Chapter 4 - I am Pregnant?

Brenda's suspicion grew each day as Jessica's symptoms of pregnancy became more apparent. She had noticed the subtle changes in Jessica's behavior and body, but she had waited for the right moment to talk. Today felt like the day.

One evening, after dinner, Brenda and Jessica sat on the porch of the cabin, enjoying the cool breeze. Tofi lay at their feet, snoozing peacefully.

"Jessica, can we talk for a bit?" Brenda asked gently, breaking the comfortable silence.

Jessica looked up, sensing the seriousness in Brenda's tone. "Sure, Brenda. What's on your mind?"

Brenda took a deep breath, choosing her words carefully. "I've noticed some changes in you lately. You've been feeling nauseous, tired, and your appetite has changed. Have you noticed that too?"

Jessica nodded slowly, looking a bit puzzled. "Yeah, I have. I thought it was just the stress or something. What do you think it is?"

Brenda reached out and took Jessica's hand in hers. "Jessica, I think you might be pregnant."

Jessica's eyes widened in confusion. "Pregnant? But... how? I don't understand."

Brenda squeezed her hand reassuringly. "It's okay, honey. Being pregnant means there's a baby growing inside you. It happens when a woman and a man... you know, come together."

Jessica's face showed a mix of shock and curiosity. "I... I don't remember anything about that. How could this happen to me?"

Brenda's heart ached for Jessica's confusion. "I know this is overwhelming. But right now, what's important is taking care of you and the baby. We'll figure everything out together, okay?"

Jessica's eyes filled with tears. "But I don't remember anything about my past. I don't even know who I am, and now there's a baby? How am I supposed to handle this?"

Brenda pulled Jessica into a comforting hug. "You don't have to do it alone, Jessica. I'm here for you, every step of the way. We'll get through this together."

Jessica sniffled, leaning into Brenda's embrace. "Thank you, Brenda. I'm so scared and confused. I want to remember everything. I need to know who I am, especially now that there's someone growing inside me."

Brenda nodded, stroking Jessica's hair gently. "We'll take it one day at a time. Maybe focusing on the baby will help you find some of those lost memories. Sometimes, becoming a mother brings clarity and strength you never knew you had."

Jessica pulled back slightly, looking into Brenda's eyes. "Do you really think I can do this? Be a mother and find out who I am?"

Brenda smiled warmly. "I know you can. You're stronger than you think, Jessica. And I'll be right here with you, every step of the way. You have a new life growing inside you, and that can be a powerful motivation to remember who you are and where you came from."

Jessica took a deep breath, feeling a mix of fear and determination. "Okay. I'll try. For the baby's sake and for mine. I want to remember. I need to."

Brenda held her hands tightly. "That's the spirit. We'll figure it out together. And remember, you're not alone in this. We'll face whatever comes, side by side."

As the evening wore on, they sat together on the porch, talking about the future and the steps they would take to ensure Jessica's health and the baby's well-being. Jessica's resolve to regain her memories grew stronger, fueled by the realization that her past held the answers she desperately needed.

---

The next morning, Jessica woke up early, the conversation from the previous night still fresh in her mind. She found Brenda in the kitchen, brewing coffee.

"Morning, Brenda," Jessica said, trying to sound more upbeat than she felt.

"Morning, Jessica. Did you sleep well?" Brenda asked, giving her a warm smile.

"Not really. I kept thinking about what you said. About the baby and everything," Jessica admitted, sitting down at the kitchen table.

Brenda poured them both a cup of coffee, setting one in front of Jessica. "It's a lot to take in, I know. But we'll take it one step at a time."

Jessica wrapped her hands around the warm mug, staring into the dark liquid. "I just don't understand how I could be pregnant. I don't remember anything about my life before... before waking up here."

Brenda sat down across from her, her expression gentle and understanding. "Memory loss can be really tough. But maybe focusing on the present and the future can help. The baby might be a way to start piecing things together."

Jessica looked up, her eyes filled with uncertainty. "What if I never remember? What if I'm not ready to be a mother?"

Brenda reached across the table, taking Jessica's hand. "You'll remember when you're ready. And as for being a mother, no one is ever truly ready. But you'll have me, and we'll figure it out together. You're not alone, Jessica."

Jessica squeezed Brenda's hand, feeling a bit of the weight lift off her shoulders. "Thank you, Brenda. I don't know what I would do without you."

Brenda smiled warmly. "You don't have to worry about that. I'm here, and I'm not going anywhere."

---

The days passed slowly, each one bringing a mix of new challenges and small victories. Brenda taught Jessica how to take care of herself and the baby, from eating nutritious meals to gentle exercises. Jessica found comfort in the routine, even as her curiosity about her past grew.

