Jenny’s flight from St. Louis had been delayed eight hours, and by the time she landed in Boston, she was feeling haggard, weak, and hangry. She strapped her overfull backpack on and did a zombie walk off the plane toward baggage claim.

She stood slightly swaying forward and back, staring with glassy eyes at the empty baggage belt idle by. She couldn’t see anything but the belt and didn’t hear anything in her exhaustion. Her mind was sweetly underwater and her body was on autopilot.

“Jenny.”

She didn’t notice him.

“Jenny.”

She didn’t see him.

“Jenny.”

He touched her shoulder, but she didn’t feel him. He stepped in front of her.

“JENNY.”

She finally saw him, but it took her a minute to recognize her boyfriend, Walter.

“Huh? What? Walt, what are you doing here?” she asked.

He answered, “Picking you up from the airport. What else? Did you think I’d let you come home alone on the little sleep you’ve had?”

She wished he would’ve. She needed the forty-five minutes it took to get from the airport to their shared apartment to mentally prepare herself for what was to come.

She wanted to tell him that. Instead, she said, “Oh. That is nice of you.”

He put his arm around her and they stood in silence while they waited for her luggage. After a few moments, she rested her head on his shoulder and he held her more tightly.

When her neon green suitcase finally came around, he reached forward and grabbed it with his free hand, unwilling to let her go this time.

As they turned and walked toward the car, he said, “How’s about we stop at JJ’s Diner for a bite to eat on the way home?”

She still felt undead, but the thought of JJ’s chicken and dumplings roused her a little. She said, “Mmm, that would be good.”

They reached the car and he helped her in. He had to let her go to climb into the driver’s side, so he watched her as he walked around the car, staring at her like if he looked away, she’d disappear. They drove to JJ’s without speaking, all the while he rested his hand on her knee.

They pulled into the parking lot which was full despite the late hour. As he parked the car, Walter said, “Hang on, baby, I’ll help you out.”

He jumped out and jogged around to her side. He opened the door and extended his hand, bracing himself for carrying her weight.

They were seated immediately in their favorite booth. They’d officially become regulars about six months earlier, and that meant special treatment like speedy seating. They immediately ordered their usuals—chicken and dumplings and a reuben. When the waitress walked away, their bodies tensed and relaxed simultaneously. They both knew they wouldn’t be having a casual dinner.

He sipped his water and said, “How was your flight?”

“Fine.”

“How are you feeling?”

“Tired.”

“What do you think we should do tomorrow?”

“Nothing.”

One word answers. She couldn’t figure out if that’s all she was giving because of her exhaustion or her nerves. Maybe it was both. He felt familiar and new at the same time, and she felt anxious about what she had done. The waitress brought their meals which were to go untouched.

“Jenny,” he said, giving her puppy dog eyes.

She looked at him. Really looked at him, and saw the desperation in his face. She decided it aged him.

“Jenny, please.”

“What, Walter?”

“Why did you go to St. Louis?”

“To see my mother.”

“But you had to leave suddenly in the middle of the night?”

“I made the decision on a whim.”

“Without telling me?”

“I don’t have to tell you everything.”

“I never said you did. I was worried when I woke up and you were gone.”

“You shouldn’t have been,” she said, moving the chicken around on her plate.

“Jenny, what happened?”

“I just had to go.”

“Why?”

“Because I did.”

“But the baby…”

“I needed to go.”

“Jenny, the baby is coming so soon.”

“I know.”

“Not just your baby. Our baby.”

“I know.”

“You can’t do stuff like this.”

“Okay.”

That was the end of it. She wouldn’t respond to any more questions or admonishes, and he knew it.

She wanted to tell him the truth, but she didn’t know how. She didn’t know how to tell him that she thought she wanted this baby, but maybe not with him. She tried to leave to try to do it on her own, but after a few days away, she needed to come back. She realized she was wrong. She realized she needed him. She realized she really loved him, but she was ashamed that she tried to take his baby away from him. She was afraid that he wouldn’t forgive her. She was afraid and excited for motherhood and what it would mean for their relationship.

She looked him in the eye and said, “I came back.”

“I know.”