Karen walked back into the lounge. Her three friends had opened a bottle of champagne to toast the memory of her late husband. They poured her a glass which she accepted, but dumped into the nearest plant when no one was looking. She then excused herself to her cabin. She wanted to be alone right now. 'How can this be happening?' she thought to herself as she pulled out some pajamas and a robe. 'What am I going to do without him?' Karen dressed herself for bed and laid down on her mattress. She stared at the ceiling for what felt like hours, finally coming back to reality when she heard a soft knock at the door.
Wiping her eyes, she cleared her throat before speaking. "Come in!" The door opened slowly, shedding light into the dark room. Looking up, she saw it was Jack. She smiled inwardly, Karen knew he would come to check on her. He was her poodle, he knew when she needed him. Jack closed the door behind him and climbed into bed with Karen, lying on his side facing her.
"You okay, Kare?" he asked. Jack already knew the answer, but figured he had to say something.
Karen shook her head. Jack reached out and grabbed her hand, kissing her palm. She looked him in the eyes and smiled. They laid down together in silence, staring at nothing, but just comforting one another.
"Jackie?"
Jack smiled at the sound of her voice. "Yea, Kare?"
"I need to tell you something. It's, uh, it's kind of important."
Jack nodded his head and turned himself so that his entire body was facing hers. Karen knew she had his full attention, so she took a deep breath before she started speaking.
"Well, honey. You know that Stanley and I were having problems, but you do know that we really loved each other, right?"
"Of course you did, Kare."
"Well, Jackie. When two people are in love, one of the ways they show one another how they feel is by-"
Jack interrupted her, "Okay, I get it. Go on."
Karen nodded, "Okay, um, well….I haven't been feeling well lately, and well as it turns out, I'm pregnant."
Jack stared at her. "Oh, Karen." he breathed, pulling her closer to him. Jack knew how long Karen and Stan had been trying to have a baby.
Feeling her body start to shake, he rubbed his hands up and down her back in a soothing motion. "Shhh. It's gonna be okay, Karen. I promise."
Karen pulled back from him and looked at him through her tear-filled eyes. "Jackie, we finally got our baby, and Stanley is gone. What am I gonna do? I don't know who I am without him."
"You are a strong, beautiful woman who is going to be a wonderful mother. And Karen, look at me," he tilted her chin up to meet her gaze, "I am going to be there for you with anything you could ever need."
"I love you, Jackie. You're such a good friend."
Jack smiled and kissed her nose. "I love you too, Kare." Then he placed his hand on her belly. "I'm so happy for you."
"I am too, honey. I am too."