One afternoon, as they were hanging laundry outside, Jessica turned to Brenda. "Do you think my memories will come back all at once, or just bits and pieces?"

Brenda paused, considering her words carefully. "It could be either, really. Sometimes memories come back in flashes, sometimes it's a gradual process. Everyone's different."

Jessica nodded, watching the clothes sway in the breeze. "I just... I wish I knew more about myself. About my life before. It's hard not knowing."

Brenda walked over, placing a reassuring hand on Jessica's shoulder. "It's understandable to feel that way. But remember, your memories don't define who you are now. You're building a new life here, and that's just as important."

Jessica sighed, leaning into Brenda's comforting presence. "I know. It's just... with the baby coming, I feel like I need to know more. Like there's something important I need to remember."

Brenda hugged her gently. "And maybe you will, in time. But for now, let's focus on taking care of you and the baby. The rest will come when it's meant to."

Meanwhile at Sandford Industries, Dominic was still throwing himself into work at Henderson Industries. The company was doing okay, but lately, there had been a dip in earnings. It wasn't a huge drop, but Dominic took it hard. He was scared he wouldn’t be able to handle the company that Nicole had worked so hard to build.

One Monday morning, Dominic walked into the office, his face set in a determined expression. The staff had noticed he was more intense than ever. Laura, his secretary, met him at the door.

“Morning, Mr. Sandford. You’ve got a meeting with the finance team in thirty minutes,” she said, handing him a stack of reports.

“Thanks, Laura,” Dominic replied, barely glancing at the papers. “I’ll be in my office. Let me know when everyone’s here.”

As he sat down, Dominic couldn’t shake the feeling of dread. The recent reports showed a slight decline in earnings, and it was eating at him. Nicole had built Henderson Industries from the ground up, and he couldn’t bear the thought of letting it slip.

The meeting started on time. The finance team went over the numbers, pointing out areas where the company had seen a decline.

“We’ve noticed a drop in our market share, especially in the tech sector,” one of the analysts said. “It’s not huge, but it’s noticeable.”

Dominic nodded, his jaw tight. “We need to turn this around. I don’t want to see us slipping any further.”

After the meeting, Dominic was back in his office, staring at the reports. He was so deep in thought that he didn’t hear Laura come in.

“Mr. Sandford, you have a call from an investor,” she said, snapping him out of his trance.

Dominic’s heart skipped a beat. He had been trying to secure new investments to stabilize the company. “Put them through,” Dominic said, picking up the phone.

Over the next few weeks, Dominic met with several investors. Each meeting seemed promising at first, but ultimately, they all fell through. One investor after another turned him down, citing concerns about the company’s recent performance and the overall market conditions.

Dominic's frustration grew with each failed meeting. He started to feel the weight of the company’s decline more heavily. His stress levels were through the roof, and he began having trouble sleeping.

One particularly bad day, after another failed investor meeting, Dominic sat alone in his office, staring at a half-empty bottle of whiskey. He had never been much of a drinker, but lately, he found himself reaching for the bottle more often. It was the only thing that seemed to take the edge off his anxiety.

As the weeks went by, Dominic's drinking became more frequent. He’d stay late at the office, nursing a drink and staring blankly at his computer screen. The staff noticed the changes but didn’t know how to approach him.

Laura, his secretary, tried to talk to him one morning. “Mr. Sandford, is everything okay? You seem… different lately.”

Dominic forced a smile. “I’m fine, Laura. Just a lot on my mind.”

But he wasn’t fine. The company’s earnings continued to decline, and rumors started to spread. Henderson Industries, once the top company, was now falling out of the top five rankings. The media caught wind of the story, and it wasn’t long before headlines started appearing: “Henderson Industries in Trouble? Top Company Slips in Rankings.”

Dominic felt like he was drowning. The pressure to keep the company afloat, combined with his grief over Nicole’s death, was too much. He started to withdraw from everyone, isolating himself even more. His drinking escalated, and it wasn’t long before it began to affect his work.

One evening, Laura found Dominic passed out at his desk, an empty bottle next to him. She was deeply worried but didn’t know what to do. The next day, she decided to confront him.

“Mr. Sandford, you can’t keep doing this,” she said gently but firmly.

Dominic looked at her, his eyes bloodshot and tired. “I know, Laura. I just… I don’t know what to do anymore.”

“You need to take care of yourself, Mr. Sandford. The company needs you, but not like this. You can’t help it if you’re destroying yourself,” Laura said, her voice full of concern.

Dominic sighed, knowing she was right.