­ Brooke's POV

I am now six months pregnant and Lucas and I are still separated. Lola has her ballet recital today and I hope he makes it. I don't know if it is too late or not to fix our relationship. It has been two months since we've spoken more than just a few words to each other.

I walk into the recital excited for my little ballerina. I look around for Lucas hoping that maybe he is already there. I don't find him and take a seat close to the front. I take out my video camera. I want to capture this. The teacher walks out on stage to introduce the dances. I turn around, looking for Lucas. I can't find him, and the room is packed. There are only a few seats scattered around the room mostly in the back and on next to me. The teacher introduces Lola's class just as Lucas comes running in. He takes the empty seat up front, the one next to me. I try my best to hold the camera still. The recital is awkward, but I stay composed, I get the video of Lola and after the recital I turn to Lucas, but he is already gone. I don't know what I would have said to him, but I wanted to at least say hi. I have an appointment tomorrow, and he should go. I walk out of the room and find Lola. She is beaming.

"Mommy! Did you see me dance? Was I good?"

"Lola, you were incredible! I am so proud of you, and I got it all on video!" I pick her up and hug her. "Let's go home and tell Maia all about it!"

"Maia didn't come?"

"No sweets, she had homework, but I videotaped it so she can see it later."

"Okay" Lola said with a sad look on her face. She wanted her big sister to see her dance. It broke my heart to see Lola so sad.

"Lola, you know who did see you dance, Daddy!" I said trying to lift her spirits.

"Is he still here?"

"No hun, I'm not sure where he is, but he saw you dance"

"So I can't say hi to him. I didn't see him for like more than a week mommy. I miss daddy. Doesn't he love me? Why isn't he living at our house yet?"

"Oh Lola, don't be sad. Your daddy loves you so much. You know how much he loves you?"

"No"

"He loves you to the moon and back, just like me. Come on lets go to the car, we'll talk on the ride home."

"Okay"

I took Lola out to the car and buckled her in. I got into the front and started driving home.

"Lola, sometimes mommies and daddies have arguments and then they just need time apart. Like when you and Maia fight and you don't talk for a while. But he loves you, I promise."

Lola and I went home and she told Maia all about the recital over dinner. I looked at Maia and she looked like she was lost in thought.

"Maia, is something wrong?"

"What?" she asked

"Is everything okay? You look like you are lost in thoughts"

"Huh, yeah I guess so"

"Is everything with you and Greg okay?"

"Yeah, Greg is fine"

"Okay"

We finished dinner and I took Lola upstairs and gave her a bath and put her into her pajamas.

"Lola, you can play for ten minutes okay. Then bed time princess."

"Okay mommy"

I walked over to Maia's room. I leaned against her door frame. She looked up at me from her desk.

"Hey mom"

"Hey Mai, you sure everything is okay?"

"Yeah, there was just this rumor going around school today."

"About you?" I asked surprised

"No, it was about Jenny." It had been two weeks since the OD. Peyton had told me about the pregnancy, but I had kept it a secret. Jenny had calmed down a bit too.

"Oh really? About what?"

"There's a rumor that she's pregnant" She said looking up at me. "What mom, what are you thinking about?"

"High school"

"Okay? Don't you think that's a horrible rumor to spread about someone?"

"Yeah, and it hurts to have it spread about you. Jenny's probably hurting right now. She could probably use a friend. Remember when you guys were little and you used to play? Try talking to her, everybody else is probably making her feel like a leper."

"How do you know so much mom?"

"Somebody spread a rumor about me being pregnant in high school. It hurt."

"Mom, you were pregnant."

"Doesn't mean it didn't hurt. I'm going to go put your sister to bed. Just think about talking to her."

I tucked Lola in and walked to my room to lie down and watch television. I walked past the nursery and opened the door. I hadn't looked into the room for at least a few weeks. I pushed the door and saw the walls. I decided that they might never get finished unless I take initiative. I had an idea.

The next morning I made the kids breakfast as usual.

"So guys, I have an idea for a fun filled family Saturday."

"Okay mom, what?" Maia asked.

"Well, I was thinking we could paint the baby's room. I know I can't paint, but I can build. It'll be fun."
"So pretty much, your asking if I can paint the baby's room while you and Lola try and build the crib and stuff?"

"I guess so, but you can invite over Greg and friends. Have fun."

"Okay mom, I'll think about it."

"Thank you and think about that other thing too."

"Bye mom, I've got to get to school"