For all I knew the Pattinsons had been in roofing since the days of thatch. I married into the business.
It could be hard. By forty Rob had the back of an old man. Our eldest, John-Paul, wanted to join him. School never suited John-Paul. I’d quietly hoped he’d choose something different, but John-Paul longed to join the world. Roofing was there for him. Besides, he admired his father. What chance did I have? I packed his lunch that first day, kissed him goodbye and shed a tear. The first of many.
The call came at 3—Rob’s anguished voice. ‘Get to the hospital. JP’s had a fall.’
Our son woke just once, that first night in intensive care. Trying to smile he mumbled what sounded like, ‘f-f-fern shen-fer.’
The words unscrambled. ‘Phone Jennifer?’ I repeated.
He nodded then fell back into a haze.
I rang a number from his phone, hoping. ‘Do you know, John-Paul Pattinson?’
A sweet voice said, ‘JP. Yes. What’s——?’
She arrived soon after, distress not hiding her prettiness. After introductions I took her hand. ‘Why didn’t JP tell us about you?’
Jennifer’s tear-streaked cheeks flushed. She patted her tummy, rounder than a young girl’s should be. Mother to mother we embraced in devestation while his monitors whirred and beeped.
small stories about love 
Thank you for sharing the story. Happy New Year!
Wow! This one is powerful. The content was perfect, just right, and I went down the path. Thanks for this.