"The other responsible party," Gloria clarifies.
"I don't know what you're talking about," Jackie argues.
"Cut the crap. I know. I am not going to tell anyone, I just want you to know that I know."
"Great, can I go now?"
"The other party?"
"There isn't one."
"There has to be."
"No name, just a number," Jackie lies.
Gloria shakes her head, "That bad, huh?"
"Can I go, now? I have actual work to do."
"Fine, but do me a favor?"
"Sure, what?"
"Why don't you take it easy?"
"I am a nurse, the word easy is not in my vocabulary."
"I don't want you to stroke out on me, I need you."
"Whatever," she rolls her eyes.
"When will I need to start covering your shifts?"
"I'll let you know," she answers, as she leaves the office.
The following morning, Jackie stands in her closet, staring at the clothing inside. She's still wearing pajama's because it's her day off.
"Zoey, can you come in here, for a minute?"
A few moments later Zoey enters the room.
"What's the problem?"
Jackie turns, and looks at her, "You want me to choose just one?"
"What are the problems?"
"First of all it's my day off, and my girls are with Kevin."
"That is why you called me up here? Technically the girls are at school, and you are going to pick them up when they get off."
"No that isn't why I called you up here."
"Why did you call me up here?"
"To have a chat about philosophy," she jokes.
"Why are you standing in the closet?"
"Maybe because I have nothing to wear."
"Do you have somewhere to be?" Zoey poses a better question.
"I need to get dressed."
"You didn't answer my question."
"I just want to get dressed. I don't have anywhere to be."
"Just put scrubs on."
"I am not going to work today."
"Put on some sweat pants."
"I don't own any sweat pants. This is ridiculous."
"You are absolutely right, it is. I have a brilliant idea."
"And what's that?"
"Why don't you stop hiding it, and just buy some clothes that fit?"
"That is the worst idea I have ever heard, in my entire life."
"Seriously, Jackie, how long can you possibly keep this up? You have already exceeded my expectations by weeks."
Jackie steps away from the closet. She goes over to her bed, and takes a seat on the end. She runs her fingers through her hair, in frustration. She looks at Zoey.
"I don't know if I can do this."
"Which part?"
She shakes her head, "Any of it."
"What choice do you have? It's a little late to make that call now, isn't it?" Zoey questions, trying her hardest not to stare at Jackie's stomach.
Jackie looks down, at her over-sized t-shirt. She's traded in her fitted camisoles for baggy t-shirts, only recently. Jackie takes a deep breath, and presses her hand against her stomach.
"How did this happen?"
"I..."
Jackie cuts her off, "I meant how did this happen to me? Of all of the people in the world..."
Zoey stops her, "I think you mean why."
"Because karma is a bitch. That is the why."
"Jackie, I thought that you would have learned by now that keeping secrets only ends badly."
"I don't intend on keeping this secret forever."
Zoey cocks an eyebrow, "I am not sure that I entirely agree with that statement."
"I just need to clear my head. Maybe I should go for a walk."
Zoey's lips creep into a smile. "How?"
Jackie shoots her a look.
"You have nothing to wear, you can't go anywhere," Zoey points out.
"Shit!"
Zoey's eyes widen, "It can hear you know, you know."
"I am sure that from in there my expletives sound like sneezes."
"I haven't seen any studies to confirm that."
"Or deny it," Jackie points out.
"You're going to have to go shopping. You know that, right?"
"How can I go shopping? I am not going into public in my pajamas."
"Why are you always so stubborn?"
Jackie takes a seat on the end of her bed, "It's not by choice. It's just who I am."
"Talk to me," Zoey insists.
"About what? I have nothing to say."
"You have nothing to say? You always have something to say. Jackie you have to deal with this."
She shakes her head, "I don't know how to deal with this. This is the last thing I expected to be happening in my life right now. I never wanted this."
"You never wanted it? It is a little bit late to decide that now."
"Maybe not."
"Do you really expect me to believe that you've made it this far, and when it's all over with you're just going to walk away? I have known you to do a lot of things, but walk away isn't one of them."
"I wake up in the middle of the night, and sometimes it takes me ten minutes to convince myself that this is really happening."