Happy Little Accidents

a bump in the road

Six Weeks Later

She didn't know what was worse.

The smell of fresh paint baking in the late Mississippi summer sun. The dizzying migraine plaguing her for days. Or having to excuse herself from a meeting with potential clients to go throw up when the combined heat, migraine, and smell became too much.

Zak rarely got sick. It was something she took pride in.

She didn't have much in the way of health insurance running her own business. Just an HSA she tried to avoid using.

But after three days of chugging Pedialyte and popping Tylenol like candy just to get through a few phone calls and passing off clients to her assistant, Amari, Zak caved and went to a doctor to get checked out.

She lay back on the exam table, trying to relax on the crinkly paper cover. The gentle thrum of the AC and cool air it provided made her sleepy, but the bright lights overhead and stiff padding of the exam table made it difficult to get too comfortable.

"Hey, Miss Thompson." Hannah, one of the nurses, came into the room with a cheery smile, "So, your pregnancy test came back positive. We're gonna do a blood test just to confirm and then get you set up for an ultrasound."

Zak sat up. Unable to stop her jaw from dropping, eyes wide.

"Sorry. Come again?"

"Your urine test came back negative for a UTI. And positive for pregnancy." Hannah repeated.

"That's not possible."

"Like I said, we are gonna do a blood test just to confirm."

"No, you don't understand." Zak insisted, chest tightening with anxiety, "I've been on birth control since fourteen. An accident took half my reproductive system. I'm not supposed to... I can't...oh my god."

She groaned and dropped her head into her hands.

It definitely explained the nausea. Certain smells making her dry heave or vomit altogether. The dizzy spells. Her jeans not fitting despite no change in diet or exercise.

"Is... there someone I can call for you? The father, maybe?"

Oh no.

Bob.

He was the last person she slept with. Therefore the only likely candidate.

He told her he wanted a big family. But surely not like this. He definitely struck her as the 'marriage first' type. Especially considering how old fashioned and traditional Roberta seemed to be.

"Just do the damn blood test." Zak sighed, holding out her arm.

Maybe Jenny would give her Bob's number? Although over the phone probably wasn't the best way to drop a bomb like this.

No, she should definitely tell him in person.

But only if the blood test came back positive. If it didn't she had nothing to worry about.

Right?

-&-

A few days later, Zak sat out on the south side of the wrap-around porch at her parents house with her tablet open to the blue prints she was supposed to be finalizing for an upcoming renovation. But she couldn't help watching her nieces and nephews romping around the backyard. Playing make believe on the climb-and-play or seeing who could swing the highest.

Her sister Esther caught her eye and waved, then made baby Tommy wave. Zak smiled a little and waved back.

For a moment, she could picture the future.