Alison burst through the door at the Recovery Room looking completely overwrought and exhausted. She plopped herself down at a table and picked up a menu. She was STARVING, and now she was eating for two. She hadn't eaten yet all day, and after her run-in with Nana at the hospital, she could have eaten enough for FIVE! Just as she was deciding between a nice big salad or a huge slice of chocolate cake, she looked up to see a familiar face staring down at her.
"Hey Alison...how are you doin? You're looking a little..well...not good."
"Hi Jack....So, I guess you've been FILLED IN by Livvie and Jamal...Yeah, 'not good' doesn't even BEGIN to describe it."
"Wanna vent?"
"Oh my God, Jack! You have NO idea what I've been through today! I thought YESTERDAY was bad, but today....today was CRAZY!" Alison blurted out.
"What happened?"
And then she just let it all out, talking so fast Jack had trouble keeping up, "Ok, well first I had my appointment with my OB, who confirmed, yes, I'm pregnant. Big surprise! And then she gave me a whole speech...or I should say lecture...on being a parent and then I had to lie about Rafe, cause she asked me why I was alone...and I just couldn't deal with explaining that to her...not today...ya know? So I told her he just couldn't make the appointment. And then I'm walking out of the office down the hallway, and there's my NANA!! So I try to hide from her and Colleen comes chasing me with my prenatal vitamins, so I had to tell my Nana about the baby! Well! Thank GOD we were in a hospital cause I thought she might just fall over and die RIGHT THERE!!..."
"Slow DOWN! Alison, it's ok. What? Did she get mad?"
"Mad?! She was in TOTAL SHOCK! First she just stared at me for a few minutes with a dumfounded sorta smile plastered on her face, and then when she came to again she went BALISTIC! 'You're pregnant?! You're not ready to have a baby, Alison! You can't raise a child, Alison! Who's going to help you raise it, Alison? Because it won't be me! How could you be so irresponsible, Alison? Answer me Alison!'"
"Ok, breathe. So what did you do?"
"Oh, ya know, I just acted like a little six year old who just got scolded for breaking a dish and broke down in tears, and I ran off to my car."
"Alison, don't beat yourself up about this. And don't worry about it, your grandmother is just gonna have to get used to the situation, just like everyone else, and she will. Don't worry."
"Ugh! I just can't TAKE all this stress! And I just really need food right now!...Thanks though, Jack."
"For what?"
"For just listening...It means a lot to me, really. I just...I just really need to know that I have support and all, ya know? I just need that to get through all of this."
"Well, you know I'm always here for ya, and Livvie too. In fact, you should SEE the result of her 'Aunt Livvie Shopping Spree'!"
Alison laughed, "Oh no."
"It's good to see ya laugh."
"Yeah, ya know that might be the first time I HAVE laughed in the last two days! Aren't I supposed to be all cheerful and glowing or something like that?" Alison joked.
"Be however you need to be. If you wanna scream and yell and cry...hey, go for it! But I like the laughing much better."
Jack was interrupted by the waiter, "Can I take your order?"
Jack passed. He had just eaten. Alison, however, was more than happy to order away, "Ok, can I have a cheeseburger with lettuce, tomato...ya know....EVERYTHING...and a large fries...ooh, with cheese on the side...and a house salad...and I'll also have a slice of the chocolate cake...thanks."
Jack's jaw dropped. "Alison, you can't eat all that by yourself! Are you expecting someone?"
"Yep! I'm DEFINITELY expecting someone," Alison said with a smile. It was the first moment she'd had since finding out about the baby where she found herself really happy.