?"

"I rested the last week. I need to work so I can take care of him."

"Julie, I don't know if I…"

She interrupted by putting her hand on his arm. "Dad, being alone these last few months has made me more independent. I have no choice but to work. I know you are concerned about me but supporting me also means letting me make my own decisions." She kissed his cheek but before she walked off, he pulled her close again, tucking her right under his chin. Grace was right. She fit right there.

"I love you."

"Love you too, Dad."

All four women in his life baffled him. They were unbelievably strong and independent. How did he get so blessed?

….

Grace took herself shopping for baby things once Julie left for work. She didn't go overboard but she didn't hold back either. She found a diaper bag that was actually a backpack. She imagined Julie would like the thought of having it on her back and not slipping down her arms.

Then she bought gray and navy blue onesies and sleepers that had tiny sailboats embroidered on them with matching hats and socks.

Then she went to the paint section of the hardware store in town and found various paint swatches for Julie to pick from. The room right next to hers would be a great nursery for when he got old enough.

Viola had finally chosen the room next to hers for Collin's nursery and it had turned out well.

As she drove back to the house, she realized it was lunch time. She wondered when Julie got a break. So she walked into Yost's and found her organizing her aisle with various kinds of gum and candy.

"Julie?"

"Mom? What are you doing here?"

"I came to see you."

"Me?" Grace had never visited while Julie was working.

"Of course, dear. When do you get a lunch break?"

"About five minutes, why?"

"Maybe we could eat together."

"I only get thirty minutes. Usually I just get a salad from the deli in the store."

"We can head next door and get sandwiches."

"Ok. I guess, I'll meet you there?"

"Ok." Grace nodded and walked out of the store.

Julie didn't know what had changed but first her dad this morning and now her mom meeting her for lunch?

When Julie walked into the deli and found her mom, she was sitting in the back booth with two sandwiches, a large pickle, and two bottles of water, not to mention two large shopping bags.

"Hi, dear. I got you roast beef with muenster on wheat. And the biggest pickle they had."

"Thanks. I'm starving."

Julie unwrapped her sandwich and closed her eyes. The spicy mustard and red onions along with the other ingredients on the sandwich were a heavenly combination she would gladly relive every day if she wanted to spend the money. Luckily, she was allowed a free salad from the deli in the store as an employee discount.

"How is work going?"

Julie swallowed, still wondering what was going on. "Its fine. I enjoy it."

"That's good."

"What do you have in the bags?" Julie was curious.

"I went shopping." Grace opened the first bag and took out the backpack.

"Going somewhere, Mom?"

"No, it's a diaper bag. Take a look." She handed it to Julie who unzipped every pocket and nodded.

"I'm sure Vi will love it."

"Its for you, Julie. Not Vi."

"Me? You don't need to buy me things, Mom."

"Do you have a diaper bag?"

"No."

"Then you need it. If you don't like it, we can exchange it. I just thought it was practical because it wouldn't be sliding down your arms while you're holding him or his carseat."

"I like it. I'm just confused."

"Julie, I want to help you. I am so proud of you and how you've matured. I want to be a part of my grandson's life, if you'll allow me."

"Dad told me the same thing this morning. What was it that changed your minds?" Julie ate the rest of her sandwich and pickle while Grace talked and showed her the rest of her gifts.

"So I have Beth to thank," she said quietly.

"No, dear. You became a mother and a responsible, independent woman in a few short months. I wanted to tell you all this since the beginning but Beth just gave me a little extra courage to tell your father what I felt."

Grace folded the tiny clothes on the table and smiled. "Thank you, Mom. For lunch and for these things, but mostly for supporting me. I really need it."

"Its yours, sweetie."

Julie heaved herself out of the booth and hugged her mom. "I love you. I need to get back to work."

"Ok, will you be home for dinner?"

"No, Tom's meeting me."

Grace nodded. "He seems like a good young man."

"He is. He's been my rock through all of this. Without his help and support, I don't know what I would have done."

"Make sure you tell him that sometime."

"I will."

….

He picked her up as planned at five PM when she got off. "So, I thought we'd go to someplace new," he mentioned.

"Ok. I'm game." He helped her into his vehicle and looked at her.

"You seem different."

"In a good way?"

"Of course, yes. You seem happy."

"I am. Tom! You'll never believe the day I've had."

"I'm all ears." He drove out of Hope Valley and headed south on the interstate.

"This morning my dad told me he's proud of me and all that I've done. He apologized for the last few months and said he would support me in whatever I choose to do."

"That's great. I bet it was a relief."

"You have no idea. Then, my mom came to work today and took me to lunch. She has never come to my work. Then, she bought me a diaper bag and a bunch of clothes and paint samples for his nursery and then, to top it all off, she told me she was proud of me too."

"Wow."

"Right? It's amazing to have their support. I don't feel like I'm alone anymore." She noticed his hands tighten on the steering wheel and his cheek twitched. "Tom, what's wrong?"

