Jacob had been in deep thought throughout Thanksgiving Dinner. He really didn't notice that everyone was kind of giving him sideways 
glances at times. Last year's Thanksgiving Dinner at Ava's parents had been minus her two brothers since they were serving their country in Afghanistan but both were home this year. During that year, Tim had gotten married and Sarah, his wife was about 6 months pregnant. Billy, the other brother remained single but had brought along his fiance, Toni, and her two little ones aged 4 and 5. The Thanksgiving Dinner table was fully loaded... not only with food but with laughter, hugs, and caring conversations.
Jacob missed that. He longed to go home and embrace his family and friends but the witness protection plan absolutely did not allow that. That could jeopardize not only his safety but Ava's and any of her family so he had to remain Jacob Melroy, who had had been raised in an orphanage after loosing his family in a fire at a young age.
Besides if he went home, everyone thought he was dead and certainly no one would recognize him. The plastic surgeon had done an outstanding job. It had been totally uncanny attending his own funeral...
I'm ready for a family of my own, thought Jacob... ready to move past the history but I made Ava agree to no children when we got married. I don't know how she'll react if I tell her I've changed my mind...
"What two teams do you think will make it to the Super Bowl this season?" asked his father-in-law, Don, jarring him back to the present time.
The football game was disappointing to say the least and it was getting dark when Jacob and Ava headed for home. They rode in silence for a long time. Jacob was re-living the day, thinking about the possibilities that would open up if they bought a home.. maybe he could get Ava to re-visit their agreement about no children and agree to have ONE and see how that went.
Before he knew what he was doing, he broke the silence. "Ava, there's something I want to talk to you about. You know we've been renting the house for about 5 years and I.. well.. I..I'm ready to buy a home." There, he had done it, blurted it out! "What do you think? How do you feel about it? Do you want to buy a home too?"
Ava didn't say anything for a few seconds. Jacob had no idea what she was thinking. What came out of her mouth was not an answer to his question and he didn't realize that it even pertained to his question until two months later.
"Jacob, I'm pregnant."
When Jacob heard those words he did not know which thought to voice into words first... he swerved the car onto the shoulder of the road, turned the key to kill the motor and turned to look at Ava.
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