Divorced! Now what?
Chapter 150

Hank

POV

The news of Bob and Pam's marriage was a delightful surprise, and the revelation of their pregnancy was a shock. I never would have guessed they had been together long enough to start a family. It's a testament to how little I've been paying attention. However,

despite my initial surprise, I am genuinely happy for them.

Theo and Bethany did not seem upset at all by Bob's overshadowing. Actually, I am looking for a better word than that. Sharing the day with Bethany and Theo and sharing the wedding day, too, shows how close Bethany is to Bob. I know she had doubts, a lot of doubts regarding Pam, but as Bethany said, if she makes him happy, then she is happy and will support them. Bethany does not have a mean bone in her body, and I notice she does not hold a grudge and forgives quickly. I am proud to call her my daughter-in-law and that Theo is finally settling down with such a lovely young lady.

The bet I like is they will live so close. I had been worried about who would buy those houses. Our area has always been a good one, but that could always change; having family take those two makes me feel so much better. I had tried to get Felicity to buy one, but she was not ready for all that garden and opted for Theo's place. I would like to know what they will do with the penthouse. Perhaps Felicity's friend would buy it or rent it. It is not my place to ask, but it would be nice if it were someone that Felicity knows; she would feel safer knowing the neighbor.

Kitty is overjoyed to have another baby on the way; this was more than she had hoped for; just having Theo settle down was enough, but a home close by and the chance she would be babysitting often had her making all sorts of plans can feel it. When they come over for sports day, I am sure she is going to take the baby and shoo her down to the den, and Kitty will keep the baby upstairs, only calling Bethany when the baby needs a feed and if she can convince her to express into a bottle even better. I am unsure which baby she is more excited about, Theo or Felicity; she will have Pam popping over, too, with her baby. Kitty is going to be in baby heaven.

This house is going to be baby-central. I can see Kitty asking me to make a nursery and play area for the babies, as well as a new swing set and outdoor gym. My work is cut out for me, but I will prepare the house for babies over the next few months. I am glad I worked on the den while I had the chance, or it would have had to be last on the list.

Bob POV

The group took our news well; I had not expected everyone to be so happy. I know it is sudden, and many questioned the speed at which we have dived into marriage. I do not want my child to be without my name. I feel that if I am wed to Pam, she will understand I am one hundred percent in on this new direction my life has taken. She had a lot of fears, too, and I needed to make sure she knew she was not alone in this. Pam did not get pregnant by herself, and I don't think she did it to trap me. Everything feels so right, and I am not going to start doubting my decisions now. My gut says this is right, and I failed to follow my gut instincts with Wendy, and I regret that; I won't do that again. If my gut says go for it, both feet in, I am going for it.

Pam had gotten involved with the discussion on the wedding and missed Thomas and Bethany calling her mum; I was so proud of them and the attempt to enlighten her about what she would be. But the tears shocked both of them, and I was glad when I consoled her and brought her back into the room where she happily took the baby, thanked both Bethany and Thomas, and was willing to admit it had not occurred to her that in a way she was already a mother and soon to be a grandmother, and that brought along more tears. I hugged her and told her all would be well, that she had a large family now, and she was no longer alone in life.

I am nervous about Saturday. When I caught Wendy cheating, I vowed never to get married again, and here I am getting married. Am I mad? Maybe, but I cannot put my life on hold because of Wendy; she is gone and can no longer hurt us. I need a new life, and that is just what I will do. Jacko POV

Talk about pulling the rug from under my proverbial feet. I knew Pam was pregnant, but I had no clue that Bob and she were getting married and buying a house together. I had wondered what Bob's reaction would be when she told him, but after all that he had been through, marriage was the last on my list of things he would do. I am proud of him for stepping up and taking responsibility.

I am very honored that Pam asked me to walk her down the aisle, path, or whatever you want to call the walk to Bob Will. I knew she had no family to speak of, having them killed in her late teens, and had no other siblings or aunts or uncles.

Kitty is full of ideas and suggestions, not just about the wedding, but I heard her talking to one of the girls about getting rooms ready for when the children have sleepovers and have yet to be born. Poor Hank is going to be busy for a few weeks, but that is a good thing.

Bob, too, will be busy getting the new home ready, and from what I heard about selling their apartments, this family has just gotten bigger and happier. Bob needed something to take his mind off all that was going on at work; he cannot be involved anyway, so getting married and preparing for a child would keep him away from me and the investigation and back to his own office and the boring stuff he does there.

Toby is proving to be an asset, and Pam can finish up earlier than predicted. He sat with Bethany and went through the coding, and he picked it up amazingly fast. He said Bethany was a patient and good teacher. Praise for Bethany's skills was not needed, but it was good to hear anyway; I already know she is an exceptionally gifted girl.

Bethany needs to put all that behind her, too. She has a long road ahead, and the court cases are not over by a long shot. I tried to keep her out of the courtroom, but the judge allowed the defense to have the right to cross-examine, and the judge did not have a good reason not to.

I have yet to tell them of this. When we get the court hearing date, I will inform her and Bob. He needs to know the media are going to have a field day when they find out the new police commissioner's daughter is going to be a witness in the case. As Wendy and Cynthia can't be caught, their books will be their testimony, and again, the media will enjoy that.

This is far from over. We tried to speed it up, but we could not. The defense had the right to review all the evidence, and we have more evidence to add to the listing. The judge allowed all new evidence to be added up until the court trial started. I am interested in seeing what the defense is going to bring in and what witnesses they have.

They tried to get let out, but our judge refused bail; they tried to go to another judge to overrule ours, but none would touch it when they saw who they had in holding cells. Things are going to get dangerous for Bethany again.