In the lush, redwood-lined haven of Virgin River, Mel Monroe (Alexandra Breckenridge) and Jack Sheridan (Martin Henderson) have weathered love, loss, and everything in between. Their Season 6 wedding, a fairy-tale moment for fans, marked a pinnacle in their romance, but it’s their longing for a family that keeps viewers on the edge of their seats. With a shocking cliffhanger and a new opportunity for parenthood, the path to a baby is anything but smooth. Alexandra Breckenridge, the heart and soul of Mel, recently shared her excitement and hopes for this next chapter in exclusive interviews, offering a glimpse into the emotional stakes awaiting the newlyweds in Season 7. As Virgin River reels from a chilling mystery, here’s what Breckenridge has revealed about Jack and Mel’s baby plans—and why their dream is both closer and more precarious than ever.

A Wedding and a Wish for Family

Season 6, released on December 19, 2024, delivered the long-awaited wedding of Mel and Jack, a celebration that united Virgin River’s tight-knit community. “Watching Martin cry every time I walked down the aisle,” Breckenridge shared with Us Weekly, recalling the joy of filming the heartfelt scenes. Yet, beneath the vows and laughter, the couple’s desire for a child remained a quiet undercurrent. After the heartbreak of Mel’s miscarriage in Season 5, which Breckenridge connected to her own family’s health scares, the couple turned to adoption, a path that felt like a beacon of hope. Jack, ever the optimist, is “holding out for this family that he wants,” Henderson told Us Weekly, while Mel grapples with a mix of shock and cautious hope.

Their journey took a dramatic turn in the finale, “The Big Day,” when Marley, Mel’s pregnant patient, arrived at their doorstep. With her original adoptive parents backing out, Marley offered Mel and Jack her unborn baby—a moment that left Mel reeling. “She’s just like, in full shock,” Breckenridge explained. “This is literally the morning after she wakes up, and she’s in shock. And then there’s, like, that hope that starts to creep in.” This unexpected gift seemed to answer their prayers, but Virgin River’s knack for drama ensures nothing is certain.

Charmaine’s Disappearance Casts a Shadow

Just as Mel and Jack began to envision their future as parents, a chilling discovery upended their world. Charmaine (Lauren Hammersley), Jack’s ex and the mother of his twins, failed to appear at the wedding, where she was set to do Mel’s hair and makeup. Concerned, Jack visited her home, only to find it ransacked, with signs of a struggle. The Season 6 cliffhanger, described by Radio Times as leaving a “huge question mark over Charmaine’s well-being,” has fans fearing the worst. Calvin, the twins’ dangerous father, looms as a prime suspect, his threats against Charmaine escalating throughout the season.

This crisis threatens to derail Mel and Jack’s adoption plans. Jack’s biological connection to the twins means their welfare could take precedence, especially if Charmaine is unable to return. “The legal and emotional ramifications are huge,” a source close to the production noted, hinting at the complexities ahead. Breckenridge hasn’t directly addressed Charmaine’s impact on the adoption, but her comments about Mel’s communal role in Virgin River suggest the couple will be drawn into the town’s search efforts. “Everyone is wanting to have these connections they didn’t think they could have,” she told Good Housekeeping, emphasizing the town’s unity in crisis. For now, the adoption process is on shaky ground, with Marley’s offer hanging in the balance.

Breckenridge’s Vision for Mel’s Motherhood

Breckenridge is thrilled about Mel’s potential to become a mother, a role that resonates deeply with her character’s arc. “I’m really excited to play Mel becoming a mother, knowing what it all means for her,” she told TVLine. “How all of those emotions are going to come out when she finally becomes the mother that she’s wanted to be basically her whole life.” Mel’s journey has been marked by loss—her first husband’s death, two miscarriages, and the emotional weight of finding her biological father, Everett, in Seasons 5 and 6. Breckenridge was particularly invested in Mel’s bond with Everett, which she sees as grounding her character’s hope for family. “It’s nice that Mel and Everett’s struggles got resolved within this season,” she noted, hinting at Mel’s readiness for new beginnings.

The actress’s personal experiences as a mother to son Jack, 8, and daughter Billie, 7, with husband Casey Hooper, add depth to her portrayal. In a January 2025 interview with Daily Record, Breckenridge opened up about her son’s health scare, which echoed Mel’s miscarriage storyline. “It was a traumatic scene to film, but it connected to my own family’s experience,” she said, underscoring her emotional investment in Mel’s journey. This authenticity fuels her excitement for Season 7, where Mel’s path to motherhood will be a central focus.

A New Home, A New Chapter

As Season 7 began filming in March 2025, Breckenridge shared tantalizing glimpses of Mel and Jack’s next steps. In a May 2025 Instagram post, she revealed their move from the cozy cabin to a “sumptuous new abode,” complete with a barn and sprawling land. “It’s a beautiful day, we’re playing music. Look at this beautiful… I wouldn’t mind living here, it’s stunning,” she gushed, sparking fan frenzy. Fans expressed bittersweet excitement, with one commenting, “Honestly don’t know if I’m ready to say goodbye to the cabin, but I’m so excited to see them starting their life together in the new house! Raising their family…”

This new home symbolizes Mel and Jack’s fresh start, a space to build their family—whether through adoption or other means. Showrunner Patrick Sean Smith teased “a lot more to come” for the newlyweds, emphasizing their evolution as a married couple. “We’ve only just begun to see Mel and Jack function as a married couple, which is exciting,” he told Netflix Tudum. Breckenridge echoed this, noting that Season 7 will explore “communal aspects of Virgin River” as Mel and Jack grasp for lasting connections.

Challenges and Hopes for Season 7

Season 7, expected to premiere in late 2025 or early 2026, will pick up two hours after the Season 6 finale, diving into the fallout of Charmaine’s disappearance. New cast members Sara Canning and Cody Kearsley join the show, introducing a family mystery tied to a character named Clay, which could further complicate Mel and Jack’s plans. Breckenridge and Henderson have been tight-lipped about spoilers, but a March 2025 Instagram video showed them filming a “very cute Mel and Jack situation” in the cabin, hinting at lighter moments amid the drama.

Breckenridge’s hopes for Mel center on emotional growth. “As Jack and Mel are building a new home and looking forward to building a family together, I’m looking forward to seeing everyone take part in the more communal aspects of Virgin River,” she told Good Housekeeping. She believes Mel’s relationship with Everett will deepen, reinforcing her sense of family. For Jack, Henderson suggests an eager anticipation: “He’s quite anxious and eager to know where that is gonna lead.” Yet, with Calvin’s threat looming and the twins’ future uncertain, the road to parenthood remains fraught.

A Dream Worth Fighting For

Mel and Jack’s baby plans are at a crossroads, teetering between Marley’s life-changing offer and the chilling uncertainty of Charmaine’s fate. Breckenridge’s passion for Mel’s journey shines through, her interviews revealing a deep connection to the character’s longing for motherhood. “It’s about trying to grasp it and hold onto it as long as they can,” she said of Virgin River’s communal bonds, a sentiment that mirrors Mel and Jack’s fight for their family. As Season 7 looms, fans are left wondering: Will Mel and Jack embrace parenthood with Marley’s baby, or will Charmaine’s crisis reshape their path? In Virgin River, where love and drama intertwine, one thing is certain—Breckenridge and Henderson will deliver a story that tugs at the heartstrings, keeping viewers hooked until the very last frame.