Jackie leads the delivery men up stairs, the following afternoon. She pushes the door to the bedroom open, and finds that is has been freshly painted. She flips on a light, and they proceed to assemble the furniture. Once they leave she carries more baby clothes into the basement. She carefully sorts the onesies, sleepers, gowns, hats, blankets, and towels. She takes the crib bumper, and bedding out of the bag, too. As she tosses the final item into the washer, she closes the lid. She flips the washing machine on, and climbs the flight of stairs to the kitchen.
She heads into the living room, grabs the remaining items. She carries them up the stairs into the bedroom. She stares at the room, in silence, for a few moments. Only the previous day had this room been filled all of her daughter's things. Now the walls are painted a very neutral green shade. In place of beds there is a crib. Where the dresser used to be there is a changing table. On the wall, near the closet there is a dresser, with a lamp. She stands there, in complete disbelief.
She looks down, in the direction of her packages. She finds a round stomach in her way. There is no denying it now, not even if she wanted to. She slowly lowers herself to the floor, and begins emptying the bags one by one. She pulls out a bouncy seat, and quickly assembles it. She reaches into a bag, and pulls out a baby book. She pushes herself off the floor, and goes into her room.
She takes a seat on the bed. She grabs a pen, out of the drawer of her nightstand. She opens the front cover, and stares at the first page. It reads, 'This book belongs to,' with a blank space after it. She shakes her head.
"I hate to break it to you, but I don't know who this book belongs to," she begins. She gets a kick to the rib, "I mean, it belongs to you, but I don't have a name for you. I haven't even started looking at names. You're lucky that you have a crib. Obviously I was not at all prepared for any of this."
She flips to the next page. She is faced with another challenge, and she is only two pages in. In bold letters at the top of the page it reads, 'My family', then it reads 'Mother', and 'Father', with blank spaces following each one. She begins to fill in her name. She fills in her first name, and then furrows her brow.
"Seriously, what am I supposed to name you? I mean technically my name is still Peyton, but I am divorced, and Kevin is not your father. When you get here, you may just be Baby No Last Name. I suppose I could break out the name book Zoey bought."
Jackie grabs the baby name book off the nightstand. She lifts her legs onto the bed, and leans against the headboard. She extends her legs in front of her. She shoves a pillow between her back, and the headboard. She flips the book open, and begins to read.
"Aiden? That is an overused, gender neutral name if I ever heard one."
The baby kicks her. She exhales, and looks down. She places her hand on her stomach, "Don't worry, I am not going to name you Aiden that is certain," she says, reassuringly. The baby continues to kick her, "Or Caden, Jaden, or even Hayden. I promise."
Zoey stands in the doorway. She clears her throat. Jackie looks up at her. She furrows her brow.
"How long have you been standing there?"
"Are you talking to yourself?" Zoey queries.
"No."
"There is no one else here," Zoey points out.
"I am talking to the baby we are discussing names," she reveals.
"So what does the baby think?"
Jackie looks at the book, and then at Zoey, "That reading this book now is a waste of time. I am not going to come up with a fitting name, until I see this critter outside my body."
"Critter? Since when do you use the word critter?"
"What else do you want me to call it?"
"Baby, fetus, anything but critter."
"Maybe I'll name the baby Critter. What do you think?"
"Be serious."
"How can I be? This entire situation is a mess," Jackie points out.
"You know I could help," Zoey offers.
"Help what?"
"Pick a name," Zoey answers.
"I am still not telling you what it is."
"Just name it Zoey, regardless."
"Absolutely not."
"As much as I would love to continue this conversation with you, I really need to go shower."
"By all means don't let me stop you."
"Just keep talking to yourself," Zoey smiles.
"You are the one who insisted upon it, if you recall."
"I'm going to go get in the shower now," she turns, and leaves.
Jackie heads to the basement, and retrieves the clean baby clothes. She grabs the basket, and proceeds to fold them. She carries them to the babies room, and puts them away. She puts the fitted sheet on the mattress in the crib. She ties the bumper to the rails of the crib, and places the comforter inside. She smiles at the green, and grey circular pattern on the blanket, knowing that the fact that it is so neutral will drive Zoey crazy.
After finishing in the baby's room she heads into the kitchen. She empties bags and boxes, throwing them into the trashcan. She fills the sink with bottles, and pacifiers. She decides to hold off on sanitizing them. She heads back up the stairs to her room, and takes the name book out once again.
By the time that Zoey gets out of the bathroom, she finds Jackie passed out in her bed. She flips off the light, and closes the door. She heads across the hallway to the baby's room. She pushes the door open, and steps inside. She flips on the light, and stares at the room in chagrin. She frowns in disappointment, realizing that Jackie has continued with the neutral theme. She opens the drawers of the dresser only to find more neutral clothing. No blue puppy dogs, or pink princesses. No little blue booties, or cute pink headbands. Just green, white, and yellow. With a few other colors here, and there, but all of them neutral. From grey to beige. A couple of plain colored onsies, in red, green, and orange.
"Zoey, what are you doing?" Jackie questions, from the doorway, as Zoey stands guiltily in front of the open dresser drawer.
"I was just looking for something."
"A hint, you mean?"
Zoey turns and looks at her. She nods, "Yeah."
"I am not telling you."
"I won't tell anyone."
"I know that isn't true."
"Just one person, please. Jackie I am dying to know."
"You will find out when I go to the hospital, and give birth."
"Who is going to be there, with you?"
"I just assumed that you would."
"You never asked. I didn't know."
"It's not as if there is a long line of people waiting to be in the delivery room," Jackie adds.
"You know Coop..." she begins.
"If Coop comes anywhere near me I am going to strangle him with my IV."