Chapter 1
They were driving down the busy highway. They were sitting in silence, both with huge smiles on their faces. They had just been to the doctor. They’re going to be having a girl.
When they had reached a red light Jace looked over at Krystal from the driver’s seat.
“How are you feeling? Your face says it all.”
“I can’t believe I’m going to be a mother,” Krystal sounded close to tears. “It’s almost like something out of a dream.”
“It seems almost hard to believe, doesn’t it,” said Jace as the light turned green.
They sat in silence for a little while longer. They left the freeway and turned onto the main street that would take them home. However, their smiles were fading at this point.
“We need to stop by the store,” Jace said uneasily.
Krystal looked at him. She seemed to be studying his face to see how he was feeling.
“We do,” she finally replied.
Jace drove a little ways further and then turned into the parking lot of the liquor store. When he parked he got out. Krystal started to get out but Jace spoke up.
“You stay here. You’re starting to show and we don’t need the looks.”
Krystal resettled herself looking not at all happy to be staying in the car by herself.
A little while later Jace came out with two bags that were completely full. He was smiling again.
The sight of the bags made Krystal smile as well.
They started home again and soon Krystal spoke.
“Jace?”
“Yes love?”
“We need to stop by a store and buy some pickles.”
When they got home they broke into the bottles. It wasn’t long before they were well and truly drunk. After talking for a little while they fell asleep.
They are both very interesting people when they’re drunk. Krystal becomes extremely stupid and tends to babble on about things she would never talk about when she’s sober. Jace, on the other hand, becomes a little mean when he’s drunk. He’s never abusive, but is very short tempered.
They both know drinking is bad for the baby. The doctor made it very clear that Krystal should give up alcohol, at least during the pregnancy. That’s an easy thing to say when you’re not an alcoholic.
They both woke up the next morning as hungover as can be. Their heads felt like there were elephants sitting on top of them. Krystal was the first to groan. The sound of her groan hurt Jace’s head and he groaned. It was September 22 and their seven month anniversary. But they were currently too poisoned to remember it.
Jace was the first to remember this. He told Krystal and they both felt a great deal better. Krystal felt better enough to jump on top of Jace starting the first of much sex that day.
It was a while later that Krystal started to talk about that day.
“So are we just going to lay around and have sex all day?”
Jace knew immediately what she was talking about. He had planned going to dinner with her but he had been unable to decide where they should go. Then it hit him and he felt as dumb as one could feel.
“We’re going to Lorenzo’s.”
Krystal squilled which made both their heads hurt. I didn’t matter that they had gone to Lorenzo’s the past four anniversaries. Italian food was both of their favorites. It was one of the things that brought them together. Lorenzo’s being the best and most expensive restaurant in town didn’t hurt either.
Jace was friends with the maitre d at Lorenzo’s so he didn’t have too much trouble getting him and Krystal a table at such short notice. They ordered their favorite dish at the restaurant, the shrimp alfredo. The freshly made alfredo sauce is what made the dish the most popular in the restaurant. They also ordered a bottle of red wine. They couldn’t resist. Lorenzo’s had a great selection of wine.
Jace raised his glass.
“A toast to seven months, with many more to come.”
“I love you and I hope our relationship lasts forever,” said Krystal, with a knowing smile.
Jace knew Krystal wants to get married. She had made it very clear in the most subtle of was many times. Jace didn’t want to get married just yet though. He had no desire to break up with Krystal, he just didn’t know if he was ready to make such a huge commitment. He changed the subject.
“So, what do you think we should name our daughter?”
“You decide,” replied Krystal, as she emptied her glass and started filling it up again.
“How about Krystal, but with a ‘C’?”
Krystal looked horrified.
“How about Jane.” she asked.
“I like it,” Jace agreed. “Jane it is.”
Krystal surveyed Jace over her wine glass with a small smile on her face. Jace emptied his second glass and started to fill it up again.
“She’s going to be beautiful,” he said. “She’s going to have big eyes and blonde hair, just like you have.”
“Her eyes are going to be blue like yours,” Krystal replied. “All the boys are going to want her and all the girls are going to be jealous of her.”
Jace raised his glass again.
“To our daughter.”
As Krystal raised her glass their food arrived. It smelled just as good as always and they knew it will taste even better.
“Can I get you anything else,” the waiter asked.
“Another bottle of wine,” replied Krystal.
When they got back to their house, already very tipsy, the first thing Jace did was head for the alcohol cabinet. He opened it and realized they’d drank more yesterday than he thought they had.
“We don’t have much left,” he said, as he started to pull out the bottles. “Just a bottle of whiskey and two half bottles of vodka.”
He turned around and saw Krystal looking at him in a way he knew meant they wouldn’t be having anything to drink for now.
It was some of the best sex they’d had in a while. It always seemed to be that way after they’d had a few drinks. Once they had gotten dressed they went into the living room and drank until they were very drunk.
“We should have our baby in Haiti,” said Krystal. “I hear it’s nice there when h-she’s due.”
“Why would we have our baby in a state like Haiti,” Jace slured. “Obviously we should have hi-her in COLORADO!”
“You’re right,” replied Krystal. “Kansas has a great medical system.”
“I can’t believe you thank Iowa has a great medical system,” said Jace, a little too loudly. “Haiti is our best bet.”
“You’re right,” said Krystal. “I hear it’s nice there when h-she’s due.”
Slowly each of their heads slumped down onto their chests and they fell into each other.
When they became conscious again they both felt extremely sick. But Krystal felt the most sick. It wasn’t a good sick either. It was when she leaned over and threw up that she knew something was wrong.
She patted Jace on the arm, who was staring unfocused at nothing, completely oblivious that there was puke all over his shoes.
“We need to go to the hospital.”
He looked at her and knew something was wrong too.
“Yes,” he said. “Let’s go.”
They decided to take a cab to the hospital. They may have been alcoholics, but they were responsible ones and didn’t drive drunk.
When they got to the hospital the doctor did all the test she needed to because she already knew what had happened. She hated this part of the job. Having to be the bringer of bad news.
“I’m sorry, but because of your heavy drinking you’ve caused yourself to have a miscarriage. I would highly advise you to seek help. I can give you the contact information of an alcohol counselor I know, if you wish. I assure you, he’s very good.”
