Elizabeth sat up slowly and opened the box of crackers that were next to her on the bedside table. She took a bite and then washed it down with some ginger ale Jack bought at the store. She tried not to move much, not wanting to jostle her stomach too much and cause more vomiting.

Julie walked in and smiled. "Hey, sis. How are you doing?"

"Too early to tell," she said quietly. "But, so far so good."

"I made you some dry toast." She set the plate on the table and joined Elizabeth on the bed.

"Thank you." Elizabeth's phone chimed. She picked it up and smiled.

"Morning, beautiful. How r u?"

"Eating saltines and drinking vernors."

"Breakfast of champions."

"Exactly."

"Going 2 work?"

"I think so. I'll let u know if I don't."

"Ok. Love u sweetheart."

"Love u 2."

The crackers and vernors did the trick. She was able to get to work and make it to lunch without throwing up. However, once lunch came and she opened her lunch bag to see what Julie packed, the stench from her sandwich immediately turned her stomach. "Tuna, ugh. I used to love Tuna."

She held her breath and took out the apple but it smelled like tuna, causing her to run to the bathroom.

"Elizabeth? Are you sick?" Dawn Anders, a fellow first grade teacher asked her as she washed her hands.

"Yeah. Well….not sick sick. I'm pregnant, but please don't tell anyone." She dampened a paper towel and wiped her face. "Do you have any peppermints?"

"I do." She opened her purse and offered her the container.

"Thank you. Apparently I will not be consuming tuna for lunch anytime soon."

"Ooh yeah. Anything with a strong odor. With me, coffee and eggs. Eggs still turn my stomach."

"Those don't even sound good."

After school, Charlotte drove her to physical therapy in Bozeman. "It should take about an hour, Mom."

"Ok, sweetie. I'll go get some coffee. Text me when you're ready."

"Ok, thank you."

Elizabeth made it through physical therapy exhausted. She told them she was pregnant in case it made a difference in the type of things they had her do. She fell asleep on the way home.

"Elizabeth? Sweetie, we're home." Elizabeth opened her eyes and tried to focus.

"Home?"

"Yeah. Home. Do you want me to help you in?"

"No. Thank you for driving me. Love you."

"Love you too."

She hobbled inside and took her coat off. "Jules?"

"Here. I got pizza for dinner. Meat lovers like usual."

Elizabeth was starving. She felt like she could eat a horse. "Meat lovers. Let's hope Baby Thornton likes meat because I am famished. Oh, by the way, no tuna."

"Ok, got it. I'll put it on my list."

"List?" she asked as she took a bite of the amazing pizza.

Julie hesitated, as if deciding whether or not to say anything. "I just want to make sure I don't give you anything that will make you sick."

"Jack asked you to make a list, didn't he?"

"I can neither confirm nor deny that assumption."

He walked in the door and smiled. "Hello, ladies. Mmm. Pizza." He grabbed a slice after kissing Elizabeth hello. "So good." He looked at Elizabeth who was staring at him. "What did I miss?"

"Tuna," Elizabeth said, taking a bite of garlic butter cheesy bread that came with the pizza.

"On the pizza?"

"Ugh, no. I can't have tuna. Makes me sick. Just thought you could put it on that list you're making."

"List?"

"Yeah, and apparently, meat lovers pizza with garlic butter cheesy bread is not something I have an aversion to."

"Good to know."

She leaned over and kissed him. "I love you, cowboy. Thank you for making a list."

"You're welcome."

About thirty minutes later she walked him to the door, her limp a bit more pronounced. "I don't like this sleeping apart thing, Jack."

"Me either." He slipped his fingers around her waist and pulled her in for a kiss.

"Mmm. Garlic cheesy bread."

She laughed. "So good, right?"

He smiled and tucked a stray curl behind her ear. "You're so beautiful, sweetheart."

"And you look hot in your uniform."

"Oh yeah?"

"Mmhmm." She pushed up on her one good foot and kissed him. "I love you. Please be safe."

