Veronica lay quietly beside Jackson, her head resting against his chest. She could hear his heartbeat, steady and reassuring.

"Jackson?" she whispered.

"Yes, sweetheart?"

"Are you really sure we're having a baby?"

He smiled and gently brushed a strand of hair away from her face.

"Yes, Von. But tomorrow I want to take you to the office for some blood work and an ultrasound. I want to make sure everything is progressing the way it should."

She looked up at him.

"You're worried about something, aren't you?"

Jackson hesitated.

"I'm a doctor, sweetheart. Worrying is practically part of my job."

"Jackson Michael!" she exclaimed. "Don't you dare use that doctor voice on me!"

He laughed.

"All right, Mrs. Williams. You've caught me."

But Veronica noticed something in his eyes that his laughter couldn't hide.

"Jackson, please tell me what's wrong."

He took her hand.

"Your temperature was a little higher than I'd like, and you were awfully dizzy when I came home. It could simply be dehydration or something unrelated to the pregnancy. But I don't want to take chances."

Veronica swallowed hard.

"Is something wrong with our baby?"

"We don't know that anything is wrong," he answered gently. "And that's why we're going to get you checked."

She turned away, wiping a tear from her cheek.

Jackson immediately noticed.

"Hey, where did those tears come from?"

"I'm scared," she admitted. "We just found out we're having a baby, and already something might be wrong."

He wrapped his arms around her.

"Listen to me, Veronica. Whatever tomorrow brings, we're going to face it together."

She nodded and nestled closer.

For several minutes neither spoke.

Then Veronica suddenly sat upright.

"JACKSON!"

He nearly jumped off the bed.

"What? What's wrong? Are you hurting?"

"No!" she exclaimed. "The supper!"

Jackson stared at her for a moment before bursting into laughter.

"Sweetheart, I turned the oven off hours ago."

"But your roast!"

"Von, I would rather eat peanut butter sandwiches for the rest of my life than have you worrying about my supper when you're sick."

She smiled.

"Even with strawberry jelly?"

"Especially with strawberry jelly."

He kissed her forehead.

"Now, Mrs. Williams, how about we get some sleep?"

She settled back against her pillow.

"Jackson?"

"Yes, baby?"

"You're going to be a daddy."

He went completely still.

For the first time that evening, the reality of those words seemed to reach him.

He looked at his wife, then gently rested his hand against her stomach.

"Yes," he whispered, his eyes filling with tears. "I guess I am."

Veronica placed her hand over his.

"And you're going to be a wonderful one."

Jackson leaned down and kissed her.

But as he turned off the bedside lamp, Veronica suddenly grabbed his arm.

"Jackson, wait."

"What is it, sweetheart?"

"There's something I haven't told you."

The smile disappeared from his face.

"What haven't you told me, Von?"

She looked down at their joined hands.

"I've been having these dizzy spells for almost two weeks. And yesterday, when I was home alone, I fainted."

Jackson sat straight up.

"Veronica, why didn't you tell me?"

"Because I didn't want you to worry."

He closed his eyes for a moment.

"Sweetheart, I'm your husband. You don't have to protect me from worrying about you."

"I know," she whispered.

He took a deep breath.

"Tomorrow morning, first thing, we're getting you examined. And I want another doctor involved so we can make sure you and our baby get the best possible care."

Veronica looked at him.

"Are you angry with me?"

"No, baby. I'm concerned. There's a difference."

She reached for him.

"Will you hold me tonight?"

He smiled softly.

"Every night, Veronica. Every single night."

But long after Veronica had fallen asleep, Jackson remained awake.

Something about her symptoms troubled him.

And tomorrow, he intended to find out exactly what was happening.