Seven Months Later

Jessie rocked the cooing bundle in her arms and smiled. Min Jun and she had gone through so much to get to this point. But the baby in her arms was the perfect reward for survival.

Sam and Shirley were in prison. They had been tried together, and the jury had come back with a verdict in less than an hour. Jessie hoped Shirley got the counseling she needed. She lived such a horrible life that it was hard for Jessie not to feel compassion for the woman no matter what Shirley did to her. 

Min Jun slept soundly in the bed across the room, his breathing heavy. He was determined to share as much as he could in the care of the baby, but breastfeeding was beyond him. Jessie wouldn't be surprised, though, if he didn't notice her gone from the bed soon and decide to sit with them. The still of the night seemed to resonate with this part of the family.