He nodded. "I love you too. I'll text you later."

He texted as promised but she fell asleep so she didn't get it until morning. She ate her crackers and drank her vernors as soon as she woke up.

"Morning, sis," Julie greeted. "I put some pizza in your lunch for today."

"Ugh."

"I thought pizza was ok?"

"It is, but not at this moment. I'm just trying not to throw up right now." She closed her eyes a moment. "Would you make me some ginger tea to take with me, please?"

"Sure."

"Thanks, Julie."

Elizabeth picked up her phone at the ring. "Morning, beautiful."

"Hey, cowboy."

"Doing ok?"

"I've been better. I'm ok though."

"Breakfast of champions?"

"Yeah. Wish you were here."

"Me too."

"My first prenatal appointment is Friday at 4pm. Will you go?"

"Of course. I want to be there for all of them. I'll let Mike know right now." Elizabeth was silent for a moment. "Are you still there?"

"Yeah."

"What's wrong?"

"Can you sleep here tonight, please?"

"Yeah, but Mike will have to too that way if we get a call, we can leave from here."

"Thank goodness. I'll see you both at dinner?"

"We will be there. I love you, Elizabeth."

"I love you too." Her tears started falling as she hung up. She felt terrible and she needed the comfort that only her husband provided. Now she had to force herself to get up and survive the day, hopefully without throwing up.

THAT EVENING

Elizabeth arrived home from school with Julie, thinking they were going to make dinner but then realized they had very little food, except leftover pizza.

Elizabeth texted Jack. "Honey?"

"Hey babe. OMW."

"We need groceries. Would u b able 2 stop b4 u come home?"

"Sure. Anything specific u want?"

"No. U pick."

"Ok C U soon."

By the time he and Mike pulled in, she had fallen asleep on the couch by the fire.

Mike stayed in the kitchen as Jack wandered in to the living room. "Hey, I'm Mike Hickam," he said to Julie.

"Julie Thatcher, Beth's sister."

"Nice to meet you."

"You too."

Mike started unpacking the groceries but had no idea where to put things. "Any idea where these things go?"

Julie smiled and helped him. "Vernors should go in the fridge. She drinks that everyday. I'll put her crackers by their bed."

"Vernors and saltines, huh? Is she pregnant?"

"It's not my news to tell. How did you know?"

"My wife Renee. She lived on those things when she was pregnant."

"Oh, you have children? Boy or girl?"

"No. I don't." Julie saw his face drop and eyes fill with tears.

"I'm sorry. I was being nosy. Beth always tells me to stop asking questions."

"I offered the information. It's fine, Julie." He sighed and looked at her. "We lost the baby."

"Oh. Mike, I'm so sorry. How is your wife doing?"

"About nine months ago, I lost her too."

Julie covered her mouth, hating herself for asking those questions. She placed her hand gently on his arm, not wanting to say another word. "We should maybe cook some dinner. You and Jack must be hungry." She turned and washed her hands, willing herself not to cry.

She put the ground turkey in a pan and broke it apart with a spatula. "I hope you like tacos."

"Sounds good." He walked over and stood next to her. "I didn't mean to upset you. I just wanted to be honest."

"Mike, you are not the one who should be apologizing. I always get myself in trouble with my big mouth." She stirred, concentrating on the meat and then she looked at him. "What happened?"

"Breast cancer. She was young and they didn't find it until it was too late."

"Are you doing ok?" She didn't know what it was about the gentle, honest man next to her, but she wanted to know about him. She wanted to be his friend.

"I'm ok. It was rough for awhile." He picked up a tomato and onion and began chopping them. "I slept at dispatch for a month, not wanting to go home. It was too hard."

She wanted to hug him. She barely knew him but it felt right. Fighting the urge, she asked another question. "How'd you get through it?"

"Prayer and Jack. I really needed someone to talk to and he was there. He's a good guy."

"Yes, he is. Couldn't ask for a better brother-in-law or husband for my sister."

"You married, Julie?"

"No. I just haven't found that person yet, you know?"

