That evening when Melinda got home, Jim was in the kitchen sitting at the island staring into space with a beer in front of him. He was wearing black sweatpants and a gray tank. "Hi, honey." Melinda chirped, setting down the bags in her hands and wrapping her arms around him, kissing him on the cheek. "Are you hungry? I am starving." She asked. Realizing he was being oddly quiet she turned to face him and asked, "Are you alright?"

"We need to talk." Was all Jim said.

Melinda sighed. "Yeah, we do." Surprised, Jim looked up at her. "You first." Melinda prompted him.

Jim took a swig of his beer and looked at his wife. "Are you having an affair with Rick Payne?" He had decided on a straight forward approach on a suspicion he'd had for a while now.

Melinda's eyes widened and her jaw dropped in shock that her husband would think such a thing. "What? No! How could you think that?" Melinda cried.

"You spend an awful lot of time with him, you let him get away with making forward comments, the way he looks at you. Oh yea, and the fact that you have spent every second by his bed this last week." Jim retorted.

Melinda was a mixture of upset and angry. "He is a friend, and he helps me with my ghost mysteries. I overlook the comments and the looks he gives me. He is like that with all women, it's just the way he is." Melinda paused to take a breath before continuing, "I would never cheat on you. I love you. You are my life."

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to upset you. That had been eating at me for a while. I'm just jealous I guess." Jim got up and hugged his wife tightly against him. "I love you too." They stood like that for a few minutes, then Jim asked what it was she needed to talk about.

Melinda took a step back and looked nervously at Jim. She knew he would be happy, but the reality of it hadn't hit her yet and she was scared. "Umm." She smiled at him, and he gave her a look of ultimate confusion. Smiling faintly, Melinda reached for one of the bags she had brought in with her, and handed it to Jim.

"What's this?" Jim asked with a cocked eyebrow.

"Open it." Melinda replied softly.

Jim looked into the bag and pulled out a light brown stuffed bear wearing a bonnet, diaper and holding a rattle. He looked at the bear then to his wife with a puzzled look across his face. Melinda smiled and nodded.

"Really?" Jim asked.

"Yeah. I found out this afternoon right before I left the hospital." Tears started to form in her eyes.

Jim was grinning ear to ear. "We are going to have a baby." He pulled Melinda into his arms and kissed her passionately. "This calls for celebration. I'm taking you out tonight."

"Ooh. Will you help me change then?" Melinda grinned. Her shoulder and arm still immobilized in a sling from the accident.

"Of course." Jim answered chasing Melinda up the stairs.

OOOOOO

The next day, after Jim helped Melinda dress, he headed to work. Melinda had decided to go to the shop and check in with Delia. Parking her rental car and walking into her shop, Melinda was greeted by her good friend Delia. "Hey, what are you doing here? You should be home resting or at the hospital with Rick."

"Rick finally woke up yesterday, and I wanted to come visit, I feel like haven't been here in forever." Melinda answered putting her bag behind the counter. "Anyway, I don't plan on staying all day. Just a couple hours, then I'm going to go check on Rick and then go home."

Jim came into the shop carrying two coffees and a hot tea before Delia could respond to Melinda. "Hey, thought I'd bring my ladies something to drink." Jim handed Mel the tea and Delia one of the coffees.

"Thanks Jim." Delia said taking a sip from her cup.

"Did you tell her yet?" Jim asked Melinda excitement in his voice.

"Not yet, I just walked in." Melinda replied smiling.

"Tell me what?" Delia asked anxious to hear whatever the news was.

Jim and Melinda looked at Delia and grinned, "We are going to have a baby." Jim broke the news.

Delia smiled and hugged them both. "That is so amazing! Congratulations!"

"Well, I have to get back to work. I'll see you later." Jim gave his wife a peck on the lips before leaving.

Melinda watched him walk out the door, not really listening to Delia go on about how happy she was for them. After Jim was out of sight, she saw someone in the square that made chills run down her spine. Romano. Melinda thought to herself. Bringing herself back to real life, she turned to Delia and spent the next few hours talking about the baby.

After lunch, Melinda made her way to the hospital to see Professor Rick Payne. He had been moved out of critical care and put in a regular room. "Hey! I was wondering if you'd come see me today." Payne said with a mouthful of food when Melinda walked into his room.

Melinda smiled and sat down. "How are you feeling?"

"Great. But this food sucks. You shoulda brought me something." Payne said taking another large bite of Salisbury Steak. He was eating with one hand.

"I will tomorrow. I wasn't sure if they'd let me today." Melinda replied flatly, clearly lost in thought.

"Are you ok?" Payne asked, a look of concern on his face.

"I saw Romano today. Outside my store. Why do you think they are back?"

Payne stopped eating and looked at Melinda. "Unfinished business is my guess. They came here the first time to get to you and your loved ones, but failed. So, maybe they are trying again." Melinda had a worried look on her face and turned her gaze to the window. "Do you think they caused the accident?"

"I dunno. Maybe, maybe not." Payne sighed in his answer. "Did you tell Jim that Gabriel is back?"

Melinda looked back at Payne before answering. "No. I didn't want to worry him."

Payne nodded, then smiled and asked, "Did you tell him you are pregnant?"

Melinda smiled back. "Yeah, he's really happy. And if I tell him Gabriel and Romano are back, he is just going to worry himself to death about me."

"And so he should. Melinda, be careful. We don't know what they have up their proverbial sleeves and I can't do much for you in the current state I'm in." Payne said in a serious voice that Melinda rarely heard.

"I will."