With the passing of two months and a season, Jack found herself in the midst of helping Dan with some new music he had come up with. She was constantly found in the studio working on the boards as Dan auditioned act after act looking for the perfect one to open the tour, which was going to begin as soon as Nadia delivered the baby. Yet things between her and Dan had grown complicated again. They had been involved in several fights and Dan always kept going back to Anna. He was like a pink pong ball bouncing between two women that love him and he loved back.
Jack and Darren had completely drifted apart. He still lived in the house, but was rarely seen by anyone. Most of his time was spent a psychologists office trying to sort out his life. The doctor had placed him on several different medications, all of which had proved to be ineffective in treating his depression. By now, he had been placed on Prozac, and even that wasn’t helping him. He had secretly become addicted to Jack’s painkillers and was taking them on a regular basis to forget anything and everything on his mind. At the current moment, he was passed out upstairs from his latest trip as Jack and Dan worked downstairs in the studio and Nadia was at a Lamaze class.
Jack was slowly hobbling her way back to the studio with the help of a cane when Dan walked up to her and said, “I’ve got the biggest surprise for you.”
“Oh, cool! What is it?” Jack replied.
“Come with me,” he answered, pulling her into the studio. He went over to the board and began the playback on a track. The music to a very Spanish song began to play in the speakers.
“This is nice,” Jack commented. “Reminds me of ‘Bailamos’ almost.”
“I was reading your lyrics for ‘Ain’t It Funny,’ and this just popped into my head,” Dan said.
“Wow! This kicks ass! Dan, you’re the best! Thank you so much!” Jack exclaimed as she gave him a hug and a kiss on the cheek.
“Get in the booth and start singing,” he told her. Jack cantered in and sat down on the stool in front of the microphone, putting the headphones over her ears.
At that moment, Nadia was pulling up to the house in Dan’s car. She slowly got out, her large belly proving to be a pain in the ass as usual. She entered the house and immediately headed for the studio where she knew she’d find Dan. She pulled open the door and yelled, “Next time, you’re coming with me!”
Dan turned around and began laughing as he stopped the playback. Jack took off her headphones wondering why she had been cut off. She looked out through the window and saw Nadia through the glass. Leaving the booth, she went to greet her. “Why are you fighting now?” Jack immediately asked. She head Dan laughing and a confused expression appeared on her face. “What’s so funny?”
“Me,” Nadia retorted. “He’s coming to my next class no matter what.”
“Dan, you’d better go,” Jack ordered. “It might not be that interesting, but it’s going to help you when the baby is born.”
“Whatever,” Dan replied as he returned to the board. “Hey, listen to this,” he added, hitting the play button. Jack’s voice came crystal clear over the speaker system. Nadia’s mouth dropped open in amazement.
“That’s you?” she asked.
“Yeah,” Jack bashfully answered.
“Damn, girl! What else do you do?” Nadia joked. She suddenly felt something in her body move and grabbed the edge of the nearest table to steady herself. “Whoa,” she said with a serious tone in her voice.
“What?” Dan immediately asked, turning around and facing her.
“Oh, my God! It kicked!” Nadia exclaimed as she put her hand on her belly. “You gotta feel this.”
Dan gently pressed his hand up against her abdomen and smiled when he felt the vibrations. His face lit up when he realized that this wasn’t just a thing anymore and that now it was a real person. “Oh, my God,” he whispered. “It’s unbelievable.”
“Jack, you wanna feel it?” Nadia asked, unable to contain her excitement.
Jack hesitated for a moment before placing her hand beside Dan’s. She, too, felt the baby kicking. A wide smile crawled onto her face as she said, “Wow! I’m gonna be its aunt.”
Nadia laughed as Jack’s enthusiasm. “Sorry, guys, but I have to get upstairs. I’m so tired. I need some sleep,” she said.
“Alright, I’ll see you later,” Jack replied.
“Later,” Nadia answered. “Bye Dan.” He gave her a little wave as she left the studio.
“This is incredible,” Dan said, easing back in his chair.
“I know,” Jack replied. “I want one.”
“I could never picture you with kids,” he laughed.
“How mean!” she retorted.
“Seriously, I just can’t see you with kids. You can be so cold sometimes.”
“I could never picture with you kids, but Nadia’s carrying yours.”
“Point taken,” Dan backed off as he returned to the board.
“Hey, could we continue this later?” Jack asked. “I’m hungry.”
“Alright,” he signed, pushing his chair away from the board again.