"Yeah."

LIVING ROOM

Elizabeth woke up, starving and very warm almost to the point of nausea. She opened her eyes and realized Jack was laying beside her on the couch, wrapped around her. "Jack," she said, trying to wake him up. "Jack, wake up! I'm so hot. I need air." He opened his eyes and sat up, assisting her to do the same. She stood up and walked outside for a moment, letting the cool April air wash over her.

"You ok?" He asked from the doorway.

"I am now. I woke up and I was so hot. It made me panic." She took a few more deep breaths and then stepped closer to him. "It was nice to see you next to me though."

He grabbed her hands and weaved his fingers through hers. "I missed you," he whispered before kissing her long and slow.

"Um…excuse me," a voice said from behind them.

Jack turned and looked. "Hey, Mike. What's up?"

"Dinner will be ready in about five." Mike walked away, wanting to get away from the couple. He and Renee used to be like that, barely able to keep their hands off each other. He missed having someone to kiss and hold hands with. Sleep next to. Have a conversation with. He missed all those things but he couldn't imagine ever wanting that with anyone other than Renee.

"Mike?" Julie asked as he walked in the room.

"I'm sorry? I missed what you said."

"Did you want to set the table?"

"Um, I think I'm going to go take a nap. I just need to know which room is mine."

"Are you ok?"

"I don't know. I'm just tired, I think."

"Ok but you need to eat."

"Later. Um, which room?" He needed to be anywhere but in that kitchen. He wasn't going to let this woman he barely knew, see him break down.

"Top of the stairs, first door on the left." He bolted up the stairs and quickly shut the door as the first tears fell.

Jack and Elizabeth walked in and looked around. "Where's Mike?" Jack asked.

"He said he was tired. He's in the guest room upstairs. I think he's upset or something."

"Why would he be?" Elizabeth asked, sitting down at the table.

"I may have let my mouth get me into trouble."

"Julie, what did you do?" Elizabeth asked in her sisterly tone.

"We were unpacking groceries and he noticed the vernors and saltines. He asked if you were pregnant. I asked him how he knew…" Her voice trailed off. "I didn't know, Jack. I didn't mean to bring up all those sad feelings."

Jack gave her a side hug. "Like you said, you didn't know. It's ok, Jules."

"What did you bring up?" Elizabeth asked, still not in the loop.

"His wife died and before that they lost a baby. My stupid big mouth," Julie said again.

"And then he walked in and saw us kissing…" Jack said. "I bet he's missing Renee." Jack kissed Elizabeth's cheek. "I'll be back. You ladies eat."

Elizabeth nodded, knowing Jack needed to be there for his friend because that's the person he was. The person she loved more than anything.

UPSTAIRS

Jack knocked on his door. "It's me, Mike."

Mike opened the door and let him in. "Hey. Sorry, I'm not very good company tonight." Mike sat on the bed and blew his nose. Jack had seen him cry numerous times so he wouldn't even try to hide it.

"Rough night? Julie told me what happened."

"It wasn't a big deal. Just the memories." And the jealousy, but he didn't add that part.

"What's your favorite memory about Renee?"

"I have a few but one of them is the day I met her. She was so cute." He smiled. "We were both in the library studying. I was a few tables away. I kept looking up at her and she was clueless. She had her hair in a messy ponytail and she kept chewing on her pencil while she worked."

"You didn't study much that day, did you?"

"No. After an hour of watching her, I walked over and asked her out. I'm not sure what came over me but I knew I was supposed to love her. I just knew. What I didn't know was how short a time it would be."

"If you had known, would that have changed anything?"

"No. I don't regret it. I'd marry her five times over just to spend time with her." He blew his nose again. "I just wonder if it will ever get easier. I see couples together…"

"Sorry about that, bro."

"Jack, don't ever apologize for loving your wife. Take every opportunity to show her how you feel."

Jack read between the lines. What Mike didn't say was that no one knew how long they had with the people they loved.

He made a vow right then to always make sure she knew how much he loved her.