No Happy Ending

Life is just so hard

Jessica's sitting in the kitchen drinking tea, looking through the magazine. She got up early to have breakfast in peace and quiet.

"Morning, mom!" David come in

"Good morning honey! Want me to make you some tea?" she smiles, distracted from the magazine.

"No, thanks"

David made himself a coffee, then sat down and stared at Jessica in silence.

"What?" she looks at him

"Hm?....Oh, I wanted to talk to you"

"About what?"

"Me and Megan decided to live together and we already found an apartment! I will finish my College soon and can work, but for now I can work after school! Do you mind?"

"Oh....no, of course I don't mind...but it's just that only when the kids leave you realize that they've grown up"

"Mom, dont cry, I will not far from of our house"

"I know, but you're still my baby, and I will have to get used to the fact that you don't live with me!" Jessica hugs him

"Heh, but I can't live with you forever!"

"Well, you actually can!" Jessica smiles

"Mom!"

She smiles, then kisses his forehead.

"I'm glad you and Megan are okay! I hope you will give me grandchildren soon!" Jessica giggles

"Mom, you just cried about me moving in, now you already want grandkids!"

"Well, sooner or later" she winks and looks down at the magazine as David giggles.

*****
"Mommy, why am I dressed like this? Where are we going?"Leo asks, standing next to Jessica

"You and your sisters are going to kindergarten and mommy's going to work!" Jessica fix his hair .

"Oh, no! Again...."

"What? You don't like kindergarten?"

"No, I want to be home, please! I didn't do anything wrong!" he looks at her with puppy dog eyes

"I know, baby, but you still have to go to kindergarten"

"Oh, God!"he sighs making Jessica giggles

"Life is just so hard"

"Yeah..."

"Mommy! Look, look at my dress! I'm pretty!"Abby runs in

"I'm prettier! My dress is better than yours!" Agnes runs after her and poses

"Girls, you are both very so so pretty!"

"Like you!" they says in unison

"Yes!"Jessica giggles

"But I look more like mommy, and Agnes looks more like daddy, and Leo....I don't know" Abby shrugs.

"Mommy! Mommy! I look more like who?" Leo takes her hand

"Well, you're a perfect mix of mommy and daddy!"

"Great!" he smiles and sticks his tongue out at the girls.

"No,you stick that back in your mouth! Oh, we're late! Come on, let's go!" Jessica says and the kids leave the room with her.

"Viv, honey, are you ready?"Jessica walks into her room and sees that Vivian sitting on the bed, crying.

"Honey, what happened?" Jessica sits beside and hugs her

"Oh, you're so warm!"she kisses her forehead.

Vivian hugs her tight

"What are we gonna do, honey, hmm?"

"Let's get dressed, take the triplets to kindergarten, and then we'll take you to grandma's, okay? I can't leave you at home alone!" Jessica sits her on the bed and picks out her outfit

"Mommy, but we're late!" Abby runs into the room

"Why is sissy crying?"

"Because she caught the cold"Jessica replies sad

"Oh, no!" Abby sits next to her and hugs her

"Don't worry, Viv, mommy will make  you feel better! Don't cry!"Abby kisses her on the cheek and Vivian smiles.

"You're such a sweet sister!" Jessica puts her hand on Abby's head and kisses the top of her head.

Jessica took the triplets to kindergarten, then called Dorothy to stay with Vivian, but she can only pick her up at lunch, so Jessica took her daughter with her to work

"Mom, did you call my school?" Vivian asks tired voice.

"Yes! Look, you'll be with me before lunch, and then grandma's coming to pick you up, okay?" Jessica looks at her through the rearview mirror and Vivian nods.
They arrived at the office late and when they went up to the floor, all the workers were at the meeting.

"Mommy, why isn't anyone here?"

"Here they are in a meeting right now!" Jessica sits her on the couch and began to search the bag of medicine.

"Here honey, you need go take it, then you can lay down and try to sleep!" Jessica gave her pills and water. Vivian took a pill and lay down on the couch. Jessica covered her with a blanket, then kissed her forehead.

"I have to go to a meeting, honey! You try to sleep, okay?"

"Ok!" she nodded

"I love you, baby girl!"

"I love you too, mommy!"

Jessica smiled and ran to the meeting. As soon as she came in, Sam announced that the meeting was over and everyone started leaving the office. Christina saw Jessica and approached her, but Sam distracted them by saying Jessica had to stay.

"I'm sorry I'm late, but Vivian got sick and I didn't know who to leave her with!" Jessica says
"I had to take her with me, but my mom's coming for her at lunch!"

"Okay, I hope Vivian gets better soon!" Sam sits on the edge of the table

"Me too! I'll go I can't leave her alone!" Jessica opens the door

"Wait!"

Jessica stops and Sam hugs her waist and kisses her gently, then smiles.
"Now you can go!"

******
This evening

Jessica was cooking dinner while the triplets were watching TV, Vivian was sleeping, and David was packing up his things when the doorbell rang.

"Mommy, the door!"triplets yells

"I'm coming!" Jessica walks to the door

"Ah! Alicia!" she hugs her daughter

"Hi mom! Hey, guys!" she comes in

"Alicia! Alicia!" they're hugging her

"We missed you!"

"Aw I've missed you too!"she hugs them

"If you came here without John, it means that someone is going to get married soon!"Jessica hugs her again

"I'm so excited! Where's Vivian and David?"

"Vivian's asleep, she caught a cold, and David's packing!"

"Ah, poor Viv!" Alicia sits at the table, speaking sad, and the triplets ran ahead to watch cartoons

"But why is David packing?"

"He and Megan are moving into an apartment!"

"Really?! I didn't know they were so serious!" Alicia laughs, and Jessica looks at her sternly

"Okay, I'll stop! I have some news!" she smiles

"What is it?"

"You better sit down, mommy!"

"You scared me!" Jessica sits down.

"Someone's going to be a grandma! I'm pregnant!"