Chapter 38: Chapter 38

**Manhattan, One Year Ago**

"Mom, you just don't understand," Jessica said, her voice rising in frustration as she moved about her room, rifling through her wardrobe. "I'm in love with Nick Thomas, and he's going to marry me. He's going to be your son-in-law and the father of your grandchildren. So, you'd better start getting along with him because I'm not going to change the man I love just because you don't approve."

Jessica's voice was authoritative, stern. It met less of a requirement to keep repeating herself. Her love for Nick was genuine and she had no intention of altering it just because her mother didn't approve of him. She cherished him with the core of her soul, and in case things came to that, she would protect him.