Simone had been in his arms for awhile. Reese just held her.

" You OK?"

Simone didn't say anything, but, he could feel her nod.  Reese just pulled her  a little big closer in the hug.
 

" Theresa, is Whitney asleep?"

" Yes, Mama. She finally went to sleep. I can't believe it. Mama, are you sure? Coach Russell got another woman pregnant?"

" I'm very sure, Theresita. I saw the damage done to the house when Eve found out. She was furious and devastated."

" I wonder where Dr. Russell is."

" I don't know. She had left when I came to visit her."

" Mama, do you think the Russells' marriage is over?"

" Theresa, I don't know. But, it would be difficult for any couple to overcome obstacles like this."

" Whitney has always depended so much on her family. I don't know what she'll do if they break up. She loves them so."

" I know. But, you have to be a good friend to her now. She will need your support."

" I'll be there for her."
 

" Sam, I just came over to give you a gift.", Ivy said, standing in Sam's doorway.

" Go away, Ivy. I don't need any gifts from you."

" Sam, when did you become such a pooper. Now, don't be a bad host.", Ivy said, breezing past Sam, into his living room.

Sam rolled his eyes. " Ok, Ivy. Make it short. What's the gift."

" Why THIS, Sam." With that, Ivy takes off her fur coat, to reveal that she has nothing on underneath."

Sam looks at Ivy, and he can feel desire come over him, but, he's decided to be strong.

" Ivy, not know. I have company coming over."

" Who?"

" It doesn't matter. Now, GO!"

" No. I won't go, Sam. Not now. Not until you tell me."

" Ok, it's Grace. Grace is coming over."

" You think I'd leave now."

" Leave, IVY, OR ELSE!!"

Ivy could tell that this wasn't the time to mess with Sam. " Ok, I'll go. You're a party pooper, Sam."

Ivy was on her way to the door when the doorbell rang.

" Damn! That's Grace. She can't see you here."

Sam takes Ivy, and her purse and shoves them into a little closet off of the living room. " You stay here, and don't say a word! I'm warning you."

Ivy nodded, and let Sam put her in the closet. She opened it a little bit, so that she could hear everything that Sam and Grace said to one another.

Sam went to open the door. " Hello, Grace."

" Hi Sam. May I come in?"

" Sure. "

Sam led Grace into the living room, where they sat down on the couch.

" You've done a nice job redecorating."

" Thanks, Grace, but, it doesn't approach the warmth of our home."

Ivy wanted to gag.

" Sam, I came here to tell you something. I thought you should hear it from me before someone else told you."

" Grace, are you sick? Something wrong? Do you need my help?"

" I'm not sick, Sam. I'm pregnant."

" Pregnant? Pregnant?" Sam's voice became happier each time he said it, while Ivy's heart sank  upon hearing the news.

" Grace, this is fabulous news! A baby? Another child of our own. Grace, I know that we can work things out. I know that we can rebuild. This only proves how important our family is. I know that it will all work out, Grace.Just give us another chance. This baby will remind us of why we got together in the first place. We'll remember the other kids - Noah, Kay, Jessica. Their births, and all the good times. I know we can work it out."

" Sam…"

" This is the best news I could have received."

" Sam…."

" It's a wonderful sign. Someone's looking out for us."

" Sam, listen to me."

Sam looked at Grace. She was looking so serious. " Grace, you look serious. Are you trying to tell me that something is wrong with the baby. Something medical. Don't think that would make a difference to me. I don't care. We'll take care of the baby together."

" Sam, there's nothing wrong with the baby. Nothing wrong, with the exception that you're not the father."

Sam stared at Grace, and Ivy hit herself upside the head. She couldn't believe what she had thought she had heard.

" Grace, what did you say?"

" I said that the baby isn't yours, Sam. I had an affair and got pregnant as a result."

" You? You? YOU had an affair? When? How?"

" After I found out about you and Ivy. I went a little crazy, and now I'm pregnant."

Sam got up from the couch and walked around the room.

" YOU had an affair?"

" Yes, Sam. Is it so hard to believe that another man might find me attractive?"

" Grace, you broke our marriage vows."

" Excuse me, but, I do believe you did it first with Ivy."

"  What are you going to do about the baby?"

" Have it, of course."

" Even if it means the end of our marriage?"

" Sam, our marriage was already over. I could never forgive you for sleeping with Ivy, and this baby is a reminder of my relationship with another man. There's too much water under the bridge for us to be together."

" Grace.."

" Sam, I would never have thought that a couple of weeks could undo 20 years of marriage, but, I was wrong. We just took a wrong turn. A serious wrong turn, and nothing can be erased, least of all, this baby. "

" Do the kids know?"

" Yes. They're furious with me. I wanted you to know because they will need your help. Though neither one of us is perfect parent material, I think the girls need to know that you're there for them."

" What about the other man? Are you going to have a relationship?"

" We're going to be parents to our child. That's all I expect."

" Grace, maybe I can.."

Grace shook her head. " No, Sam. I don't think that you have it in you to be a parent to this child. I don't think it's possible. You won't hold it against the child, but, there's a lot more here.  I have to go. I want to thank you in advance for being there for the girls and Noah."

" Noah knows?"

" I told him."

" I got a message from him to call. I wondered what it was about."

" Now, you know. Thank you, Sam. I don't regret anything that we had."

Grace got up and left the house. Ivy dashed out of the closet.

" Well, well…who'd a thunk it? Grace Bennett, modern day Hester Prynne."

" Shut up, Ivy."

" Me? Excuse you, but GRACE had the affair and got knocked up."

" After I had slept with YOU!"

"Oh, sure, blame me. I'm sure I pulled down Grace's panties and placed the guy on top of her too!"

" Ivy - GO!"

Ivy left the house, but once she was outside, she was grinning like a Cheshire Cat.

" Thank you, Gracie! Now, Sam will be mine FOR SURE!!"