All that went through his mind was her words. "I don't feel like I'm alone anymore." It was like a sharp knife to his gut and it kept twisting and hurt more.

"Do you mind if I take you home? I'm not feeling well."

He felt like his heart was breaking. To him, the last months had been amazing, full of everything he had always wanted. Apparently it was different for her.

"Tom, will you talk to me?"

"I'm just not feeling good. Maybe we can do this another time." He turned into her driveway about ten minutes later and put the truck in park. "Night, Julie." He didn't walk around to help her out like he had always done before. She looked at him once more and got out, shutting the door.

As she walked in the house she realized neither she nor Tom had realized her car was still at Yost's. "Shoot!"

"Julie?"

"Mom, will you take me back to Yost's? I left my car there."

"Sure. Wait, weren't you going to dinner with Tom?"

"Yeah but….I don't know. We were driving and talking and then he got mad or something. He then said he wasn't feeling well and dropped me off here."

As they drove to town she replayed their conversation in the car, telling her mom every word. "I told him that it was amazing to have your support and I don't feel like I'm alone anymore."

"Julie, that's what it is. You don't feel alone anymore? He has been with you almost every single day. What he probably heard was that the time you spent together meant nothing to you."

"Oh no! That's not what I meant at all. Oh my. No, he's…I told you how I feel. I did not mean what he is thinking."

"Maybe you should go pay him a visit."

"If he will talk to me."

"If he means anything to you, you need to try."

"He means so much."

Twenty minutes later, she knocked on their front door. "Julie! Come in, come in," Charlotte told her.

"Thank you. I was wondering if Tom was here. I really need to talk to him."

"He's down in the basement with Jack. You can go down if you'd like."

"Thank you." She walked over to the door and opened it, carefully walking down the stairs.

When she got to the bottom, she heard them playing pool and talking. "Anyone home?" she called as she walked into the game room.

"Hi, Jules," Jack greeted.

"Hi, Jack." She said the words to him but was staring at Tom, who was staring at his stick as if it was the most interesting thing on the planet.

"I'll just be in my room if either of you need me." Jack walked out of the room leaving Tom and Julie alone.

"Feeling better?" she asked, moving closer to him.

"Not particularly."

"Tom.."

"Julie, I really don't want to talk right now."

"Look, what I said earlier was not what I meant."

"You don't typically say things you don't mean." Which was why it hurt so much.

"No, but I am human. I mess up. Tom, I'm a walking pregnant billboard for teenage screw ups."

"Stop. You aren't. You're a walking pregnant billboard for how to be a responsible young mother."

"Thank you for that." She walked closer and touched his arm. "Thank you for everything you do for me, every single day. I couldn't have gotten to this point without you by my side. I certainly didn't mean that our friendship meant nothing." She kissed his cheek and slipped her fingers into his. "It meant, it means, everything."

"Julie, this thing. Us. What is it? It's more than a friendship to me."

"Its something I never thought would happen. Once I found out about the baby, I figured I'd be on my own for the foreseeable future."

"You'll never be on your own if I get a say," he whispered, touching his lips to her forehead.

She sighed and wrapped her arms around his waist, leaning against him. "You do."

"I do?"

"I need you. Lane needs you."

He pulled back and smiled, putting his hand on her tummy. "Lane?"

"Lane Thomas William Thatcher. Do you like it?"

"It's a big name for such a little boy."

"But do you like it?"

"I love it. I love him and you."

She smiled, her eyes full of tears and joy. She reached up, both hands cupping his face, and kissed him. It was loving and deep and magical. "I love you too."

….

"They're in the game room now, babe."

"Alone?" Beth asked him with a laugh. "Uh oh. Breaking the rules."

"Not really. I'm down here and they aren't in a bedroom."

"I'm in our bedroom," she told him, flirting a bit.

"I wish I was in our bedroom." Eleven more days.

"I bought your Christmas/wedding present today, hon. It's even your favorite color."

"Blue?"

"Yep, navy blue. It has a bit of silk and a lot of lace. It's kind of short but…"

"Wait, did you buy me a woman's nightgown? I'm really not into that." They both laughed.

"Ok, so I will be wearing it but I'm sure you'll enjoy it."

"Not sure how long it will actually be on you, but yes, I'm sure you're right."

"Jack Thornton!" He could hear her blush through the phone.

"You brought it up, Beth," he said with a laugh. "I bought you a present too."

"You did?"

"Yeah, but you'll get yours at Christmas."

"I can't wait."

"Me either."

"I'm going to be coming to Hope Valley tomorrow."

"You are? Thank goodness. I miss you."

"Yeah, I need to pick up my dress along with Julie and Faith's."

"So I can't come."

"Yes of course you can. The dress will be hidden safely inside a black garment bag. And we need to get you and your groomsmen's suits too."

"And then have lunch at The China Garden?"

"Yes. I need Moo Shu Pork and egg rolls."

"Ok," he said with a laugh. "What time will you get here?"

"About ten."

"Alright. Love you."

"Love you. Now maybe go stick your head in the game room. Check on our siblings."