a small world that just got bigger

"I just don't want to tell Kip anything until-" Actually, Syd didn't want to tell Kip anything ever. "Until after the doctor's appointment."

"That's tomorrow." Eric reminded her who had gone circles with phone calls with his insurance to get her on it. Of course, they kept giving him a hard time. They didn't come out and say it and tell him it would be better if she were his wife. Syd could tell it hit him hard when he found out how much more they'd take out of his paycheck if she was on his insurance.

"I know." She'd let another day go by without calling Kip or anyone in her family.

"What if they think you're abducted or you know-" Eric looked with disgust.

"Oh, God, all right." Syd had a feeling this was going to be their first fight. "Look, there has to be an easier way to do this. You know, so you won't have to pay the insurance. It might be easier if you know, the state paid for it."

Eric looked at her puzzled.

"No, no this is our kid, we should make the effort. I can do this!" He winced. Of course, he wasn't doing much at the moment but sulking in front of the TV.

"If you say so. What if its all for nothing. What if-" She didn't want to think it. But she had an Aunt who had 5 miscarriages before she even had a daughter. She didn't want to talk about it. She didn't need this stress. She got on her cell then to call home.

Naturally, her mother picked up on the first ring. She could feel the sigh of relief her in her mother's voice when she was happy to hear from her. Funny, she didn't sound mad at all. Just happy. So Syd smiled.

"I can't live with Kip, anymore. I just can't, Mom." Syd started. But she saw that look of Eric's. He wanted her to tell her Mom, everything. So she reminded her Mom who had her cat.

"Eric?" Her Mom questioned. "Sally's boy?"

Syd looked at Eric. "Is your Mom's name Sally?" She asked hoping her mother didn't tell her in the next breath that Eric was some long lost half brother of hers.

"Vivian?" Eric mouthed.

"No, mom, no, his Mom is Vivian." Syd sighed.

"Well, we always called her Sally." Her mother then said. "You remember, you were like six when you met him at that reunion."

"What reunion?" Syd winced.

"A school reunion. We went to high school together. Sally and me." Her mom clarified.

"High school?" Syd sighed.

"What?" Eric questioned.

"Your Mom went to school with my Mom." Syd smiled.

"Lovely." Eric mocked slightly as if that was all he needed to know.

"Remember, he's the boy you kicked in the shins and he cried so, telling anyone that would listen, that you were trying to kill him." Her mother then said. Syd almost laughed as she looked at Eric. "And you told him he was fat."

"Oh." Syd cleared her throat, thinking how she'd wanted to be a ballerina then. "Well, Mom, I think you are going to be a grandmother."

Her mom screamed in the phone then. Syd wasn't sure if she were elated or mad. Possibly both. They talked more about how she got there. How there was still the studio apartment they were in. It was a long talk, but it was settled. Her mom promised not to call Eric's Mom until after he did.