6 months later -
"So that's it, Sophie's officially gone." Jess let out a saddened sigh as she leaned across the table.
Herself and Juliet were sat in a coffee shop, having needed to meet up for a very particular reason however, their conversation had very quickly swayed to the Sophie and Aaron situation.
When Sophie had returned from New York, she had finally approached Aaron about Amie. It had caused some major guilt on Aaron's part and things had finally ended up in an expected break up.
Sophie had then spent the past year closing down her business in London, moving out of her house and then preparing to move to New York. After successfully completing everything in record time, she had taken that final plane the night before with a new mindset and plan in place.
"I actually can't believe it." Juliet added. "I'm not really surprised she left but I'm surprised at everything that happened."
"I think she'll be so much happier, I'm just going to miss her like crazy..."
Jess and Sophie had always been close. They were each other's rock through everything so being so far apart once again was never going to be easy. Jess felt like she had lost her best friend for good and that had been expressed in the many tears they shared the previous night.
"I think Aaron will too. It probably hasn't hit him yet, as although they broke up, she's still been around him this past year while she figured stuff out."
"I kind of thought Aaron would go with her, even after everything that happened." Juliet mumbled, afraid of saying the wrong thing. "Did he not want to or?"
"He begged her to let him go... he felt guilty for what happened but Sophie wouldn't let him. I think she just wanted a fresh start and knew their relationship was doomed."
"Gosh, it's just crazy how these things happen. I know them two have always have a rocky relationship but I always thought they were for life."
Nodding her head, Jess had thought that too. She knew Sophie needed someone who was willing to put up with her intense ways, especially when it came to her job and she thought that was Aaron; Sophie believed that too but it hadn't worked out in the end.
"She's strong though. She's dealt with it all so amazingly." Jess added, wanting to throw that in and not just focus on the negatives. "She's going to kill it out there."
"Do you think the kids will struggle with it?" Juliet asked and Jess didn't say anything for a moment before shaking her head.
"If they do it right, then no. They've been brought up to be strong, this isn't new to them."
Sophie had tried to set out a plan so that the kids all finished their schooling in Brighton and then lived with her in New York during the holidays. That had been agreed by Aaron until Phoebe had kicked up the biggest fuss insisting she wanted to go with her mum.
Therefore, they had decided it was better not to split the kids and instead, all 3 of them were going to be starting school in New York and then staying with their dad during the holidays. Although Aaron had been heartbroken to see them all go alongside Amiya who Sophie had already insisted was going with her, he had agreed, knowing it was what was best.
Therefore, although it was messy, the current set up was going to have to work out and they both promised that if it didn't, they would rethink. Aaron had even insisted that he would move to New York temporarily and get a place of his own if it meant the kids would be happier when the whole family was together.
"I saw Aaron with that Amie girl the other day, I guess that means they are together then?" Juliet asked with curiosity, considering she knew Jess was the one to hold all of the gossip.
With the men at Jack's garage not wanting to miss a single thing in each other's lives, news travelled very fast.
"I think so yeah... which I still don't get as he always used to say how crazy she drove him."
"and Sophie? I can't imagine she will have gone long without finding someone." Juliet began before noticing the look of shock on Jess' face at her comment. She instantly realised how bad that sounded and how much she needed to save herself. "No, I didn't mean it like that. I just mean she's strong and gorgeous, she's never had trouble before."
"Nice save." Jess laughed at the flustered state Juliet had suddenly got herself into. "But I think she is dating Todd, she just hadn't verbally confirmed it yet... and if that doesn't work out, I know Max is happy that she's back."
One of Jess' favourite things about Sophie was that she kept things interesting. Although it was heartbreaking to see her go through a breakup with Aaron or in any of her past relationships, Jess was always excited to see what she did next.
It was like reading some chick flick novel when watching Sophie and it was amazing to see how she so easily slid from one situation into another with such ease and composure.
...
"So..." Juliet sang as she diverted the topic with a look in her eyes. "I can't actually believe we are going to be grandparents this young!"
"Oh God, I know." Jess laughed. "I was hoping to at least be in my 50's."
"Me too! I knew James liked kids but I didn't think he'd be the first to have them."
Ellie and James were expecting a baby and it wasn't unplanned as most assumed. Instead, it had been something the pair of them had thought long and hard about before agreeing it was the best next step for them, even though they were only 18 and 20 years old.
