"I can't imagine how difficult this is for you."
"It isn't about being difficult. It's about being in disbelief."
"What do you mean?"
"I can handle the backaches, and the exhaustion. I have been a nurse long enough that both of those things are normal. I still have a hard time believing that there is a human being growing inside of me."
"You have done this twice, before."
"It was different. My life wasn't such a freaking mess. I was happily married to their father. It wasn't as if they were accidents. They were carefully planned. Every single detail. I remember with Grace I packed the bag for the hospital when I was six months pregnant. I knew what outfit she was going to where every single day for the first two weeks, before I even brought her home from the hospital."
"Not every story is a fairytale," Zoey comments.
"Do I sense a hint of negativity from little miss positive attitude?"
"Life isn't a fairytale, you just have to make the most of it," Zoey answers.
Jackie looks up at her. Zoey refuses to make eye contact. "Zoey, are you ok?"
"I'm fine."
"That face you're making, that doesn't constitute fine. What's bothering you?"
"I know this wasn't planned. I know that you're having a hard time with it, but you have to convince yourself, that once the baby is here, that you want it. If you can't, maybe you shouldn't do this."
Jackie furrows her brow, "Seriously, where is all of this negativity coming from? I am the negative one. You are the perky, happy one."
"Did it ever occur to you that it's all a facade? Everyone has their ways of coping."
"What do you mean, Zoey?"
Zoey shakes her head, she answers, on the verge of tears, "I wasn't planned. My parents never wanted me."
Jackie's heart sinks, "Zoey I am sure that isn't true."
"It absolutely is."
"I'm sorry."
"It's not your fault."
"Zoey, it's not yours either. If they were too stupid to see what an amazing person you are, that is their loss."
"Let's go shopping," she changes the subject.
"But..." Jackie tries tot argue.
Zoey cuts her off, "You need new scrubs, too."
"What am I going to wear to go shopping?"
"You can borrow my kimono," Zoey jokes.
Jackie can't help but smile.
Jackie groans, as they walk down the street. Zoey carries shopping bags, and Jackie follows behind her.
"Zoey I'm done. I hate shopping. We bought new clothes. What more could I possibly need?"
"One more store."
"No, Zoey that is what you said three stores ago."
"I feel like I should have brought a stroller along."
"For all of the bags?"
"For you," Zoey quips.
"Ouch. You're calling me a baby?"
"One more store."
"Fine," Jackie sighs.
They pass several shops. Finally half a block later Zoey stops. Jackie looks at the window. She looks to Zoey, and shakes her head.
"No. I am not going in there."
"Why not?"
"I am not going to buy baby shit. It's too early."
"I am not saying you have to buy anything, but I think you should start looking."
"Why?"
"Because you're six months in, and you are completely unprepared."
"It isn't as if this thing is going to drop out of me tomorrow."
"But it could."
"I would certainly hope not."
"It could happen."
"How did we go from you calling me a baby, to you calling me old in a span of five minutes?"
"We're going in."
Jackie folds her arms across her chest, and shakes her head.
"I'll buy you ice cream."
"You're trying to bribe me, with ice cream?"
"The kind from across the street, with the endless topping bar," Zoey points across the street, at the ice cream shop, "They have raisins."
"Fine," she agrees.
She follows Zoey into the store. Zoey holds up outfits, and Jackie just rolls her eyes.
"I can see that you're getting tired, and cranky, so we can go."
"Now?"
"In a minute. I am going to look at the books, and then we can go."
"That is the best deal I have heard all day."
Zoey crosses to the other side of the store. Jackie stands in front of rows, and rows of baby clothing neatly hung on racks.
When they get home Zoey heads to the laundry room. She tosses the newly purchased scrubs into the washer after taking the tags off. She pitches a few pairs of dirty scrubs. When she returns to the kitchen she finds Jackie heading for the door.
"Where are you going?"
"I have an errand to run."
"What errand?"
"Just an errand."
"Of what nature?"
"I've got to get the oil change in the car."
"You got it changed last month. We both know that you don't drive it that much."
"I'll be back shortly."
"If you're not?"
"If I'm not back in an hour or two send out a search party."