"Janie? Are you ready to go inside?"

Janie shook her head to clear her thoughts as she smiled gently at her new husband. The past 8 weeks had been a whirlwind of activity. Her father had convinced her to marry Joe in order to provide a proper upbringing for her child. In turn, Joe had needed a green card in order to further himself in a career. Janie had always admired him as he had become closer to her family due to the close ties he had with her father. When she dropped out of school after Eric died, she knew she didn't have the means to provide a life for herself let alone an innocent child.

Joe gently took Janie's hand and led her through the door of the new mansion he had built on the outskirts of Stoneybrook. He smiled at his pretty, new bride and gave her arm a reassuring squeeze. Truth be told, this wasn't the life either of them had planned on. He knew it was a marriage of convenience for both of them. He had deliberately invested in a mansion across town away from the gossip and secrets that filled the center of Stoneybrook. Janie's best friend Amy was the only one outside of the family, who knew the truth and she was moving to England at the end of summer to attend college. It had been decided that Joe would raise this child as his own and have a picture perfect marriage as he prepared to take over Rotundo Financial.

"I bought you something Janie…" teased Joe as he dangled a present before her eyes.

Janie took the gift and opened it and gasped as she drew out a beautiful diamond pendant.

"Joe! You shouldn't have, it's too much-" she let her voice trail off as Joe began to fasten the necklace around her neck. He lightly kissed her shoulder as he said, "I noticed you are always wearing that other necklace with the locket, I thought you needed something a bit more mature."

Janie closed her eyes as Joe carefully removed the locket. Oh Eric, please understand, I have to do this to make a life for our child. Ignoring the tears that were burning her eyelids Janie softly whispered a thank you as she leaned forward to kiss Joe's cheek. She knew she would put on the necklace again once Joe was out of sight.

That night as Janie sat at her vanity chewing on a pen in between writing in her journal, she began humming a song that she and Eric had danced to. She felt the flutter of her baby's feet kicking gently against her stomach.

"Janie? Honey? Are you coming to bed?" called out Joe from across the room.

Janie slowly wrapped her arms around her pregnant belly. I'm going to do my damndest to be the best mommy in the world. I'm going to make sure that you finish school and make a name for yourself and travel the world. Someday sweetheart, I'm going to tell you all about the sweetest, kindest, gentlest man there ever was. I want to tell you all about Eric Shoreson, but only when the time is right. I love you…

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Shannon slowly closed the well worn leather journal with tears coursing down her cheeks. She had been practicing her Valedictorian speech for tomorrow's ceremony when her mother had come into her room with a small gift wrapped package. Slowly she crept into her mother's room, where Janie was curled up on her bed, an open novel lying next to her.

Shannon gently placed the novel on the bedside table and turned off the light. She pulled her mother's blanket up over her and gently kissed her forehead. She softly whispered, "I'm going to do all you wanted to do and more Mom. I won't let you down. I promise!" Shannon crept out of her mother's room still thinking of all her mother had given up for her and her sisters. Janie slowly smiled as she subconsciously began to caress the locket around her neck. As she fell into deep sleep, she dreamt of a teenaged girl with golden blonde hair wearing a gold locket and a handsome man dressed in an Army uniform with eyes the color of the ocean sitting on a picnic table their fingers interlaced…