After Ellie had decided not to return to University and James had decided he didn't want to go, they had both chosen different paths. James was working as a waiter in a restaurant in town while Ellie had been auditioning and getting parts in local performances while also helping to teach younger kids musical theatre at her old club.
Under the help of Jess' persuasion, Jack had agreed to help them both out in renting their own place. Ellie had insisted it would be a good challenge to see if their relationship would truly work when they were living together and therefore all parents had finally been in agreement, as long as they continued to pay Jack half to prove they could manage.
As the year passed, things had only gotten stronger between them and it had resulted in a conversation that lead them to where they were now.
"I think they'll make great parents. They are both very family orientated." Jess smiled at the thought of her own daughter becoming a mum. Although it was a crazy thought, she knew how much Ellie wanted this and how excited she truly was, so she couldn't do anything else but support her.
"How's Jack handling it all now?" Juliet asked with caution, already knowing the likely answer.
"Er... he's still mad and I think it will take a while for him to come to terms with it." Jess began, not wanting to load any guilt onto Juliet. "Just take everything with a pinch of salt. He's mad at James because in his eyes, it's all his fault but it's nobodies. It's what they both want."
When Jack had found out that Ellie was pregnant, his fatherly instincts had gone on overdrive as he was consumed with worry. It didn't matter that it was a decision both Ellie and James had agreed on together, he didn't see it that way.
Instead, he was mad at James and instantly put all blame on him for getting his daughter into that situation. Ellie was still his little baby girl in Jack's eyes and he still felt the need to protect her for absolutely everything.
"He just worries that she's done what him and I did... having a baby young, but this is different..."
"I understand, it's just difficult making James see it that way, you know?"
Juliet had sat James down and tried to speak to him about the whole ordeal but she didn't think any of it had processed. He didn't understand why Ellie's dad was so mad at him when the decision made had been by both of them.
"Ellie has spoken to him. She's eased some of his worry I think." Jess reassured yet she knew even if Jack had made Ellie believe that, inside he was probably screaming with panic. "He would just wrap her up in cotton wool if he could."
"Well if it helps, maybe we should all get together and talk about it." Juliet suggested yet she wasn't sure if Jess was going to agree by her reaction. "Me, you, Jack, Dylan... and Ellie and James. It might help."
"I guess we could try that but honestly, tell James not to worry too much. Jack will come around with him, even more so when the baby is born; it will change everything. He's a huge softie really."
To Jess, this all felt like a repeat of her own pregnancy with Ellie. Jack had freaked out to start with and been cold and distant however, as soon as he laid eyes on their daughter everything had changed. He had been a natural and not once shown any apprehension towards the whole thing.
In this situation though, she knew how excited Jack was to have a grandchild and he would continue to show Ellie support throughout. However, he couldn't help but still feel anger towards the boy who had put her in such a vulnerable position and it just so happened James had been that person.
"I'll make sure he knows." Juliet said as she took a sip from the cup of tea sat before her. "How is Ellie doing?"
"She's doing good yeah. I think she's going back to their place tonight, the sickness was just scaring her a bit." Jess explained, knowing that Juliet had concerns that Ellie was second guessing her relationship with James, which wasn't the case.
When the awful morning sickness had kicked in, Ellie had panicked. She had been consumed with so much fear that she had immediately turned to her mum for comfort who knew all about it. The 20 year old had decided that staying home for a few nights was the best decision as she was comforted by both Jess and Jack. Having their reassurance was what she needed as deep down, she was still a little girl trying to figure out this big new experience while not knowing what to expect. She still wanted her parents by her side even when she was trying to be grown up and deal with it like an adult.
"I bet! I remember crying so much and wishing it would all just end." Juliet mused back to her own pregnancies and remembered how truly difficult they could be.
"...and honestly, don't worry about the situation with James. Both Jack and I couldn't wish for this to happen with anyone better... even if Jack doesn't quite show it yet. We trust him as much as Ellie does."
Jess felt the need to reassure Juliet as it was always so typical for the boy to be pinned as being the bad guy in things like this.
It was only natural for any parents of their pregnant daughter to be worried, especially in regards to the father at this age however, Jess knew Ellie had picked one of the good ones.
When it had been herself and Jack, there had been much bigger risks as both her and Jack hadn't been the most level headed or trustworthy beings. Therefore, she wanted Juliet to know that they trusted James would do a good job and there was nothing to suggest otherwise.
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