The year was 1874, and I had just moved to Boston with my father and uncle. My lover had to stay at home in England, and I missed him dearly. Every night, I cried myself to sleep, not knowing if I'd ever see him again. My father and uncle were both accepting, as they had accepted the fact that I was who I was, and that I didn't find interest in a woman. I told them how much I missed Jack (my lover), and how much I longed for him to be with me, especially since I was 36, and of marrying age, and Jack and I had made a pact to marry just before we parted.

2 months later, Jack appeared at my doorstep, with some beautiful jackets for me. I could not believe it, for he was really there, in front of me. He was 30, and looked really good for it. He, like me, had no children, and we'd been shunned by our friends and families back in England for being the way we were. A month later, we were married, in a civil ceremony, attended by my father (David) and uncle (Robert), aswell as Betty (my younger sister), and our neighbours. That night, we did what all newly-married couples did in those days, and made love, and that was when it all happened.

I remember what it was like when I found out. It was a beautiful winter day in February of 1875, and my father's funeral had been a week earlier. Uncle Robert and Jack were both there, and the doctor put down his case, and said "this is the most extraordinary thing, Mr Smith, but you and your husband are going to be bringing a baby into the household." That made me cry tears of happiness, as it did everyone else in the room. Betty was in town at the time, celebrating her 29th birthday with friends. Like me, she had no kids, and she was in no mood to marry, let alone have kids, cause she was not that type of person, but I was, and the news that I received was the best news in the world.

A little over 3 months later, Jack, Uncle Robert, Betty, and I, decided to go down south. We'd heard that Jack's brother, Danny, had just moved to Texas, and we wanted to see him. 54 he was, to be exact, which was how old Uncle Robert was, and 13 years younger than my father. He was living in a ranch, and was eager to catch up with us, but, before we could do that, we had to make sure that we fitted in with the crowd, so we donned cowboy attire, mine tailored to suit my expanding stomach, and we had to have good enough horses, mine needing to take my weight as I got further along.

When we arrived at the ranch, Danny ran out, and greeted us all with a big "howdy". He looked dapper, and his wife and granddaughter were there, all dressed in white with red ribbons. When Jack gave them the news, they did nothing but congratulate us. Their daughter, Lydia, who was Betty's age, showed us around, knowing that we were to stay for a couple of weeks whilst our house in Boston was being redone.

As the weeks went by, so did the first part of my pregnancy. Each week, we attended church, and updated the minister about everything, telling him that we'd let him know, or we'd tell one of his friends in Boston, and they'd send the message, when the baby was born. I also wrote to my mother in England, as I did in this letter.

Dear Mother.

I know that you're still unhappy with me, but it's the way that I am. Jack and I were married a few months ago, as we loved each other that much. Father died about a month and a half ago, and, before he died, he told me to write to you as soon as we got back from Texas, and tell you that you are to become a grandmother. Please reply.

Your son.

John.

As soon as I finished writing the letter, I sent it off, in the hope that she would receive it. It had been almost a year since we had last spoken, and I knew, deep down, that she was still unhappy with me for not being married at the age that I was when we last spoke, and for falling in love with a man instead of a woman, but I didn't want her to forget who I was, which was why I sent the letter. A week later, I got a reply.

Dear John.

I knew, when you introduced me to Jack, that you were both meant for each other. Didn't show it, because I didn't want to be seen as the odd turkey in the turkey coop. I am at the port at the moment, waiting for the ship to arrive, as I'm going to be coming over to live with you. I am also saddened about your father, cause he was a lovely soul, but I feel the need to be with you again, because I have been so lonely this past year, and it's time that we're together again.

Your beloved mother.

P.S: If the baby is a girl, name her after me. If it's a boy, name him after Robert.

To hear that my mother had been accepting of me after all of that time was one of the most exhilerating things ever. When I told Jack, he burst into a huge fit of laughter. He told Robert and Betty, and we all celebrated as one big family. When mother arrived 3 weeks later, the first thing that she did was to give me a kiss on the cheek. She then put her hand on my stomach, and cried with joy upon realising that I had a baby in there.

When the baby started moving, we all noticed. I was slumped on the chair, reading through an old book that father had given to me a few years earlier, when I felt a slight movement coming from my stomach. It was faint, but enough to make me giggle. Jack also noticed it, and it was a moment for all to hear about.

As the final months of my pregnancy progressed, so did everything else. Uncle Robert found love in a pretty blonde, and he became pregnant himself. Betty moved downtown, where she could be near to her female friends, and mother became the head of the household. She was way past the age of marrying and childbearing, so she was happy to be in the position that she was in.

We were in Kansas when it happened. We were staying with some of father's old business friends who we'd only just found out about. I was heavily with child, so I had to watch where I was going, and we were out in the woods, being warmed up by the campfire, when it started. We were talking about our lives, when I felt the first cramp. It wasn't sharp, but it was sharp enough to make me put my hand to my stomach, and the camping trip ended there and then.

By the time we got back into town, my cramps had started coming thick and fast. My stomach had also gone down in size due to my water breaking just before we left the cabin after stopping back there to tie up the horses, since the actual town itself was just a walking mile. As soon as we got there, we started our search for a doctor, but we had no idea where to look, seeing as we were not in a familiar place. Fortunately, Jack spotted a saloon that was full to the brim with people, so he rushed in, and found out that the doctor was living on the outskirts of town, which meant that we needed to get back on the horses.

When we arrived at the doctors' cottage, my cramps got to their sharpest. The doctor, whose name was Dr Blythe, took me in, and told the others to wait outside, but Jack, being stubborn, demanded that all be with me for the birth, so Dr Blythe gave in, and let it happen. Just half an hour later, baby Maria was born. She was beautiful, and we all fell in love with her immediately. Uncle Robert couldn't help but cry both tears of happiness and of sorrow, as he'd lost both his love and his baby, his love deciding to go off with someone else, and his baby loss being a surprise. As promised, I let everyone in Texas know, with this letter.

To my friends in Texas.

I am writing this letter to tell you that Jack and I are doing very well. We have a daughter, called Maria, and she is beautiful. She has brown hair like Jack, and Uncle Robert's blue eyes. Her weight is 7lbs3oz, and she is the best thing to ever happen to us.

John.

P.S: We might pay a visit to Texas once we've left Kansas, so I might give you a chance to see her.